Some reflections to start off the year of 2014

Another year has passed. I note that 2013 has been the first year in over 20 years when I have not been on an airplane. The last years I have flown about 10 times per year which is a lot considering I have a fear of flying. There is always something sad about a New Year; we have high expectations on how much greater the new year will be than the previous one and we make promises to become better persons and change our bad habits – promises we usually break after a few weeks anyway.

My New Year’s resolutions this year are more or less the same that I always make:

-          To drink Coke Zero only on weekends and public holidays. I usually fail on this one after a couple of weeks. ”Only this one” I say to myself and have a sip or two and when the weekend comes I am fed up with all the sips and stick to water. Hopefully I will be able to stay away from this addictive drink as I am not craving sugar and sweets anymore.

                          Fuelled up on sugar is a thing of the past

-          To show my loved ones with both words and actions how much I love them. This is not even a challenge, I do that every day anyway. But still, I think that showing love is fantastic. It is wonderful to love and it is wonderful to be loved.

                          "Love" is a beautiful message in the sand

-          To not buy any clothes, shoes or accessories for myself unless it is really, truly necessary. Here is the real challenge. I say this every year and I manage to keep it up until the next great sale comes up. This year however, I am very determined and I will do my very best not to give in to the first temptation. Luckily the Australian fashion is not exactly in accordance with my Scandinavian taste and I have disovered a new and previously unfamiliar feeling when browsing the malls of Melbourne: the feeling of boredom. The year of 2014 will be the year when my wardrobe will not get any new additions and I will have done something good not only for the environment but also for the family’s bank account.

                               Snapshot from my pre-Australian life

I would also take the opportunity to make the following statement: we are a family with a normal day-to-day life, living in a normal sized house in a bayside suburb of Melbourne. We do not run a ”Bed and Breakfast” nor a recreational home for young delinquents who think it would be great to surf, party and chillax in Australia. So do not send your derelict children to me, it has been a long time since Australia was a colony for ex-convicts and other criminals.

Happy New Year!