I think i have done it. After 22 years on this earth I am sure that I can finally understand the way to get everything I have ever wanted for the coming year. I have successfully solved the mystery of making a realistic and promising New Years Resolution. Throughout this year I saw the answers all revealed to me in a dream (or was that my Facebook newsfeed?) And now, in a stroke of kindness to end the year, I have decided to share all of them with you.
“I’m going to lose weight and clean eat!”
Bless your heart darlings, you’ve been trying so hard! You posted multiple pictures of protein pancakes, protein shakes, various shades of Nike and Lorna Jane motivational posts. Total weight lost? 2.4567kgs. Total Instagram followers gained? 643. Winning.
“Cannot wait to read more.”
You spent your childhood reading Harry Potter and now that you’re in your 20s, you decided that 2014 was going to be the year you read the entire Great Books of the Western Cannon. You signed up with Dymocks and bought all of Shakespeare’s plays. Then you Googled some quotes and posted them on Facebook, got 25 likes and everything thought that you were ‘heaps deep’. Did you actually read any of the plays? Nah mate, everyone knows everyone dies in the end. Nailed it.
“Will actually save money this year!”
There was no set goal, but you knew that it was a good idea because maybe you might buy a house or something this year, So you put $100 each week in savings. That’s $400 a month! That’s $4800 a year! Any extra money you earned was going to go to savings too! So, maybe $6000 by the end of 2014. But then you got hungry. And went clubbing. Saw some new shoes. Assassins Creed was released. You ‘needed’ a new laptop. That watch had your name on it. You got hungry again. And again. Oh… You have $500 in your bank account and a maxed out credit card. But you still saved $500! Sweet.
Just make sure you’re doing what you’re doing because YOU want to, not because someone thinks you’ll be better if you do it.
After researching/stalking/reading/lamenting the three most common New Years Neverlutions of 2014, I realised there was one common denominator for all of our failings: we never really make a goal that’s entirely intelligent or relevant to us personally. The goals we make are neither realistic in their conclusions and we end up getting upset because our social media mustangs weren’t fooling anyone.
For years I would make a resolution based on what I thought I should be doing or what other people suggested would be beneficial for me. While everyone is very sweet, I realised that I was the only person who knew deep down all the things that I needed to change.
I did some more research and asked some friends of various ages and life stages what a New Years Resolution meant to them. They all defined it as the same thing: a promise that you make to yourself.
One person said something that really struck me. He said that his resolutions would never be completed in a year because he was always choosing one major thing to focus on for the year that then became something that he could focus on for a lifetime. Like bettering himself at his career or becoming more financially savvy. It made a lot of sense to me, because once I sat down and thought about it like that, I realised that all of my resolutions from previous years all changed as the given year progressed.
In 2014, I encouraged everyone to find comfort within their physical self. in 2015 I’m going to encourage you to do something a little bit simpler.
There is no denying that 2014 was a tough year for everyone. As I write this, Sydney is still recovering from the siege a couple of weeks ago. It’s been a year defined by loss and sadness for many, and as I look back on 2014, I realised that my resolution changed. I decided that I did not want my year to be defined by sadness and pain.
I started focussing on something good or happy that happened every day. It was hard. I’m a naturally pessimistic person, and training yourself to think differently is a difficult thing to do. We’re entering crucial years of our life, when who we are now becomes the setting for who we are as actual ‘adults’, so let’s make sure that we think differently to those who came before us and see the best in ourselves and in others.
As we enter 2015, I want you all to worry less about the bullshit. If 2014 has taught us anything it’s that life is too short to try and make everyone else happy. Live for the now, be a 20-something and be selfish. Do things that are going to better yourself and make an effort to be happy. Enter the year thinking that this is the year that the magic will happen. This year you will fall in love, save the money you need to get you to New York, read the books you want and dye your hair bright green. If you want to learn Swahili, then do it. Lose weight, gain weight, stay exactly the same; just make sure you’re doing what you’re doing because YOU want to, not because someone thinks you’ll be better if you do it.
I hope you all have a smashing New Years Eve and that you get the best kiss/hand hold/hug of your life at midnight (I know I will). Stay safe and live it up.
Catch you on the flip-side!
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