It’s that time to give up giving up

THE ART OF New Year resolutions, by Kevin Fitzpatrick

The start of a new year is a time for hope, excitement and sobering up. It’s the day after the night before and the day before the night after which, if you’ve set a new year’s resolution, is when you’re probably thinking about giving it up.

The dawning of a new year is a fresh start, a rare moment of opportunity. Last year may have been disastrous but don’t be disheartened, in the new one there’ll be boundless opportunities for fresh disasters. Just think of the things you might not achieve in the next 12 months. The list is almost endless.

Failing to stick to resolutions is part of our culture, we’re even gallant losers when competing with our own minds. But if you get past dinnertime on day one, you’re heading into day two, just 24 hours away day three. Day 365 is almost within touching distance.

It’s important that your resolution is achievable. “Marry Brad Pitt” is one which has been popular with women over the years and in every case but two it’s led to bitter disappointment.

The general areas people focus on are health, well-being and wealth with the usual suspects of giving up smoking, joining a gym, spending more time with family and winning the lottery.

Stopping smoking is a tough one because if you’ve sailed this far through the rough waters of pubic vilification, there’s a good chance that you actually enjoy it. My mate gave up through hypnosis and it’s worked for him as long and no-one shouts “chickens!” which is when things start to get a bit embarrassing.

Joining a gym is something new year resolutioners do in their droves and they’re usually found nodding intently as someone with a clipboard shows them how to use an exercise bike. Existing members like to bet on how long they’ll last.

Spending more time with family is a heartfelt resolution and it’s understandable that busy people yearn to be closer to those they love. There are of course some families who resolute to have more time away from each other, still traumatised by the bank holiday they spent stuck in a traffic jam on the M6.

If you’re single then you could decide to find yourself a new partner. The best way to succeed with this resolution is to drop your standards. Do they have to be attractive and interesting? Why not aim for breathing then anything else is a bonus.

If your resolution survives until February then you’ve done very well indeed. You’ll be looking better, feeling better and struggling to contain your smugness. If you’ve forgotten your resolution by the time you wake up on the first, it’s likely you’re in the majority. But for a few minutes on New Year’s Eve, it’s nice to imagine you have the capacity to improve . . . isn’t it?

Next week —The Art of Swinging