I don’t usually make new year resolutions. It is not because I am perfect and doesn’t need to make any changes, but it is because of my lazy nature. I have made up my mind several times in the past about achieving this and achieving that, but usually I don’t ever bring myself to completing my projects.

So why this year ?

I don’t know, but I think it would be a good thing to try. Like a new cuisine or a new hair style,  sometimes a change is nice to have – they add spice to life. So I am going to give new year resolutions a try this year.

So what is different this time ?

This time I am publicly disclosing the things I want to achieve, the projects I want to complete. I remember having read somewhere that it would be good idea to make our aspirations public. This would help motivate us to complete our projects.

As of now, I have 3 things in mind for 2010.

• I have decided to write a series of blog posts on the common software design patterns made popular by the GoF. Why design patterns? Frankly, I don’t have a very clear reason. I know it is not the hottest topic to blog about, but it is definitely a useful one. Especially for me. I have been reading about design patterns, and occasionally putting to practice, since some time in 2003 when Binil gave me The Design Patterns book. Since then, I have read a few more books on the topic. But I don’t claim to be master on the topic. Actually far from it, my understanding of many of the “advanced” patterns are still vague. Haven’t we all heard the age old adage – “the best way to learn something is to teach it.”. So I am going to write about them, which will help me understand them better and if someone is able to glean something from my posts, it will be a pleasant bonus. This would also be a good exercise in writing and keep the blog rolling.  
• Read some books. Not the kind of glancing over that I do nowadays. A thorough reading. Understanding the concepts and making it part of myself. This is pretty ambitious. As of now I have two candidates in my mind for this project. The first book is Structure and Interpretation of Computer Programs (I have had this book for 3 years now) and the second one is Domain Driven Design (been in my shelf for a little over 2 years). These are not easy books to read. But they are important books to have read for any computer programmer. As I mentioned before this is quite an ambitious target. 
• Visit some places. I have been in the US of A for about 3.5 years now. But I haven’t seen many of the good places here. Even in Washington state, there are so many good places to see. Now that I am married I have a travel companion too

I don’t know how much of this I can accomplish (as with all other things in the future). But I think it is worth a try.

Wish me luck.