How often have you found yourself on the verge of carefully crafting resolutions for the new year, only to find the reverberations of the previous failed goals dominating the rest of the year?
Maybe, for some of us, 2017 will be remembered as the year that some enormous resolutions were never achieved.
I asked Habibullah Ahmed Hassan, who runs a stationary store in Dubai. He fears that his failed resolution will echo into 2018. At 82, the retired sports coach longs to run like he did in his youth. According to him: “People around me make me feel old and vulnerable but I always had something to look forward to despite my age. I am devoted to my workout regime and with deep determination I feel energetic again.”
He adds: “Holding on to my resolutions has been my resolution ever since.”
Whilst most will tell you that having life goals comes down to sheer determination, there is a more easier way to avoid disappointing yourself.
Dr Saraf Al Deen Mohammad, a specialist in personality development and psychology from University Tunku Abdul Rahman in Malaysia told me: “Everybody sets goals to patch up cracks in the sky. Most of my patients are disappointed because of unrealistic goals in the first place. People align plans with the latest trends on the internet. Such goals don’t contribute in developing oneself.”
But some people did set meaningful plans as a resolution for 2018. My friend Asma Naheem takes the Metro across the city every day. She disappears into the morning crowd as she files in and out of work. All tired and straight lipped she observes commuters pounding thumbs at their smart phones. She is set out to have just one resolution for the whole year. She told me: “I’m tired of looking past people on the train everyday, without the slightest interaction. My resolution for 2018 is to have a meaningful conversation with a stranger on the Metro everyday.”
In light of how tumultuous the last year has been, some citizens are set to achieve more with less complicated tasks for the new year. Another friend, Mathew Nelson who is training for his pilot licence, said: “I’ll resolve to skip the extra fries, sleep on time and go for my run every day; I guess my resolution will materialise one step at a time.” We know some among us are toiling with homesickness because of mass migrations and others coming to terms with the realities of climate change, how about we work on connecting more with our surroundings than indulge in self love? Maybe this year will be devoid of fear and the global uncertainties that reigned in 2017.
- The reader works in the events industry in Dubai
