My husband and I got a puppy. A beautiful chow chow that we named Leo. He is a true delight and what I have realised, without sounding like a crazy dog lady, is that he has more heart and soul than some human beings and that he is a wonderful companion, a gorgeous sidekick and a true best friend.

Then:

Now: 

I started the Melbourne Writers’ Club and met wonderfully clever people. It has become a fixture on my calendar, and amazingly, on other peoples too.

I stuck to a few resolutions I made at the beginning of the year; I only put effort into and spent time with people I liked. I kept a memories box, something I hadn’t done since I was a teenager – it is now filled with ticket stubs and coasters from bars, boarding passes and programmes from shows, and pictures my niece and nephews have drawn for me. It will go in the storage room, marked in texta with ‘2011’ and one day I will search through the contents of it and smile.

Then there’s the resolutions I met, but still want to build upon; take more photographs. Write, a lot, and then some. Read more books.

I laughed. Sometimes so hard my abs were sore the next day.

I, along with my friend and Fashion Editor Sarah Kempson, successfully created, organised and ran Onya Aid, an event that raised $6,000 for the Red Cross, to help those directly affected by the Queensland and Victorian floods. We did it all in nine days.

I spoke in front of 700 people.

I realised that in the online and print media world, there is so much junk. So many poorly written articles. So many faux journalists. So many ‘real’ journalists that are truly terrible. So many glossy magazines devoid of substance. So many websites and blogs devoid of intelligence or inspiration. It encouraged me to get back to basics and develop a very clear plan for this magazine. Because if there’s anything I’m proud of, it’s the growth and quality of this magazine.

It also spurred me, and my dear friend Liv Hambrett, to create something new. Something we’ll unveil in 2012.

I jumped ships and got an iPhone after having a BlackBerry for six years.

I met Billy Connolly. And smiled for a month.

I was nominated for one of the best Australian Blogs of 2011, by the Sydney Writers’ Centre.

I realised I could run for longer than I thought I could.

I flew to Sydney just to see the Annie Leibovitz exhibition.

Every day, I work for a company I love, in a role that is stimulating, challenging and always different, with a supportive team. I’m not sure many people get to do that.

My Aunty and Godmother died. It still doesn’t feel real.

I nearly went to New York.

I interviewed a lot of very talented and interesting people. I saw a lot of shows and gigs. I was on a panel that got to select and assist some serious Melbourne talent.

I explored, got lost, drove around, discovered new things, cooked my way through recipe books, spat out cider, bought shoes, wore out a coffee machine and spoke to my Mum everyday.

I cut six inches off my hair. It’s still pretty long.

I edited a book.

I spent eight days (and countless hours of preparation) running two camps for over 100 Year 9 students.

I learnt that success means different things to different people. My version is no less favourable than yours.

I finally managed to refine my working from home routine.

I learnt that nothing is a given and nothing is a right. As Don Draper says, ‘You’re good. Get better. Stop asking for things.’ So I did things instead. Turns out, actions do speak louder than words.

I realised that luck has very little to do with anything.

I loved.

I was loved back.