A number of things have made me feel that it’s time to take an honest look at what I’m doing with my life right now. This is partly because it’s New Year, but also for other reasons too. This might look self-indulgent, and it hasn’t been easy to write (particularly publicly), but here’s an honest review of where things are for me right now – I hope that 2013 will look more like what I value:

What I value

• honesty
• nature, wildlife, peace
• health, exercise, vegetarianism
• justice for my generation
• doing good in the world
• kindness to others, forgiveness
• abiding by the law

Failings in 2012

• Letting down those close to me
• Not taking opportunities or not making the most of the ones I had
• Not staying in touch with those I care about
• Not being confident in speaking out for what I believe
• Laziness
• Failing to call out injustice when I see or hear it

Successes in 2012

• Finishing my master’s degree
• Meeting amazing new people and becoming friends with some of them
• Being published by The Ecologist
• Getting my job at the RSPB
• Being selected as a winner of A Focus on Nature
• Becoming Co-Director of UK Youth Climate Coalition
• Working hard in my spare time towards what I care about

What a successful 2013 might look like

• Hard work for UK Youth Climate Coalition
• Successful delivery of projects for A Focus on Nature
• Succeeding in my job, in particular giving Select Committee evidence in late January (eek!)
• Spending more time in nature
• Saying yes to invites to social events
• Being honest (with myself and others) when I feel sad
• Walking, cycling and running more
• Writing and reading lots
• Spend less money
• Spend time on foreign languages
• Cook more
• Write letters
• Speak out for what I believe in
• Get a new job in April/May which contributes to making the world better in the ways I find important and which also pays the bills