My brother, Adam Salamon, has been in London with me for the past two weeks, and we toasted to a successful 2009 last night. After dinner with friends, a bottle of Dom Perignon, and dancing until 4:00am at BUGGED Out! in Shoreditch, I’m ready to start the new year with focus and a healthy dose of resolutions.

Fireworks in London

I spent some time today on Psychology Today’s Blog, where dozens of psychologists contribute articles for self-improvement. Of course today, the blog is swarming with New Year’s Resolution material. How to get richer, thinner, and healthier. The surprising facts about making resolutions. Saying bye-bye to 2009. But there is one article that stood out to me: “Where Will You Be Next January? Write it Down Tonight.” Blogger, author, and professor Gina Barreca, Ph.D. says it makes sense to write down the things that concern you today, so you can reflect on them next year. Maintain a list of the things that scare you the most, excite you the most, concern you the most. Then look back next January to see whether you’ve made progress, met your goals, improved yourself, or overcome some of the fears that haunted you. This is an exercise Dr. Barreca has been practicing since 1972. For me, I’ll start today.

I’m making my list tonight. I’m going to spend the year reading more, learning more, traveling more, creating more, and celebrating life more. I’m ready to master my personal fitness unlike ever before (I’ve lost over 100 pounds this decade), excel at my job, prepare for grad school, and seize the day.

Here’s to a great 2010!