Resolutions and the year ahead
Have you made any new year’s resolutions was one of the first things a colleague asked me when we officially opened for the year?
I told her I was still thinking about it as I do not want to commit myself to things I will never get around to doing. This is true so far as ‘serious’ or ‘real’ resolutions are concerned. I mean, I have made a couple of ‘silly’ resolutions that don’t necessarily make you feel bad if by the end of the year you don’t achieve them, like learn to bake for instance. I’ve already made my first tray of muffins (or were they scones?). Soft inside but hardish outside; couldn’t figure what they lacked and where the hell do you get cinnamon? My other resolution is to factor in more board games. I’ve already purchased a game of Monopoly and boy am I enjoying it! I happen to have a couple of ‘serious’ resolutions lingering in the back of my mind, like vigorously pursuing an Mphil and getting myself more organized in my work or improving my technical skills. But achieving the simplest things in Zimbabwe can be a Herculean task. Nothing is simple anymore.
From these little resolutions, it looks like 09 for me is about confronting and overcoming challenges. Put mildly, it’s about doing things I have never done. If only embracing bigger challenges at a national level was as simple.
I have several other ‘silly’ and much easier to achieve resolutions like buy and actually wear a dress at least once this year. Cut down on (cough) chocolate. I will also try not to yell at my neighbor’s noisy brats when they sing and play catch along the corridor on Saturday morning while I clutch desperately at the straws of a well deserved lie in. If not to stop the rascals from nudging my satellite dish in retaliation, then to avoid developing a coronary or any other stress related disorders. Sigh. Somebody might wonder why those ‘silly’ things are resolutions at all. Well, just to enjoy the little joys of life I say. I resolve to try and do a lot of that this year, and relax a little more. So far I’ve discovered that lying on an airbed and watching my fish swim endlessly in their glass tank is such an uplifting and liberating experience. They lead such a simple life; eat. shit.
A family member or two have phoned with a few suggestions of New Year resolutions for me. Please try and tone down a bit Natasha we don’t want another Jestina.
And, by the way, when are the wedding bells?