Do New Year’s Resolutions tick you off? I mean really, what’s there to like about a weepy, nagging list of impossible must-do’s that force you to focus on your absolute worst qualities?

“Lose weight.”
“Stop (bad habit)-ing.”
“Stick to a budget.”

Blecch. Sounds like a lot of pointless self-loathing to me, so I refuse to participate. Instead, I’ve compiled a list of things I really like to do do – and therefore, will be doing more of in 2009, just because they make me happy:

Writing – blogging, novelling, etc.
Singing – specifically, perfecting my “signature set” in karaoke.
Riding – my motorcycle. Far too little of this in the year just past.
Appreciating – my home and family, especially marveling at the person that is my daughter.

Most importantly, though, in 2009 I’ll be looking for ways to pay forward just a fraction of the kindnesses shown to my family and I in 2008. A little Kevin Spacey, a little “My Name is Earl,” perhaps, but it sounds like a wonderful year.

What could possibly go wrong?

You might think, after the year I’ve had, that I’d be reluctant to post a “year in review.” Although I did recently vote 2008 my Least Favorite Year in Over a Decade, there were a few good things that came out of it. So in the spirit of putting a positive spin on a truly horrible year, here are the good things that happened to me in the year just past:

I started a new job that I really like.
We bought a very nice new house. (Bonus: I got to experience the whole house-hunting/buying process for the first time ever.)
I was given, once again, the opportunity to purge my earthly belongings and redefine the type of “stuff” that’s important to me.
I learned a new craft/creative skill: digital scrapbooking.
I was reminded of who my true friends are.
I was given the opportunity to realize how well-liked and widely known my father was.
We had a lovely holiday season in our new house, with plenty of room for visitors and the amazing feeling of no longer being the largest object in any room.

How about you? In spite of whatever troubles you faced, were there positives that came out of them? Share them here!