I didn’t make any resolutions for the new year. I usually don’t so this year is no different. But I did start a 2012 to-do list and it is growing every day. It’s mostly acting related.

1. Take new classes – check. Signed up for Sears and Switzer here in Toronto. They start later this month and I’m sooo looking forward to them. I studied with Alan Goodley of The Acting Academy last year and I highly recommend him to folks looking for lots of one-on-one and great material to work with. He introduced me to some incredible plays I had never heard of. (I tried to include a link but it doesn’t seem to be working – hope he’s still teaching!)

2. Get new headshots. I should have had this one completed already but it has taken a bit more time to work this one out. I was going to get a friend to shoot them but our schedules didn’t match up. Then another friend offered and we are now finalizing deets. I also need a haircut. Should probably do that before the shoot.

3. Get my butt in front of some CDs. Harder than it sounds. Toronto CDs don’t provide generals like they seem to do in LA. And many also do not offer CD workshops. This too seems to be an LA phenomenon. So the only way is to match the type and role they are currently casting. And to somehow get on the list when they normally pull from their safe list of actors they have seen previously. If you’re a newbie…this is the toughest stage to get past. That would be my stage. Few credits + beginner demo reel = frustration. So working with my kick ass agent to come up with a game plan.

4. Kick my butt into kick ass shape. Why am I paying for a gym membership I don’t use? Ya…I know….this one is alllll my fault. Pure and utter laziness. Well no more. Operation fit Char is being deployed. And they are finally fixing the gym in my bldg so I may end up saving myself some coin.

5. Eat healthier and cook more. This one I’m actually enjoying. I love food. And who knew I’m actually a pretty good cook? I’ve been doing lots of reading on food and the crap that gets into our diet via pesticides, chemicals, steroids and all sorts of scary crap. So I’ve been switching to an organic diet. At least at home. Hard to stick to when you go out unless you bring your own ingredients to the restaurants you go to.  But even eating better at home makes a difference. Want to learn more about good vs. bad food? Greenpeace put together an awesome guide on GMOs and if you’re not sure – go organic!

6. Save. Save. Save. I really suck at this one. I get money and I spend it. Repeat. The thing is like many actors out there I am making enough to pay my rent, bills and put food in the fridge and don’t have much left for anything else. Or I save for short-term things. I also have debt. Again, not good. So that could be its own item – pay off debt. But I just put it into the save category. But really it’s the 1st part of “save.” This one requires lots of work. Ugh.

And there are more. Many more. So you can see how making 1 or 2 “resolutions” just won’t cut it. These are things I have to do. So I just keep referring to my to-do list, add to it, cross things off when I can and then add some more.

Happy happy joy joy.