Happy New Year!

I know it’s taken me all of twenty days, but I’m still wishing regular visitors to this blog – and all new guests too! – a very Happy New Year!

I hope you had a wonderful Christmas…it really does seem that January has come round much sooner than I expected! If you were around last year, you already know my take on resolutions (read that entry here: Happy New Year!) but nevertheless, the start of the year is always a good time to reflect and plan for the next 345-odd days ahead.

I achieved some of my goals from last year, but I’m more or less working on the same things. Just for fun, I’ll reproduce last year’s list now, along with a progress report of sorts:

• Register for and start Creative Writing Course  – So I registered; half point! I just need to start now
• Write more…and get paid for it! - A big one I really need to get on with!
• Read more – I’ve been doing that, as can be attested to by the ‘I’m currently reading…’ category on this blog.
• Continue judicious planning and execution in the area of my finances – Again I’ve been good here; just need to keep it up.
• Make sure I do not get into any more debt – if I can’t afford it, I ain’t getting it! – How true! I’ve kept this up, thankfully.
• Smile more – Erm, not sure? Okay, I’ll bear that one in mind…
• Complain less (I stumbled across this great-sounding book called A Complaint Free World: How to Stop Complaining and Start Enjoying the Life You Always Wanted by Will Bowen. I’ll be reading and posting my thoughts on it here shortly!) – I’m trying to complain less, but haven’t bought Bowen’s book yet…
• Continue keeping fit (buy a bicycle, keep walking, get a tennis racket, even start running again, perhaps?!?) – Bought a bicycle, and am back at the gym. Yay!
• Oh yeah, to start running again, I need to get my foot sorted out – Foot sorted and I’m running again, albeit on a treadmill in the gym.
• Stay off chocolate – Oh come on! Can’t a girl have one vice?! Okay okay, I’ll try to cut down…
• Smile some more! – I said I’ll bear it in mind!!
• Get my driving licence (hopefully it’ll be 4th time lucky…sigh!) – This one depresses me. Really. I’m going to struggle, as I haven’t the time or energy to commit to driving lessons.
• Drop the sarcasm! – I’ve decided; I’m not gonna! It amuses me, so I’m not dropping it. So there!
• Indulge my love of music by listening to more classical music and introducing myself to the wonderful world of opera – I’ve bought a few compilation CDs; I need to become more conversant with the genre.
• Go to the theatre more often – I’ve been doing this, and it truly has been such a joy.
• Start piano lessons and buy a piano if I can – I’d still like to do this, if I can.
• Take each day as it comes, and not obsess about things being perfect – I really am trying to do this, and I’d like to think I’ve made baby steps in the right direction. But it’s not easy dropping the lifetime habits that come with being a fusspot!

Hopefully, you’ve made good progress in 2008 and are looking forward to the New Year too?

I know these are tough times for many but I wish you a blessed 2009: I pray that it brings you joy, and peace that surpasses all understanding.