For me, 2014 has been a challenging year - no doubt about
it. It's been a year of taking risks, pushing boundaries, and taking myself far
beyond my comfort zone, both personally and professionally. It's been a year of achievements, but also about
discovering limitations, and coming to terms with them. They've been
valuable learning experiences, if frustrating and discouraging, but I have no
regrets.
And so, next year, things are going to be a bit different.
It's going to be a year of refocusing on my personal strengths. Return to my
comfort zone, and concentrate on being awesome at the things that I am experienced
and passionate about.
So, here's a list of my personal goals, as one does on New Year's Eve:
1. Reconnect with the literary world. Don't just read books
- share my experiences with other readers, attend literary festivals, get back
in touch with those who I've lost contact with in the past couple of years.
2. Reconnect with the library and information industry. Put
aside some time every week to read blogs and articles and reflect on what the
real issues of the moment are.
3. Write. Write, write, write. Stop thinking and planning,
and just write. Especially performance material. I only wrote one thing this year,
and it was awesome. Next year, I will write a whole new show (which I have already started planning). There, I said it. Now you have to hold me to it.
4. Perform more. Whether it's karaoke, or finding an open
mic night, get back out there.
5. Dance more. I've got YouTube and floor space at home, so
use it. Go to exchanges and workshops and keep learning.
6. Travel more. Because I can. Because I should. Because the
whole world is out there.
7. Make real plans for the future. Yes, serendipity is all
well and good, and it's given me some wonderful opportunities to experience new
things, but now it's time to get back down to earth.
8. Be kind to myself. I am often my own worst critic, but
rarely my best advocate. I need to be both.
2015 will be the Year of Being Awesome.