COVER STORY
Easy does it for this year It’s human nature to make resolutions at the start of a new year, but after two years of living with a global pandemic and the uncertainty it has brought, the beginning of 2022 is really a time to go easy on yourself. WORDS: Gail Forrer.
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ew Year is a time when we set ourselves a list of wonderful, often delusional, reach-forthe stars goals. It’s a sort of love/hate, determined-to-achieve, ready-for-failure, traditional thing that encourages us on an annual basis to wipe the slate clean, write up a new agenda and once again reaffirm our desire to do everything possible to live our best lives. In 2022, although we’re feeling battered from nearly two years of pandemic living, the indomitable human spirit still rises and demands us to lean in and step up. Yet, under the present trying circumstances, it’s a better time to go easy on ourselves and replace the usual list of hard-edged resolutions (such as losing weight, exercising more, saving money) with some gently life-enhancing suggestions. Below is a list I have gathered from a host of thoughtful, optimistic and very funny people to satisfy our innate urge to make uplifting resolutions at this time of year. In an essay for The New Yorker magazine, Colin Nissan writes about that old chestnut, weight loss. This man, who obviously has some experience on the topic, recommends a small start, one that you can’t miss. “Start with your fingers,”
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he advises. Personally, I understand where this fellow is coming from. Then he follows up with more specific directions: “When those aren’t obese anymore, move on to your arms and legs, then to your torso, and finally to those crazy chipmunk cheeks of yours.” Another, just as joyful, but depending on your viewpoint more practical, proposal comes from Trent Dalton. Mr Dalton is Australia’s best-selling author of Boy Swallows Universe, All Our Shimmering Skies and Love Stories. At the launch of Love Stories, the father of two daughters told the audience about the celebration of his family’s called MOPH. MOPH stands for moments of pure happiness. To explain how a MOPH occurs, he described a late afternoon when his 12-year-old daughter looked across the water at a beautiful sunset and called out “MOPH”. This young girl’s MOPH call alerted her whole family to the beauty of nature and with a corresponding “MOPH” yelp they had all chimed in, shared and claimed the moment as special. Mr Dalton says the MOPH ritual includes the proviso that all surrounding family members must stop, note and join in the moment.
I felt an MOPH when I heard this, because it was a simple, mindful and funny way to note the magic in front of our eyes – and it costs nothing. Oprah Winfrey often deals with the hard stuff, but this year she simply says just asking the right questions of yourself can build a better you. “Ask the right questions and the answers always reveal themselves,” she
“Be kind and gentle with yourself. Get enough rest, regular exercise and eat a healthy diet. Listen to your body” advises. “We can’t become what we need to be by remaining what we are.” To understand the things to move on from and the things to work towards, she recommends asking these questions: “What do I really want to do all day? How do I want to be remembered? What has kept me going all these years? Have I
made peace with my past? Do I say yes enough? What do I really want to do all day? How do I want to be remembered? What am I afraid of? Does the quality of my life currently reflect my needs and my values? Am I waiting for my real life to begin? Do I feel at home? What is the most important thing in life?” Medical doctor, self-help guru and author Deepak Chopra also goes slowly, recommending: “Be kind and gentle with yourself. Get enough rest, regular exercise and eat a healthy diet. Listen to your body and try to avoid things that cause you discomfort. Now you’ve released your unhealthy habits, you have space to introduce some good ones. If you can’t think of any, take this advice from Lord Buddha, ‘Life is very short, so break your silly ego, forgive quickly, believe slowly, love truly, laugh loudly and never avoid anything that makes you smile.’” But be careful what you wish for: “This could be the year you finally commit to pursuing a job you’re enthusiastic about. A resolution that’s both thrilling and terrifying. Thrilling because you actually might start doing what you love. And terrifying because you love poisonous frogs.” This sage advice issues forth from author Colin Nissan. myweeklypreview.com.au
10/01/2022 12:48:13 PM
