Last year, particularly in the early hours of the first day of January, I could barely sleep, not for the excitement and joy of having the privilege of seeing another year, but for the raging arguments of my parents on the phone with their in-laws. I shut the doors tightly and closed the windows, but the sound of fire crackers and banger filtered into the room. I pressed my earlobes against my ears, my thoughts moving in all directions, coupled with the still darkness that influenced them. Unable to control the circumstances surrounding me, I picked up an abandoned journal. It had accumulated dust on it because I hadly wrote. It always made my fingers weak. But today, I decided to change wheels.
I turned to the first page of the journal and wrote, "MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTION". I sounded cheesy to me, as there was no practical explanation to why I was doing it, but my hands kept moving. I could clearly hear my parents' voices, and I wished more than anything in the world, to be their replica, but not in that way. So I decided to do the opposite of everything they were doing wrong. So I started with my dad.
He is tall,has a slender and athletic figure with a million dollar beard,neatly shaped and carved. He is in his fifties, yet his fashion style is spectacular. From caftans, to body hugging shirts and sneakers, everything that made him look twenty five years younger than his age was his thing. So his youthfulness generally attracted ladies. Women roamed around him like flies roaming around a pile of dirt.
So Resolution No 1: AVOID WOMANIZING...
My heart felt warm, but was filled with determination. At that point, my head moved involuntarily side ways, and soon after I fell asleep.
11:35am: I walked to my aunt's house slowly, my body still weak from late nights. The intensity of the sun was crazy, so it reduced my pace. My phone chimed. It was a text message from Tess, my baby girl.
"Meet you up at 4pm at the usual spot. Love you"
I smiled. Finally, an opportunity to relax. But it seemed like the day had other plans. A taxi stopped in front of me abruptly, and the most beautiful girl I had ever seen hopped out of the car. Caramel colored smooth skin with sharp piercing eyes. She stepped out with so much grace and confidence that I could barely blink. Her features stood well balanced and confidence as she swayed her hips to a rhythm only she could hear. She came over to me. Her strong feminine perfume pierced my nostrils...which made me love her more.
"Sorry. I am looking for Wilson avenue. I am kinda new here"
I stuttered while trying to describe the way to her, but she was clearly confused. I, then, offered to accompany her.
"Sure!" she said with glee. We walked on and on like we have known each other for years. Time flew past as Tess called and texted, but I ignored her. I had found someone interesting.
As the day ended with happiness and a bit of guilt, I picked up my journal and cancelled resolution no.1. It was never going to happen.
And that's how I cancelled ten of my new year resolutions. This year, Mother passed a paper round encouraging us to write out our new year resolutions. I smiled and wrote,
"MY NEW YEAR RESOLUTION IS TO HAVE NONE AT ALL"
Mother stared at me in unbelief, but I was firm. Change doesn't only occur at the beginning of the year, so I too decided to change at my own pace and time...
