‘Spring is here, spring is here, life is skittles and life is beer. I think the loveliest time of the year is the spring, don’t you? ‘Course you do!’ -Tom Lehrer
The sun is out, there’s blossom on the trees, the clocks have changed, the days are longer than the nights, Passover is about to start, and Easter is on its way. Spring has definitely sprung. And it’s time to think about resolutions for the year ahead.
Wait, what? Isn’t that supposed to be in January, at the actual start of the year? Not so far as I’m concerned. I’ve long thought that January is a terrible time to try and make any kind of new start. It’s cold, it’s wet, it’s dark, and your December credit card bill is due. All you want to do is curl up in a blanket with a warm beverage (or a glass of wine) and a good book. It’s a time to rest, not a time of renewal.
Spring, on the other hand, is definitely a time of renewal. As the weather warms up and the days lengthen, it’s much easier to think about getting up, going out, doing stuff, trying something new. And so I’m in favour of spring resolutions, and you should be too.
What are my resolutions for this year? The main one is to finish writing my work-in-progress novel, a Cold War spy thriller with added magic. In the first quarter of the year, I’ve gone through my work so far and made some edits, so I’m ready to get writing the second half. I’ve also got a fanfic I want to finish, and I want to write at least two more short stories, one fantasy and one science fiction. And of course I want to write some blog posts for y’all to enjoy.
On a more personal note, I’ve decided I should really try and Get Healthy by eating fewer cakes and doing a bit more exercise — that’s where the sunnier weather helps. I have bought a bike and discovered that it is, in fact, possible to forget how to ride one. But I’ve also discovered it’s possible to re-learn how to ride one and I’m now zipping happily around my neighbourhood on my sky-blue bike complete with a wicker basket on the front. Yes, I have now become a middle-aged lady cyclist riding to my favourite cafe for coffee and a cardamom bun (cakes are ok if you cycle to get them) and I’m loving it.
Life is looking up, and I’m looking forwards to carrying on my resolutions after the Easter break. As soon as I’ve finished that other spring ritual, my tax return. Happy springtime everyone!
