We make them, we break them. Sometimes we even achieve them. What better time than the start of a new year to set ourselves some goals. Some well-known Canberrans share their resolutions.
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Harry Bates, rally driver: After a year where I was the fastest rally driver in the country but didn't get to complete the final round this month and win the national championship, my 2022 resolution is to enjoy every moment of travel and competition, and never take doing what I love, driving rally cars, for granted. After such a disrupted 2020 and 2021, I have certainly learned I need to appreciate what I do, whenever I get to do it.
Ben Alexander, chief energy tracker at Alfred and co-owner of The Dock: To slow down so I can be more mindful and more consistent. And be more efficient with my energy.
Sarah McDougall, co-owner and winemaker at Lake George Winery: I've been thinking about living more sustainably and following the movement of buying nothing new. So my resolution is to buy less and I'm opening a pre-loved vintage shop named Mary-Go-Around at the winery on January 8.
Coralie Wood, publicist: Before I go to heaven playing Yente in Fiddler on the Roof again and getting back to seeing the CAT Awards striving ahead for the next 26 years.
Anne Somes, Free-Rain Theatre Company: 2022 is looking to be a very big year. For myself, it will be life, family, work, fun balance. Wish me luck and keep the "I told you so" to a minimum.
Fred Smith, musician: In 2022, I'm going to try to do less! It seems the more I set out to achieve, the more time I spend on a computer; the more time I spend on a computer, the worse I feel. And to spend more time walking in the Brindabellas.
Leonard Weiss, conductor, musician and composer: As far as artistic practice is concerned, I think that my resolution is to create/perform music in a way that is interesting and meaningfully engages with contemporary society. And as always to continue working on my technique.
Professor Simon Haberle, director of the Canberra Pollen Monitoring Unit: 1. Shave more often - like it's 2019; 2. Travel once overseas - maybe; 3, Deliver an even better pollen monitoring program to serve the hay fever sufferers of Canberra - is that possible, I hear you ask? Yes, it is and more will be revealed in the year ahead.
Jackie French, author: My New Years' Resolution is "Do Not Have A New Year's Resolution". If I wasn't deeply committed to something on December 31, there's no chance that a promise made to myself the next day will work. I'm not sure I've met anyone who's ever had an entirely successful New Year's Resolution. The best resolutions slowly creep up on you, as you gradually understand that "the best thing to do now is..." Never stop hunting for "the best thing to do", but on New Year's Day have something cool and delicious to drink instead.
Jordan Best, artistic director Queanbeyan Performing Arts Centre: I confess I have never really been a fan of New Year's resolutions, because obviously every year I'm going to get super thin, and fit, and just become generally perfect in every way, but it seems this is a work in progress. That being said, there are a few things that I will be working towards as we head into another year. I'm going to be better at writing things down. My aging brain isn't as excellent at retaining information, so I shall write in the notebooks, instead of just collecting blank ones. I will give the dogs baths more regularly, for the benefit of all of us.
Father Tony Percy, St Anthony's, Wanniassa: To take out a subscription to The Canberra Times to be better informed.
Graham Catt, Canberra Business Chamber: Three things: professionally, to keep our Canberra businesses that provide nearly two-thirds of Canberra's jobs and help bring prosperity; two, really take advantage of being in Canberra and stay safe and healthy physically and mentally; and three, make time for the things that really matter - relationships with friends and my family, my wonderful wife and children.
Dr David Caldicott, emergency consultant and senior lecturer in medicine at the ANU: Many of my colleagues in health are working on our fitness - not just because working with COVID, over what looks likely will be months, demands it, but because we will all have better outcomes if we're "fit" and become infected. I'm going to try harder to deliberately seek out common ground with the people who I disagree with - unless they're just patently evil people - and try and do my bit to stop the siloing going on all around us. I'm also going to try and some more mindful time with the family, if circumstances, (plague, locusts, etc) allow it. Maybe write some more "non-medical" stuff, and fight some good fights against bad people.