Every year I pull together a list of resolutions, some nebulous, some concrete, and all ambitious. I usually have no problems with doing this. I’m a list writer, and I like to have goals. However, this year I feel very hesitant. Mostly because I’ve realised that my birthday’s proximity to new year means that any 2012 resolutions will essentially form my pre-thirty ‘bucket-list’.

Now, don’t get me wrong. I’m not particularly worried about turning thirty (in 2013), but something about this year’s resolutions has me frozen in my sandals.

In an extreme state of exhaustion late last year I impulsively decided that the best resolution I could make for 2012 would be ‘no life-changing decisions’. None of this spontaneous ‘Hmmm, I might do a Masters degree’ or ‘Hmmmm, I might buy an apartment’ crap. All I really want is to just ‘be’ for a year.

However, if my itchy career feet are any indication, I suspect I will fail quite miserably at this. And also – what a pathetic resolution to have before turning thirty! Surely it should be something adventurous and crazy like bungee jumping, or sky diving, or learning how to do a cartwheel? And I’m sure I was supposed to learn how to play Mahjong by the time I was thirty.

Urgh. I am so not going to do any of those things. This is probably the best I can do:

• Learn how to ride a bike (NB: this is held over from last year, and I’m 40% of the way there. I have a bike).
• Sew a quilt for myself – I always sew for others. Now it’s my turn!
• Pace myself – no sense in rushing things, it’s too exhausting.
• Adjust to life with a mortgage and find a pastime other than shopping.
• Enjoy the moments.
• And as advised by a friend – learn how to walk and think about boys at the same time.

2012. Let’s do this thing.