A lot of great things have happened in 2009 for me. I graduated from college, got married, moved to Hampton Roads and got this job. Granted, it all happened in the last six months. The first six months were fairly unremarkable while I was working three jobs, my television broadcast internship and senior classes.

But, the New Year is about to dawn and 2009 will be recent history – one twenty-second of my life blown to the wind.

In retrospect, there isn’t much I would have done differently. Albeit, I wouldn’t do it again. I loved graduating, but the sleepless nights and panic of writing 20 pages in one night are not experience I want to relive. The same goes for the wedding. I’m so happy to be married, but I said it then and I’ll say now: It’s the marriage I want, not the wedding. Packing my entire life’s possessions in to my tiny pick-up truck without air conditioner, and driving them four hours, in the middle of May, between the last day of school and graduation was an experience to be sure. But, not one I want to relive.

Even if I would have done something differently a second time around, there most likely won’t be a second time around. Until then, I’m not about to give myself nightmares about it.

There are aspects of myself and character that could use some thinking about. That is the intent of New Year resolutions – to take the time to examine ourselves.

Introspection is never a pretty thing. At least, not when I do it.

By New Year’s, I’m usually acutely aware of my shortcomings and know what I need to do and how to do it.

High on my list this year are to be more consistent with my workout routine; go to the doctor and fix that pinched nerve in my back, my exercise induced asthma and flat feet; take better care of my truck; try not to be so critical; stay in better touch with my loved ones and keep my things better organized.

It’s at this point I create a plan on how to accomplish my plans.

This is where I encounter problems, and I’m probably not alone. People typically don’t know where to start or create such an elaborate plan that nothing gets accomplished. I fall in to the latter category.

For example, take my workout routine. I’ve played soccer since I was 4 years old until I graduated and have been accused of being a gym rat in the past. I found a route around my apartment that I ran for a few months. Once the cold weather hit, it scared me inside as fast as it scared all bugs inside.

To accomplish my resolution and defeat winter, I’ve determined I need to get some compression gear to keep me warm, ear warmers because the inside of my ears burn in the cold and an inhaler because last time I went running in the cold my lungs seized up so badly I sounded like I had tuberculosis for two days.

I got an Under Armour headband to cover my ears and my marathon running husband got me compression gear for Christmas (hint, hint). Now, I just have to get my lungs taken care of.

But going to the doctors office is another series of obstacles – an elaborate plan to keep me from achieving my New Year’s resolutions.

The lesson here is like Nike says: Just do it.

LEila ROche is a reporter for the Suffolk News-Herald. She can be reached at 757.934.9613 or at leila.roche@suffolknewsherald.com