New Year: Revolution

Nina Austen - 4 Jan 18

Ah, it’s that time again. The time for New Year’s Resolutions. I would struggle to call myself a blogger, mother, or indeed a human if so early in 2018, I didn’t take some time to contemplate the year ahead and resolve to be a completely different person.

Contemplate, write about it and of course post it on the internet. That’s what all the cool kids are doing. Literally, I’ve read a blog-tonne (it’s a word…) of amazing posts and they’ve set the old brain cogs a whirring.

Every January I indulge in a ridiculous amount of self-flagellation after indulging in too much food and festivities over Christmas. Well food wise, maybe November too. And October. Gah.

Every. Single. Year. Every year I find myself back at the start. What in the name of Hootenanny makes today any different from any other day? Yet this time, I am equally resolved and fatigued by this years turn on the worry go round.

Resolved that I, of course, want to…

• lose half my body weight
• exercise for 3 hours a day
• emanate the patience of a saint (even mid-tantrum)
• be more grateful
• shave my legs more
• wash my hair more
• stop saying ‘shit’ under my breath every 30 (OK 20) minutes (maybe 10)
• meditate
• do more yoga
• write some great content
• be less anxious
• do 15,000 steps a day
• drink more hot beverages without the aid of a microwave
• pee without an audience

And fatigued? Fatigued by the whole bloody lot.

What even is a sodding New year’s resolution? According to Wikipedia, “A New Year’s resolution is a tradition… in which a person resolves to change an undesired trait or behaviour, to accomplish a personal goal or otherwise improve their life.”

Let’s break it down.

• Tradition – bore off.
• Undesired trait – undesired by who? By me? I’m the bugger with the trait. As much as I know I can be annoying, anxious and a fun sponge – I can’t change the traits of who I am. Sod that.
• Undesired behaviour – who doesn’t desire being in PJ’s by 6 and farting unencumbered by shame? If I didn’t desire to behave in the way that I do, then why do I do it?
• To accomplish a personal goal – this is one I can get on board with. This is where all of the above resolved thoughts come from. But why do the goals always seem to be so unreachable, so unachievable? Why are they so cyclical?

Upon reflection, my conclusion is that my goal inhibitors are habitual, more than behavioural. I once heard someone say that motivation gets you started and habit keeps you going. I’m definitely in the habit of saying ‘stop picking your nose’ and ‘no you can’t have biscuits for breakfast.’ So surely I just need to be motivated to do the stuff I really want to do, and make new habits – like changing ‘shit’ for ‘Namaste’. Easy, right?

Except it’s not been that simple so far, otherwise I wouldn’t be blathering on about it. So in the spirit of and inspired by this blog, which is mainly about the challenges of motherhood, I am going to head in 2018 with my kids at the forefront of my mind.

It makes it pretty simple really. The two little beauties that have half my DNA don’t give a shit if I’m carrying a few extra pounds. They’re not bothered if my legs remain sasquatch-like. They apparently don’t want me to consume a hot drink or pee unaccompanied.

They just want my time and for me to be happy. So this year I will be. I’ll break the cycle that revolves back to the start in January every year.  Start a different kind of revolution. I don’t need to be a different person. Just a happy, cold tea drinking calm one. That’s all we all want really.

To everyone who has read, followed, commented and been generally lovely about this blog in 2017 – thank you.

To 2018 – let ‘ave yer. 😉

(If you enjoyed this post, then please head over to www.gaagaaland.com for more… and check my social media channels… thanks!)

Nina Austen

Gaa Gaa Land is a collection of ramblings from a stay at home mum of two. Although said ramblings might veer into the serious from time to time, this blog is largely satire. GGL uses humour, irony and exaggeration to amplify this crazy parenting ride, but everything is from real life. It’s all true. Even the embarrassing bits. N is in her mid late thirties and enjoys writing, F1, early 2000’s UK Gladiators, picking play doh out of her hair, cooking, Game of Thrones, stationary, innuendo and swearing. She loves her kids, husband, friends, the Dalai Lama, Bjork and is partial to a Cliff Richard calendar (classic examples of brilliance – 1996 and 2010). She also thinks it’s weird writing in the third person.

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