The January Pledge

NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS

The New Year brings a time of contemplation. With the Christmas holidays, comes quality time for reflection and plans for the future.

Maybe it's a an age thing or maybe it's responsibilities, or potentially, just something smarter people have always done. For me, it took a couple of serious wake up calls. A reminder about the shortness of human existence can do it — especially when it's a close member of the family like your father's life. Having an additional couple of very tragic suicide episodes happening close by, to further hammer home the reality of life (and inevitable death), I've taken it upon myself to take notes over the last three years. There's been a much more conceited effort to write down my plans, aspirations, learnings, successes (and failures) and every December — my New Year's resolutions.

2017 And The January Pledge
January is now one of my most favourite months of the year. Being a secret introvert, I mostly stumble through the summer months picking up party pace in the many festivals, holidays and just as I'm recovering from final Halloween come-down, it's no real let-up before we're into December and I'm having to once again, put my game face on for the silly season. Come New Year — I'm longing for the Jan cave!

So, here's my takings on the New Year and Jan plans. 

First priority this year, is to find my joy

I want to get excited about something again. The last time I really felt giddy with joy, was about four years ago — funnily enough, at Glastonbury festival, but that's not a realistic benchmark to measure joy (or more like borderline insanity) against, or a very long-term, sustainable, healthy lifestyle to follow, at that! But looking at the key aspects I can retain from that time, certainly hanging out with friends needs to happen more often, plus getting away from it all and being in nature all go down on my list. And, if I pre-plan some time/space for this kind of release (and for recovery), then I also shouldn't be so hard on myself when I do cut loose. 

I need to look back at all the experience and skills learned over the years for establishing myself again.

I've lost a bit of self confidence
Truth is, I've been lazy and adopted a defeatist attitude. These negative thoughts have been allowed to fester over time and now I'm going through a process of reprogramming myself with positive attitudes. Nobody really likes change. We get comfortable — we want to get the slippers on and slouch into the comfy chair. That's just not possible. In an ever-changing and fast-paced workplace, like the graphic design industry, it's inevitable that we get left behind if we don't adapt.

I will toughen up and use the hardship experienced by Alistair Urquhart from The Forgotten Highlander (I will never whinge again after reading this book), as my inspiration for what true suffering is. My optimism will stay high, no matter how tricky things may get down the line – Frankl's book: Man's Search for Meaning, should be in everyone's library for showing how we can overcome even the darkest of scenarios. More determination and a re-booted mindset will bring me progress & lead me to excel in a business/money-making venture this year. I will focus on positive mindsets for attraction and invest my energies in a project that will be rewarding, plus give me employment beyond just that of graphic design.

– This year, I will write a book over the coming 12 months, publishing a chapter every month
– I will look at doing something big and potentially life changing
– I will make use of my contacts and connections
– Success won't be the focus but my efforts and passion will help it come naturally
– I will tidy myself up, throw away all the old toot and smarten up my wardrobe

January Pledge
– Stop drinking (as much)
– Write first chapter of the book
– Exercise regularly
– Do 5 positive things per day
– Food diary
– Up early every day (I can snooze if not working)

So there you have it. Nothing too grand, but it shows thought and there are a few open avenues for development too. Putting these thoughts out there into the real world, not only acts as a reminder, but also helps them to become realised. I read them regularly (kept on my phone in a notes app). You have to feel them when reading and obviously evaluate progress as we go along. And eventually, they happen and you look back on these words like they were some kind of crazy premonition.