I was -this- close to announcing my retirement from cosplaying last week, due to a few factors - the pressure of university had become more than I could handle, I was immensely unhappy with my performance as a cosplayer this year and pretty much lost all interest in anime. I've started sewing clothing based on patterns from the 1940s/1950s and honestly, I'm finding it a lot more satisfying for the effort I put in as I actually end up with something beautiful I can wear on a day to day basis - I don't feel this pressure either to reach a certain standard by a certain date.

If I'm going to continue with this hobby, I need to reconcile my perfectionist desires with my changing life priorities. I have to devote a lot more time to study than I have in the past, because I'm coming to the crunch end of my degree and need to keep up my GPA to get into the Master's course I want. I also need to start putting money away to pay off my HECs and maybe even move out of home. With less time and less money available, I'm not certain that I'll be able to reach the heights that I want to in my costumes.

I have a few ideas about costumes, but I really need to rediscover the passion that I had for cosplaying in 2008. I put too much pressure on myself this year to be perfect - even though I won some prizes I was unhappy in my own performance, and my confidence has really sunk.