The Resolution is a Revolution Over Myself

This year, it's not just about resolutions. It's about a revolution over established habits and unrealized dreams. It's about using gifts long dormant, making connections that are meaningful, being truly adventurous. But seriously, what does this all mean?

Revolution (noun): a forcible overthrow of a government or social order in favor of a new system

Definitions mean nothing! We want decisiveness and actions. And that's what I am hoping I will achieve here. Maybe writing about what I want to do this year, and holding myself accountable through words every time I look at this blog, will enable this year to become revolutionary! Overthrow the overlord albatross!

Albatross (noun): an obstacle to success; a source of worry or distress

How about we start with my old list of resolutions, which isn't in any particular order of importance or priority. I will create new posts for each list item to describe in more detail the whys, the whens, the hows. 

Old Resolutions

• learn about and invest in the TFSA
• practice French and Japanese
• cook at least three times a week
• read about health and live healthily, as far as possible
• knit
• practice the piano
• learn about photography and start using my DSLR camera
• write more/blog more/read better
• sleep by midnight at the latest
• do not spend frivolously, especially on food

These goals aren't bad...they're just too vague and open ended, and leave a lot of room to just do nothing. This is why, after several years, I still have the same "resolutions". Why aren't I able to tick off list items? I would like to blame it on the aging brain and the difficulties of learning new things after a certain age, but seriously, who am I kidding? Although, after reading Norman Doidge's The Brain That Changes Itself, I now understand why it takes even more effort and focus to learn new things after the critical learning period. The silver lining in all of this is that it IS possible to learn new things even into adulthood and beyond! Yahoo!!

My inability to finish off a new year's resolution has its roots in an inability to prioritize and organize, which is strange, because in other aspects of my life, these two abilities are not beyond my grasp. One of my close friends has told me before, and continues to berate me, that I probably can't finish off my list items because I try to take on too much, or I make things look like impossibly big and long tasks that they never get enough air under them to really fly. And, I know she's right, which is why this year, I'm going to break things down into more doable chunks.

Without further ado, here are two songs to rev us into motion!

 Tracy Chapman's "Talkin' About A Revolution"

The Beatles' "Revolution"