I’ve rolled out of my Christmas pit to write this one, so bear with me. New Year is around the corner, laden with personal and societal hopes and fears for 2020. It set me thinking about the idea of New Year’s resolutions. For some people they are a valuable way of assessing and setting goals, for others… well… a new set of sticks to beat themselves with when expectations don’t match the reality. When you don’t end up thinner, more popular, fulfilled, richer, cleverer, well-traveled, and a creative genius.
Well, I’m calling time on this BS. The bell has rung, the lights are up, the landlady is looking mutinous. Drink up friends, whether it’s lager, gin or soda water, we’re off. We’re off to look at our lives now as we enter the New Year and take stock of:

1. The good bits, the bits we’re grateful for – family, friends, pets, job, house, garden, waking up, you’ve got your own reasons to be thankful.
2. The bits we don’t like but can do something about – we might not get lean and fit overnight, but we can choose to eat more veg and go for a walk. Have a haircut, tidy up the drawer of crap (come on, I know you’ve got one). Small steps are the start of big change (the inspirational cat poster says so)
3. New Year Expectations – you can be kind to yourself, and still set challenge yourself to make progress
4. The bits we don’t like but can’t change – sod those bits. You can dwell and brood but that won’t change it either, so put your energy into number 2 or number 5…
5. Sparking joy. Not my idea, it’s Marie Kondo’s. But I’m not talking about possessions here, I’m talking about you. Do you light a spark in others, and do you spend time with people who do the same for you? Your spark of joy will be different to others, but if you can find your tribe of sparks, love them and light it up…