It’s the end of the year and it’s the season of resolutions. Why make a New Year resolution? The first of January is really no different to the other 364 days of the year. Yet it’s natural at the end of the year to take that moment to pause and reflect on where you are in life.

My goals for 2013 are probably the same as they were for 2012, and 2011…and 2010 and…you get the idea.

In the year ahead I will put as much thought into praise I get, as I do into the criticisms that I recieve – currently it’s more like a 1% to 99% balance. I plan to be more organised. I will be a better listener. I shall try to eat healthier. I will do more exercise. I shall write things down so I don’t forget them. I will be better at delegating. I will not shout as much. I will stop drinking gin and tonic. I’ll take the dog for more walks. I will leave work on time. The grass will be cut at least once a month. I will watch less TV and read more books. I will, I will, I will…

Changing habits is hard, if you want a good measure of how hard it is – dig out your old school reports and see how many comments from your teachers were repeated year after year. Mine say I am disruptive, need to spend more time focussing on spelling and don’t take religion seriously.

Yet we keep trying year after year. Good luck with making the changes you seek.

Graeme Watson

editor@outinperth.com