Resolutions are good. Results are better

Resolutions are good, results are better

Before we knew it, 2014 was nudging us. For a change I was in bed by 11.30 pm. Yep. I slept in 2013 and woke up in 2014. And that is how I celebrated New Year’s eve. As I went to bed I was laughing at how we usually stay up till midnight just so we can wish each other. We’d look forward to all those New Years eve programs on tv. But now, we are spoilt for choice. Nah, we’re a step ahead. We’re too blase about tv. We prefer to choose what we want to see. If we miss something no problem – someone would have uploaded the video on YouTube.

Remember how we used to feel excited when we told our friends see you next year on Dec 31? I still feel excited about that!
Things we can say on Jan 1, then:

Oh, I made this halwa last year and we’re still eating it!
I bathed last year and plan to do it again this year!
I ate last year and am about to have my first meal this year!
I haven’t visited the bathroom since last year…

Okay, enough, I heard you say. *grin*

But let’s talk about resolutions, eh. Yes, one of mine was to be in bed before 12. I’ve made it before, but cheated. I’d always say “just today” and that became every day. I fondly remember how you’d keep calling out “Vidya” every half hour, asking me what time it was, and I’d fib to you.

You know how I freak out over writing resolutions – but this time, I felt like. Maybe I am a softie now. As a child I enjoyed the actiivity. It used to be such fun to sit and write them. And I would diligently follow them. After all, once I made a commitment, how could I not keep it?
And so, this year, I did make resolutions. I have resolved to spend less time at the computer and more time enjoying my hobbies.

I want to make all the crafts projects I’ve been planning. For example:

Those bags out of my jeans
Quilts out of those sheets
Patchwork from the sleeves of my kurtas, that I’ve been diligently saving.

*Cry break* I just remembered, when I was in the sixth std, making that tea-cozy and cross-stitch table cloth set that I gifted to Kumud teacher. I’ll never forget the look on her face when I gave her the set. She held me close and tight and I felt her tears on my head..plop!

Oh yes, I’d like to do some cross stitch work too. And frame it like this Ganesha

I promised a friend I’d make a bag for her – I was carrying this one day and she fell in love with it.

Since the urge to sew is so strong, I thought, why not make these bags – they’d make such nice gifts.

Oh by the way, you know what, Mi? Manju finally turned up to collect that cash donation and also took the three suitcases of clothes. I felt so happy. She has also promised to collect the containers. You know she also teaches at the orphanage where they’ve developed the school up to class 10. There are around 45-50 children in the age group of 3 to 16.

Okay so back to the resolutions

I am going to focus on my blogs this year, besides trying to pack up the three book drafts.
Also want to sketch more, paint more. I was cleaning the chest of drawers where we keep all our stuff and felt guilty to see the sealed packs of paints.

While I read a lot, this year I want to create special reading time on a daily basis – I have books to last me until I cease to exist. Oh okay – you know what that means. Won’t-put-the-book-down-until-I-finish-it.

By the way, while sprinkling raisins into my breakfast of sliced banana, I felt very proud of myself. Last year’s resolution – eat breakfast. I’ve diligently stuck to it. What, you’re stunned I made eating a resolution? Look who’s talking, then!

​This year I also want to experiment with all the recipes I’ve been collecting. I do try a recipe as soon as I see it – but I want to try it more consistently.

I also want to go off biscuits – those standby snacks. Funny thing is, the moment I decided, I no longer wanted to eat them. If I feel like, I might even make them with healthy ingredients.

This year, I plan to lose some more weight. Somehow, I seem to have shed pounds last year and I really don’t know how. Healthy eating and exercise could be part of it. Also, I have conquered stress and attribute my good health to this.

I’d like to travel more, Mi. This could be the year of short trips – day trips – to places like Lepakshi, and all those other little gems in our State. We usually never get around to seeing what’s near us. I am going to change that this year. Long weekends will hopefully find us packing a set of clothes and pushing off to some heritage spot. Can you believe we haven’t yet seen Hampi, Badami, Aihole and those places? Okay rhetoric question.

I want to make this a year where, at the end of it, I’ll feel proud of all the things I’ve done. To that end, I am maintaining a journal. You’d love that, wouldn’t you?

Oh, I also want to make photo collages – what else to do with all those albums?

In short, I want to create, create, create this year!

You know I realized something for the hundredsth millionsth time. Our conversations always digress and never finish and there are always millions of things to say.

Amen to that.

I need coffee.

P.S.: Mi, I participated in Samantha Redstreake Geary’s Composers for Relief: Supporting the Philippines musician/writer collaboration. I chose to write my story to a beautiful track called A Cup of Peace by Attila Áts. 28 writers from across the globe have written their story, to the notes of each track in the inspirational album initiated by Peter Ebbinghaus, to raise funds for the victims of this catastrophe. The final tales will be compiled into a companion ebook anthology for the album. All profits from the album, and companion ebook, will go to Gawad Kalinga (“give care”).

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