So it's the time for resolutions, the promise to do something better or different as you enter a new year. I don't really do resolutions per se. Dave and I were talking about them last week, and he asked if I was going to make any. I told him my vague ideas, but that in general I shy away from them as I just can't seem to make them stick. If I had followed through with my resolutions for 2010 and 2011 then by now I would be at least 10 pounds lighter and incredibly toned, I would have read at least 150 books in the last two years, and I would be fluent in three languages (the languages being Russian, Farsi and Mandarin of course). Well, those didn't happen and I know myself better so this year I am going to go with some general guidelines for how I hope to live my life this year. These aren't resolutions, in that I am not resolving to do "X" dammit. Rather, I am hoping to do the following. Just hoping. And if I don't well hey! I won't feel like a total failure since I never set myself up with the expectation to succeed in the first place.
1. Be a better blogger. This one makes sense. I need to be better about writing about trips right after they happen, because in 2011 I wasn't so good at that. Milan anyone? Hello, Berlin? I also want to work on my picture taking skills (see below) so I can add value to written posts. After all, I know people don't really read blogs, they just look at the pictures.
2. Go out and see more in London. This one makes sense too. I am worried that since we live here indefinitely, our plans could change at a moment's notice. Next thing you know we're moving in two weeks and I have to pack all our belongings, ship the dog AND go see the Churchill War Rooms all at once. You know what part of that scenario will not take place (shipping the dog of course, I know she'd like to stay here on her own for a few weeks). Therefore this year I really want to take advantage and see more in London. It's all too easy to get caught up in the day to day of going to the dry cleaners, doing laundry, grocery shopping etc and forgetting that there are incredible museums, attractions, sights and towns in London and beyond.
3. Take more classes. I have taken some really fun classes so far. I took three at the Make Lounge, I took screen printing at the Print Club (I'll write about that soon), I took Art Law at Sotheby's Institute and now I want to do more. I must do a photography class since I have no clue how to use my new camera (as an aside, I was testing out the settings while taking pictures of Riley today and one picture/setting was totally black. No image. I have no idea) and so I think I'll try and do one in the next couple weeks so I can use my skills as soon as possible. I'm also thinking about taking jewelry classes so I'll look into that, along with any other random ones that pique my interest.
4. Travel of course! 2011 was a great year of travel for us. We started the year in Marrakesh, went home three times, went to Thailand, Singapore and Malaysia, and stayed closer to the UK by traveling to Italy twice, France three times, Helsinki/Tallinn, Copenhagen and Berlin. But there are still a ton of places I want to go. And going back to my "must take advantage before we leave" I really want to take advantage of travel outside the UK before we leave.
5. OK, I'll throw in some more typical resolution style ones, but again, they are not resolutions! Just nice little ideas I may or may not take heed of... Read more, be more active (Riley agrees with this one as she benefits from any walks I go on), watch less TV (yeah, sure, ok), read even more (did you see the last one about less TV?)...
I think that may be it for now. 2011 was a fantastic year and I can't imagine 2012 could get much better. Oh well, maybe if we don't get robbed in 2012, that would be a nice idea. Let's go with that one too. In fact I will RESOLVE not to get robbed in 2012. Is that asking too much of myself? Maybe I'll forgo giving up TV in exchange for a robbery free year. Happy 2012!
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