On old-year resolutions

2011 has been an absolutely crazy year. It feels like it has gone by extremely quickly. At the same time, January must be a decade ago. So much have happened in my life - good things, bad things, meh things, unexpected things, if-you-had-told-me-this-twelve-moons-ago-I-wouldn't-have-believed-it things. I wouldn't define 2011 as a "good" year. Nor a "bad" one. It's been - interesting. Exhausting. Amazing. And many other words that end with -ing.

Now that it is coming to an end, however, it feels appropriate to take a look back. Set the record straight and clean the slate for the new year, so to speak (in mixed and mauled metaphors).

I won't bore you with the details. I've already covered much of it on this blog: Tokyo, work, earthquakes, trauma, Tokyo again, confusing times, wonderful times, back home, OsLove, unemployment, resignation, fresh beginnings. And so on. To save time (and details), however, I thought it might be interesting to look all the way back to the very beginning of this year. To the post titled "On resolutions".

I said I didn't do New Year's Resolutions, and I meant it. In an attempt to make a twist of the ordinary variety of them, though, I did write some:

1) I will do [blank] that I have never done before.

2) I will strive to stop [blank], and begin [blank].

3) I will [blank] without [blank].

I can honestly say I've met them all. Some several times. And I didn't see it coming.

At the start of 2011, I had no idea what sort of year I'd have. Fortunately. I probably wouldn't have been able to handle it.

At the end of 2011, though, I am glad that I did handle it, or at least survive it. That I got to face all the life lessons I've earned this year. That both good and bad things happened, and that they mixed together most likely will make 2011 stand out as the most extraordinary year of my life (so far). In terms of personal growth, I wouldn't be without it - any of it - for the world.

Thus, it's time to make some new resolutions. In the spirit of 2011 being manageable only because I knew nothing of most of the things that would happen, I think I should go for a similar approach to 2012.

1) I will make sure to [blank] at least once.

2) I am going to [blank] until I reach the goal of [blank].

3) I will continue to get even better at [blank].

2012 - I am ready for you, whatever you will bring (but please don't let it be the apocalypse. Let's prove those Mayans wrong!!!).