My column from the January 2017 issue of the Hawkesbury Parish News
Given that change has become the new normal in the last twelve months, at least in terms of politics, I wonder whether New Year’s Resolutions will prove easier to keep this month? Research shows that it takes twenty-one days to establish a new habit, so if you’re struggling with your resolutions by the time you read this, don’t give up. I have a new invention that might help you: the Resolution Calendar.
A slightly smaller cousin of the Advent Calendar, it should contain twenty-one little doors, one for each day until your new habit has taken hold. Behind each door would be a suitable small reward such as the traditional chocolate, to be redeemed only if you get through the day with your resolution intact. (Unless of course your resolution is to eat less chocolate.)
Alternatively you might take my husband’s unusual approach to what was his first ever Advent calendar last month. Rather than opening a door each day, he saved them all up for Christmas, announcing throughout December as my daughter and I ate our daily chocolates just how many he’d had left on Christmas Day when all ours were long gone.
Whatever your New Year Resolutions, I wish you a happy and healthy 2017.
Ah Debbie, if only ’twere so easy!! However, I have found over time that the best resolution to make is ‘Don’t Make What You Know You’re Going To Break’. Hence no issues with avoiding chocolate….!!
But the traditional advent calendar contains no chocoloate! A picture is reward enough.. 🙂
Ah, yes, you’ve got me there, Thomas. The ones I had when I was little had tiny pictures – and a disproportionate amount of glitter. I have clearly been indoctrinated by my daughter, a 21st century child. Plus I welcome any excuse to eat chocolate! 😉