Every year ends with plans of resolutions for the next. What are mine for 2012, I began to contemplate last night. Here’s the list, some old friends and some new ones. Putting them down here, so I am accountable (in the season of the Lokpal Bill, this is the least I can do!)

#1 Lose weight, be fitter: Ok, so this has been first on my list every year for the past 15 years, irrespective of how fat or fatter I have been! I’m going to be loyal and keep it there! This year, my fitness focus has shifted a little. I’m targeting a modest 5-7 kgs of weight loss in the whole year, but hoping to build stamina and muscle tone. I guess its a post-35 thing, this shift to overall fitness since you’re almost giving up on looking ‘thin’ by now!!

#2 Blog everyday: I am resisting starting another blog. Everything I think seems to be inter-related in some way. But am inspired by Project 365 where people blog everyday for a year about something specific. My blog will continue to be about my/our lives,  set in the cities we live in…still contemplating if 1-I can do it and 2-Will it be overkill for those who read it? Photoblogs and such are easier to browse. And yes, the entries need to be way shorter!

#3 Work on my arts side: I started learning Kathak for the first time this year. I also re-joined Hindustani vocal classes. Have to take both of these to the next level this year, partly because the only way to improve (or simply not give up!)  is to set challenges. Also because I’m convinced that the arts are what will keep me grounded, emotionally fulfilled and sane in the years to come. I also want to listen to a variety of music and watch loads of performances in dance, theatre, puppetry, etc- all in the name of stimulation!

#4 Be more adventurous about work: I see 2012 as my year of pushing the boundaires in terms of type of work, skills applies, knowledge gained and contacts made in the profession. Low income housing within housing/planning is a specific area that falls vaguely between design, finance, community work and policy advocacy. Need to explore all these. Also looking to explore teaching…fingers crossed on how to manage this without over-committing my time and compromising on home, hobbies, etc.

#5 Read 3 books a month: A non-fiction (biography, history, science), a pacy fiction and a re-read maybe. Haven’t thought this through really and my reading appetite fluctuates, so the math may turn out different here!

#6 Be more patient, creative with people, relationships: Now start the tougher resolutions. This one is about working on all the significant relationships in my life (husband, children, mother, mother-in-law, workmates, friends, others) and infuse them with creativity, love and lots of calm. Its ok to express negative attitudes like anger, frustration and impatience as long as there is a civilized, non-hurtful way of doing it. Am done with hurting people as a form of twisted self-satisfaction, that soon turns to guilt and self-criticism….not the kind of fun I want have this year!

#7 Be more adventurous, carve my space: I’ve always wanted to do exciting things, but my risk appetite is low to moderate. So this is the year I must experiment. Try and take all my urges one step forward. That would include travel, making friends, pursuing hobbies, being on my own, the last of which needs tremendous powers like thwarting family-time, appearing to be callous and leaving kids under someone else’s care, etc. This business of reclaiming my space and unsheathing the “me” from the layered being that I have become is, in my mind, the biggest challenge and adventure of all. If I achieve a bit of this, all the resolutions before would be automatically ticked done!

Do write in to tell me what goals are on your mind for 2012!