This is it. Another year has passed, which means it’s time for the New Year’s resolutions posts.
I thought of joining the fun, but then I realised how much I’ve yet to achieve for 2022. So for my final post of this year, I figured I’d reflect on my shortcomings instead of my hopes and dreams.
Because as Socrates said, an unexamined life is one not worth living. So let’s examine mine and we’ll see if I can cough up some lessons on how to make the most out of 2023.
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I used to have lofty goals. For one, I thought I’d be a millionaire by the age of 30. And I wanted to buy a pub for my parents who used to love drinking with their friends.
But my mum has since passed on and my dad’s stopped drinking, so that’s one goal out the window. And I’m nearing 40, so the before-30 goal’s out of the question too.
That’s how we arrive at my first lesson: goals never stay the same, because life never stays the same. So you best err on the side of action before your opportunities pass you by.
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“Anything worth doing is worth doing badly.” Thank you GK Chesterton for that.
With that one sentence, you’ve taught me that taking action without perfection could very well be my gateway to a new habit, that million-dollar book deal, or my dream job (that I’ve yet to determine).
You’ve also taught me that the doubts I’m feeling when writing this article doesn’t really matter. Because writing is worth it. Thus it’s worth doing badly.
So, you ready for a badly-written article? Because I know I am.
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Do you ever feel differently towards a problem depending on your mood?
I have. Take, for instance, my writing process. My attitude towards the blank page changes along with my mindset, most prominently before and after exercising. Ditto pre- and post-alcohol as well.
But the circumstances themselves don’t really change, do they? Only your point of view does. It’s a miracle, really, how difficulties can change just with a slight shift in perspective.
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Photo: Alexa Williams
We’re halfway through the year already. How are your New Year’s goals doing?
It seems about the right time to check in now, isn’t it? You get to take stock of how you’ve done, and you still have time to re-steer the ship if things haven’t gone according to plan.
If you find that you haven’t even started on goals however, just know that you’re not alone. According to a random study I pulled up (and we know the internet never lies), less than eight percent of people actually meet their New Year’s goals.
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Your Friendly Malaysian Writer 