Saturday 1 January 2022

Hello 2022!







I must confess that I have a rather curmudgeonly attitude to making New Year's Resolutions. Very, very rarely do I ever make any.


I actually kind of agree with bratty Calvin. Our society's pressure to engage in constant “self-improvement” is, in my opinion, simply a secular continuation of the harmful Christian doctrine that we are all hopeless sinners and need to improve our wicked ways to achieve illusory “perfection” and justify ourselves to God. Whether religious or secular, this pressure is actually a form of social control. It has been particularly abusive of women and girls, although it's not really good for anyone, of course.

I'm not talking about things we legitimately need to do for physical, mental or emotional health reasons or changes that are necessary to achieve self-actualization to become who we truly are. What I mean by “self-improvement” are qualities that we often feel we “should” possess because society has drummed the ideas into us, for example, perpetual dieting, obsessive exercising, repressing our true selves or true emotions to please others, etc. Those are the things which, unfortunately, are often the subject of New Year’s Resolutions.

Her Royal Highness the Cat, however, says that I am full of shit as usual. She makes the same two New Year's Resolutions every January 1st. So far the only Resolution she ever accomplishes is the second one, thank goodness.


42 comments:

  1. Hello Debra, I thing that new beginnings can be great, as long as you work for things that are a real improvement, and not just things that get you back into the same tired rut.
    --Jim

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  2. Happy New year, Debra. And most of us are about as evolved as we're going to get! No point in resolving anything. We're FIIIIIIINE, I tell you!

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  3. Great post, Debra. I couldn’t agree more. Happy New Year!

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  4. I don't make resolutions either.
    It's too much work and I'm already tired!

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  5. I agreed with Calvin. Why do we need to make resolutions when clearly, none of us can change, not easily.

    Happy new year!

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  6. Happy New Year to you! I used to make resolutions, but this year I resolved not to make any...

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  7. We LOVE you just the way you are.

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  8. LOL Debra! These are great!!
    Thanks for the giggles.
    Happy New Year and many blessings to you!!

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  9. A very happy new year to you! The cat one is so very accurate. Murphy is currently working on it. -Jenn

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  10. Yes, exactly ... and that's why ... I never have "good resolutions" for the new year ...
    anyway it turns out differently than man / woman thinks ;-)
    But when I think back, I've almost always managed to make my life positive and useful ... and if you can't do it for yourself, you won't make it for others or for your natural environment.
    So now is the time ... today ...
    a happy new year to you.
    (ps. I rarely present my thoughts, your contribution animated me)
    Hug

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  11. Happy New Year!
    Especially like the aliens cartoon.

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  12. It's lucky for us all that HRH doesn't have much follow-thru, LOL! Happy New Year, Deb!

    P.S. Loved the fireworks!

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  13. Years ago I made a New Year's resolution that I have kept ever since. Never make another New Year's resolution.

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  14. Beautifully said, Debra! The only thing I keep working on improving is living in peace by keeping a-holes out of my life. LOL Happy New Year to you! ❤️

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  15. Happy new year to you and your loved ones!

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  16. How and why, in the name of all that is good and decent, did that godawful Strauss music become part of this bogus holiday?

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  17. @ Richard -- Personally, I like Strauss waltzes but I'm no fan of the annual New Year's Day concert either, mainly because I despise that fucking Andre Rieu and his gaggingly traditional gendered version of this concert. The original Viennese tradition has firm roots in the Nazi era too, another reason to shun this whole thing, in my opinion --

    https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-30536313

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  18. I am planning on some resolutions this year. His Lordship never does any as he thinks he is perfect. But I pressured him and now he is going to learn to cook African food this year. I am looking forward to my culinary trip around the continent and to his Lordship doing a little more cooking. My resolutions will mostly have to do with health and wellness as always. Not getting any younger that's for sure.

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  19. great post. I resolve to comment more on the cool work you do with your blog. I never tell you that enough.

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  20. The second one, with the aliens, reminds me that every day it can be said that the Earth has made one full circle around the sun. January 1st is just arbitrary.

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  21. Yesyesyes, this constant strive to something optimal (that nobody reaches) and lack of enjoyment in the now is so sad. Changing all ‘should’ into ‘will’ or ‘want’ makes it clearer what is a personal goal, and what is a societal demand.

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  22. Of course I'm going to have to say that we can't justify ourselves to God nor are we supposed to. If perfection were possible Jesus needn't have died. That said, I agree that society inflicts a lot on us and some of us are weak-willed enough to be led astray by what society says is acceptable. (By 'some of us' I mean me obviously.) I want Calvin's self-belief!

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  23. We are so alike, Debra. I don't make any New Year's Resolutions either. I just try to live my best day-by-day. Have always loved Calvin and Hobbes! Hope you and your dear one have a wonderful, blessed 2022~. xo Diana

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  24. (not sure if my comment went through)
    I agree. The only ones benefiting from these resolutions are the diet industry and self help writers. That said I did make a resolution to improve my poor texting abilities. Happy New Year

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  25. I'm with her highness...#2 anyway!! Happy 2022

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  26. Excellent, I love the anatomy one!

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  27. Tut! New Year's resolutions should be go low/slow and work up to the ultimate goal by 2023. Good luck .

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  28. For the first time ever I am making some new year resolutions. Get my teeth sorted. Get Dr Pimple Popper to sort out the fatty lump on my head, and stop being such a wimp.

    Happy New Year to you!

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  29. My attitude is, basically, f*ck resolutions.
    But I also plan to sell a few books and scale down on sugar habits. Sigh.

    Hope your year's started off happily.

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  30. I'm not one for resolutions either. I'm always trying to live right, although I fail often enough. Here's one thing, though, I'm still wearing the same clothing size that I did at the start of the pandemic and I call that a win!

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  31. Missed your new year post...busy weekend, internet issues...FYI, those aliens are in Roswell, NM so they're probably celebrating having survived the circle around the sun as well.

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  32. NAP MORE, yes...and conquer Earth? I'll leave that to the cat! Happy New Year Debra!! ♥♥
    I don't do resolutions, I find them silly and they breed shame because I can't compete with myself in that way. I just think of things I want to do and go for it! No pressure, no finger waving at me from above telling me I'm going to hell! ☺

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  33. I loved it ,agree to it dear Debra:)

    I either never made any new year resolution i just like to enjoy my slow walk while try to be on track.
    Wishing you and loved ones a happy new year full of happiness peace and health!

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  34. I agree with you absolutely regarding resolutions, which are in reality guilt feelings regarding some current societal fad that you fall short on. I intend to keep doing what I am doing. It has served me well up till now.

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  35. Well I resolve to keep being silly, wear thigh high stockings and cottage core outfits even if the neighbors start to talk about me, and to sing loudly in my car when I song I like comes on. :D

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  36. I made a resolution to lose the 20 pounds I gained. yeah, that aint working.

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  37. Here's to Peace and Love for 2022! Big Hugs!

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