Health and Wellbeing Parenting
Sarah  

New Year New Me and Other Bullshit Cliches

It’s that time of year, you’ll see the #NewYearNewMe posts flying around, everyone will be raving about New Year’s Resolutions and how to keep them.

Last year, my biggest resolution was in the form of my bullet journal, you can read more about that by clicking the thumbnail at the bottom of the post!!! This year, I’m carrying on with my bullet journal, and my biggest resolution is to be well on my way to affording our first house. GOD I FEEL SO GROWN UP TO SAY THAT.
 
That’s not to say there aren’t any mini-resolutions, in fact, there are loads of mini-goals I want to achieve and things I want to do:
  1. Travel more
  2. Go to the gym regularly
  3. Have a French-speaking day every week
Plus I generally want to worry less and be happier in myself! That may take some work as it’s the way I’m wired to worry about everything, but by making my small changes I hope to achieve the bigger change too.
 
I still, even more than last year, can’t get behind having huge and unattainable resolutions that you’ll struggle to keep and will beat yourself up about when you don’t. Part of me thinks that the new year’s resolution idea in itself is one massive bullshit cliché, but sometimes it works, it gives us a chance to reflect and focus on things we want for ourselves and our loved ones. It’s the #NewYearNewMe bullshit I have more of a problem with…
 
Yes, some people are easily able to say they want to lose 2st and will do it – GREAT! Do it! Well done, and a massive pat on the back. But does anyone feel that the whole resolution thing sets you up to fail? You don’t normally announce to the world when you’re going on a diet, especially not with that oh so irritating #NewYearNewMe.
 
The reason I can’t stand it? Well, what’s wrong with the current you?
 
My mother-in-law send me a facebook chain mail message earlier about how if women were cars, we’d constantly be trading ourselves in for newer models without any bumps, lumps or dents. But we are not cars. We are immaculate vessels of life and we should be celebrated as we are, not made to feel like we need new parts.
 
Whatever the resolution is behind the #NewYearNewMe social media post we’re all bound to see this week, it’s probably more apt to say it’s not a “New You”, not even an “Improved You” – it’s probably all to do with the outside packaging and while, if that’s what you want, that’s great, you shouldn’t strive for it because you feel you have to. Please, ladies and gents, remember that your bodies are maps of your life’s journey. Love them, look after them, but don’t think that you have to improve them or that your appearance is all that defines you. This time of year, lots of companies will be betting on the fact that you’re making those exact resolutions and add to that pressure to change yourself when maybe, deep down, you’re happy as you are…
 
It’s not a new you. You’ll be the same you that you always were, whatever you look like. You’re all beautiful in your own unique ways – beauty isn’t universal despite what we’ve grown up being told and shown.
 
Does anybody else feel the same way or have New Year’s resolutions always been great at motivating you to achieve your goals?

 

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