Think. Decide. Do.

Those are the three words that I am bringing with me into 2009.

Another year has passed, once again without regrets but with numerous life lessons. I am the same, yet different...and this coming year will be more of the same.

Instead of the generic resolutions, I've decided to have "new year principles" instead. These are characteristics that I want to apply to everything I do this year. It's not about quitting anything, or starting anything new, but more about improving myself. (I guess in essence they are resolutions...but principles just sound so much more committal).

Be more focused and complete things.

This is something I have had a problem with for years. I am pretty much an 'ideas' person - not just ideas though, I even get to the point of starting things...I am just not so good at finishing them. So this year I will consciously think about starting things that I can complete. It might help me get my 'pseudo ADD' under control too!

Compliment my mental independence by being more physically independent.

This has been on the cards for a long time. My grand plans that never eventuate have caused me to move back home and not commit to anything. It is becoming more noticeable that I am very 'non-committal'...I do not think this is a good thing, and I guess principle 1. proves this very point. So I guess I'm committing to growing up physically in 2009.

Organise my time better.

Last year, on average I think I wasted about 60% of my waking hours. That's a lot of time. I cannot even justify what that time was spent doing - most of it was probably related to watching survivor or some American TV.
I have plans and things I want to learn and do and my time (when not drunk or asleep) should be spent achieving these things! Leading into...

Learn something new everyday.

I've done a lot of these 'do something new' or 'learn something new' things - but I think this is more achievable because there is bound to be "something" albeit trivial that you learn (or at least should discover) everyday. For instance, going to trivia once a week I definitely learn at least 20 new things.

So far this year the new things i've learnt - Wizard of Oz was released in 1939; A 'Gaffer' is the head electrician on a film set; Savoir-faire means having the knowledge to do things; White pudding is made from pork and a lot of fat!...and so on. It's working out well I think.

Keep in touch.

As with my previous blog post - I am going to try my darndest this year to consistently keep in touch with people...either regular catch ups for coffee; or the occasional e-mail. I will try!

So this is what is in store for 2009. We'll see how successful I am this year!