I hate New Year’s resolutions – and hardly ever make them. At some
point last year I made a before 2012 end’s
resolution, it was quite simple, or so I thought. My year-end resolution
was to be able to run 5km. I bought myself running shoes, reflective clothing
and a cap. In check was my fully loaded iPod, a Run 5km in 5 Weeks programme and plenty of weeks left to do it in.
I was quite looking forward to trotting along the beachside when we went to
Durban for Christmas.
What I didn’t bargain on was the illnesses of an *almost* 30-year-old
creeping up on me, about 11 months in advance. I have since been told that in
your near 30s your back gives in (check), in your 40s your knees and in your
50s your mind. By 60 you don’t care what else goes because it is your mind you
miss the most. Back to the resolutions…
As 2013 approached I decided to do the New Year’s resolutions thing. Small,
simple and achievable goals (in no particular order);
- Do my first 5km road run – preferably before Winter.
- Read more – or at least finish my sparkling new Games of Thrones box set.
- Spend more time with friends. Last year, due to being a part-time student, some of my favourite people were seriously neglected.
- Pass seven subjects.
- Spend more quality time with bf.
The new year hadn’t even started when my well-intended resolutions
started crumbling.
In early January – after a Voltaren
injection, two Cortisone injections, chronic medication (or so I was told)
and one, still need to happen, neurosurgeon appointment – I realised that my
dream to run 5km has to be put on hold. In fact – all training has been put on
hold, until such time that I know what is wrong with my lower back and what I
can and cannot do (to prevent further injury).
Now the crumpling of resolutions 2 and 3 are as a result of resolution
4. I have registered for four subjects in this semester and, after assessing the
workload, I realised that most of my spare time will be dedicated to studying.
In my own stubborn and dedicated way I do try and stick to resolution 2
and 3. I try and read for five minutes every night, normally while brushing teeth
(it’s a skill I mastered as a child), and I’ve accounted for special events
with friends in my study schedule – my iCal app is by far the most overused app
on my devices – everything goes in there.
So far the only resolutions that seem to be doing ok are 4 and 5. To
date I have managed to stick to my study schedule. I keep myself going by
reminding myself that the faster I complete my subjects and get my BA, the quicker
I can get back to this thing called a life. Bf and I are doing our best with
this quality business – we now eat at the table and talk instead of in front of
the TV. Plus, there are special times in my iCal entitled “Date Night”, in two
cases “Date Day”.
I suppose the lesson is this – even the simplest of goals require work.
Get off your butt and work on it. It reminds me of why I value reading and am desperate to hit the road;
"The keys to life are running and
reading. When you're running, there's a little person that talks to you and
says, "Oh I'm tired. My lung's about to pop. I'm so hurt. There's no way I
can possibly continue." You want to quit.
For reading, there have been gazillions of people that have lived before all of us. There's no new problem you could have – with your parents, with school, with a bully. There's no new problem that someone hasn't already had, and written about it in a book," – Will Smith.
Nice read. I fully understand the nearing 30 dilemma's that start to crop up, so good luck overcoming them. Its just another page in the book of life, and Im sure you will be fine. Give us a shout, if you'd like to talk :)
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