How I did on my 2012 resolutions

1. Write, produce, and direct The Tailor of Riddling Way. I am feeling quite passionate about this project, and I think it has the potential to be something really good.

Eee. This kind of fell by the wayside. I finished the script, but I got so busy with school and other outside obligations that I didn't finish recording it. Also we ran into a technical difficulty, which derailed things a bit. But I did make a decent chunk of progress, and I do think it's a really good project.

2. Get back into the habit of exercising six days a week like I used to. I really hate how squishy I've gotten and how undisciplined I've become about taking care of my physical health. I want my old body back, and I want to feel strong again.

Well, this is interesting. I'm working out on average four hours a week these days. Even when I was working out six days a week, I usually only got three. So I'm technically working out more. Still, I'm not WALKING as much as I was, which means while I'm decently fit, I still haven't lost much weight.
 
3. Do well in school, and generate respectable work. Going right along with this is keeping up with my biweekly theater writing challenge. I have done quite well with this so far, as my average is actually closer to one a week rather than two weeks, but I want to keep it up in order to keep improving my work and generating a portfolio.

I did great with this. I wrote some great stuff for school-- Mrs. Hawking, Lame Swans --and I challenged myself to a lot of outside writing that I was very happy with. Most of my performed pieces came out of doing this, so I'm really glad I held to it.

4. Become a competent seamstress. This is a skill I really want to master, and making things with my hands makes me feel good in my soul.

Well, some progress was made! I did a few small projects, such as my Link costume and my plaid preppy skirt, and I also took a class at the Boston Vintage Factory that was extremely helpful.

5. Make significant improvement with ballet. It will take practice and discipline, but the payoff would be worth it.

Again, progress! Not as much as I would like, but I am most certainly a better dancer now than I was a year ago. Ballet is something that takes years to really get good at, but every little bit is worth it.

6. Start a garden of some kind. Probably herbs, maybe vegetables or even flowers or something. Playing Minecraft of all things has made me feel like it would be good for me to have something like this to take care of and raise. See above regarding the good feeling in my soul.

Yeah, this didn't really happen. Even my little daylilies died once it started to freeze. And money and time are a real enough issue that I don't think I'll be able to really worry about this.

7. Write a complete piece that I am really proud of. Tailor of course is a priority and will hopefully qualify, but I want to do something in addition, another thing like To Think of Nothing that people like and respect that I feel truly good about.

I did finish the Tailor script! And I am very happy with it. And there's also Mrs. Hawking, Lame Swans, and my various short pieces. This was a very productive year for me writing-wise.

And then those perennial ones that should always be on my list:

8. Be good to my parents and spend as much time with them as possible. This is important forever.

I hope I did this. I will always hope I do this.

9. Keep working on being a kinder person. I especially need to work on keeping my temper and being less judgmental.

You know, if I may say so myself, I think I did make some headway here. I made special effort to be welcoming, considerate, and complimentary, and I think I was less of a seething ragemonster than previously. Can't quit now, but I'm proud of myself for making some small improvement.

10. Learn how to be hopeful. I cannot keep falling into these dark periods for months and then taking months to claw my way out of them. I need to get away from this hole that I seem to be endlessly wavering on the edge of, if not swallowed up by it entirely. There is so much good in the world, and I've been unbelievably blessed in my life, and the weakness in me must not keep me from all the joy to be had.

Hard to say. I think I spent less time this year in an emotional hole than I did the previous. This too will be something I will always have to work on.