A New Year! A New Me?
“Today marks the end of 2021, which began roughly 5 years ago today.” - NPR
When I heard those words on NPR’s Morning Edition, I literally giggled. I was still in bed, and I dragged my bones from under the covers. It was the laugh I needed to start the day.
It does seem like the kerfluffle that was the Trump Presidency simply heralded in a period of mass chaos, capped off (hopefully) by the most impactful pandemic of my lifetime. Way to go Don! And now, I sit 3 days into the new year.
I, like many people, love the idea of the new year. A year is only 365 days, which in the grand scheme of things, is nothing. I am 15, 456 days old. What to me is 365 more? But so much can transpire in those 365 days. In years like the 5 past, some single days can seem like an eternity. And when you string 365 of those days together, whew, life can seem unbearable I’m sure.
So here we are on the precipice of a new beginning. New opportunities.
It’s a new year, so does that equate to a new me?
Well, I don’t feel much different. Like so many (although it feels like so few) I’m avoiding covid like…ha…like the plague I guess. My goal is to be able to tell my grandchildren about the Great Pandemic of 2020 and how their grandfather avoided the whole thing!
As I entered the new year, I told myself that I wasn’t going to do any resolutions. I’ve had resolutions in the past, and sometimes they endured,, and sometimes I forgot them by February. However, this year, I told myself I was simply going to walk into the new year with a positive attitude, and the goal to continue on an upward trajectory, both professionally and personally, and let life take care of itself. I mean, how can you have too many resolutions in this current pandemic climate?
However, then a friend sent me an article that I found both intriguing and super charming. The article was about the 1943 New Year’s resolutions of Woody Guthrie, who made a note of 33 "New Years Rulin's" that he listed in his notebook.
Woody Guthrie’s 33 “New Year’s Rulin’s”
I mean, if it worked for Woody Guthrie, why not? There are a few of his rulin’s that I definitely hope to incorporate into my life in 2022.
Work More and Better - on my podcast. Professionally, I have every intention to maintain the status quo.
Work by a schedule - this was the bain of my existence in my early years. I hated living and working on a schedule. However, it’s efficient. I have so many things I want to do this year, gotta keep it all in line, while making time for all the good stuff, like adventures.
Take bath - I normally shower, but a little known fact is that I love taking baths. My bathtub leaves some things to be desired, like 6-12 inches of more length, but I will make it a point to take more baths this year…preferably with some candles and a book, because that is relaxing as fuck.
Eat good: fruit, vegetables, milk - This is something I’m dragging from 2021 into 2022. Eating better. I do non-dairy milk, but definitely eating more vegetables and fruit. This will help me in my wellness goals.
Drink very scant if any - I actually gave up drinking in 2021. However, I may have a hit here and there, but for the most part, I’m pretty over drinking. I’m not a huge fan. I much prefer cannabis.
Wear clean clothes: look good - I am a fashion misfit. One of my goals for 2021 was to improve my fashion sense. Carrying that over into 2022. I took a step in this direction by getting a subscription to GQ magazine. I got a lot to learn about fashion and all that jazz. Let’s see how this goes.
Read lots good books - I read four books last year. I’d like to say I’ll increase that number tenfold, but my goal for this year is to read five books. I’ve actually read one already, and have two I’m working through now. I do want to read more fiction this year. Haven’t read any fiction in a minute.
Don’t get lonesome - this was something I got a much better hold of as we entered the holiday season of 2021. Learning to enjoy my time by myself, and make the most of that time for productivity, even if that simply means self discovery. In all the time I usually spend with other people, there is much value to be gained in the time I spend with myself.
Stay glad - this has been something that so many of us struggled with during the quarantine of this pandemic and in the ongoing situation. I’m doing my best to enter into 2022 with a sense of positivity and serenity.
Save dough - Man, this is something I’ve gotten better with over the past few days. I am squirreling money away for retirement, but now I want to cut a piece of the pie to squirrel away for things I want in the here and now.
Have company but don’t waste time - Man, how important is this? I think this centers on the company you are keeping.
Dance better - I don’t dance enough, and practice makes perfect, so I gotta dance more in 2022.
Help win war — beat fascism - It’s a damn shame that in 2022, this rule is still applicable, and worse yet, the fascism to which we must fight is home grown. I find so many people choosing to be “apolitical” in these tumultuous times. Fuck that. I’m here, and I’m ready for the battles ahead. We stand. We fight.
Make up your mind - this is something I definitely need to work on more. Be decisive. Move, whether that path is forward or sideways…just move.
Wake up and fight - All day every day. This is what we do.
If you’d like to read about my past resolutions, here’s a list of some of them:
So what about you? What rules or resolutions do you have for the year ahead? Let me know down in the comments?
Thumbnail photo by Hello I'm Nik on Unsplash
