When it comes to Christmas, I am very much a Scrooge figure. Bah Humbug to decorating everywhere, and to the constant playing of Christmas songs. Bah Humbug to buying useless tat for people (although I am myself guilty of that this year, but what else are we meant to buy for my father, a man who has no interests and hobbies, and who has all the hankies and socks he needs?!) Although I have felt myself feeling slightly more Christmassy than I usually do, the feelings are fleeting and I see sense. I am spending Christmas in Dorset this year, a change of scene might do us all good.
I actually prefer New Year to Christmas, although nowhere near as much as I used to, because now it is the anniversary of my grandfather's death. But what I like about New Year's is the tradition of reinventing yourself. As if people didn't do it all year round, but New Year's gives you an actual time to make changes about yourself, and become a new person.
According to this website, the Top 10 resolutions include losing weight and getting more exercise, quit smoking or drinking, and learning something new. As Wikipedia confirms, resolutions tend to be advantageous. We want to be better people. I'm sure even saints could make resolutions, except it probably wouldn't be to 'help others', more likely 'have some "me" time'!
I have already made myself some resolutions, and in addition to this, made goals for January and February. According to the Wikipedia article on New Year's resolutions, women succeed 10% more when they make their goals public and get support from friends.
This year, I managed to complete 4 of my 6 resolutions (although one thing I have already failed at again because I learned it, and then I forgot it)
I have so far got 9 resolutions sorted, some easier than others. And I'm going to share them with you now:
- Get work experience
- Lose 6lbs - get to 8st
- Watch 360 films out of 1001
- Finish bedroom
- Read list of books
- Learn to play ukelele
- Get bonus in April
- Learn to use Adobe Illustrator
- Pay off £600 of student loan
3, 4 and 9 are probably the easiest. But I include them because you still need to achieve some things to keep you on track for the rest of them. I am currently at 320 out of 1001, so I should get to 360 easily. 4 sounds silly, but so much remains unfinished in my house. and 9 could be easy because I could just take £600 out of my savings, but instead I am going to set up a direct debit.
Other are not so easy. I'm not very musical, nor do I stick to things well, so 6 and 2 will be hard. 5 also will, because I don't really make time to read anymore. But I will endeavour to start this month and get a head start. It's only a list of 6 books (I have more unread on my bookcase, but I can add them when I run out).
7 is an unknown quantity since I could really work hard and deserve a bonus as promised in my contract, but budget restraints may leave it out of my reach. If the time comes and I don't get it, I will assess how hard I worked, and decide whether I would have deserved it had it been available.
1 is also, in a way, an unknown quantity. I could apply for tons of work experience, and not get any. If the end of the year comes, and I have no additional experience except that of working on corporate videos for the company I set up with another friend, I will still sort of see that as a failure. It's a bit like saying 'I'll get a job'. You could apply everywhere and get nowhere. We'll see.
Anyway, having thought about it weeks ago, but this being my last blog before the year is out (I have a pretty hectic two weeks coming up), I have decided to evaluate my year using the systems in place at the school I work at.
2010
WWW - what went well
- Finished university - with a 1st
- Got a job
- went on a cruise
- went to New York for the first time
- stayed in touch with friends from home & uni - even rekindled a friendship
EBI - even better if
- succeeded in all my resolutions
- had a better time at uni
- won an award for Where the Waves Break
- made more contacts
- got more work experience
- saved more money (I succeeded in saving £1000+, which was one of my resolutions, but then I started spending it) so really it should be not spent so much money
- gained more confidence
What do you reckon your WWW and EBI's would be?
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