The New Year

The other day we heralded in the New Year with Auld Land Syne, a copious amount of fireworks and enough alcohol to knock out a horse, respectively. Along with a good handful of people, I found 2016 to be a marginally terrifying year with the emergence of the alt right, the Syrian civil war and of course who could forget exploding Samsung phones. Unfortunately, 2017 can only get worse. The US election caused a massive rift in American politics, but as of 20th January 2017 we will actually have to deal with the consequences of the vote and we should just hope and pray that WWIII doesn't begin, and if it does don't worry because if Star Wars has taught us anything, the third movie is always the most disappointing. Us Brits will also have to deal with our lord and master Theresa May dishing out Article 50 which will formally start Brexit leaving us to deal with the repercussions. 2017 will go down as our recovery period after 2016 where we all get PTSD and try to come to grips with the new reality of our existence. Either that or it will be the start of the end of the world. So it should be fun.

Many people try to see the new year as a positive thing by making themselves empty and unachievable promises about self improvement, aka New Years Resolutions. Now, I'm usually a massive sceptic of these as in 2015 I promised myself that I would become fit and active, yet by the end of January I had completely neglected my running kit and it took until September of 2016 before I finally got my act together and went on the road to fitness (not a fun path to take I can assure you, I got my fair share of blisters). This is the only reason why I have made the resolution to get fit this year, because I'm already doing it and it has become a routine so I'm unlikely to stop...unless some form of cake is offered in which case I'm game. But this year I have taken a different perspective on New Years Resolutions. Instead of setting myself a massive vague criteria of getting fit, working harder, or trying not to be so cynical on my blog (hi there), I have decided to set myself smaller, far more manageable and frankly enjoyable tasks. Par exemple, I have decided to finally read that book that I have been ignoring for the past term, I am going to see my friends more often and I am going to keep my blog going. Much like the whole fitness palaver, these are manageable tasks which I have already started: I started reading the book in early December, I just need to stay motivated. I am seeing friends far more regularly and my blog is growing, not in viewer size of course, just the amount of shoddy content. (Positive thinking is underrated guys)

But this has led me to have an epiphany! New Years is a sham. A total sham. When looked at romantically, it is the start of a new chapter, a fresh start, an opportunity to do something new. But when looked at realistically, it is in the middle of the school year. I go back to Sixth Form on Thursday where I will pick up right where I left off with the exact same timetable, same teachers and likely the same study habits. There is no major change in your life except that you have to write 2017 in the top of your page of notes rather than 2016 (though you will keep on writing 2016 for a few weeks yet out of habit, and it will be infuriating). New Years is just a continuation of our lives that seems special for the first day and then we get on with whatever we have in store for the next 12 months before we treat the whole thing anew as if it is our first new years, except we get slightly more cynical as time moves on. But actually, there's nothing wrong with that. Having this random burst of joy as we celebrate our planet orbiting a enormous nuclear catastrophe waiting to happen one more time is actually a brilliant way of putting our lives into perspective and allows us to take a different stance on the world ahead. Instead of saying "oh that's next year, I'll get on to that" you think "gosh that's only in a few months, best get cracking". New Years Celebrations, despite being a total sham, are always brilliant parties with your friends as you celebrate another year of life and what you have to look forward to.

Now, on a more personal note, this New Years/festive season had special meaning to me as it is my last in formal education. In June of 2017 I will formally end my career at my school and move on to what the future has in store for me. What a terrifying prospect that is. In the last weeks of December I experienced my last Advent Service, my last Carol Concert, my last school Christmas Dinner and the last Christmas Assembly with my Head Teacher which always seems to last an age and a half and some. Now, exams are on the horizon and then I've left school for good. So what's next?

What's next my lovely chickadees, is my Gap Year!!! Hoorah! I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing but I'll keep you posted (intense internal screaming at my lack of organisation). This blog will, therefore, likely transform into something a bit new and more like a travel blog than the usual rants I do. SO keep your eyes peeled on the Travel section of this website and try not to get too envious at the amount of money I am soon about to flush down the drain.

Happy New Year one and all, good luck with the coming year and try not to worry about Trump too much, he's just one guy...with an awful lot of power...

(internal screaming intensifies)