Peace, health and wealth — your hopes for 2012

Tomorrow is New Year’s eve. Standing on the cusp of a brand new year it’s only natural to reflect upon the 12 months that have passed, while also looking forward to what the new year will bring. We asked a few well-known people from various sectors of society what their resolutions are and what they would like to see more of in 2012. Over to them:

Muna Al Gurg, Director of Retail, Easa Saleh Al Gurg Group
“In 2012 I hope for a world without violence. Where no child is abused, no wife battered, no people killed. A world without terror, without threats, without wounds from intentional actions. Where the strong provide for the vulnerable, where the vulnerable become empowered, where every family is safe and secure, and everybody has a fair and equal chance at the pursuit of happiness. “My resolution this year is to continue to take myself out of my comfort zone and one of the specific things I will be doing is eating organic food to be healthier; I also promise to continue to mentor our youth in all possible ways.”

Isobel Abulhoul, Festival Director, Emirates Airline Festival of Literature
“New Year’s resolutions are all about change: for ourselves, our families, our work, our hobbies and for the world at large.
“It is no surprise that much of my thoughts are connected, no matter how tenuously, to the written word.
“I hope to have more time for leisurely reading in my daily life. It is such a relaxing and at the same time intellectual pursuit.
“I need to discipline myself better to take more regular exercise, which certainly makes me feel better when I do so. “The bugbear of my life, and many others’ too, is e-mails. How to better manage them and not spend hours on this activity? Maybe there is a book out there to help me? "The Literary Festival takes place in March so the first few months of the year are devoted to making sure the event is as good as possible.’ “For the world at large, the more that we can ensure that children have access to books and the skills to read and enjoy them, the better place our world will be.”

Saeed Ali Bin Redha, CEO, Global Village
“My resolution is to ensure I maintain the elements in my life that have continued to bring me joy, happiness and health. “Next year I plan to concentrate primarily on things that are of importance such as family, health and expanding the projects that I’m currently working on. The objective for 2012 is to look at the positive and eliminate aspects that may slow me down.”

Mohan Jashanmal, Indian businessman and regional manager of the Jashanmal National Company
“My resolutions are really my philosophic views on life. I want to work sincerely as always and bring a smile to every face.”

Vinod Talreja, CEO, Babyshop
“In 2012, I would like to renew my focus on my health and fitness goals. I plan to create a special regime, which is practical, achievable, easy to follow, combining a disciplined approach with commonsense, to reinsate my energy levels. I think the world really needs to become a much safer place for children. In 2011, we witnessed many instances of fatal accidents which might have been prevented if the necessary child-proofing measures were employed. People need to make their living environments safer.”

Vishal Tikku, Managing Director Kraft Foods, GCC and Middle East Shared services, Kraft Foods MEA
“What I would really like to do next year is spend more time talking to people instead of sending text messages. I would like to reinstate some of that good old-fashioned communication no matter how mundane the reasons may be. It’ll bring people closer together. “As for my wish for 2012, it is to simply have more time – to play more golf, have more TV-time, spend less of it in meetings and to enjoy lots and lots of long overdue quality moments with my family.  “I hope that 2012 will bring stability, peace and prosperity all over the world. It sure would be ideal to see more joy, less fear, poverty and hardship, more random acts of kindness and humanity, and less anger and fear.
“I would like to see everyone doing more of what they like doing simply because it will make them happy doing it. If it’s eating a bar of chocolate, eat it with joy and not guilt. So in 2012, let us all choose ‘happiness’ as the buzzword.”

Karim Merchant, CEO & MD of Pure Gold jewellers.
“On a personal and professional level 2011 was a great year and I look forward to another wonderful year in 2012.
“I recently became a father and I am enjoying the joys and responsibilities of being a dad. It is so easy to get caught up in other things in life, work for instance, and neglect the family so my resolution is to be there for my family as much as I can. I look forward to some wonderful memories that I can cherish forever. “I intend to have time not only for my family but also for myself, to be able to pursue my hobbies and keep myself fit and healthy; it’ll make me more productive.
“My resolution is to keep a positive attitude, look for opportunities even during tough economic times, look after my team and keep doing what I do, in a better, more productive way. So here is to a more positive happy 2012!”

Uwe Micheel, Director of Kitchens, Radisson Blu Hotel and President of the Emirates Culinary Guild
“Personally, I want to be healthier, pay attention to what I eat and get more exercise.
“Professionally, I want to work towards creating awareness about using only sustainable fish in cooking. I work closely with the Emirates Wildlife Society (EWS-WWF) and would like to make sure that endangered fish do not feature on the menus at restaurants. I want 2012 to be year when people think of brotherhood, peace and love. Most civil wars around the world are actually fought for money. I want people to work towards being less materialistic and more spiritual.”

Sarah Belhasa, Fashionista and owner of Studio 8 fashion boutique
“My first resolution for 2012 is to be fit and find the best nutrition and exercise plan that suits me. I sincerely want to have the willpower to stick to it! With life being so hectic, we won’t be able to keep pace if we neglect our health.
“My second wish for 2012 is to see business boom. Not just for my stores and restaurants but for Dubai in general. The buzz is back  in Dubai and I just want more people to come here and have a great time while boosting business.”

Sabrina Martorana, Wellness Club Manager of Balance Wellness Club
“I would like to manage my time better, so that I can set  my priorities and divide my time wisely between work and leisure. I would like to pay more attention to the time I invest in my relationships. “I resolve to detox and will begin by cleansing my body. This will help improve the quality of my life. I would like to put myself through an ayurvedic detox programme. I look for a more calm and peaceful world in 2012. I wish people would slow down the pace of their lives and enjoy quality time with their family.”

Janvi Gaur, Interior design consultant
“I want to let my creative spirit out in 2012. I want to be able to unleash all the ideas and visions I have for my business and find a canvas for them that can be viewed by people. Whether it’s through my paintings, my interiors or the artefacts in my store, I want to produce things people haven’t seen here before.
“My second wish is to invent something! I know it sounds ambitious but I have new and different ideas in me that need to come out. It could be a gadget, a concept or a business idea. I also wish the world will heal in 2012.”

Uma Ghosh Deshpande, entrepreneur, TV producer/anchor
“I believe in re-inventing myself each day and therefore, I do not believe in making resolutions. Every morning I wake up and am full of gratitude for what I have and look forward positively to what the day might have in store for me. “What I really want for the world in 2012 is more love between people. It’s a powerful emotion that can change the course of the world for the better. When people express love, it spreads a positive vibration, which multiplies manifold and eliminates all the negativity.”

Paul Oliver, Director of Absolute Adventure
“I plan to climb Mt Lobuche East in Nepal in April 2012 and am working towards it. It is about 6,400 metres. Mountain climbing gives me the greatest satisfaction as it pushes my physical and mental limits. I also plan to get back to doing charity. As co founder of Gulf for Good I did a lot of charity work. But after starting Absolute Adventure, I was left with little time. I have planned a big expedition to Africa in September next year where we will raise funds to deliver motorcycle ambulances to less developed countries.
“I hope conflicts between groups are better resolved and peace reigns in the Middle East and the world in 2012.”

Julie Ann Odell, life coach and founder Dubai Drums
This year is about getting myself in perfect health and vitality on all levels – spiritual, emotional, physical and mental so that I have enough energy to give out at the corporate and community level and my family as well.

My second resolve is to get my work-life balance right. We usually put ourselves very
low on the priority list. I want to focus on myself and give more time to my family comprising my husband Guy, daughter Dima, son Tamer and his wife Malak and their
two sons Murad and Omar.  For the world, 2012 is going to be a year of a quantum leap in consciousness. The Mayan calendar ends this year and I think it makes the new year a very significant one as we are fast moving towards being one world, one tribe. I wish the world realises the value of collaboration versus competition.”

Dave Crane, motivational trainer, e-commerce expert and hypnotist
“My resolutions: To be wicked and fearless in my goal to help motivate and train business owners and entrepreneurs worldwide with my new web TV show Turbo Charge Your Brand TV (it’s free), and to give my gorgeous wife Azizah and baby girl Maya an amazing year and an awesome time in 2012.
“Although 2012 is bound to be a tough year, I hope it will be easier to deal with the challenges. I wish recession will vanish and hope people value their friends, family and free time. Remember, you only get them once.”

Chris Dissanayake, founder of Familia de la Salsa, dance group and co-ordinator of the Dubai World Dance Festival
“I have reached a stage in life where I have achieved the career milestones I had planned and now I look forward to settling down. I haven’t really found someone, but sincerely hope to include this missing element in my life this year. I want to work towards making Dubai a more vibrant dance community. I want people to understand the underlying strengths of dance, teach them to dance for health and also show them how to allow themselves to have fun through dance.”