I’ve never really been one for resolutions, maintained or broken or otherwise.
I firmly believe you can change whenever you decide change is necessary, whether the calendar reads January 1st or June 3rd or October 31st (Halloweenolutions!)
I do understand the desire to change things whenever a momentous date comes around, be it New Year’s or your birthday or the tenth anniversary of when you started drinking coffee. And actually, on the tenth anniversary of when I started drinking coffee, I made a huge commitment to drink coffee forever.
I can commit, for serious.
BUT.
I get a little tired of everyone Facebooking (I know it’s not a real verb, I promise) and Tweeting (that IS a real verb, but only for birds and a particular kind of speakery thingy — the opposite of a woofer?) and blogging their new diet and fitness and personal habits and emotional change plans. Not because I don’t think they shouldn’t make changes — hey, you should change whenever you want, and if you need support, shout it out — but because it makes me feel like a bit of a dork for not seeking out new leaves to turn over.
That’s why I decided to flip the whole thing, and choose some stuff that I WASN’T going to change in the coming year, just to reaffirm that a) I like stuff I do! and b) YOU CAN’T MAKE ME RESOLVE! and c) okay, it doesn’t really affirm anything, it’s an exercise that would make any decent psychologist rub their hands together in glee.
That said…
1. I’m still going to read more magazines than I’ll read content on websites. I like the glossy feel of magazine pages in my hands, the linear experience of reading through an issue, and the happy anticipation of the next one in the mail. And you can’t swat a fly with your laptop unless IT’S A REALLY BIG CYBERFLY.
2. I’m going to keep drinking coffee. Same amount. Maybe more. Maybe from one of those hats with the straws. Maybe from the gutter I end up in when I spend all my income on extra shots. Just… one… more.
3. I don’t intend to stop texting instead of talking on the phone. Why? Because people who talk on their phones on trains and buses, and people who carry on extended personal conversations in the workplace… are ANNOYING. And I commute two hours a day (train or bus), and work another nine or ten (you guessed it… in a workplace!) By the time that’s all done? I’m barely able to drool all over my dinner, let alone carry on a discussion. Ask Gradon. Sometimes I just tap on his arm and smile. Four times means “I love you, honey.” Or “No feeling in face.”
4. I’m not wearing heels unless I have to. Yeeeees, ladies, I know — your legs and your butt look better in heels. But I also look better when I’m not teetering like an elephant on a golf tee, or limping down the cobblestones like a pirate.
5. I will continue to love Apple products. At this point, Steve Jobs would pretty much have to come at me with a mob of clowns and butterflies and half-tees and novelty socks to get me to give them up. And Gradon got me an iPad for Christmas, too! I’m sure the second generation will come out plated in gold or whatnot, but for now? Happy sigh.
6. I will continue to cook with butter. And olive oil and peanut oil and grapeseed oil and other cheerful fats (I think that was a college nickname of mine), too. But mostly butter. Because Julia Child did it, and one day I, too, hope to have someone start a blog about trying to cook everything I’ve cooked. And then they’ll even make a movie about the blog! Or I will, by lurking outside their apartment with a video camera. Wait. Maybe not the last part.
7. I will continue to blog sporadically, because a) my dad follows me on Twitter now, so I don’t have to picture him refreshing the page endlessly, hoping for something new, and b) sporadically sounds better than “lazily” or “badly” or “why do you still pay to have a website, you pathetic trollop.”
How about you?
I personally love the “four times means I love you, honey.” HAHAHAHAHA!!
I’m also over everyone finding the three words that are going to guide them this year (thanks Chris Brogan), but I don’t have the balls to say that on my blog. You are my new heroine.
Character is being yourself in spite of… I drink too much coffee, too, and I am not going to stop no matter what anyone says to me (unless a doctor says I am in imminent danger). Cheers.
I love the use of delicious greasy thing while cooking. Now does your cook book have anything about deep frying Twinkies in it?
I haven’t worn heels in at least two years. And I don’t intend to resume in 2011.
Love this idea so much! Already compiling my own list. Your commitment to coffee is inspirational. Reading your posts, sporadic as they are, is one thing I’m certainly not changing this year. Cheers!
I am not wearing heels this year either – well. maybe, but sporadically!
I, too, will continue to drink coffee and not wear high heels. Unless ropers count as high heels.
Love. Exceptional idea.
The only time I’m wearing heels in the foreseeable future is for a friend’s wedding and that is it! I’m going to drink as much tea as I do (not a coffee person), I don’t love apple products but I support you on the rest. Nice to hear from you in 2011!
I’m stealing your idea, its that good
In 2011, I will continue to hope to bump into the infamous Fowlertripp’s in Charlestown. Love the post and hope to see you soon.
I’m with you on heels. I stopped having to wear anything but jeans and flats to work when I got my new job and I never looked back. Also – I don’t think my butt looks better when I wear heels. I think my butt looks pretty damn great now and when I’m 80 it will look even better when it’s not above legs that have varicose veins BOOYA. Kick the heels, ladies.
Please also keep making lists. I like lists. I LIKE LIST.
This post made me smile, which is an excellent way to start the new year. And for the person who is tired of the three words: I’m tired of them being falsely trendy. I’ve been doing three motivational words for myself (and keeping them to myself, thanks) for many, many years. The trend annoys, but: It’s the herd, ya heard?
Also, you used Trollop. +10
I’m not ever wearing heals either. I’ve always thought that men’s clothes are designed by men for men and women’s are the same. Comfortable is way better.
You need to find another way to work, it shouldn’t take 2 hours to get across town, even in Boston.
I will continue to look for Meg posts every day and I will continue to be completely baffled by twitter.
Good to hear from you in the new decade!
Oh, I love this. I just posted my New Year’s revelations (the things I realise I’m already doing right so don’t need to change) and the lovely Stacey Monk suggested I might like your post.
She was right.
I like it very much indeed.
Rock on with the good (enough) stuff you are already doing Meg. Lovely to meet you.
Haha fantastic. Love it. Bravo for following your gut. It knows. Yes to coffee and flat shoes!
I love this. My other half and I say “i love you” with our mouths shut – kind of humming it to each other. No conversation necessary.
Well.. minus the “m-nn-nuu-mhn-mnoh-nee?” – “do you want a cup of tea?”
And I also look better when I’m not teetering like an elephant on a golf tee.. so no heels here either :)
Thank you for this! You made me laugh, and you inspired me to write my own list. Hope you don’t mind that I stole a few off your list, too.
Cheers!
I was stalling on twitter trying to find something to cure my boredom – and BLAM – someone I follow tweeted this post. Now, I am not quite as bored. Thanks for posting great material. – Frisbee