..when you can’t fulfil them.
Snow in our back garden
Bobby thinking about going out
..and she's off.
Last year my resolutions included learning how to drive, lose weight and read more books and get a book out. So what happened?
Well I had 11 driving lessons, am still shit scared of driving , don’t enjoy it and I simply ran out of money for more lessons. The urgent need to become a confident driver (I have a licence which is valid in the UK) is simply not there.
Losing weight – well I didn’t make much of an effort, mainly because I hate dieting and because dieting makes you fatter and in my case sick. Besides it’s bloody hard to lose weight, when skinny hubby can eat what he likes and his mum buys lots of sweets and cakes almost every weekend. We still have chocolates and cakes from Christmas.
Reading more books – ideally 1-2 books a week. I started out well, but couldn’t quite keep it up, simply because some books are weightier than others, some are easier to read and because sometimes work got in the way. But I still think I achieved something here as I managed to get through about 20 books – some fiction, a lot of them non-fiction, some in German, most in English. I also started 4 books on writing and dip into them when I feel like it.
Oh and I managed to finish two fiction writing courses.
Getting a book out – well I made a huge effort here, researched the book idea, wrote a sample chapter, table of content, cover letter etc and contacted two publishers. Both read it and rejected it on the understandable grounds that they have a similar book out for a slightly wider audience (my book idea was aimed at parents). I am not sure if I want to still pursue this, because parents get all the info free on the internet anyway and the subject matter is too close to me.
So instead I decided to write a novel. I am now on my fourth chapter.
This year I aim to achieve the following:
Write my novel
Lose weight by eating less junk and exercise more
Watch less crap on TV
Learn to play guitar
Get more work
Continue reading loads of books
Go on a nice holiday
Learn how to make my own beads
Swear less
Get my jewellery business off the ground
Join a charity and volunteer
De-clutter the house
Some of this I have already implemented:
I joined the Prince’s Trust as a volunteer business mentor and next month I will go on two training days to learn what’s involved.
I also ordered lots of polymer clay and a pasta machine to get started with my beads and on the 22nd this month I will have my first jewellery stall at a local Hafla (www.bellydancewales.com). So expect some photos of my jewellery on this blog.
Some of my resolutions don’t depend on me alone – so it will be interesting to see how far I will get this year.
I will let you know on this blog how I get on with things.
It would be interesting to know from you what kind of resolutions you have made a year ago and which you have fulfilled? What are your resolutions for this year?
3 comments
Fiona says:
January 7, 2010 at 1:17 pm (UTC 1)
I love the one about swearing less. I think I should take that one on too. Hmm, can’t remember my resolutions from last year, probably broke them in January! This year, I plan on finishing my novel and getting it published, hopefully meeting up with an old friend from South Africa who I haven’t seen in years and trying to live more for the moment.
Teresa Lewis says:
January 7, 2010 at 10:57 pm (UTC 1)
I used to make the same resolutions every year which were never realised; take some refresher driving lessons and try and find the whereabouts of an ex friend and previous owner of my main cockatiel as she disappeared.
The ones I made this year include not buying anything in a bubble pack and not buying from China because of the human and animal rights issues and I invertently broke the second because I bought Belgravia luxury hand wash in Tesco on New Year’s Day and a bra two days later. However it’s made me much more aware of where things are made.
I’m also using non perishable food in my kitchen cupboards which I bought last autumn to stock up for the winter. However I didn’t feel I had to start on New Year’s Day with millet porridge and veg juice for breakfast and dinner made from pulses and rice. I’ve got all January to start getting back into the habit. It’s a depressing enough day as it is without having to deprive myself like that. Besides I don’t spend the whole of my time between Christmas and New Year gorging on food. I hardly ate anything in the evening on Christmas Day.
My other resolution is to join groups I’ve been meaning to such as book clubs and yoga classes which I’ve dropped out of. Maybe even take up British Military Fitness in the park but not til the weather improves.
Teresa Lewis says:
January 7, 2010 at 10:59 pm (UTC 1)
The friend disappeared not the cockatiel.