2017 has been a cracker of a year in every way! Loud, bright, and happy yet a little too explosive for my liking. I thank it for everything it’s taught me and bid it adieu with fondness in my heart.

I look forward to what 2018 will bring so I thought I’ll write out a little checklist or guide to attempting resolutions in 2018. I’m so done with trying the typical ones so I thought I’ll write out an honest list that I might actually stick to. Follow along if you like.

1. Be realistic with my resolutions this year

(Starting off with this list so that’s a good sign!)

2. Keep no place for guilt in my life.

Cannot emphasise enough on this one. Wasted enough time in my life trying to live up to random expectations. I refuse to do that this year. As a friend, spouse, child, relative, woman, and person – I am done with trying hard to please!

3. Read more books

Okay, I’m not going to lie – this one makes it to my list every year. But it’s a good one, so I’m keeping it.

4. Be more vocal

Sounds odd, doesn’t it? But I think as a girl, once you reach a certain age, you are expected to comply more and opine less. Well this is me positively refusing to abide to that diktat. I have opinions and I’m going to voice them. I won’t let my ample education and liberal upbringing go to waste to be more soft spoken. Balls to that!

5. Pay more attention to myself

The last few years have been a little trying for me personally and I haven’t found the time or means to indulge my vanity. But as I enter the new year, unhappy with how my skin and body are looking – I promise myself to work on these two aspects. It’s one thing to love yourself and it’s another to give up on yourself. It’s a fine line, really. As I continue to love myself unabashedly, I want to motivate myself to do what I need to for the well being of my body. Please note – there is no room for terms like ‘goal weight’ etc in my resolution. But I know from within when I’m doing enough for myself and when I’m not. We all do.

6. Be more ambitious than ever before!

Again, one of those things that women are expected to just forgo beyond a certain age. I don’t relate to that at all! I feel more ambitious than ever before and I believe it’s time to reap benefits for all the hard work I’ve been putting in consistently.

7. Be optimistic!

The older we grow, the more pessimistic we become. It happens to all of us! We sort of resign to our fate. But the best people are those who haven’t ever heard of the phrase ‘giving up’. I want to channel my inner optimist and let her dream the biggest dreams!

8. Put my mental health first

If you had to borrow only one thing from my list, let it be this one! Keep no room for toxicity in your life. Nothing is worth your own mental well being; no job, no relationship, AND NO AMOUNT OF MONEY! If you feel like you’re not at a good place when it comes to your mental health, seek help. If you were waiting for a sign to take action, please consider this one!

9. Pick up a few skills

They don’t have to be insanely out of your reach. For instance, I want to learn to make a few signature cocktails. I’m a closeted bar tender and would love to pick up some tricks of the trade. So that, and maybe practice my contouring and up my make-up skills! I just feel like learning things along the way makes life more rich and interesting.

10. Love more!

Sounds cliche, kids! But this year, I want to do all things with love. I want to operate on ‘Good Vibes Only’ and take all the love I have inside me and spread it as far as I can. I’m going to start with telling you how much I love you and wish you the happiest new year. Let’s keep it real together <3

x

Real Girl

 

(All photographs by the inimitable photographer Bhaswati Bhattacharyya of Little Black Box Photography)