You always hear that the start of a new year is supposed to imbue you with a renewed sense of impending possibility. Of hope for a new beginning. Now, as a glass half full kind of person, I can confess I’ve definitely bought into this a time or two. Despite knowing intellectually that New Year is just a time-honored construct of “endings” and “beginnings”, it still does help to have a mental model of leaving things in the past. But, this year I’m trying something new. This year, I think, instead of a “fresh start”, I’m going to tentatively sidestep into 2023 with a healthy dose of trepidation.
Now, if you know me, you can laugh at that. Because I’m the least cynical person you’ll ever meet. I struggle to make a mean face, I always have the reason for hope at the ready, and I will rarely (if ever) take my Bad Monday out on you. But, given how the last few years have been, maybe it’s time to make a shift and put a little less pressure on ourselves to come into the new year swinging. Instead, what if we start the year with low expectations. With zero resolutions. Maybe it’s time to lean into those bad Mondays. Refuse change. Applaud ourselves for the simple fact that we are waking up, showing up, and putting one foot in front of the other.
New Year, Same Me. Let’s normalize being good with that.
Every year you make a resolution
to change yourself.
This year, make a resolution
to be yourself.
I think we all know I’m totally full of this whole cynicism kick and that this will last about a week before birds start chirping and we’re back to our regularly scheduled upbeat programming. But, for now anyway, I’m going to try to expect a little less of myself and let go of That Which I Have Not Yet Completed. I don’t need to make big changes or start anything with renewed energy. Cause let’s be honest, I have very little energy to spare.
I’ll take all of the self-kindness I can at the moment. This is a pretty busy week – we’re starting a new semester, so there are lectures to write and syllabi to distribute. I have several grants that need to be submitted before the madness really kicks off. There new students starting in the lab who need training, and existing students who need support as we start on the road towards finishing up their degrees. Like I said, very little energy to spare.
So, if you, like me, are feeling a lot of trepidation towards 2023 and are already feeling guilty for starting the year with zero resolutions outside of “survive”, know you are not alone. I hope we can find a little more patience with ourselves as we dip our toes back into the day to day. Brokering a gentle peace with the new year, rather than starting with everything upended and falsely energized.
Deep breaths. All right 2023, let’s do this.
xoxo
Outfit Details:
Top: Ted Baker (same here)
Skirt: Created & Collected (similar modern and vintage here, here & here)
Sunglasses: Amazon (similar)
Necklace: Style Mined (similar here)
Belt: Alannah Hill (similar)
Handbag: gift (similar)
Shoes: Alzuarr, sold out (similar)
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