And so it is.The month of January is upon us. The year of 2012 has arrived.
"It crept up on us, didn't it?", I've heard many note, personifying the event as negatively as they do an unexpected increase on the weighting scales or an increasing overdraft.
The few festive weeks are over; presents have been exchanged, families have been visited, hugs have been shared, trees have been decorated, drinks have been enjoyed, mornings have been slept through and food has been gorged upon.
Satisfaction is a good word to describe what someone may feel sitting back on their couch on the evening of the first day of the New Year. Tiredness may be another, the two weeks of festivities may have taken their toll. The word 'happiness' may be sufficient-good times have been spent with good people, some who you cannot see from one end of the year to the next. Admittedly, the word and feeling of 'guilt' may be just as sufficient for a lot of people yesterday evening. It may even over-rule the previous terms of expression.
And here enters the world-wide recognised form of solution. Whatever guilt one may have regarding the festive break is reconciled by this modern concept of penance: the New Year resolution.
The most popular modern forms of resolution still stand strong at the top of the table in Ireland this year; spending more time with friends and family, getting fit, quitting smoking, to enjoy life more. A mental list may be made, a note stuck on the fridge, a memo saved on a mobile phone to remind ourselves of our resolutions as the first few days of January drift by.
The word 'resolution' means to be "admirably purposeful, determined, unwavering"; three expressions I don't believe stick with the majority of my New Year resolutions. They are thought of ten times a day and nodded towards for the first few weeks, gradually put on the wayside and eventually wither with the 'Brazilian Darkness' remnants of the Christmas Cadbury's Roses tin.
The HSE have noted the special time of year with a specially-timed warning towards Irish smokers and a few frightening statistics. The Guardian reported on The British Liver Trust taking advantage of the New Year Resolution trend this week, advising people that a sudden and short-lived alcohol detox is not the wisest decision regarding your liver, and coining the phrase, the 'Janopause Detox'.
The start of a new year-a perfect time to begin a resolution, a new way of life. But, really? It is ironic how, knowing the dreaded resolution is around the corner, all standards will disappear over Christmas-the person who chooses to lose weight in the new annum will eat twice as much over Christmas to "to treat themselves" before the celery soup diet begins, the person who vows to quit their ten-a-day smoking habit will indulge in a twenty-a-day extavaganza before the cravings take over. Surely a less dramatic and more controlled life change could be better maintained and accomplished easier?
My New Year resolution? To keep the few changes I have decided to embark on.
To be honest, I didn't really think about them until today, the second day of January. This evening, in fact. So that's a whole two days gone from this year already. Maybe it could prove more beneficial just to wait until next January? 2013...and just start the year afresh then...?
Best of luck everybody!
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