Local woman vents her hatred for New Years resolutions

I hate the New Year period, the performance of it all, everyone saying that this is their year, what they’re bringing with them, resolutions. I hate all of it. I highly doubt though that this is some groundbreaking statement , it’s a stupid time for people to gloat about how great a person they will become and I highly doubt many attain it.

This period of promised self-betterment is only amplified for me as within the first week of the year, I age a year (cheers for that one Mum.) On Monday January 5th I officially turned 24, taking me from the blanket of being in my early-twenties to the much harsher reality of now being in my mid-twenties, with no house, no husband, a sub-par job and no driving license. I can now only dread the topics of conversation that will come up over family get-togethers. I’ve been waking up in a cold sweat, dreaming of my parents talking about “Oh how we’d like to be grandparents” and “It’s just not the same without children around.” Excuse me? Just because I’m out of nappies now doesn’t mean I cease to be your child. Anyway, getting off track. Back to the whole New Year debacle.

I had drastically failed 2025 14 days into it. I stood outside the Japanese embassy, crying my eyes out because I knew that I had totally bombed the interview that was supposed to change my life. You see I’d really put all my eggs in one basket in 2024, deciding that I was going to teach English in Japan and Japan only which is stupid because 1) I don’t want to teach 2) It’s a notoriously hard application process and 3) After spending a month in Tokyo I was becoming sort of disillusioned about the country and society as a whole. I’d poured in hours across a TEFL qualification, application essays and interview prep and it still wasn’t enough. Probably for the best though to be honest, as my Grandad died a month later. So, not the best start to the year…

Like many people, I think that I’m too hard on myself, I set unrealistic goals and put pressure when I don’t need to and then I get totally deflated and lose any and all motivation when things don’t go my way. Last year I set out six resolutions:

• Get rid of TikTok (Only lasted six months before FOMO got to me)
• Lose weight ( Wow, that’s bleak, not even get healthy just lose weight)
• Read five books (Books read last year = big fat zero)
• Make a proper online portfolio (hahahahaha)
• Learn to cook better (Does dating a chef now count?)
• Get a driving licence (This one was really silly)

Did I say 2025 was an utter disaster? On top of all that I’m still stuck in the same crappy job as the year before (We will make it out this year, hopefully.)

It’s not all doom and gloom though, the year definitely had its moments, little rays of progress finding their way through the cracks.

While I may be stuck in a dead end job, I’ve made new friends, whether that be because we are trauma bonded due to the horrors of hospitality or because we’ve held each other’s hair while vomiting in an alley in town. New people have found their way into my previously solitary life and I am grateful for that. I have been able to change and grow as a person, picking up new skills. I’m no longer intimidated by the over the top customer service in Lush for example. I’ve gotten better at small talk and actively listening to people. Better at knowing when to keep my mouth shut.

In May I started learning to drive again, conquering one of my biggest fears, passing my theory test on the first time. Still going to my weekly lesson, even after being in a minor car crash. My resilience has truly carried me through, my need to keep going even when things get tough or scary.

August saw me travel alone for the first time, spending four days solo in Cologne, becoming more confident in myself, my map reading skills, my broken German and my ability to be okay with boredom at times.

Perhaps most importantly, last year I allowed myself to love and be loved again. No longer being afraid to ask for help when I need it, not doing it all alone and allowing myself to be vulnerable.

Although on paper or in the eyes of society it may not have been the most productive or prosperous year; I didn’t make lots of money, get a job promotion, or move out. I learnt something much more valuable- I’m capable.

The world is quite literally my oyster, I can do whatever I put my mind to. That’s why this year there will be no ‘new’ me, I’m the same old Meg just moving forward with the knowledge I have gained along the way.