"Every face, even the one you saw yesterday, they look different today, because everything's changed since yesterday in every possible way." - Idlewild (You Held the World In Your Arms)


2003. The fun starts here. I've always been a fan of the new year (although not in new year celebrations,  ain't it ironic?). As we mark the point where the old year dies and the new one is born, so we see changes occuring in our lives too. In fact, many of us see the new year as a 'jumping on point'. That is to say, a point in time where they can resolve to change something in their life. Whether it is to quit smoking, start talking more openly, wear less makeup, whatever. New years day is like a Brand new issue #1. A chance to start over. A chance to change. And I like change.

Most people these days are scared of change. They are comfortable with the way things are. If something were upset in their monotonous daily routine, they think they wouldn't be able to cope. This is, of course, nonsense. Without change, things stagnate. Think of it as Groundhog Day without the benefits; you get older, time passes. Perhaps other people change. Places change. if you don't change with the time, you get lost. I've lost count of the number of times I've heard my parents or other people of a similar age say: "In my day, things were different...." Yes. In your day. But unless you've changed, it is no lionger your day. Your day has passed and now you're stuck in my day. And you will be forever, because my day will never end. I will adapt as the times change. My core beliefs will probably remain much the same, but I will not allow myself to be left behind.

And in this promising new year, I have taken a big step. I have become vegetarian. I can no longer stand the hideous treatment of animals in the meat production industry. I can't stop the way the animals are treated, but I can choose not to eat the product. Understand now that this will be one of the biggest sacrifices I have made in my life to date. I kicked smoking no problem. I kicked drinking no problem. But I love meat. I love roast beef, I love sweet and sour chicken, I love pork chops. But I have made my decision and I will not be swayed. No more meat. 

All this talk of change and new years resolution puts me in a good mood, until I think about the sheer volume of people that will last 2 days and go back to the usual routine. It doesn't work like that, it can't work like that. You change for good, or you don't change at all. The "crash diet" is a perfect example of this. Someone decides they need to get in shape, and they want the easy option. So they opt for the crash diet. "Lose pounds in days!" OK, maybe you do. But as soon as you go back to your regular eating habits, it all piles back on, often worse, as the crash diet has slowed your metabolism. The only way you can shed the excess weight and keep in shape is if you change your diet and exercise routines for good.

This is the step that separates those who are truly determined from those who are still not sure. The finality of it all. The change must be permanent or it is no change at all. You must go the full distance to fully determine if the change is beneficial. This applies to anything you do in life. Never ever do things by halves. Give it everything you've got, or nothing at all. A cautious approach will acheive nothing. Sure, if you charge headlong into something, burning your bridges as you go, you may be worse off than when you started. But then you have the chance to change things again. As I have said before, you can either take my advice or leave it. Some will think it is truly sage advice. Others will think I am utterly crazy.

Think what you will. Next year I will be different.