So here we go, this is the very last blog update of 2015. And what a year it has been! Anyway, I’ll be reflecting on the year gone by more on the vlogs in the coming week. But yeah, 2015 is a year I will remember for a long time 🙂

This week I started in Dublin, where I did two last sessions before my holiday. I also had some last-minute shopping to do. But I suppose the big news as the vlogs are concerned is that I finally sold my K. Yairi guitar, and invested in a new camera. This camera, which I talk about in this weeks vlogs, I already having a massive effect on the quality of my vlogging. It is not the equipment that makes your vlog, but the story. Having said that, already this camera has helped me to tell my stories in a better way.

Then on Wednesday we made our way to Poland, where I am writing this weeks blog update from. The Christmas celebrations are coming to an end and we had a great christmas. It is funny how you start to appreciate different things about the Christmas as you get older. I enjoy giving gifts much more than receiving them these days. Don’t get me wrong, I am grateful of the gifts I receive, but being able to give someone something that brings them joy, really does it for me 🙂

Oh yeah, and that picture is me just after doing my first 5km run. It took eight weeks, three runs a week to build up to it. Needless to say I was pretty chuffed with my self.

Now I’ll be staying here in Poland for nearly two more weeks, so the vlogs will be concentrated on my time here. And still there was some lessons hidden in this festive week as well.

1. Most people do want to help you, if you only are willing to ask.

2. Persistence and hard work leads to results.

3. I learned the power of actually listening, especially when someone has not been heard.

4. And once again I was reminded, if there is a will, there is a way.

So let’s get into this weeks posts. This weeks song is a seasonal love song called “New Year.”  Listen to the track and read all about it here:

New Year

In the first vlog of the week I took you long to my last Sliotar show of 2015 and show you how the Spire in Dublin was light up as a lightsaber for the release of the latest Star Wars movie:

Vlog 40 Looking forward to Christmas

The media like to give us such a distorted idea of what a career in music really looks like, that most musicians need a quick reality check when they enter the industry:

Quick tip 246 Stick to reality

In this vlog I took you around the Grafton Street just before the Christmas, and I also took you to my second last session of the year:

Vlog 41 I am not falling for that

My latest endeavour, vlogging once again reminded me how real hands on experience is the best way for me to get good at something

Quick tip 247 Get good by doing

So here it was, the day I bought my new camera. Check it out:

Vlog 42 Christmas came early

In this quick tip I talk about the last squeeze before the holidays:

Quick tip 248 Deadline

The day had finally arrived. We were on our way to Poland:

Vlog 43 Warsaw bound

As the holidays were just about to start, I talked about the importance to sometimes to treat your self:

Quick tip 249 Treat yourself

There is no better day than Christmas day to believe in magic. But also read how this concept could help you all year around:

Quick tip 250 Believe in the magic

And in the last vlog of the week eight weeks of hard work comes to an end and I run my first 5k:

Vlog 44 Warsaw to Ostrolenka

And that wraps up the week. We have few more days left before the year is over so stay tuned.

Just a little bit of house keeping. If you enjoy what I do and would like to support me, please consider pledging on my Patreon page. By pledging even $1 a month you get access to my Patreon feed, where you get to ask me questions, communicate in a more direct way and you get to see most new vlogs day before the rest of the world does. So do me a favour and visit the Patreon page HERE.

Let me just finish by saying, this year has been a real journey for me. And you guys are an integral part of my journey and I would just like to say a massive thank you for that. You guys are the best!

J.P.

The author J.P. Kallio is a singer songwriter
To get EIGHT of his songs for free go HERE