It’s now 2024! I enjoy the freshness of a new year, and so tend to reflect and come up with resolutions. Some of these are things I’ve implemented already and want to reinforce, and I actually started some a bit before the end of the year. Some resolutions are harder to quantify and I feel some additional work will be needed with my therapist.
New Year Resolutions 2023-24
1. Limit social events to once a week. Max twice. If twice, must include art.
2. Put things back where they belong after use.
3. Limit social media use to once a week (Saturdays or Sundays). Not after dinner.
4. Manage portions in the evenings by using smaller bowl/plate.
5. Exercise every day, even if tired after the end of the day:
Monday: walking
Tuesday: resistance bands
Wednesday: dancing
Thursday: weights/swim/gym cardio
Friday: yoga and walking
Saturday: weights/swim/gym cardio
Sunday: dancing
6. Recognise the need for rest and implement a duvet-day once a month (asking partner for support with this).
7. Ask for help more when overwhelmed.
8. Meditate for at least 5 minutes when arriving home.
9. Bring up difficult topics rather than bring up issues in response to someone else.
10. Allow for flexibility and spontaneity when it comes to routines in order to make time for relationships and rest.
So, how is the year going so far? I notice sometimes I feel resentful for having to get up at a particular time, even when I have very little to complain about, and I’m very fortunate that I enjoy most of what I do. Sure, I would rather relax, read to my heart’s content, make poetry and art, and watch my new Girlfriends box set. But I also want to practice more gratitude. Hmmm…
11. Write 3 things I’ve grateful for every morning?
I ended the year with the Marina Abromavic exhibition and hosted a party, then started the year off having a long morning with some friends who’d stayed over, taking myself off for a rainy walk after brunch. With a leftover roast for dinner, I took my partner to see The Boy and the Heron at Everyman Crystal Palace. The next day was the anniversary of my grandad’s death, so this week has been a little clouded with this. That day I also found out about Tyrone Lewis’s mum Kaz dying. She was such a massive support and well-known and loved within the poetry community. After having watched Leo and I am Groot shorts in bed, I spent the evening watching Guardians of the Galaxy. If you haven’t listened to Tyrone’s poetry before, I highly recommend his poem, I Am Groot.
I stressed myself a little that evening as I misplaced a book someone wanted to by, much to my surprise, on Vinted. I sadly haven’t found it and had to lose out and cancel the order… if I ever find it, I doubt I’ll sell it now. The next couple of days have been mostly work (tutoring and a Lego Party). The Lego party was interesting as it was at a poetry venue and the pub owners knew Alain English, who had come to the last Forest Hill Stanza Open Mic. I’ve also managed to secure a spot every last Sunday now at Forest Hill library, which I’m excited to tell the group about!
Today I’ve still got the day off, so fresh from my morning yoga class, I’m about to get ready for a day of exhibitions, taking a uni course book with me… then it’s back to only having Sundays “off”!
Watching: Traitors!
Reading: Imagining Animals, Personality isn’t Permanent
Podcasts: Creative Codex
Music: Pinhanı, Poppy
Again, if you’re able to share or donate to my crowdfund as I train to become an Art Psychotherapist, or buy some books, please do!
Poet on page and stage. Creator of She Grrrowls. Facilitator. Writer. 