Just…Jump!
I’ve never understood the point of New Year’s resolutions. I assess my life on a daily, or at least weekly, basis and if something ain’t right, I change it. I’m meant to wait for a new year to roll around to come to that conclusion? Me thinks not. Who has that kinda time on their hands? Over Christmas the usual rules you make for yourself get relaxed. So you eat like a gluttonous pig, smoke like a chimney, maybe take on an extra sexual partner or two – all to honour the birth of the Baby Jesus. Nice. In the run up to New Year, you start to regret it all and swear you’ll go on a diet, stop smoking, get fit. But do you? Do you bollocks.
Here we are, not even two weeks into the new year and for most, the resolutions they made as the clock struck twelve that night are most likely just a distant memory. Why diet when food tastes so good? Why stop smoking when you can look cool and kill yourself? Why get fit when cars exist? Or you resolved to travel more, take up a new hobby or some other such thing, but you most likely won’t do that either. Why? Because most new year’s resolutions require will power or effort and most people don’t want to exude either. It’s far easier to just coast through life than to challenge yourself to eat properly, or put your body through a bit of pain to get fitter, or to think about saving money to go traveling. And so…you coast.
I’ve never made new year resolutions. I could sit and come up with a million reasons not to do the things I want or should do. I moved to New York when I was 23, fresh out of University. I could’ve talked myself out of that by saying I could never afford it, it’d be a struggle, but I did it anyway. And you know what? I couldn’t afford it and it was a struggle, but I hustled like a mofo, stayed there for a year and a half and had the time of my life (sure, that life didn’t always involve a meal every day, but still…). When I wanted further change, I went to Japan. I could’ve sat around wondering how I’d get by not speaking Japanese and scared of the culture shock, or I could just go and see how I did. Turns out, it was a life changing year.
I’ve taken a lot of chances. Some worked out, some didn’t but my point is, sometimes you have to just jump. Dive right in with both feet and see where it takes you. I recognised in March last year that I needed to lose weight and get in shape – by October I was 20lbs lighter and running my first half marathon. I’m still running and doing my second half mara in March because I want to get better at it. Sometimes I don’t want to get out of bed and tackle an eight mile run, but as with so much in life, it’s mind over matter.
So how about this year, you don’t be a bullshitter, you stop taking the easy way out or being scared and actually see what you’re capable of? Don’t wait for a new year to roll around to make some changes – do it now! You don’t wanna reach old age thinking ‘shoulda, woulda, coulda.’ Think about how satisfying it’ll be to say ‘I did it!’
