A New Year will see a brand new me (well mostly)

For my final blog of 2012 I was going to do a review of the year. I mean, no one else does that do they? However I’ve been worn down by the endless stream of reviews so that’s a no go, writes blogger Ali.

So what to write about? 2012 has been a huge year of change for me. And I guess along the way I’ve learnt a few things. Only a few mind – I still don’t have any basic plumbing skills, and frankly technology is a baffling world of acronyms, none of which make any sense to me at all. But there are a few things I’ve learnt. And I guess that’s the hook on which I will hang my blog this time. An undercover review of my year in the guise of things I’ve learnt. Foolproof. No one will spot that.

As the year started, I was facing unemployment for the first time. I am not a natural planner. I prefer to leave things until the last minute and then have the excitement of seeing what happens. As a result, I left “thinking about” unemployment to the last minute. Or, more accurately, the first minute of unemployment. I literally went from running around like a mad thing to.... nothing. I suddenly had no reason to get up, no routine, no purpose, nothing of consequence to achieve. It was horrible. So lesson one is about thinking ahead. In retrospect, why didn’t I set some goals, think about what I wanted to achieve while I had a lot of time on my hands? Instead I wasted large amounts of time and then, literally the day after I got a job I remembered the book I was going to write...

The second thing I learnt this year was about the goodness of people. I have been consistently struck this year with how kind people are. My friends have been outstanding for the last 12 months. Their patience in dealing with my nonsense, ability to make me laugh and uncanny knack of finding stupid things to entertain me is second to none. I am so lucky to have them.

But beyond my friends, I have been struck with how brilliantly kind people are. Out of nowhere a whole load of people have come into my life and made it so much better. From helping me plan my Asia trip, to suggesting comedy programmes that will cheer me up. I’ve been offered free cinema tickets when I’ve had no money, career advice all sorts. I now have friends to go to Exeter games with and feel far less alone in London than I thought I would. All of this has been offered without an agenda. My recent self-obsession had made me forget how fundamentally generous and supportive people are. This year has reminded me.

At the risk of sounding very hippyish, another thing I’ve learnt is that the biggest fear is fear itself. Having spent many years not doing anything for fear of it going wrong, this year I have taken more risks and as a result had a lot more fun. The analogy I would use is ice skating. Trying that again for the first time in many years, I found the best technique is to lean forward and go fast. Of course I will fall harder if I fall, but actually I found that I was less likely to fall. It’s almost like a bit of belief keeps you protected. And that’s the way I am going to live now – lean into the challenges and hit them fast. Face my fears. Live a little. The ice hasn’t claimed me as a victim yet.

I guess the final and most valuable lesson I have been taught this year is about choosing my attitude. I want to be the person who positively attacks each day, sees the opportunities in everything and is accepting and non judgemental of people. On my good days I manage some of these things and feel so much happier as a result. I guess it is all about being content with yourself. I don’t believe in New Year resolutions, but this one is a life resolution for me. Wish me luck with that as I’m going to need it!

So that’s what I’ve learnt this year. Without doubt 2012 has been the happiest year of my life so far, despite fairly hideous things happening. Where ever you are, whatever you’re doing I wish you a happy, healthy and prosperous 2013. See you next time.