G’day everyone and welcome to my first ever new years message. It is a new tradition which I want to start doing every year and posting on New Years Eve. It’s more a message from me to me and at the end of each year, I will look back on it and see if it made any sense. See if I lived up to it. See if I was true to its word.
For those of you watching this message, I have obviously pre written it and am reading it from the screen, but the message is from the heart so please bear with me.
For those of you watching it or reading it, I hope that you get something out of it too, which is why I am publishing it.
My aim is to be able to record one of these messages each year. How good will it be to look back at my 2012 New Years message in the year 2050! We live in the digital age and we have the ability to do such things. I hope my kids, when they are adults, can look back at this and remember their dad as I was when they were kids. I hope they remember the good times and that I love them with all of my being. They are the reason I exist. I would do anything for them.
So 2011 was a big year. Not the best year but a year of change and one that was needed. That’s enough said about 2011. It’s in the past and I can’t do anything about it. The future is here and the future is 2012. For those of you who know me well, you will know that I have the attitude that anything is possible. Anything! If you believe in it enough, then it will happen. No I’m not talking about flying without the aid of a plane, or that you will win lotto or you can time travel, but real stuff, measurable stuff. Anything is possible.
That is the attitude I want my kids to have as well. The best way for me to teach them that is to lead by example. I believe anything is possible. I need to be better. As citizens of humanity, if we don’t grow and be better each year then that year is wasted. We all want to live in a better place. In a better world. How do we do that? It really is a very simple philosophy. Treat others as you wish to be treated.
Smile at people. Thank people. Be nice to each other. Give a stranger a random compliment. Pick up litter if you see it. Ask the person serving you how their day is and thank them for their service.
Keep left on the road when driving. Allow others to overtake you. Don’t tail gate. Be ready to go as soon as the light turns green. Leave room for people to turn left at T intersections when you are trying to turn right. Slow down in school zones. Don’t drink and drive.
Be aware of your surroundings when walking in shopping centres. Allow room for people to walk past you especially when you are walking 4 wide. Don’t cut them off with your trolley filled with half price Christmas bargains.
Have the courage to stand up and say no to bullies if you can. Don’t put yourself in danger though but if you see an opportunity to stop a crime or stand up and protect someone then take that opportunity. If more people in the world said no to this anti social behaviour then I believe that would we live in a better place.
In 2012 I hope to see the Brisbane Lions resurrect from almost a decade of on and off field disasters. We have a young list but a list with some genuine talent led by the experience of Jonno Brown and Simon Black. We were competitive in 2011 without winning. The pressure is on to make the finals in 2012 which I believe we can and will. The Gabbatoir will once again be the stadium of pain for visiting teams and I aim to go to more games in 2012 than the zero I went to in 2011. Though I did do a special road trip to the SCG in Round 24 to see the final game of the year for the Lions against Sydney. I will be a better member in 2012.
In a couple of months from now, the Broncos start life without inspirational skipper, Darren Lockyer. It will be an interesting year for the guys at Red Hill. I honestly have no idea how we will go in 2012 so therefore I have no expectations. That being said, with big Petero returning and with a group of talented youngsters, will Peter Wallace becoming the playmaker we all believe he can be without Locky outside him? Will we make the finals again? Will we be competitive? Will Suncorp Stadium be the cauldron of misery for all visiting teams? Time will tell. I can’t wait.
Last year I lost over 20kg. I am going to replicate that again in 2012.
You all know I am a big movie buff and I saw 35 films at the cinema in 2011. I wonder if I will see more in 2012. Definitely on the list will be the conclusion to the Christopher Nolan Batman films and I look forward to seeing The Dark Knight Rises in July. I also can’t wait to see Tom Cruise in Rock of Ages and at the end of the year on Boxing Day, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey and with an eye on Valentines Day, 2013 will be the new Die Hard movie, It’s A Good Day To Die Hard. Ok so that doesn’t qualify for 2012 it does start shooting in Russia in January so it makes the list.
2012. The year the world ends as predicted by the Mayans. It is also the year I turn 40. So what better way to kick off the final year of life as we know it than to have a couple of parties. In August for my 40th we’ll be celebrating with the theme of Favourite Movie Characters. In December I will be hosting the “End of the World Party” where my guests will come dressed in the theme of Sci-Fi, aliens, mad scientists or even dressed as an ancient Mayan.
In 2012 there’s gonna be less of this (iPhone) and more of this (books). I need to read more. I love reading and I have at least ten novels I need to start.
I’m also going to finish writing my book. It may not be a very good book but I am going to finish it damn it! Then I can start on my movie script. Without giving away too many clues, it is a movie musical. I will need a lyricist so if you know of one, let me know. It promises to be a tear jerker as my niece, Misti, who knows the plot, has said.
Yep, 2012 is gonna be big. It’s gonna be better. It’s gonna be a year of hope. A year of change. A year of finding total happiness. A year of giving my girls a life that is well deserved.
Happy new year to all. Be inspired. Be the best you can be.
Jack
“In 2012 I hope to see the Brisbane Lions resurrect from almost a decade of on and off field disasters”
Similarly I hope to see the mighty and superior Richmond Tigers show their true worth in 2012.
A happy new year to you, too.