Happy New Year! I feel like I haven’t posted anything since last year. (Get it?) You’ll be pleased to know that one of my resolutions for this year isn’t giving up silly, overdone jokes. That’s a laugh all on its own, really. However, now is officially the time when new year’s resolutions come into effect. People will be making all sorts of changes: starting new habits, and giving old ones up. It’s like Lent, only this hangover lasts 365 days (or 366 in this case), not 40. And for those of you doing dry January (I’m not—fat chance!), perhaps you’ll wake up even more resolved, telling yourself you’ll never drink again. Does it feel real yet? Do you regret any of your resolutions? It’s okay if you do! Truth be told, I’m far worse than you lot. I gave up my resolutions before the year began, and why is that? Perhaps at this time you’re wondering what I’m blabbering on about, or whether or not I’m a narcissist who doesn’t believe he needs to change for anything or anyone. But that’s not at all what I’m saying. As always, I’m making a mountain out of a molehill.
I, just as much as anyone else, have changes that I want to implement in my life. The latter half of 2023 will go down in my history books as a time of struggle and personal growth. So, naturally, I’ve come up with ways that I hope to enrich the quality of my life. However, as I sat trying to write a list of all the resolutions I wanted to implement in 2024, I was stumped. I mean I had absolutely nothing that I felt was worth writing down, apart from a short reading list, and even the thought of that left me feeling uncomfortable—and why? Because I realised that my challenge in 2024 isn’t likely to revolve around actively making choices. I’ve had no problem with that: I’ve made good, bad, and rash choices in my life. It doesn’t take much effort. Rather, what I need to accept, whatever changes I seek to implement in my life, is that, as I said last year (ha-ha), life throws curveballs.
Sometimes you don’t implement the changes you’d hoped. Sometimes you later realise that it’s not what you need. Sometimes you find something better. But, if you’re disposed to pedantry like I am, if you put it on a piece of paper, all of a sudden it might seem as though you did fail, when in fact you did what any sane human being ought to do: make the best choice you can in the moment. Your world, circumstances, and sense of self is constantly changing, be it by your own hand or the sheer force of destiny. It’s silly to hold yourself to the standards of your past self. In fact, it’s far more crucial to show yourself compassion.
By all means, do your best to follow through on your resolutions. If you set goals, you should try to achieve them. However, never be afraid of a change of heart. After all, who knows? You don’t want to miss out on something even better. Life not only moves pretty fast but is a rich and frantic whirl. (That’s two movie references in one sentence. Much respect to the person who gets them both!) You can’t anticipate all that will come across your path in the next 366 days. So, be at least a little open to whatever it is. If I had a resolution, that would be mine: just be a little more Zen.
All of the best in the year to come!
El Philósopho will be taking a short break from posting until February.
Leave a Reply