Celerating the New Year and some resolutions. Or not...

You know, it’s a funny thing, all this resolving and goal setting what with the New Year and all. I’ve been asked dozens of times over the passed few days what my resolutions are for 2010, but I’ve failed to come up with anything that’s worthy of even a raised eyebrow. I don’t need to diet because I’ve always considered what I feed myself; I exercise everyday because I’ve got a dog; I have no intention of giving up smoking yet, however many times I’m reminded it’s a loser’s game; I started taking better care of my hair two years ago, when I stopped dying it pillar box red; I drink plenty of water; I read by rote an awful lot; I got rid of my television in October; I feed the birds; and I make enough money.

That’s not to say I’m perfect – far from it, in fact – nor is there no room for improvements where I’m concerned. But for me, the feeling of resolution and new beginnings has never really resonated with me around this time. For some reason, it’s when September arrives that I feel invigorated and motivated to make changes. I can’t tell whether this is some primal biorhythm that remains alive within me, or if it’s merely a simple matter of academic conditioning from my past career as a schoolgirl. Either or, it doesn’t matter: my list of resolution gets proudly drawn up as the vernal equinox hinges over bringing in shorter days.

I’ve been a sport, sure, and started yoga in January in the past, but by March? I had troubling remembering where classes were held, let alone actually kept my attendance up. A few years ago, I resolved to write to my friends and family more – as in, actual letters on paper inside envelopes – and kept it up until June, before realising that half my far-flung friends had moved house and had failed to notify me of their change of address. And yeah; they’d invariably changed their mobile numbers too (these were the days before Facebook, see). Another year, I decided to eliminate black from my wardrobe, resolving to wear only bright and cheerful colours. But at the time, I worked it a grizzly corporative office where my purple and yellow get up didn’t appear to meet with the MD’s approval. There’s nothing worse than being hauled up for sartorial advice by a woman who wears cheap navy trouser suits.

2010 is a little different, though. The noughties are dead done – thankfully – and we have a brand new decade to get stuck into. This year, the ubiquitous chitchat about New Year’s resolutions seems to come with an altogether more profound reflection on areas of life that could do with a bit of spit and polish. Take my friend Lou Lou, for example. Lou Lou is an honest citizen with good intentions, but one thing that has eluded her somewhat – a thing that I tend to get heated about – is her environmental awareness and personal impact on the planet. Lou Lou shops weekly at ASDA without much thought as to where her food has come from, opens her front door when the central heating in her house errs on the ferocious side (and ferocious it is), doesn’t recycle to her full potential and isn’t one to read the Ecover riot act when faced with her household chores.

When Lou Lou came over for dinner the other night, this was the only topic of conversation. Her ‘new decade’s’ resolution was – yes – to be more environmentally aware, but rather than just taking more of an interest in how things affect the planet, Lou Lou has resolved to make one change every month throughout 2010 that supports this. She’ll be blogging her progress monthly here, for anyone who’s interested in following her pupation from average consumer into an eco-champion. For me, this is music to my soul after months and months of askance looks whenever I mention my, er, vegetable patch.

And on a totally unrelated tack to resolution, what the heck are we all calling this new decade? The teenies? The onesies? Answers in an email please.