24 January 2012
5 January 2012
DON'T BELIEVE IN IT
One of the many things I don't believe in or, more accurately, do not promote are New Year resolutions. Granted, they are a brilliant idea. But, being myself, a person who is very much into list-making, it's just a to-do list that takes more time to complete. Then again, I've never really been faithful to to-do lists, so I avoid those, too.
If you've been reading this blog for some time, you'll know that I tend to be impulsive, which is mostly a good thing, considering I'm not much of a person who listens to her "inner frat boy". This means that, if I want to do something, I'll do it in the moment. I don't write it down on a post-it note only to think of the end of the year as my deadline. Obviously, this isn't the case with everything, as a lot of things I'd like to achieve require some work that takes months, if not years, to achieve. But, let's face it. Most of the items listed in resolutions are short-term goals that don't require as much effort and time as, say, dropping the cigarette or losing weight. Allow me to provide some examples:
1. I wanted become a vegetarian. This is a relatively long-term goal (that is, depending on how strong your habit of eating meat, regardless of how much you actually like it, is). I happily and quickly quit red meat, which is the grossest meat there is, was never really into fish, and was left with poultry. Chicken might very well be the greatest creation God has so magnanimously blessed us with. The process of giving it up wasn't as painful as I thought it'd be, though. My sister, who's been vegetarian for as long as I can remember (exaggeration. *coughs* five years.) helped me find some kick-butt substitutes. Despite the fact that I don't eat meat, I wouldn't call myself a vegetarian. To me, true vegetarians are the ones who do it for animal rights. I'm doing it because I've read some gruesome things about meat and want to live a healthier lifestyle, so...I don't consider myself to be a real vegetarian. I'm just someone who doesn't eat meat. My point is that this was something I wanted to do, so I did it. It took some time, but I didn't do it as a goal for the year; a goal towards "a new me". I did it the moment I decided it was something I wanted to pursue.
2. I wanted to watch more films. There cannot be an easier short-term goal than that. I did it instantly. I just go to Blockbuster every other week and walk out with five DVDs in my hand.
3. Traveling more. Or rather, go on holiday more often than every decade (ugh). I asked my mom if, for one year, she could ignore how broke we are and just save up on the side for a trip to Disneyland next Christmas. I might as well check that off my list as "done" cos it's almost a year away. Most probably, the money will be there by then.
4. Allow my short fuse to not spark into a roaring fire so effortlessly. I'm currently working on that. See? Think it, do it (that's what she said).
Basically, what bothers me is that people think that the only time to set a clean slate for yourself is New Year's. That is definitely not true. You can and should do whatever you want (under certain restrictions, yo) if it's something you really want to do and think it'll be beneficial for you. You can change in the middle of August for all everyone cares. Besides, if you wait until a certain time, or keep putting it off, you'll only be wasting time, waiting for the moment to be doing what will make you happy...
Did it get too cheesy for everyone else, too?
If you've been reading this blog for some time, you'll know that I tend to be impulsive, which is mostly a good thing, considering I'm not much of a person who listens to her "inner frat boy". This means that, if I want to do something, I'll do it in the moment. I don't write it down on a post-it note only to think of the end of the year as my deadline. Obviously, this isn't the case with everything, as a lot of things I'd like to achieve require some work that takes months, if not years, to achieve. But, let's face it. Most of the items listed in resolutions are short-term goals that don't require as much effort and time as, say, dropping the cigarette or losing weight. Allow me to provide some examples:
1. I wanted become a vegetarian. This is a relatively long-term goal (that is, depending on how strong your habit of eating meat, regardless of how much you actually like it, is). I happily and quickly quit red meat, which is the grossest meat there is, was never really into fish, and was left with poultry. Chicken might very well be the greatest creation God has so magnanimously blessed us with. The process of giving it up wasn't as painful as I thought it'd be, though. My sister, who's been vegetarian for as long as I can remember (exaggeration. *coughs* five years.) helped me find some kick-butt substitutes. Despite the fact that I don't eat meat, I wouldn't call myself a vegetarian. To me, true vegetarians are the ones who do it for animal rights. I'm doing it because I've read some gruesome things about meat and want to live a healthier lifestyle, so...I don't consider myself to be a real vegetarian. I'm just someone who doesn't eat meat. My point is that this was something I wanted to do, so I did it. It took some time, but I didn't do it as a goal for the year; a goal towards "a new me". I did it the moment I decided it was something I wanted to pursue.
2. I wanted to watch more films. There cannot be an easier short-term goal than that. I did it instantly. I just go to Blockbuster every other week and walk out with five DVDs in my hand.
3. Traveling more. Or rather, go on holiday more often than every decade (ugh). I asked my mom if, for one year, she could ignore how broke we are and just save up on the side for a trip to Disneyland next Christmas. I might as well check that off my list as "done" cos it's almost a year away. Most probably, the money will be there by then.
4. Allow my short fuse to not spark into a roaring fire so effortlessly. I'm currently working on that. See? Think it, do it (that's what she said).
Basically, what bothers me is that people think that the only time to set a clean slate for yourself is New Year's. That is definitely not true. You can and should do whatever you want (under certain restrictions, yo) if it's something you really want to do and think it'll be beneficial for you. You can change in the middle of August for all everyone cares. Besides, if you wait until a certain time, or keep putting it off, you'll only be wasting time, waiting for the moment to be doing what will make you happy...
Did it get too cheesy for everyone else, too?
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