New Year Resolutions Don’t Work For Me

I will not be making any resolutions this year. In truth, it has been a long time since I last made any. There is one simple reason for this: I am incapable of keeping them and will therefore save myself the guilt trip by avoiding them altogether. I also feel that somehow making resolutions goes against my cynical and realist outlook to life.

A few years ago, I might have tried to make a list of the few things I would like to change in my life. It has always resulted in a disappointing failure. A regular list-topper was ‘Make better use of my gym membership’. I suspect it is mostly twenty-something people who include this on their list; who else but a young, childless and/or a financially well-off person can actually afford one these days? Unfortunately, I hated every minute I spent at the gym and no amount of ‘it’s good for your health’ argument could motivate me enough to keep going. By mid-March, I would pretty much have given up.

Look at the last two weeks! I wasn’t even able to fulfil my blog-advertised Stollen tasting during the holidays. I have been mentally self-flagellating myself ever since I realised I wouldn’t have time to do it. It will happen since there is a LOT of Stollen in the house, we just haven’t been anywhere near it yet. There’s been too much other food to eat, very yummy and filling things; we’ve been out and away a lot more than I expected and I haven’t been anywhere near the blog even to wish a Merry Christmas to my few faithful followers (thanks for still being here by the way, I can only imagine what a thankless experience it is for you all). What a failure!

Ultimately I fear it is lack of discipline that stops me from pursuing my resolutions to a successful outcome. So I don’t make them anymore. Instead, I shall have a wish list. If I tick anything off, I will be delighted. If I don’t, ah well it was only wishful thinking after all.

Chocolate, raspberry and lychee Buche de Noel

So here it is, my (very short) 2012 Wish List

1. Write one blog post entry a week

2. Lose my post pregnancy belly

3. Eat all the Stollen and write about it.

And on this note, I wish you all a very happy New Year 2012; may you all be blessed with good health and exciting new adventures. And if you are able to keep your New Year resolutions, more power to you.