Having been ill the past few days (there is nobody to blame but myself, really; binge drinking over the weekend leading into New Year is not a smart thing to do) and in somewhat low spirits, I've realised that I've not entered 2007 in the most auspicious manner. Starting the year ill is rubbish and I was going to put off blogging about my resolutions because of the way I've been feeling (I've also observed that, for reasons unknown to me, having New Year resolution(s) doesn't seem to be a very big deal here in the Pore).
And then, I came across a fantastic article in the International Herald Tribune (big ups to Mistah Moon for getting me hooked on the IHT!) which was very quoteworthy and I now leave you with a few choice quotes before I go into blogging about my resolutions proper:
1. "In declaring resolutions, if possible before witnesses, we nourish the illusion that changing our lifestyles will change our lives: "This year, I will read Proust." "This year, I will not invade Iraq." "This year, I will be faithful to my wife." "This year, I will reduce unemployment in France." Or, more prosaically, "I will exercise three times a week, I will finally try to stop smoking, I will cut back on sugar," etc. It's a sort of collective drunkenness for people to make vows that nobody expects to keep." - Pascal Bruckner in iht.com
2. "If the end of the year brings a flood of resolutions to change, it is because we are faced with an existence that is invaded by the routine, by the rush of demands. We can't bear it. We know that another life exists, more beautiful, more passionate, one that laziness and apathy keeps us from attaining.
I have to break with time to overcome my obstacles, to rediscover myself, to be myself in all innocence. I can change my life, at least in some small way. Making resolutions demonstrates optimism, the desire to make oneself better, a faith, naïve and beautiful, that declarations can spontaneously become actions, that saying means doing.
Knowing that you can change your behavior, even by an iota, is essential for holding yourself in esteem. We're often cynical about how resolutions are never kept, but we shouldn't be. Resolutions are perhaps lies, but they're lies of good faith, necessary illusions. As long as we can make them, we are saved, we can control the chaos of destiny; it doesn't matter that we break them and that others view us with skepticism. Every resolution is good simply because it is declared. It is a comedy, perhaps, but it keeps us sane." - Pascal Bruckner in iht.com
Ordinarily, I would never quote so much of another person's article but this is no ordinary blog entry. This is about RESOLUTIONS! I know that people here think it's funny that I'm placing so much importance on something as seemingly inane as a list that will govern my life for the coming year but I couldn't care less. Having at least one resolution to keep to each and every year has provided some form of direction for me in the past few years and this year shall be no different. If anything, I've had a fairly decent track record with my resolutions; I got the grade I was aiming for along with my degree, I got that job, I quit smoking and kept to it....the list goes on.
So here it is, my list of more important Resolutions for 2007:
1. Drink Less. 4 years ago, this was the least of my worries! Now, I aim to cut down on my weekend alcohol intake. I'm not even going to include weekdays because it's more or less a given now that I don't drink from Mondays to Thursdays (Fridays obviously don't count cos that's when the weekend starts *winkwink*)...after the last few hangovers I've suffered (and boy, have they been debilitating), I now realise that the older I get, the worse the hangovers affect me. Looks like 2007 is the year that I find out what it's like to have a quiet drink again. Or at least, learn that I will survive if I don't drink/drink excessively on the weekend. Whatever it is, it's about time I learnt some self-discipline (or learnt that mixing drinks is not a good idea and that no, I don't need that last drink!).....dear readers, wish me luck. I'm going to need help with this one!
2. Find a suitable girl. I know that this seems like a perennial problem but with God's grace, it just might happen. The search goes on in the mean time. Oh, aye.
3. Get fit. Gotta keep up the fitness regime.
4. Continue the non-smoking. So far so good.
5. Do some form of social work or other.
6. Attempt to maintain the PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), as taught by Comrade Potato. This goes hand in hand with the "MON THE DONKEY!!" Philosophy.
7. Make my way back to the UK for a short visit at some point this year!!
And that, dear readers, ends this rather long blog entry. I'm sorry for that but it had to be done. I hope you've made your resolutions. May 2007 bring more joy, more happiness, more feeling, more soul, more chunkycrunchy beats and more booty-shaking,body-popping, dancing with wild abandon and positive vibes than you could ever have imagined. Peas Oot.
Choonage: From Dusk Til Dawn - Lexicon Avenue
And then, I came across a fantastic article in the International Herald Tribune (big ups to Mistah Moon for getting me hooked on the IHT!) which was very quoteworthy and I now leave you with a few choice quotes before I go into blogging about my resolutions proper:
1. "In declaring resolutions, if possible before witnesses, we nourish the illusion that changing our lifestyles will change our lives: "This year, I will read Proust." "This year, I will not invade Iraq." "This year, I will be faithful to my wife." "This year, I will reduce unemployment in France." Or, more prosaically, "I will exercise three times a week, I will finally try to stop smoking, I will cut back on sugar," etc. It's a sort of collective drunkenness for people to make vows that nobody expects to keep." - Pascal Bruckner in iht.com
2. "If the end of the year brings a flood of resolutions to change, it is because we are faced with an existence that is invaded by the routine, by the rush of demands. We can't bear it. We know that another life exists, more beautiful, more passionate, one that laziness and apathy keeps us from attaining.
I have to break with time to overcome my obstacles, to rediscover myself, to be myself in all innocence. I can change my life, at least in some small way. Making resolutions demonstrates optimism, the desire to make oneself better, a faith, naïve and beautiful, that declarations can spontaneously become actions, that saying means doing.
Knowing that you can change your behavior, even by an iota, is essential for holding yourself in esteem. We're often cynical about how resolutions are never kept, but we shouldn't be. Resolutions are perhaps lies, but they're lies of good faith, necessary illusions. As long as we can make them, we are saved, we can control the chaos of destiny; it doesn't matter that we break them and that others view us with skepticism. Every resolution is good simply because it is declared. It is a comedy, perhaps, but it keeps us sane." - Pascal Bruckner in iht.com
Ordinarily, I would never quote so much of another person's article but this is no ordinary blog entry. This is about RESOLUTIONS! I know that people here think it's funny that I'm placing so much importance on something as seemingly inane as a list that will govern my life for the coming year but I couldn't care less. Having at least one resolution to keep to each and every year has provided some form of direction for me in the past few years and this year shall be no different. If anything, I've had a fairly decent track record with my resolutions; I got the grade I was aiming for along with my degree, I got that job, I quit smoking and kept to it....the list goes on.
So here it is, my list of more important Resolutions for 2007:
1. Drink Less. 4 years ago, this was the least of my worries! Now, I aim to cut down on my weekend alcohol intake. I'm not even going to include weekdays because it's more or less a given now that I don't drink from Mondays to Thursdays (Fridays obviously don't count cos that's when the weekend starts *winkwink*)...after the last few hangovers I've suffered (and boy, have they been debilitating), I now realise that the older I get, the worse the hangovers affect me. Looks like 2007 is the year that I find out what it's like to have a quiet drink again. Or at least, learn that I will survive if I don't drink/drink excessively on the weekend. Whatever it is, it's about time I learnt some self-discipline (or learnt that mixing drinks is not a good idea and that no, I don't need that last drink!).....dear readers, wish me luck. I'm going to need help with this one!
2. Find a suitable girl. I know that this seems like a perennial problem but with God's grace, it just might happen. The search goes on in the mean time. Oh, aye.
3. Get fit. Gotta keep up the fitness regime.
4. Continue the non-smoking. So far so good.
5. Do some form of social work or other.
6. Attempt to maintain the PMA (Positive Mental Attitude), as taught by Comrade Potato. This goes hand in hand with the "MON THE DONKEY!!" Philosophy.
7. Make my way back to the UK for a short visit at some point this year!!
And that, dear readers, ends this rather long blog entry. I'm sorry for that but it had to be done. I hope you've made your resolutions. May 2007 bring more joy, more happiness, more feeling, more soul, more chunkycrunchy beats and more booty-shaking,body-popping, dancing with wild abandon and positive vibes than you could ever have imagined. Peas Oot.
Choonage: From Dusk Til Dawn - Lexicon Avenue
2 Comments:
happy new year tim!!:) may this year be a good one for you too:) and i'm sure at least one of your resolutions can be achieved...esp no.2? hahaha take care *waves*
Thanks, Lynette! With your well wishes and those of the multitude, I'm sure I'll be able to achieve at least one of them (I'm secretly hoping that it's No.2 as well *grin*) ; )
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