Big Ass Resolve

I'm not ready for the new year, but the year is ready for me.

It’s hard to not think that 2024 is plotting to kick my ass.

Chun Li (of Street Fighter fame) famously asks opponents “Kakugo wa ii no ka?” (Are you ready? - Lit: Is your resolve okay? ) before beating them to bits, and I can’t help but feel that way about the new year.

I’m trying to be optimistic and hopeful about it, but optimism isn’t my strong suit.

My PhD is in pessimism, so naturally, my strongest feeling about the rapidly approaching 2024 is dread.

Still though, like everything else on this godforsaken hell hole of a planet we all found ourselves on, there’s nothing I can do to stop the inexorable march of time, even though in my mind I find myself screaming “Chelugodu!” wait a minute! Hang on! so I can catch my breath and get my bearings for a moment.

Speaking of which, Chelugodu is probably a much better name for this blog than Onu Monu, which now that I think of it, is a much better name for an art brand.

So forgive me for waffling but it’s Chelugodu from now on, because I actually need a damn minute.

Anyway, so like any properly burned out person, I was spending all my time on TikTok, when I came across this man holding a big ass calendar, screaming about how this was his big ass calendar, and he had already planned every single day of his 2024.

I was intrigued but honestly I’m really intimidated by such organised, Type A people, probably because I deeply aspire to be like that, but my reality is the complete opposite.

Once I interacted with that video, suddenly every time I opened TikTok, I was confronted with yet another person who had bought this man’s Big Ass Calendar, and was enthusiastically planning out all the amazing things they were going to do in 2024 with it, including this guy who bought three and forced his girlfriend to sit through a whole presentation of a year worth of dates he had planned on it.

My big ass calendar for 2024

Of course I fell victim to marketing and bought one, but in typical fashion, the clock just struck midnight, and I haven’t finished planning.

Still though, I’m resolved.

2023 kicked my ass but this time, watashi no kakugo wa ii.

My resolve is set.

Ready or not, I’m going to make it work.

In this spirit I already did a couple of brave things this last / first week.

I dissolved my company. And registered a new one somewhere more private to start afresh.

I lost all my confidence in art and my ability to draw, but it’s eaten at me for years now, so I applied to Art School a few days ago.

While I wait to hear if I’ll be accepted or not, I paid for a figure drawing class at a nearby university. About $500, but I’m hoping it will be the little push I need to get back into drawing, and also meet some new people with something in common.

So I have some modest things to look forward to this year.

My new year resolutions for 2024 are:

• Walk 10,000 steps every day

• Follow my intermittent fasting schedule

• Lose 100 lbs / 45.4 kg

• Launch my Art business (Clothing, Jewellery, Art and Lifestyle) brand - Onu Monu

• Finish the novel I’m writing

• Write in this blog at least once a week

• Buy a house of some sort

I’m not going to beat myself up if my execution isn’t perfect, but I will do my best.

And I will try to plot it all out in advance on this ridiculously large calendar I bought for $50.

Happy New Year!!!

I wish you and myself, the best that life has to offer, and the most amazing year possible in 2024!!! 🎉🎉🎉 🍾🍾