There is no way in hell I'm suddenly going to work out three times a week or start sleeping human hours or stop being angry at everyone and everything. I am not going to miraculously become this perfect person overnight. I doubt I will be extra religious or charitable this year. Some things will never change and I'm too wise and lazy to bother trying. But maybe, just maybe, I can improve on some things; and maybe so can you!
1. work a little harder.
I remember, when growing up, people would always say "study smart, not study hard", which in retrospect was a dumbass thing to teach children. Studying smartly is a given - what you need to do is study hard as well. I've realised that if you give something just a liiiiiiiittle more effort, that one last ooomph, you can achieve so so so much more than if you hadn't put in that extra effort.
It's no secret that I don't enjoy university and wish I didn't have to do it, but a degree is better than none.
Hard work never hurt anyone, and now I'm just gonna work harder.
2. make time for family...
Have to go home more often I guess :)
3. ... and friends!
Who are worth it! There's no need to waste time with pretentious people, but don't forget the friends who are there when you've got massive food cravings at 3am and the ones who cuddle and drive you home when you burst out crying in public. The most important ones are the sweethearts who pat your back while you throw up on the side of the road (from car sickness, of course).
4. do more of what you love.
I'd also like to read more. I was thinking about it and I realised I haven't obsessed over a particular book or author in agessss. 2012 had a lot of Nick Hornby - was too depressed with life for anything "deep" this year. Maybe in 2013 I'll stumble upon some extra mindfcking novel and my life will change forever.
I also really really really miss writing. There was once a time where a few people read what I wrote and appreciated what I had to say because it was of actual substance. I also have a collection of bad conversations written in a notebook I seem to have misplaced. I used to tell myself I'd finish writing a book by the time I was 20. It didn't happen so now it's really time to start writing again.
Remember: do more of what you love.
5. make time to watch the sun set.
Sometimes it feels really great to just do nothing for a moment, breathe in, and take in the beauty of the sky and all its glory. For me it feels great all the time and that's why I wish I lived on a cloud.
6. do some soul searching.
2012 left me feeling like I was living the wrong life and hopefully 2013 will bring an end to the identity crisis. You see it on the internet all the time - people saying it's a good idea to step back and think about who you are and what you want to be.
It's funny though. You watch all these movies and read all these novels about people travelling the globe and realising that they had what they wanted all along but I'm sure that isn't always true. Those movies and those novels were just a clichéd way to teach people to be thankful. In 2012, I felt most like myself when I was running in the rain with old friends, lying in bed doing nothing at home.
So 2013 should be for soul searching. More adventures. Doesn't matter to me if it means sitting in a quiet café on the wrong side of town, or getting stranded in a foreign country with no money, or even wasting an evening flying kites with a girl who doesn't love you. Just as long as I never have to spend eight hours on a crowded bus with dirty flies and a sick friend ever again.
Now the next problem is, I need to learn how to make money before I can afford to go on another adventure. Nah.... I'll figure something out.
So may 2013 bring both you and I a lot of love, happiness and more frequent-but-not-so-frequent-that-it-loses-its-magic-and-gets-boring adventures. Happy new year!
