Kicking ass in 2016

I’ve put off posting a New Years Resolution post because I wanted to talk about something that I haven’t seen yet. But it seems like the trend is that 2015 really kicked peoples’ ass and everyone is taking 2016 to focus on themselves so that they can kick ass.

But no matter how hard I tried to not be in that trend, I am.  Except I found that I didn’t want to share that with people.  I actually made two resolutions lists this year because I realized so many of them were so personal and I didn’t want to share them.  I also realized that I didn’t have to.  No one was going to know if I left something out or gave way too vague of an explanation (because I’m sure we’ve all gotten the “why?” after telling some one a resolution.  How about why the fuck does it matter to you?)

The past few months I have seen so many people burn out from taking care of others and worrying so much about things that, while important, don’t mean the world in the long run. The amount of people that told me not to stress my last semester of college and have fun…. But my grades…? No. It’s time to stop worrying if I get writers block or whatever. It’s time to have fun even if I don’t think I have the energy. We started doing that around Novemeber. And it felt fucking great! Yeah you might be exhausted but what do you want your time to be spent doing? Napping from staying up too late to finish the paper or going to the movies with your friends?

This is the resolution I’m sharing and the one I recommend.  Be responsible and take care of yourself and others but start saying no.  Say not to the things that you don’t have time for.  Say not to petty dramas trying to ruin a night.  Take time to yourself and live in the moment.  Let yourself think about the future and plan but don’t forget that right now is the only moment of its kind and you should seize it.  Don’t let 2016 kick your ass like 2015 did.  Take control!

 

The Inevitable New Years Resolution Post

Middle of January. I think it’s safe to say that we have already broken many, if not all, of our New Years Resolutions.

I’m one of those people that actually really likes New Years Resolutions.

The skeptics will say “What’s the point? Why wait a year to do something?”

Those that believe in the whole “new year new you” ideal can sometimes tend to think that this is the time they are going to make a goal and stick to it.

But let’s be honest, how many people have actually been able to stick to their resolution for more than a few days?

Thought so.

But I get it! So much pressure! You’ve posted your resolutions all over facebook for the world to see, but then you get busy with classes or work and can’t go to the gym everyday and there are so many good deals on pizza right now! So you delete your post thinking no one will notice. But you notice. Yet you still don’t do anything about it.

Am I right?

Here’s the thing about New Years: societal expectation. You’re supposed to kiss some one at midnight and make a long list of things you WILL do. But then there’s this huge rush to do everything and all of a sudden you’re burnt out and you go back to thinking what a stupid idea the whole thing is. Well here’s an idea: Do what you want! You have ONE thing you want to achieve this year?! Go do it! Focus on that! You have a lot of goals? Awesome! Go do them! But don’t think they need to get done in a day and don’t think that you have to just because we are told we are supposed to! Oh, everyone is saying they plan on losing weight this year and getting in shape? Good for them! If you don’t want to, then find something that fits you. Stop comparing yourself! If you take time to create something for yourself to do and it happens to be New Years Resolution then props for getting into the spirit of things. But no one said you had to share with the world. And if it makes you happy, or you decide you don’t like and move on to something else, then you are already doing better than you were last year when you let your resolution go by January 2^nd.

My resolutions this year were simple: Do something different every few weeks. I kept it vague because I know my schedule can be meh sometimes. I formed my resolution around me. The idea is to do something that is out of the norm of the everyday schedule. Be it a hike, going lazer tagging with friends, participating in one of the themed runs, etc. It’s one resolution and so far, it’s working.

For everyone else out there, whether you’ve given up your resolution already or not just keep trying. Sure society tells us to go to the gym or try being gluten free. But what do you say?

In the wise words of Mr. Binder: You might spend a little more time trying to make something of yourself and little less time trying to impress people.

Happy New Years.