Happy New Year's Resolutions
BY MELEK CANSU PETEK (ELIT/I)
By the time this issue is published, there will be less than two weeks left until 2013. Well, we might all die on December 21, but I'd rather not think that way. (Seriously, why are people so eager to see an apocalypse and die?)
What excites me the most about a "new year" is the concept of renewal itself, which gives me stirring hope and blossoming ideas -- some people prefer to call such ideas "New Year's resolutions." When I looked that up in the dictionary, here's what it said: "a decision to do something better or to stop doing something bad in the new year." Sounds amazing, doesn't it? Wait until you see the sample sentence: "I haven't made any New Year resolutions -- I never stick to them anyway." How does that sound? For me, it's the story of my yearly cycle. Every single year, I make a big list of what I'd like to change in my life or some new habits I'd like to form, but it only lasts one week! Then I'm back to being the person I was, but now a little sadder since I failed -- again. If this is something you can sympathize with, stay with me. This time I may have found some ways to break this curse!
1. Make your resolutions doable and start small! There isn't much point saying that you'll hit the gym every day -- most likely you won't. Everyone has busy days; you might get sick or simply tired. So tell yourself that you'll go to the gym three times a week. If you can do more than that, wow, you've exceeded your expectations! But let's say you missed the whole week without going even once -- what to do now? I know what not to do: Do not despair!
2. Don't let a sense of failure overwhelm you! It's so hard to believe how easy it is for us to think that we've failed. No you haven't, for God's sake! That sense of failure is the very thing that makes you fail, actually. Most people leave their resolutions undone after the first time they can't stick to their schedule. All you need to do is get past that feeling and have the courage to either start over or continue on with the rest of your plan. Don't let one week get you down -- there are 52 weeks in a year!
3. Know that with every step you take, you are becoming a better person! Another unfortunate habit we have is that we tend to see everything as a "duty," even our resolutions. Good news -- they're not duties! You're the one brave enough to be changing something in your life, you're the one who has chosen to follow this new path. Let's say you decided to learn how to play the guitar. How on earth you can turn that into a duty? It's supposed to be fun -- keep it that way!
4. It takes only 30 days to create a new habit! Well, this is another piece of good news for me. I'm definitely not patient enough to do something diligently the whole year long, but after looking at different websites and reading various articles, I noticed one thing they all mentioned: a 30-day rule. So hang in there for only 30 days, and you'll create a brand-new, amazing habit!
It doesn't look so hard, does it? However, if you still think that I'm just sweet talking, I challenge you, right here and right now! I'll share a list of my resolutions (not everything, of course -- some privacy, please) and try to follow the rules I wrote above. After a month or two, you can send me an e-mail if you want and ask me how it's going. If I fail - oh, no! Public humiliation!
Here comes my list:
- Learn a new language this year. I might start to study on my own or take one of the intensive summer school courses. Seriously, people, we do have a good school (and no, I'm not getting paid to say that).
- Watch a good movie every week. There are so many nice films that I haven't seen yet. If you feel the same way, let me recommend a few feel-good movies: "The Tiger and The Snow," "Les Choristes," "Nuovo Cinema Paradiso." (You're welcome!)
- Make a reading list and read a book, at least once a month. Yes, we're all very busy, but come on: just one book a month!
- Learn how to play the guitar. This one will be challenging. Playing an instrument requires regular practice and patience, and I'm not good at either.
I forgot to tell you the most important thing. Whatever happened last year, and whatever you decide to do with this coming year, everything will be legen -- wait for it -- dary! Legendary! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, everyone!