To be honest, I typically shun new year’s resolutions. They’ve always seemed cliche to me and oh-so-sadly destined to fail.

I mean, if you haven’t wanted to eat healthier and exercise more or quit smoking all year long (or ever before in your entire life), what makes you think the fact that it is January is going to somehow instill the strength, motivation, gumption, and tools it takes to make a drastic life change?

I do, however, like the idea as long as it’s a realistic goal that you’ve already been working towards. Resolutions can be great guiding tools, and I’ll admit that January is a great time for transitions. While Santa Barbara isn’t exactly blanketed in snow like a blank canvas (and is far from it), there is a sense of winter serenity here; empty, low-tide beaches, less bustle downtown, and cozier evenings.

Also, I became pro-resolution last year when I found a list of things I had written down that I wanted to do from 2010. I had completely forgot about the list shortly after writing it, but something must have stuck, because–looking back– I overachieved every goal. Because, you know what? They weren’t just goals, they were desires and dreams. And I wanted them badly.

And that’s how resolutions really work.

With that, I’ve decided to make a little list of things that I want in my life this year.

ballerina

1/ Dance at least four times per week, practice pointe at least twice per week. I want to be able to do an entire variation en pointe by the end of 2012

farmer's market veggies

2/ Use as much fresh ingredients every day as possible. On that note, focus on getting better (I’ve been having some health issues) until I am all good again

burlap covered corkboard

3/ Create something new at least once a week. Includes jewelry, knitting projects, graphic/web design, floral arrangements and other decor

ranunculas

4/ Keep fresh flowers in my bedroom and bathroom as much as possible

edinburgh skyline

5/ Face my biggest fears, make my own body my only “comfort zone”, and move somewhere for grad school (this is a photo of Edinburgh, where I may attend school at the Edinburgh College of Art, not pictured: Boston, New York, San Francisco, Pasadena)

What a wonderful life, right? Despite the recent health hurdles I’ve run into and the familial adjustments and losses I face, I feel glad to be looking at the year ahead, and also proud to look back at 2011. As hard as it is to let go of the past sometimes, moving forward is absolutely wonderful and I would never stop the clock even if I could.