2023 Resolutions

Here ye, here ye welcome to 2023 or at least the 11 months left. I'd love to make up some excuse for why I'm so consistently awol on this blog, but I really can't. Wouldn't it be nice if midterms, college decisions, and senior-year tendencies were the reasons for my not writing? Instead, writing serves as a constant nagging at all the wrong times, and it is when I am most free that I completely ignore it.

But I am here now to set some goals for myself. I blame my lateness on the necessary resting period I needed to wrap my head around all that will come this year. It's a big year, and I'm expecting a lot of things to change. Here are some goals of mine that I hope inspire you, humor you, etc.

1. READ MORE:

I have this issue where I continuously buy more books without reading the ones I already have. To stop this, I plan to read a book a month. I haven't figured out my exact plan yet, but I have an idea. I've already read my book for January and am starting my next one for Feb.

Here's my rough outline for the rest of the year:

February - My Year of Rest and Relaxation by Ottessa Moshfegh

March - East of Eden by John Steinbeck

April - Chronicles: Volume One by Bob Dylan

May - The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne

June - Breakfast at Tiffany's by Truman Capote

July - The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

August - Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner

September - The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion

October - Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney

November - On the Road by Jack Kerouac

December - Turn Around Bright Eyes: A Karaoke Journey Into the Mysteries of Music, Love, and the Universe by Rob Sheffield

2. STOP CREATING MONTHLY PLAYLISTS:

My absolute worst habit is making those annoyingly self-important monthly playlists, which are basically conglomerations of random songs that don't belong together. I mean, seriously, it should be illegal to have Tyler Childers and Childish Gambino on the same playlist. I don't know why I do this to myself. My strategy for the new year is to think of my Spotify as more of a capsule wardrobe than a series of monthly progressions. Back to the basics: Plain White T's and My Morning Jacket (puns intended.) But honestly, I swear to work harder on building longer, more substantial playlists based on my frequent moods and favorite genres. To some of you, this may not matter. However, it does to me and makes me happy, so deal with it.

3. GET A GRIP ON MY CONTROL ISSUES:

Now, this is just more challenging than it sounds; I know that much. But by setting this goal, I can improve at handling things out of my control. Last year, I would get so upset about things that I had no business being hurt by. Since then, I've realized that letting unnecessary things upset you is not worth it. This year I want to prioritize myself and the things I can do to make me happy. That's what this list is all about. Maybe then, I can forget about all the things I can't control completely. I want to go into college with an open mind and a fulfilled heart. That can't happen if I'm constantly anxious about others and their choices. So instead of being so hard on myself, I vow to let it go.

4. TAKE MORE BATHS:

I've never been a big bather. Not that I don't take showers (I promise I do), but I have never really understood the power of a good bath. Up until recently, that is. Two weeks ago, I got COVID and spent most of my time in my bathtub. I always used to think taking baths just meant wasting time and not being able to get the water temperature just right (I'm serious, I'm either shivering or scalding and nowhere in between.) When I was sick, I finally convinced myself to slip into my bathtub with a good book and a speaker and found surprising serenity. For the first time, I understood all of the bath lovers out there. And because of those corona-inspired trips to the bath, I want to bathe every week now. Realistically, I don't have time to bathe all the time. But now, whenever I have a spare hour or two, I know another way to help myself.

5. BLOG MORE:

When I started this blog, I had the grand idea of posting on it every two weeks. How silly was that idea? Very silly. Not only have I not done that, but I haven't even attempted it. This is the first time I've been blogging since November. It's the absolute worst feeling in the world to feel unproductive and talentless, emotions I feel whenever I don't blog for a while. To prevent those self-deprecating attitudes and mindsets, I want to blog at least once a month this year (I know I've already missed January, give me a break.) For now, I leave you with these promises and written proof that I'm trying harder this year. Lots of love to my readers always.

P.S. If you ever have any ideas for blog posts or other contributions, please let me know. See y'all in March.