Resolutions for 2012

In preparation for 2012, I started writing down the things that I’d like to accomplish for the coming year, and I was diligently scribing and wracking my memory for ideas and making up goals for myself and such when I remembered that I had done this pretty much every year for a long time. I have obsessively written things down, with goals and stretches, on how I would make myself a better person, and make my life better, but at the end of it all, I realized the best way to do this kind of self-improvement exercise.

This methodology may not be for everyone as it takes a high degree of self-control and self-confidence to do this, so if you want to try this concept, please keep in mind it may not work for you.

First, type up your list of resolutions or goals, and put it in your favourite format, be it Powerpoint Slides, Word Document, or Google Document, or type it up on an Olivetti portable typewriter, but the actual printout is the essential part of this, you must have this vital list in hard copy format.

The next step is to read this list carefully three times so it is all fresh in your mind. Read it aloud if that helps it sink into your subconscious, and hopefully, it gets into your psyche.

Once you have done this, get a box of matches, light the document on fire, throw it into your fireplace, and say out loud, “Fuck Forget this!”, and walk away from it (if you don’t have a fireplace, find somewhere safe to put the burning document once you have lit it). If you still have a soft copy of the list, go over to your computer and delete it, too.

Why would I do this? I ended up doing this around July anyhow (i.e. realizing that most of the list is unattainable and very optimistic planning on my part). I am just cutting out the wasting of 7 months and all the angst and guilt associated with it.

If you want to make a better life, live it, enjoy it, and don’t worry so damn much (and for the love of Christ, stop making bloody lists to improve yourself, the best way to make a better you is to make yourself happy). Stop being a tight-assed, uptight, worry wort, and just enjoy the life you are living. No I am not saying run wild and do as you please, but you know what you need to do, you don’t need a list to torment you.

You have just read my New Year’s Resolution for 2012; I think I nailed it.

All Those Happy New Years

Yes, for many years I have wished you a Happy New Year

• Happy New Year 2024! What will the year 2024 bring? Let’s hope it is a Happy New Year, but there is potential for a great deal of upheaval in the coming year. #NewYear #Happy2024
• Happy New Year 2022 and #MoneyTalk recapped a lot of 2021 and hoped that 2022 was going to bring some hope.
• A happy new year for 2021 ? Well it started pretty grotty, but it might get better.
• I must have had an inkling about 2020, as I didn’t wish you a Happy New Year to start things. Hopefully with this post I have helped make the year better?
• In 2019 I was too practical with Tangible Financial New Years Resolutions but still worthwhile thinking about it, eh?
• For Happy New Year 2018 I had a great photo of being stuck on the 401 during a snowstorm, and links to previous New Year Messages.
• 2017 I pointed out that you start paying CPP and EI again, so your net pay is going to be lower.
• 2016 Happy New Year, just didn’t happen, not sure why, must have been having a grinchy holiday?
• 2015 Happy New Year and I included a really bad joke about it being the year of the RAM in the Chinese Calendar.
• 2014 Happy New Year again I pointed out that CPP and EI rates were increasing as well, I really am a kill joy.
• 2013 was a Happy New Year, a celebratory Sunday was the photo to start the year.
• 2012 I used to post best of Twitter posts, and it seems to have fallen on a Sunday as well.
• Merry New Year! It All Starts again  was how 2011 started, and I included a bunch of resolutions in that article.
• 2010 New Year began with me in a new job, which was very nice, given I had been unemployed for a while.
• 2009 started a little bleak, in that I was unemployed, and was looking for a job, during a major economic crisis.
• Belated Happy and Prosperous New Year was how 2008 started, the economy was booming, employment was high, but there were hints of the systemic failure that was coming soon.
• Good Bye 2008, outlined the eventful year that it was for me. Things got better, but a lot didn’t go right that year.
• A New Year Brings Tax Breaks? The tax breaks appeared in 2007 but later disappeared, unfortunately.
• Happy 2007 a quieter year, we hoped.
• 2006 I was still figuring out what this whole thing would be, but I showed signs of a ranting good time.

Yes, I really did start in 2005.