The One with the 2012 Resolutions.

When I looked up the word "resolution" on Dictionary.com, I found some very inspiring words that will help me write this post - words like determination, firmness, decision, judgment, perseverance, tenacity, strength, fortitude, and lastly of course, resolve.

This year, I hope to be transformed. Psychologically, spiritually, emotionally, and physically. While I do feel that I am in a great place of happiness right now, I know that there are things within my reach that will allow me to be even happier. Right at my fingertips, in fact.

I waited a little longer than I wanted to put together this post. It's an important one that took some pondering, but I wanted to get the ball rolling sooner rather than later... and it seems that later is here. But it's never too late, really, to make and share goals. Right? Right.

So, here we go.
Get a decent job.
Since I am no longer at Weber, I am in Salt Lake for good... which means that I am no longer employed at the Housing Office at Weber. I'm hoping for this one to happen within the next week or so. I have already begun the hoards of applications online - over 40 now. I've interviewed twice and have a fairly potential opportunity. I plan to hold onto this job - whatever one I end up with, that is - until it is time for me to move to the East Coast.
Go to church.
Interestingly enough, I have felt very spiritually fulfilled for some time (mostly in the last year and a half) without going to church. I have been meditating on occasion and have been praying often. But even in the last month or so, things haven't really been feeling quite as solid in the spirituality field. I want to go back to attending church regularly and taking care of my beliefs, morals, and ethics.
Lose 10 pounds.Listen, I know it seems a little crazed. But I promise the weight is there to lose. I know how to lose it, and I know that it's possible. Physically, I am in a place right now where I am very comfortable with my body. However, I feel that I still have room to grow... or shrink, rather. I want to be tiny; there, I said it. I was so very lucky to be blessed* with the bones of an African Bush Elephant, so I always feel a bit on the bulky side. I want that feeling to go away, so I'm going to do whatever I can to make it so. I'm not obsessed with losing the weight, no. It's just something I want. And by eating right, I can do it. I also choose to make it easy. (And when I reach that goal, I'm going to share every little detail about the entire process. I can't wait for that!)
*Denotes sarcasm. In case you were wondering...
Save money.With the expensive city that never sleeps on the horizon, having a deep savings account built up before I leave is a must. This means budgeting. This means frugal spending. This means bargain-hunting (one of my favorite things, really!), coupon-cutting, and watching every dollar I spend. Not so much to ask so that I can continue to pursue my dreams, is it?
Expand my song repertoire.
Anyone who knows me well knows that I am constantly working on building my sheet music library. I buy, trade, barter, and borrow and tuck it all away into my collection. One of my favorite things to collect, however, are the more obscure musical theatre style songs... like Scott Alan, Jonathan Reid Gealt, Kooman & Dimond, Pasek & Paul, Georgia Stitt, etc. I have more than 100 different unique female songs that I haven't really touched since they came into my possession. I would love to learn one song every two weeks. Easy-peasy.
Expand my cooking repertoire.
Easy cooking, healthy cooking, super tasty cooking, cheap cooking. Find recipes, try them out, tuck them away so I don't have to be homeless in New York. (Any suggestions are totally welcome! Please!)
Improve as a performer/build my performing resume.
There are some shows that I'm itching for this year. I will prepare my audition materials and do my best at callbacks and cross my fingers for a casting call. If given those opportunities to be in a show or a few, I will utilize every resource I can to grow with every step of the process.
Blog more.
I absolutely blogged more last year than I did in 2010. That's thanks to the Tributes back in November and thanks to the fact that I only started blogging in September in 2010. I want the number to escalate again this year. It won't be easy. If I want to beat last year's number - 59 posts - I will have to post more than once a week. I have faith that I can do it. It has become such a joy for me to have the past documented like this; I get to go back and "re-feel" things. I recommend it to anyone. Really! Try it out.
Be more positive.
I don't really need to elaborate on this, do I? It's pretty self-explanatory: I just want to wake up on the right side of the bed more.
Be a better friend/daughter/sister. Be a better person.
I'm not always the nicest friend. Even to those I'm closest to. Sometimes I get defensive or testy or annoyed or bored. I want to be a rock to my dear ones. I want to be patient. I want to be the best friend, the best sister, the best daughter anyone could ask for.

There they are. All 10 of them. Wow, that's a lot, huh?

But I can do it. I want to do it.

2012 is going to be a big year - for all of us - I can feel it. I feel that this year will bring incredible changes, hardships, bumps, smooth-sailings, adventures, surprises, upsets, heartbreaks, you name it. It won't be an easy one, but it will be one that we, with time, will treasure. I choose to take 2012 one day at a time, to soak up every tiny little thing and to continue to live my life to the fullest.