16 Resolutions for 2016

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Hi Everyone,

It's that time of year again. 2015 is nearly over and now I'm about to make a bunch of promises to myself for 2016, that I possibly won't follow through with. 2015 wasn't the best year for me, but it could have been a lot worse, so I guess I'm grateful for that atleast. I decided not to post a year in review, because I didn't achieve a whole lot worth mentioning and I don't feel like I read enough to pick out my favourite reads for the year. According to all of that starsign stuff 2016 is supposed to be my year, not that I'm completely sure I believe in starsigns...

I did really enjoy my Christmas at home with family and I'm looking forward to purchasing a few bits and pieces online as I see sales popping up. So far I don't have any plans for New Year's Eve, though I do hope to figure something out before then. I have never really done anything previously for New Year's except sit on the couch in my pajamas and even if I do plan something, I usually end up sick and can't go. Here's to hoping this year will be different, but I guess it's not the end of the world if I stay up late watching the fireworks on the T.V.

Without further ado (and in no particular order) here are my resolutions for 2016. You will notice I didn't list a reading goal here. I do hope to read, however, I think setting a goal to read a certain amount doesn't really work for me. If I feel like reading I will read. If the books are good; the books are good...

16 RESOLUTIONS:

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1. BE SPONTANEOUS:

I am generally not one of those people who will "Go with the Flow". I like to plan things in advance. I like to know what I am doing so I can dress appropriately. I don't want to dress up at night on the odd chance that something might happen, but I am also not one of those people that can get ready in a short time-frame. If I am somewhere with people and they invite me to go somewhere shortly after I usually tend to say "No" just because I was not prepared to be asked somewhere and I feel like I have to stick to the plan in my head... I think there were a few social opportunities in 2015 that I let slide by and I do regret that. So in 2016 I am going to try to be more spontaneous, even if it isn't in my nature. 

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2. BE LESS AFRAID:

I am an anxious person and a lot of things scare me. If I were to list my fears this post would go on forever. So I won't. I'm just going to say that in 2015 I did conquer a few teeny tiny smallish fears and it felt really good. I think I would like to conquer a few more in 2016. I would also like to be less afraid of people because I think that particular fear affects the way I live my life a little too much. It is really weird, because I don't care what people think of me or say about me, but I'm honestly petrified of how they'll treat me. I know that people are just human and I'm just human, but I'm also a weird human in comparison to the others and I usually can't figure out what to do in a social situation until at least 24 hours after the moment...

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3. DON'T HOLD BACK:

I am a people-pleaser. While I don't really care what people think or say about me, I don't like to cause conflict. I also cannot lie to people. So I usually find that if I disagree with someones point of view on something I can tend to bite my tongue. If I am dressing up for an occasion I will "tone it down" for the sake of being "appropriate". I do refrain from sharing a lot of things about myself with others simply because it is easy or because I don't have the energy to deal with their reactions. In 2016 I want to try not to hold back as much.

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4. GET OFF SOCIAL MEDIA:

I am not saying cancel my accounts or anything, because social media is honestly one of the most useful things, however I do think I spend too much time on there and I would like to get away from using it as much as I do. I think it is amazing what I have managed to achieve in the weekends that I left my phone in my purse, in another room. In 2016 I think I would like to spend less time looking at my news feed and more time reading or drawing.

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5. STOP EXPLAINING MYSELF TO PEOPLE:

I have been doing this for most of the post already. I do it all the time. "I I I..." I am sure that people grow tired of me talking about myself and think I'm selfish or something. I probably am. When I do something weird and I get a remark or a look, Or if someone makes an observation about me, I feel like I have to explain myself. Why am I the way I am? For how long have I done things this way? etc. etc. I think in the future I'd like to just be weird and not explain myself. Why can't I just say "That's me" or "Because I can" and that be the end of the story. 

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6. TRY AND DO SOMETHING CREATIVE EVERYDAY:

I didn't do as much art as I would have liked to in 2015 and I think that is a real shame. I don't really have any good excuses. I stressed a bit about stuff, I lost motivation and some inspiration. My painting night was taken over by different social activities throughout the year... I think I would like to do something small nearly every day to stay motivated. I would like to do just a quick sketch or jot down some ideas each day in 2016.

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7. LEARN SOME NEW DANCE COMBINATIONS:

I tried attending dance class again in 2015 and it didn't work out. So I've been dancing at home. I've been improvising a  bit and I choreographed a little bit, but I mostly keep practicing the same old tap combinations I was taught. In 2016 I would like to keep going with the dancing and learn some new combos from Youtube. I think I'd like to master some of the Time Step Tuesday combos which would be a bit of a challenge.

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8. WEAR THINGS THAT I HARDLY EVER WEAR:

I have been doing this a little bit already at the end of 2015. I pretty much just want to go through my wardrobe and make an effort to wear things I haven't worn, or that I haven't touched in months. It feels like such a waste to buy something and not wear it. I'd like to wear more of my abandoned accessories too. Things like brooches, which end up sitting in a drawer being appreciated by nobody. Those poor sad little brooches.

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9. DRESS MY AGE:
I am a modest dresser. I don't think there is anything wrong with that. I'm not a fan of some of the too-revealing fashions that pop up in some of the chain stores. However, sometimes I think I can be a little too critical of clothes when I'm shopping or getting dressed and I will not wear something because I think it is too short, when by modern standards it is still actually quite long. I have realised that I'm as young as I'm ever going to be and I should take more advantage of that when dressing up.

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10. SMILE MORE:
I've got that "Resting Bitch Face" thing down to a fine art. We all forget what a difference a smile can make. In 2016 I want to be more positive, happier, And to smile more.

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11. DON'T WAIT AROUND FOR OTHERS:
I spent way too much time in 2015 waiting for other people. Between cancelled plans and phone calls that didn't happen, I spent way too much time being let down by people and making excuses for them. I don't want to be that girl in 2016.

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12. LISTEN TO GOOD MUSIC:
I love music and I pride myself on being a music person, but there is still a lot of music out there that I haven't heard. In 2016 I want to discover more good music. I feel like I've been listening to the same tunes for a while now and I think it's time to add something new into the mix.

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13. TAKE MORE PHOTOS:
I have a lot of photos on my phone. Photos of the beach, of beauty things for blog posts, of my art, And a few selfies. I don't really ever take photos to remember events by. I don't go to a lot of events, but when  I do, I put my phone away. I think in the future when I look back on my life, I would like to have some actual photos to look back at. So in 2016 I'm going to try to take more sentimental type photographs.

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14. DRESS SIMPLY:
Some of my favourite outfits of 2015 have been pretty basic ones, with minimal accessories. Still old-fashioned and  still probably a bit outlandish, but just more of an obvious choice. I want to spend less time figuring out what to wear in 2016, but still look like I made an effort.

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15. STOP OVER THINKING EVERYTHING:
Have you ever made a small mistake or social faux pas and thought about it like 5 years after it happened? I have. If I do anything the slightest bit awkward or stupid I will still be thinking about it weeks or months later. If I make a bad decision, nobody is more disappointed in me, than I am. I'm a perfectionist and that applies to my life as well as my art. In 2016 I want to try to learn to move on from my mistakes.

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16. STAY INSPIRED:
One of the problems I had with keeping up with my goals in 2015, was a lack of inspiration/motivation. Now that I've got an Instagram account and I've started following a lot of other make-up artists and art artists, I am finding inspiration a little easier to come by. I want to make an effort to stay inspired in 2016 so I can keep going with the things I love and make some achievements.

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I hope you all have had a wonderful Christmas and enjoy your New Year's celebrations. Do you have any resolutions for 2016?

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Your Favourite Blogger,
Natalie