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2017: Try, Try and Try Again


So, here we are. Somehow we have arrived at the year 2017. The year that Donald Trump will become president. The year I turn twenty-one. The year that everyone in the world is hoping against hope that this year isn't as shitty as the one that preceded it.

I understand that 2016 wasn't bad for everyone. Some people will have met the love of their lives, or maybe had children, perhaps gotten a new job or just had a happy year in general. Good for those guys. I do think it's fair to say, that for society in general at least, 2016 brought with it political mayhem, a rise of nationalism and what seemed like the systematic destruction of dearly beloved celebrities. These are not good themes for a year to be remembered by. The theme I'm hoping to create in 2017 is trying.

This year, I intend to try and become less invested in goings on in the world that I can't exactly change. I'm not going to stop caring, of course, but hopefully I will find a way in which I can detach my emotional stability and mental health from events in politics and world issues. I think, in the long run, this development is key to facilitating change as you can't oppose something when you're crying in the corner because it happened (e.g my reaction to Brexit and Trump)



I'm also trying out Dry January, not for any charitable causes as I really don't think giving up alcohol is as worth sponsorship as say, a skydive or a 10K run. Nevertheless, I hope that this month without the student staple that is vodka and coke or Wetherspoons' pitchers will do me a lot of favours. Weight loss, better skin, saving money and less drastically terrible decisions made are highly attractive prospects. Much like the emotional detachment from world events, I also hope that this lack of alcohol in my life will greatly improve my mental health. There have been many a hungover day that I have spent feeling that familiar pressing weight of anxiety on my chest and the grey cloud of depression becoming an immovable fixture in my brain. Although I don't think that not drinking will cure me of my ills, I'm pretty sure that it will help.

Another 'try' that I'll be attempting this year is related to my favourite thing in the world, words. This will include writing, reading and writing again. Seeing as I'm currently typing out this blog post, it seems as if I am, in some capacity, on the road to achieving my 2017 writing goals already. So, this blog will (hopefully) become home to weekly updates about my life, the books I'm reading, the books I'm writing and probably the occasional political rant when the distancing myself emotionally thing doesn't go according to plan. On top of all that, I'm going to get involved with blog writing for Manchester Open Mind Network and continue writing for Babe. Exciting times!



The final thing I have decided to try this year is getting a job. Something that pays money and can help me fund my fiction addiction. So if anybody has any contacts in Waterstones or with anyone that wants to hire a 20 year old nerd, then let me know. (References available upon request)

So there we have it. Not a list of New Year's 'resolutions' but instead New Year's 'aspirations'. It's far less daunting to aim for something rather than swear to achieve it.

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