It’s hard to believe that it’s already 2013 but I’m hoping it will be as great or even better than 2012. This past year was one for the records – I traveled to three continents, went out of my comfort zone and met people from around the world who in some way or another, have taught me a life lesson. As I did last January, here are 5 New Years Resolutions I hope to keep.

1) Travel to the A’s: Asia, Africa and/or Australia

I’m putting an and/or in this one because even for me, visiting three continents in one year isn’t something that I’m necessarily counting on. However, Asia, Africa (minus Egypt) and Australia are three continents that I’ve actually never traveled to, which might come as a surprise to some. Most of my travels have been in North and South America and throughout Europe and while I’ve had some fantastic experiences, my bohemian trails has not led me to the three A’s….yet. I’m ready to venture past Europe and into cultures that are far more different than anything I’ve encountered thus far. I know there is much for me to learn here, just as there are lessons waiting for me in my own backyard.

2) Implement More Vlogs into my Blogs

I’m completely comfortable with writing. It’s well within my comfort zone and I thoroughly enjoy putting my thoughts into a story. Video blogging, or vlogs, are not quite my cup of tea but I would like them to be. It’s been looming over my mind the past six months and I hope to add some video to my blog posts starting in 2013. I’ve done a bit of video before but I always just feel awkward because I am naturally shy. Yet, I think that with a little practice I could get more comfortable and make it a regular part of Bohemian Trails. As much as I love writing, there are some things that are better seen than read and this is especially true when it comes to travel. In a perfect world, one would complement the other, leading to a more worthwhile travel experience.

3) Find A Balance That Works For Me

This is somewhat of a constant struggle. I want to travel but I don’t want to travel too much. I want to have a homebase yet a few weeks in one place have me itching to travel. I want to make more money but I don’t want to sacrifice my flexible schedule for a full-time office job.  I could keep going but I’m sure you get the drift. I love that there is a constant wanderlust about me but sometimes I wish I could view life more simply. Why do I feel restless if I’m in one place too long? Why do I miss home within days of arriving somewhere new? While I doubt I’ll completely solve the riddle of my life I do hope to find a balance that works for me and makes me happy.

4) Finish Writing a Book

I’m using the word finish because if I say “start” I’ll likely never start. “Finish” means that I will not only have to start a book but I’ve promised myself to finish it within the year. I have the typical writer dilema – one where you are always working on a novel but it’s never quite complete. I’ve alluded to my dreams of writing a fiction book before and those dreams haven’t gone anywhere. I think that sometimes I’m so afraid of failing that I don’t even try, and that’s a major problem. This year I want to enjoy the writing process without being super critical on myself. Yes, I may fail as I fail at something almost daily, but if I don’t try then I will never know and that’s not a risk worth taking.

5) Volunteer at Home or Abroad

Probably stemming from resolution #4, volunteering is something that I’ve done before and want to do again. In fact, I’m not sure why I haven’t done more local volunteering in New York City. Like many other people, I use the lame excuse of not having enough time to do one thing or another but the truth is that if you really want to do something, you find a way to make the time. Whether I decided to volunteer in New York or in another country, I hope to make a small difference in someone else’s life. In reality, I have a pretty blessed life and while I try to remember to be thankful everyday, I jump on the jaded train every so often. I’ve always found it fascinating that some of the poorest countries have the happiest people and instead of worrying about my own troubles, I want to add some positivity to someone else’s life.

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