Old Years Resolutions

It was exactly a year ago I evaluated my 2010 resolutions, so I thought I'd do the same with 2011's resolutions today.

I made a short list this year and I'm curious to  know what I've achieved. The resolutions were :-

1. Get a new job. - Yes!

Yay! As you all know, if you've been following the blog, I have indeed shaken off the shackles of temporary agency work (after nearly 10 years) and got what my dad says is.. "a proper job". Starting the 3rd of Jan which I'm very excited about.

2. Save up and pay off 10% of my mortgage. - Yes

I'm not sure why I made this resolution, I think because I needed it putting in stone that I would actually do it. The reality was that I paid off 10% of the mortgage in Jan 2011 and I have also managed to save up a further 10% ready to pay off next month too!   : )

3. Buy new clothes. - No


I haven't bought any new clothes this year.

4. Be positive and confident, say yes more, engage with new opportunities. - Yes


I'm going to say yes to this. To help my job search, I contacted a local community centre who were running a back to work type project. I signed up and once a week we met to discuss my job search. This was purely voluntary.  The worker, Natalie, would search through job papers and the net looking for any suitable work and when we met up she'd say have you seen this job or that job.. It was really great because I don't have motivation for that kind of thing.  The idea that you are having to meet someone pushes you into looking for work.

As a direct result of those meetings, Natalie asked me if I'd like to be a trustee for the community centre.  It would involve meeting once a month with the other trustees and deciding on stuff that would effect the community centre. It's purely voluntary. It's something totally out of my comfort zone, but because I'd been to the centre for Job search program I was familiar with the staff in the building who are really nice. I agreed.  So now I'm on the board. We meet up everything month and find out how the centre is running and decide if improvements need to be made. It's very interesting.

So yeah, I think I've engaged with new opportunities this year and I've felt more confident in myself from it.

5. Read more books, listen to and be accepting of a wider range of music. -Yes


I'm not sure I've read a book this year, I'm always dipping in and out of books though. usually poetry books, Brian Pattens book was sent to me via Bux and I read that, also some teaching books. I'm not sure I've listened to a wider range of music I have listened to many new bands this year, which is always exciting.. including Black Keys, Raveonettes, Bon Ivor, and Miles Kane. However, some older artists have had albums out this year including Thomas Dolby and Elvis Costello - his new album is great..

6. Draw, paint and write more.  - Yes.

Wow, this is what I wrote back in January.. "I need to finish my paintings and get further with my dream of having an exhibition in one of the local galleries. Not that I can plan ahead so much for this but I want to write some good poems too."  as you know, if you follow my blog. I managed to get 21 paintings together and put on an exhibition, currently showing. I'm extremely proud and can't quite believe I've been that creative this year. The pictures look amazing in that space too. (See previous blog for pictures)

7. Face my fear of travelling. - No


I didn't achieve this, although I'm getting a lot better, I went to Liverpool this year again on my own, to see Bux and had a fantastic time.  This is something I really want to work on this year.

8. Be less defensive with people. - No/Yes


This is something that I struggle with on a day-to-day basis, even to the point where I'm insulting people because I so uptight about what they might think of me.  Am I less defensive? I'm not sure, maybe, marginally.. I hope.. it's a hard one to measure.  I think maybe I am less, I was adamant that I wouldn't go to a Job Club to seek help finding work, but then as the months ticked on I realised that ego has no place and people were only trying to help.. Once I'd made that change it was so strange.. the job came my way, the trustee position was offered, the gallery space opened up.. maybe I have changed a little more than I thought.  I think with my dad... um... maybe I'll never get a handle on it.. maybe I'll always have to just keep myself in check.


9. Have one new experience a month!


I've probably done this but not realised.. I initially wanted to deliberately give myself a new experience but looking back over the year I have had some great firsts.

Best Moments of the Year

• Undoubtedly meeting Bux on our annual Liverpool get together.. We had such a great time, and I will defo stay longer next year.
• Seeing 10cc and Graham Gouldman with my dad earlier on in the year was great.
• Getting a new job was a fantastic feeling
• Having my paintings finally shown was thrilling.