How are those pesky New Year’s resolutions going? Don’t look at me like that, this is a judge free zone. I have realized the older I get the less I know. However, I do think putting your good intentions and aspirations out there for the Universe to hear is never a bad thing. For some reason though, it can be scary to say out loud the things we want the most; at least it is for me. That is why my friends Lauren, Paul, my Man and I have gotten together over the last several years to list our yearly goals out loud to each other. We aim to get together in January, but with all of my fictional kids activities and their real ones we are lucky to get together before March, but when we do I become the unofficial Secretary. I take notes and look up whatever the Chinese New Year might be, for example 2020 is the Year of the Rat (coincidentally this is my year, so Watch Out!) The list of goals are made sometimes drunkenly, I can remember in 2013 (Year of the Snake) Lauren wanted to become a farmer…she did not. But she did crush one of her financial goals the following year— balance. Other years we were all too sick from winter flu to utter more than 4 declarations of “Stay Alive”, before collapsing onto the couch each with our own box of tissue.
It all began in 2011 the Year of the Rabbit. Some of the goals from our first list never manifested, thank goodness, while others did due to sheer determination and hard work. Many of our goals were eventually met; they just took a few extra years. My husband however, has the will of an ox… once he decides to do something he does it. He needs no-one to encourage him or help him stay motivated. It truly is a marvel to witness, even if it is something as stupid as deciding to try and then staying on a KETO diet for 4 miserable years. Miserable for me that is, he was happy as a clam.
Now my friends, I have something absolutely mortifying to confess. I am unhappy to report a change in status. The Year of the Rat has led us down a difficult culinary path. Sadly, after watching one too many food/farming documentaries my man and I are…(gulp)…vegans… I can barely write the word on the page in a regular sized font let alone say it aloud. I have never been more depressed/embarrassed in my life. Going out to eat was once a joyous occasion, now I order what ever perfunctory plant based item is on the menu, take two bites, ask for a refill of water, and hand over my money. My Man on the other hand has never felt better, everything is delicious! When he went back to work after vacation, no-one recognized him due to his sudden weight loss…I have gained 2 pounds… Mind you, I have eaten only fruit and veg for 4 months! Thus further cementing my belief that there is no justice in this world…
I digress, back to our friendly yearly list of goals: our record for success has been on the skids as of late, so last year (Year of the Pig) Paul decided we should sign our names under our last goal to give us a sense of ownership and dedication. Alas, It did not have the desired effect. In fact, I believe it was one of our worst years to date. So this year Paul brought up the idea of an age old custom known as a Blood Oath. Lauren was horrified, I mildly intrigued, my Man was ready to enthusiastically slice his palm open and shake on it; Braveheart style. We all stared wide eyed at him, Lauren suggested he might want to refill his gin and take it down a couple of notches. Paul clarified all he meant was a prick of a finger just like people do everyday to check their blood sugar levels and then press our fingerprint over our signature. I thought that was an absolutely fantastic idea, Lauren was still skeptical while my man seemed mildly disappointed. In the end we did a very subdued blood oath (think Lauren screaming in horror and me laughing so hard I had to use my inhaler…)
I think it may have had the desired effect however, as the very next week my Man and I took a stab (pun intended) at one of our goals. This year my Man and I decided we would like to be more crafty and spend less time watching TV. I received a cross-stitch kit as a gift and decided to start on that, while he elected to try his hand at drawing. An hour into our crafting I realized my eyesight is too bad to thread a needle with any consistency and spent most of the hour messing with the needle while my husband finished a still life of our potted Corn Tree which was absolutely spot on… (no justice.)
In short dear Reader, let us put our intentions out there, let us strive for greatness, say out loud the thing you want the most. In the light of day the declarations of meaning and sincerity will light your way— just be patient it may take longer than expected. The other stuff, the stuff that doesn’t set you on fire, those things will fall away. Sorry farmer Lauren… So let’s all try and be Goodies and let the Year of the Rat be one for the books right here Under the Pines…
mockingbirdonbroad 