One of my New Year resolutions has been broken already, on the second of January; to cook dinner on time. As Cyberspouse had cooked dinner on the first of January this was a record failure to keep a resolution. Another resolution failed; to go to bed earlier, as opposed to early in the morning. The most obvious excuse is that I have been kidnapped by aliens, my memory wiped so I have no recollection of hours stolen.
This picture cannot be taken as an accurate representation of dinner ChezTidalscribe.
Or it might just be that I was busy keeping up with that other New Year favourite with writers and bloggers – GOALS. Some bloggers have blogfuls of goals, while the rest of us are just trying to keep up with self imposed targets of writing blogs and interacting with other bloggers.
I did fulfil one big goal I set myself in January 2019 – finish my novel. Not too difficult as I had been writing it for *** years. The ‘final manuscript’ was finished in July so I’m not sure what happened between then and November.
Perhaps goals are easier to attain than resolutions, the latter implies a bit of soul searching. You can have a goal to eat less meat, but you will need a resolution to become a vegan, especially now it is officially a philosophy. Ethical veganism is a “philosophical belief” and so is protected in law, a tribunal has ruled for the first time. It makes my resolution to just cook dinner on time seem more attainable.
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-50981359
I can do it when we have visitors; there is a good incentive to have a meal ready so adults don’t stay too late and little children don’t get hungry and grumpy or tired and grumpy and can be put to bed on time.
What are some other attainable goals writers and normal people can aspire to?
Look into joining a gym – this is much cheaper than actually joining a gym and only going once.
Take advantage of goals set by others. Use less plastic. Sainsbury’s supermarket has now dispensed with those annoying flimsy plastic bags, that I could never open, for their loose fruit and veg. Now you must take your own containers or buy some netting bags.
Start a novel, much easier than finishing one.
Go to bed at a reasonable time; taking your lap top with you because you have a bad cough and need to sit propped up in bed.
Cook meals from scratch. Avoid buying any food in plastic packaging and you will find yourself cooking from scratch…
Cut down on computer time – buy a puppy of a large energetic breed or acquire an energetic human toddler. You will spend lots more time outside, off line AND get plenty of exercise, so no need to even look into joining a gym.
Cheat – Blog about running or cycling twenty miles a day, post a few pictures you took while parked at that scenic viewpoint… we will never know it’s not true.
Have you bothered with resolutions or set any goals?
Times and Tides of a Beachwriter 
No goals- I always feel like a failure when I, well, fail 🙂
Congrats on your new release!
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Thanks Jacquie, vey wise not to have goals!
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Thanks for the chuckles, Janet. There should be a contest to see not only how quickly a resolution can be broken but also one for volume. After all, who can’t appreciate that person who can’t keep a single declaration?
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Thanks Pete, yes I’m quite proud of my achievement.
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One goal – to get the Goldfish memoir written. It’s the same goal I’ve had for the last three years! Still, 2020 has a rather promising ring to it so maybe this will be the year.
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Now we have that in writing you must finish it this year Mary!
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The only resolution I make is….not to make any other resolutions. I do it every year and always achieve it.
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Excellent idea Clive and we should all take your advice.
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I keep an on-going list of goals or resolutions in my head all year long. Sometimes I meet them to a certain extent:) Overall, they do, at times, shape my future days. For example, at one point I was determined to mark on my calendar the days when I exercised. I didn’t always do that (the exercising or the marking), but I think that the intent to do that made me more mindful of the need to exercise!
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Good idea Becky, why should resolutions be confined to the beginning of the year.
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Well my goal should be to spend less money but as I read your article I realized I have to stop using those veggie plastic bags too (I have cloth reusable bags for the other stuff) So I immediately went on Amazon and bought some mesh bags.
Oops. But good for the environment.
Congrats on your book. I hope to be there someday.
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Oops bought a book too. Looking forward to reading “At the seaside…” 🙂
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Love your ‘oopses’! 😀
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Thanks – well done buying the bags and my book!
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🙂 Maybe “some” dinners will be cooked on time. Good enough, I say.
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now the pressure’s off and you can enjoy 2020!
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Perfect answer Jim!
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