2011....

Today is December 31st, 2010, where over the last couple days I assessed the year and realised, 2010 was a fairly average year. This year was meant to be a year of big change, such as returning to study, gaining employment in a new area, gaining new friendships and strengthening already established ones. 2010 was meant to be a year where financial stress was minimal, where I would be living in my ideal setting, and learn new skills and have more hobbies. 2010 was meant to be the year of change.

Some of them items mentioned above was true, while a lot of them never occurred. The problem I face is I always think big in my head, I always think about what I want to do, how I'm going to do it, the pros and cons of doing it. The problem isn't thinking, but more so, just thinking. I remember after my first term of TAFE I wrote down everything I wanted to improve on in the second term, at the end of second term I looked back at that list and noticed I didn't improve a damn thing. Why? Because I talk the talk, but never walk the walk. This is where 2011 comes into play.

I could act all deep and meaningful and spit out stuff like '2011, 11 being pure of containing two 1's. 1 is seen to be fresh, new, worldly....' blah blah blah, but basically, the world is suppose to end in 2012, so no point waiting til then to do anything about it. So what am I exactly yabbing on about? Basically I want to have a record of my "resolutions" so in 6 months time, I will check back and see if I'm track.

I encourage everything to do this, whether it is paper version, online, a word document, scribbled on bark or whatever. Write down what you want to achieve this year, can be as big as you, as little as you want. Write down the kind of life you desire, who you hope to be heading in 2012. Once written down, go to your calender, whether it's one hanging on the kitchen cupboard, or your phone and leave a message on June 25th "Check goals from new year" Then check them out, and see how you are doing. Repeat this as often as you like, but make sure you have reminders.

Now what do I want to achieve in 2011? What didn't I achieve this year but smash in next year? There is a few things which I will dilvuge to you.

* Rid myself of unwanted debts and be on track financially - Now unless I win a big raffle or lotto or somehow acquire a large sum of money, I won't be rid of all my debts next year as I have a large loan to pay off. However, I would like rid myself of overdue payments to the bank, overdue phone bills and debts with family members. It's never good feeling that you can't buy a new shirt because you need to pay someone else back. As for getting on track financially, I want to start a solid savings. I would have to be the worst saver, so I essentially want to have two forms of savings, one in a secure bank account where I save 5-10% of my net income each week, regardless. The second being a very secure, high-tech safe, where I store all the shrappers, cold coins and $5 to $10 notes found in my pocket the morning after a night out, or just any change I have lying around. This high-tech safe, they can cost around $2, sometimes $3, so I need to find a good special. I want to be able to improve my credit rating, because in a couple years I would like to consider buying or building a house, so I'd need a good credit history and money saved.

* Gain employment - At the moment, employment can mean anything from Macca's to labourer, to well anything that will provide an income. Ideally towards the end of year, after Octoberish, I'd like to gain employment in my future industry of building design, but for the time being, I'd be happy flipping burgers.

* Improve at guitar - I want to just keep self-teaching myself guitar, and get to the stage where I could play a bunch of songs comfortable. This is mostly a way to relax, reduce stress, increase my creativity and just help protrude the image I desire.

* 85% + - In order to be even considered for a university degree by the current course I'm undertaking, I need to have an average of 85% in assessments of the final year. Now I'm not sure how that works exactly because there is a third year, but in this second year, I don't want to submit an assessment which will score less than 85%. I should be aiming for 100%, but just being realistic here. Ideally anything above 90% would be awesome, and that would be my main aim.

* Improve my living conditions - At the moment I am living in a shared household, paying $60 rent a week, which is excellent. I like it here, housemates are good, and I don't see myself up-and-moving in 2011. What I mean by improving my living condition is becoming a better housemate, by cleaning, doing dishes and the like more often. I also want to get in the habit of doing proper shopping trips and having proper meals.

* Gain proper weight - The other day I weighed myself, and the little screen read 55kg. At 22 years old, 55kg, I'm lucky a small breeze doesn't send me flying. Most people in the new year aim to lose weight, well I am aiming to gain it. I could gorge myself on Maccas, KFC and the like, but no. I'd be cutting, or heavily reducing junk food, and focus on meats, diary, veggies, fruits and gain the weight properly. This will also include a fitness program, but the end goal weight is unknown yet. By 2012, I don't want to be weighing in at 55kg.

In 2011 I want to rename it to "Project Anthony". I want 2011 to be the year where I work on myself, improving myself, gaining the confidence, skills and experiences to really see a difference in myself. They say "Nobody can love you, until you can love yourself" At the moment, I don't love myself, that is why in 2011, I will work on "Project Anthony" which in turn will allow me to eventually love myself because of all the positive changes that will occurring because of me. I encourage you all to do the same, make 2011 to be your "Project" year, where you just work on yourself. Write everything down, write it down in detail, write it in vague, write it in crayon, just write it down! Keep referring back to it throughout the year, and get excited about the positive changes you are making in your life. If you have something small and trivial you want to change, or add, like "Learn the worm" write it down and achieve it. After successfully doing the worm, you can scribble it off your list, and celebrate with a worm dance!

To be honest, there are plenty more things I could write about what I want to change, or add in my life, or take away, but rather than let you all know about it straight up, I will let you be surprised when I actually achieve them. A bucket list will be made over the year, and hopefully during the year I will have some good stories to tell ya'all.



From The One They Anthony, This Is The Life & Times