It's that time of the year again...

New Year's Resolutions.

Usually, I pick two to three things and try and stick to it, but like most of my other hobbies, my dedication to these resolutions tend to come and go. I pick up knitting and stop after three or four months (that is generous, more like one or two months), only to pick it up later. I start pulling out the 6B pencils and sketch for hours on end, only to stop after completing a drawing and returning to my other "come-and-go" interests. This time, I am feeling more determined. Will that last? Only time will tell. So here goes:

1. Update the blog on a regular basis without letting over three days go by without a new post. I have plenty of posts lined up with events that have happened during the break and all this leads to...
   
2. Take out my camera at least four times a week and snap photographs of everything and anything to seek inspiration and keep myself inspired. I was going to attempt project 365 or even try the self-portrait project 365, but I don't think I am ready for that yet. There are other photography things I would like to try first, such as lighting techniques highlighted in Strobist and seen in other photography blogs.
3. Learn to crochet, and also knit fingerless gloves. Given my nature, if I list any other knitting project, I can safely say this resolution will be marked unaccomplished come the next year.
4. Read books (not just magazines) for leisure. I want to say a book every two months, given academic readings and whatnot, but I may have to change that figure once school kicks in.
5. Laugh at least once a day at the simple things that will make the below-zero temperatures more bearable and the emotionally draining and mentally straining thoughts of mine less so.

I think those are enough resolutions for now. The thing is, I set goals for myself all the time. With a bunch of floormates of mine, I resolved to do sit-ups at least three times a week. That turned into a complete failure. For one week, I managed to do sit-ups the entire week, patting myself on the back for keeping it up. The next week? School projects and tests slapped me in the face and I lost the motivation to do continue. I only hope I can keep these resolutions until the end of 2009 or at least modify them only slightly to make them more doable. They seem easy enough...don't they?

Most years, I find the countdown anti-climactic. I look forward to the celebration before and after, the bonding and festivities that surround the occasion. I can only think of a handful of countdowns that felt like something. Typically? I hit that zero mark and think, "That's it? But nothing is different." I guess I forget, in that instant, that change does not come in a flash. Change does not happen instantly. I think that touches a subject and a different question all together that I do not feel like getting into.

Anyway, have a wonderful New Year's Eve celebration and may the next year be amazing, not just in that one second where 2008 turns into 2009, but throughout the 12 months, 365 days, however you want to count it. I am spending mine hopping parties and hanging out with dear friends of mine that I hold very close to my heart, for these besties of mine, are the kind that know that silence can be just as comforting as words, tears can be as healing as laughter, and doing absolutely nothing can be just as fun and priceless as doing something.

-Update-

And on a side-note, check out what my cousin created! UC Stock Photo seems like such a great idea to me and I only hope that success continues. Congratulations, Albert!