I have been in Melbourne, Australia for a few weeks, travelling around filming the next few episodes of The Travelling Builder Show. As we all experience from time to time, my plans had changed a little, resulting in a free day to do whatever tickled my fancy.
Personal challenge, photographing Raimondi Cranes
Just in case you haven’t seen my Instagram page, its full of photos of buildings and cranes. Instead of aimlessly wandering the streets of Melbourne taking photos of said buildings and cranes; I figured I would set myself a challenge. So, I reached out to Raimondi Cranes and asked if they would be interested in sending me a list of crane locations around Melbourne and I would send over a few photos in return.
A few phone calls later, and help from Clarke Cranes in Melbourne. I got my list of addresses.
There is something about setting a goal that has no implications on whether you complete it or not. I was under no obligations to take photos. I thought it would be a great way to give my day some purpose, a challenge and hopefully build a new connection along the way.
Testing our own personal resolve
Completing this little goal tested my resolve way more than I could have imagined. Particularly heading over to my last destination in St Kilda. I had just finished walking 11km so far in what felt one of the hottest days I have had in Melbourne. The worst part, knowing that I now have a 6km walk to get to St Kilda followed by another 4km’s back to the hotel. It was at this point that the chatting to one’s self about quitting began.
The thoughts, so many thoughts about quitting. Thoughts like, you have bucket loads of photos (by this stage I have 200 plus), no one knows how many cranes you thought you would visit. And with all the images I had taken so far, I had more than exceeded what I thought I would shoot.
And this is where the pull to give up and go home set in. That 6km was the longest, loudest walk of my life; my head would not shut up. The excuses, the reasons, that wrong turn down a dead-end street. But when I looked up from that intersection in St Kilda and saw that familiar round Raimondi crane cab, that sense of achievement was so much sweeter.
Not only had I set myself a challenge and finished it. “I nailed it,” no matter how exhausted I felt, it was worth it. That satisfaction for doing something that we said we would do for no other reason than saying we would, is the most satisfying, don’t you think?
So please, enjoy some of the photos from my day, knowing the victory over my reasons and excuses.
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