New Year’s Resolutions

«2014, UN AÑO DE NUEVOS PROPÓSITOS»

Christmas is over for another year. The celebrations of the festive season are over and it’s time to start thinking about the year ahead in 2014. Many of us make New Year’s Resolutions, the promises that we make to ourselves year after year about what things we want to do and achieve in the coming year. Some of us have new resolutions every year but there are some common resolutions that many of us make ( and break) every year. These are: – (in no particular order)

To go to the gym more often.

To eat healthier.

To drink less.

To spend less.

To stop smoking.

In the past I was as guilty as the next person for breaking my resolutions within the first month of the new year by giving – in to temptation by smoking and drinking at the first social opportunity. However, I have managed to succeed with some of my resolutions, albeit a little later than anticipated. I no longer smoke, I have returned to the gym and now go regularly. Spending less became a necessity as the financial crisis hit everybody and I am also eating healthier. The latter was probably one of the hardest as when you’re hungry you can give in to temptation VERY EASILY. Walking down the supermarket aisle passing all the treats you normally buy and devour in one evening ! Resist!Resist! Resist!.

Most of these resolutions were achieved through willpower and determination. Staying focussed is hard, but then if life was easy we wouldn’t need to challenge ourselves. There’s a certain amount of self-satisfaction gained from achieving what you set out to do. If you studied hard for your exam and achieved a good result then that is the reward for all your effort. The phrase is ‘you only get out, what you put in’ in other words, your effort is only rewarded relative to amount of effort you make.

 D. Lindsay