The Kat Files

    The new year is fast approaching.  I’m getting excited because I like new beginnings.  However, before I embark on my litany of new year’s resolutions, I want to take a moment to revisit what worked and didn’t work for me in 2011.

    I started January 2011 off with taking an acting class with the actor Lance Nichols, who has a recurring role as Dr. Larry Williams on the HBO television series Treme.  February showed some promise in my pursuit of a new career as a freelancer. I booked my first background acting gig on Treme, worked as an office production assisistant on a Web Reality series, and signed up with a temp agency. I started working a temp job at WYES in March, which I absolutely loved. I love my WYES family! In addition to the WYES job,  April was also my debut as a zombie, another acting class with Lance, and camping with the Cub Scouts at Fountainebleu State Park. May was somber with the death of our guinea pig, Cinnamon, and the end of my temp job at WYES. However, June brought about a callback from an audition I had for Edible Arrangements, directing shifts at WYES for Art Auction, and no surgery on my liver. July was pretty relaxing. Spent a lot of time at home with Andrew, as well as doing things with family and friends. We even fostered a stray dog for two weeks. August was the start of a new school year and my happiness project.  I did NOT have to go back into the classroom. And, I started running again. I subbed at HGS a lot in September and started working another temp job at WYES. October was super busy with subbing at HGS during the day and directing the Showboat Auction at night. I also ran a 5K. November brought Thanksgiving, my evening with Stephen King, and my first speaking role in a short film called Hotcakes. Alas, December….subbed most of the month, celebrated a quiet Christmas with family, and son #1 came home for the holidays. Overall, a busy year, and these were just some of the highlights. I looked into possibilities, took opportunities, and made a few assessments. I NOW know what I don’t want to do;  however, I am still trying to figure out what I want to do, which brings me to a new year.

    2012 is my year to shed. Without sounding melodramatic, I believe if I can shed some things from my life, I will be able to focus on what I want to do with the rest of the time I have left on this earth. Below is my list of what I want to shed or get rid of in my life this year:

• bad habits
• weight
• responsibilities
• stuff
• debt
• fear

    I figure I should tackle the issues that are holding me back, so I can really maximize my life. Some of the things on my list I will shed naturally, while others will take work. Although I am grateful for my experiences in 2011, I’m excited about the prospects of 2012. Happy New Year!

Check out Gretchen Rubin’s blog about resolutions. http://www.happiness-project.com/

“Write it on your heart that every day is the best day in the year.” ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson