A few years ago at the gym after Christmas Break, I commented on how busy the drop-in classes had suddenly become. “New Year’s Resolution-ers,” a friend said with great disdain and a roll of the eyes, “Don’t worry, they’ll be gone by February.”
While I no longer workout at the gym, I have to admit this is still an annoying time of year for me. All the talk about “fresh starts,” “turning over of new leaves” and “New Year’s Resolutions” that are intended to make us all better people drives me up the wall. It is enough to make a girl embrace bad habits just out of spite.
Perhaps I am stubborn, but if I am going to improve myself, I going to do it on my own schedule and a special time of year is not going to dictate the need to get my act together. I have no intention of joining the masses in a group effort to become new and improved, and lets face it, how many actually stick with it? For me, January is all about the launching of failed attempts, so why would I want to associate myself with that?
I realize that my willful and headstrong attitude can lead to missed opportunities for personal growth and development. Allowing myself to re-join the gym just now (after the aforementioned absence) is not possible for fear of feeling like a “New Year’s Resolution-er.” My urge to get a head start on some spring cleaning is also quashed for the very same reason. I have to say I am becoming concerned that my “issues” with the New Year are stymieing any desire for productivity that happens to come along after the Christmas season.
I suppose I could just decide not to let it bother me, but that sounds too much like a resolve, which sounds unnervingly similar to a resolution.
Perhaps it would be best to postpone this decision until February.
I have to say most years I would have been right with you, but for some reason I am so inspired this year to make as many as I please. The first is to be more selfish followed closely by ‘less likely to say yes’, then resolving to spend time with those who make me happy and ditch those who don’t. I’m oddly energized by this New Year’s resolution list, perhaps because I’m allowing myself to make it all about me for once. I feel full of excitement and anticipation. But I don’t think it matters if it’s January, February, or whenever when you get the urge to start your New Year. Truth is, I started in December!