31st of December is here!
Another year has slipped by, having an immense impact on myself and all those around me. Yet, what is a year? What is time?
Intangible, without scent or taste, a year of time can see a person's life ebb and flow, rise and fall, wax and wane.
What has 2010 been like for you? Would you say you have had a good year?
For me 2010 has been pretty great. I won't bore you with a recap of my year. I really have nothing to complain about. But if I was writing a report card for 2010, I would have to include the comment -
"Room for improvement, 2010!".
All around the globe people are devising resolutions that I'm sure they plan to see through. A resolution is a promise to yourself - that you will stop smoking, that you will lose weight, that you won't ever dress up as a banana for money again...
Anyway.
Resolutions are like rules. They are made to be broken. They also make you lazy. Yes, you can argue they provide structure and a general blueprint of conduct, but how often does being programmed like this, with other people's rules, actually turn out well for you?
Rules and resolutions both allow you to not engage your brain. Auto-pilot goes on, and then you wonder why you couldn't fulfil your resolutions.
Resolutions and toasts are made on New Year's Eve (or Hogmanay in Scotland!) as alcohol is not-so-delicately mixed with whispers of hope and adamant exclamations. Romances begin and end. Deceased loved ones and lost opportunities are mourned.
And then people get down in the dumps (what does that saying really mean anyway?) when they don't quit the cancer sticks, or they revert to being salad dodgers or, for whatever reason, they can't help but dress up as bananas (I have never done this, this is just for comic effect, honest...).
My advice, if you are interested, is simply don't make resolutions. Life is not black and white. You can't simply make a promise to yourself, that you have made (and broken) every year for as long as you can remember, and expect some magic Hairy Hogmanay Hippogriff (yes it is a thing!) to make it all happen for you, on your behalf.What I suggest, and what I plan to do myself, is to hold in mind some goals, short term and long term if that's how you roll, and intend. Yes, intend. By intending to do something, you set your mind in motion, and, the idea is, I think, that your thoughts and actions will begin to converge towards achieving what you have focused your intent on.
In fact I'm doing it now. I know you can't see me, but I really am.
There is no reason why we should wait til midnight on 31st of December to plan on making our lives and ourselves better.
So, however 2010 has been for you, I am absolutely sure 2011 will be even better. I am intent on it!
7 comments:
Nice post David! I intend to follow the whisperings of my heart, wherever they may lead me. It's hard to know now what they will say in six months. Wishing you the best in the coming year. Raises glass to 2011!
Aw thank you. All the best to you and yours. xx
Lovely way to end one year and begin another, sugar! Happy New Year and all the best to you and yours in 2011! xoxoxxo
I was stopping by because I wanted to wish you a happy new year and thank you for being a follower of my blog. It means a lot to me. Thank you. May your new year be filled with laughter, more joy than sorrow, peace, and wisdom. Blessings to you. Happy new year!
Hello, David:
And I am of the same camp.
Why wait till the new year?
I try, in any small way, to be better than the day before.
Kinder, more attentive, more disciplined: some little change.
Happy New Year to you, and I do wish something fun and exciting for you in 2011.
Your arguments are very convincing, but I'm afraid I'm still going to make resolutions for 2011. I need to be able to measure my failures :o)
I was having a pretty decent 2010 until the last two weeks, when it got very bleak indeed.
I do agree with you on the resolution thing. I like the idea of "intent." It sounds less intimidating and more doable.
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