New Year = Magic Powers

Well, I obviously lost all momentum in blogging...shocker. It IS the new year though...maybe I'll write more as a new year's resolution.

It's funny how often I've heard the phrase, "It's my new year's resolution" over the past week.  It's like the stars align in January and magically give us super powers to accomplish what we've put off for months - or years, if there wasn't enough "magic" in past new years' powers. So if it's to lose that stubborn 20 pounds, organize that hurricane of a desk, pay off that credit card, or just be a "better" person, we all seem to be divinely (though temporarily) inspired to better ourselves.

Obviously, January grants no celestial endowment of self-discipline (or whatever it is we find ourselves lacking). So it's like we all decided we need an annual "second chance" that would make now somehow different from before. This psychological trick then gives us that momentum that makes things seem easier. It's our temporal placebo that fools us into thinking some dreaded obstacle is more doable.

But then, perception is reality, right? So if we perceive said obstacle as suddenly attainable (even though nothing in reality has changed), perhaps the change in mindset is all the "magic powers" we need in order to accomplish something. So...huzzah for magic sugar pills and self-deception.

P.S. In case you're wondering, yes. I have a mental, unofficial list of resolutions. They include:

 - Exercise 4-5 times per week

 - No junk food on week days

 - Tame an ALOT 

 - Write in my blog 1-2 times per week

 - Paint once a week

 - STOP SAYING "I'LL DO IT LATER" (This includes cleaning, dishes, laundry...basically everything I put off on a daily basis. Yes roommates, you can do a happy dance now.)

Am I a writer just because everyone says I am?

People usually tell you what you want to hear - especially if you're a girl. There's some sort of social expectation to tell the girlfriend she doesn't look fat in that lumpy dress and the mother-in-law that you like her cat. Most of us get absurdly offended if we hear something other than what we expect. I mean, I probably wouldn't tell a friend not to go for a girl because she's way out of his league - but I guess guys do that to each other all the time.

(Girls...maybe we should fix that. I mean really...if my love handles look like a love tire, you should be able to tell me. But that's another post.)

But people tell me that I'm a writer. I read back over my stuff though, and it feels like I'm not saying anything new. Nothing new under the sun, type of thing. Everybody always thinks they have something to say that's worth hearing - but really, you waste a few precious seconds of my life when I read that your status that you are flossing, or your tweet that you hate studying. Who CARES. Last time I checked, no one I know dribbles with joy when they open a dry, monotonous textbook. So really, do I have anything unique and valuable to offer in my writing?

I think the only way to answer this question is to write, and maybe someone will find what I say worth their time.