Gotta love ‘old school’
Ah, the exciting moment has arrived where celebrations are in order. 2022 has come to an end and although each year passes in a blink of an eye, we allow ourselves to pause and reflect. Why, you may ask? Because New Year’s Eve seems like the excellent moment to review previously-set-up points of growth. Assessment or reassessment of these little dots is required in order to move on to a brand new chapter, titled The New Year.
In case you weren’t properly prepared: gather your favourite writing gear! Go get that silky blue pen you adore, sharpen your pencils, grab your journal, notepad, laptop or whatever it is you use to scribble down your thoughts. It’s time to get organised. New Year’s Resolutions baby!
… like those sloppy ex-boyfriends we once had
Nah, just kidding! This year I’m deciding for the entire collective: we’re not writing down any New Year’s resolutions, not physically, not mentally. Let’s simply get rid of ‘the list’ this year.
I remember quite well that New Year’s Eve 2021 was very inspirational. We all dumped COVID-19 like those sloppy ex-boyfriends we once had. If you claim you never had one of those, I’m afraid you’re still in denial. However, needn’t worry, We’ll will burst that shiny pink bubble of yours and will offer you the cure of clear vision.
Let’s dial back, NYE 2021! I had decided that I would conquer the year ahead of me. I had set up multiple goals and aspirations and was quite determined to have them achieved. I was supposedly going to turn my life upside down. I hope you caught the snake in the latter sentence, as frankly I got bit in the a$$! The goals I had set up for myself, both personally and professionally were, let’s say, hanging by a thin thread. So, can I cross last year’s resolutions off my list and prepare a new one? No way, Marietta!
…a hint of spice, love and long-lasting companionship
Though I didn’t necessarily got to check all the bullet points I had listed last year: take care of my physical health, have a stable work-life balance, spend more time doing what I love, become a successful entrepreneur, discover parts of the world, save save save $$$ and top it all off with a hint of spice, love and long-lasting companionship. This shortened version of the actual list got interrupted by a crash course ‘realism one-on-one’. It was a course taught by the Realism founder Honoré de Balzac himself. Throughout the year I found myself taking notes, fearing I would fail the ultimate class of ‘La Comédie Humaine’. Image Balzac coming up to me and saying: décrire la vie dans son entier, telle qu’elle est!
La vie! Pas l’année! Of course, he mentioned neither, which didn’t make it less true. In fact, it’s exactly how I started evaluating things. Life is a daily active process which leads to evolution. Unless death interferes, our life on earth doesn’t miraculously stop. Nor will we magically be served on a silver platter. So sure, it’s a great thing to set up goals. However, I don’t believe goals are fixed to a certain timeframe or mindset. They are fluid and evolve with the individual. If I didn’t manage to reach one of my New Year’s resolutions by the end of the year, I shouldn’t feel as if I haven’t achieved them. Because truth is, throughout the year I’ve been working hard, real hard, on myself and my life goals. There were days, weeks and months where I had to jump through so many hoops to become the best version of myself every day. Why? Because today I can decide to become brighter, kinder, wiser, richer, by what I learn or by what others teach me. I’ll never say no to a lesson. Learn to grow. Today, tomorrow, always.
Let’s throw the resolutions list in the garbage bin. This is indeed a New Year, with a vintage me. Older, bolder and forever reinvented.