You Say You Want A Resolution?

“For last year’s words belong to last year’s language/And next year’s words await another voice.” — T. S . Eliot, Four Quartets

I have never been a particular fan of New Year's Eve. Much like Valentine's Day and other Hallmark Holidays, it is one of those occasions where it seems to be about proscribed fun; enjoy yourself or else. You must make it to midnight, you must be having a good time, you must be doing something that is more fun that at any other time of the year - because it's NEW YEAR'S EVE!!

This alone makes me want to go to bed early and pull the covers over my head, simply because I am a contrary minded sod and can't stand being told what to do.

However.

2013, has, on many levels...

Sucked. Like a very big sucky thing. And this in itself for once makes me want to see the year out with a bang... mainly to make sure that it actually disappears and doesn't hang around making more trouble.

I am also not one for New Year's Resolutions, mainly because I tend to break most of them within the first twenty four hours of making them. As most sensible people know, resolutions are made in earnest and with the best of intentions, but are also made with absolutely no expectation of actually keeping them. It's almost an end of year security blanket for the soul; if I make a list of things that I intend to improve about myself, then I will give myself good luck for the new year to come.

This may sound very cynical, and it probably is, but I don't think of it that way; I think I am just realistic. Part of the reason 2013 was craptacular was that I didn't handle a lot of things particularly well, so it has to sit on my shoulders. The other reason 2013 was craptacular was completely beyond my control, and it wouldn't have made a blind bit of difference whether or not I had stuck to any or all resolutions made, so again, why make them in the first place?

Rather than resolutions, I think what the turn of the year should teach us is to put our faith in what is most important in our lives, and to make sure we hold fast to it as the calendar clicks over.

What do you most care about? Is it success, or family, or love, or health, or learning? Is it a combination of these things? What can you truly not imagine the next year containing? What is the one thing that for you, 2014 has to hold to make it better than 2013? What, in other words, will make the next 365 days a Happy New Year?

I think if you can answer that question then you will find your reason to be, if you will, 'resolute'. And it's not about making silly promises to yourself about how to lose weight, or drink less, or not gossip about friends behind their backs, or get a better job. It's about happiness. Pure and simple. About being able to say, at the end of 2014, 'I had a really great year.'

Perhaps it's about finding your voice.

Or even your heart.

Happy New Year.

Back Down The Rabbit Hole

It has taken being at 'home' here in Tasmania for a few days - and it has been a very brief visit - to truly make me realise something.

The people that I most like - well, love really - in my life are all as weird as hell.

It's ace.

I have written in the past about embracing your own personal peculiarity, but I don't think I have ever said how much I appreciate, and am grateful for, the weird and wonderful ways of my friends.

The eccentric and the elusively ironic are far more interesting than the straightforward. And they are not any the less steadfast or true; they just don't often show their smooshy or sentimental side publicly, but keep the private, private - with an occasional leak in the dam wall admittedly in my case!

The thing is, it is usually those who are a little off centre who have the most creative and fertile minds. Who have the wicked sense of humour. The Machiavellian mastery of the written and spoken word. The crystal clear clarity of Top A on a violin.

I wish I could count myself in this kind of exalted company, but I am just odd. Thankfully they let me lurk on the sidelines and clap like a monkey.

Did I mention kindness goes with weird?

And my goodness, if 2012 taught us anything, it was that the old saw of 'being mad to work here isn't compulsory... but it certainly helps' is pretty much on the money, if we just change the wording a little.

Being mad on Planet Earth isn't compulsory... but I am grateful that I am.

Because it definitely helps.

And it makes this a lot more fun.

With added fun. And sparkles!

A Good Christian

I sometimes amaze myself with how strong I am. Deep breath here, and I know you are going to find this very hard to believe, those of you who know me well.

Um.

Last week, I gave away a pair of Louboutins.

I need to lie down for a little while before I keep writing.

Please hold.

OK, I'm back.

So - this is the dealio.

Two years ago, I bought a pair of Loubs online. Being a total tard, I happily ordered my usual pair of 39s - and didn't realise that I had ordered an Italian 39. Not a Euro 39.

There is a differenzio. This is Italiano for big fat mistake. Because they are two different sizes, and when you buy on sale online, there often is no going back.

Buggerino.

So - I have worn them once. And they looked amazing, but they hurt like hell. And I couldn't do it again. So in the spirit of the red sole, I have given them away to a worthy and chic recipient - rather than selling them.

God speed my darling shoesies - and enjoy your new home.

And as for me - the piggy bank will fill up again.

One day.

Vive les Louboutins!

When We Begin The Beguine...

So. The very first post on the new blog.

This had better be good hadn't it?

What to say, what to say...

Happy New Year would probably be a good place to start. 

I started being 'grateful' on New Year's Day in 2012 - in another life really, as a novice blogger on Tumblr, not knowing much at all about the whole shebang, going through enormous changes in my own tiny little world.

And here I sit at the dawn of a new year. 2013.

Well, it's not actually dawn.

It's lunchtime.

Blame New Year's Eve.

And I am adamant that I will not be making any formal resolutions this year, because every time I have, I have either broken them or regretted them. I do intend to give out more than I receive. And to live in the spirit of the two points below.

Grateful - and ready to write about it.

2013 will rock like a rocky thing.

Let's get it on.

And be grateful for a new year, without any creases in it, or toast crumbs or gravy stains sitting on its lap.

A fresh, crisp 2013.

Take a big bite out of it people.

It sounds delicious.