My 4 New Year’s Resolutions For 2023

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I have 4 New Year’s resolutions. I am not for one second saying that I am going to stick to them. Sometimes I have made resolutions in the past but rarely and I’ve never kept one so yes I know, I ain’t giving off an air of confidence here but I’m going to give it a good go. So without further ado, here are my 4 New Year’s resolutions for 2023:

Make A Lot Of Progress With My Transition

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Firstly I plan on making a lot of progress in regards to my transition. I need to do a lot of research and a lot of thinking about what I want in my transition. That is the starting point. I do plan to legally change my name and to legally change my gender. There are other aspects I need to research more and think out. I also plan to go to a support network and join a Facebook group for trans people. I also want to learn more about how to do everyday masculine make-up to make me feel more comfortable and purchase some fake mustaches and facial hair to make me more comfortable. I also need to save money to make all of my transition dreams come true. I also plan to approve of myself and continue to seek nobody’s approval. I will continue to cherish the support of my sister Sharon. I will pick my battles with bigots or those who give out that vibe but I will know my self-worth and I will not allow myself to be disrespected.

Stop/Reduce Smoking

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I smoke too much and it’s not good for me. I was undecided between cutting down or giving up so I decided to go with both. Maybe cut down and then give up. But I would like to stop completely before 2024 begins. I have tried to before but didn’t succeed. My willpower needs to improve but maybe this is the year for it to happen.

Cut Down On Drinking

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Firstly I’m not a heavy drinker. I have a few a week but I’d like to cut that down to one or two a week apart from special occasions which I will make an exception for.

Eat And Drink More Healthily

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I would like to eat and drink more healthily in the new year. In some ways I do eat and drink healthily but there are quite a lot of improvements needed and to keep it up on a regular basis.

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So yeah those are my 4 New Year’s resolutions. If you are setting any, all the best of luck to you. 🙂 Also Happy New Year everyone to you and yours. May the New Year make all your dreams a reality. 🙂

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5 Things I Have Been Grateful For In 2022

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I have been grateful for a lot of things in 2022 but in this blog post I would like to discuss 5 things which I have been grateful for this year. So here goes:

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I am grateful for practicing gratitude more this year. I have always been grateful for lots of things and had practiced it a bit prior to 2022. However it was this year that I have begun practicing gratitude more. I have listened to quite a few gratitude meditations which have really helped with fostering a feeling of gratitude within me.

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I am grateful for the challenges and obstacles I have faced this year and I have had my fair share among the more pleasant times. My gender journey has at times been a lot and I was in an incredibly stressful and toxic work environment. I have had a really bad shoulder too which has been a source of a lot of physical pain. So while I wouldn’t say that I am grateful grateful for these things I would say that I am grateful for these things because they have made me stronger.

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I am grateful for my gender journey in 2022. It was a journey which began in June 2021 heavily but in 2022 a lot of progress with it has happened and it’s been a rollercoaster. A strange rollercoaster because sometimes it feels like it’s going too slow and sometimes too fast but weirdly seems to always turn out to be going at the pace it should. There is so much which has happened this year that I thought would never happen or feared was not possible. The progress this year has put me in a good place going forward with my gender journey. This year among all the tougher parts has been a year where I have truly lived more than ever before. It was the year I realised who I was and I am so grateful for the joy my gender has brought me this year.

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I am grateful for online courses. I have did quite a few and I have learned so much. Because there are a lot of free online courses, it gives someone in my financial situation an opportunity to learn and advance their job prospects. I have loved the whole process and I plan to continue learning more in the new year. I am grateful to all the teachers and everyone involved in the courses. I am grateful to the platforms these courses are on. It has been wonderful.

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I am grateful for the support my sister Sharon has given me throughout my gender journey this year. Always leave the best till last and my sister is a gem. 🙂 My sister has been supportive since day one and she has talked through so much with me and helped me with so much. She is a wonderful support network and is always there for me. There is truly no better support network than someone who loves and protects you with every fiber of their being and my sister is the best.

Affirmations For The New Year

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1. This year is going to be my year. It will be filled with much success, joy and happiness.
2. I will face the challenges in 2023 with confidence and I will take these challenges in my stride. In addition I will learn from each challenge I face and see it as an opportunity to grow.
3. I will complete my New Year’s resolutions. I am determined to succeed and therefore I will.
4. I feel excitement at the pending New Year.
5. This year I plan to be grateful for what I have and for what I have achieved so far.
6. I will treat people, animals and insects as I would want to be treated. I will show warmth and love in 2023.
7. I will stand up for my beliefs. I will set my boundaries. 2023 will be the year of being free and unafraid.
8. I am proud of the progress I have made in 2022 and I look forward to where my life will take me in 2023.
9. I seek balance this year. I will be compassionate to me. I will not be taken advantage of by those who are not compassionate to me.
10. This year will be a year of memories and adventures. I am ready to dive in.

Poem: A New Year, A New You

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The new year is dawning,

2023,

all abroad,

a time to make a new me

for the new year,

a time to say to myself

try your best,

don’t despair if all doesn’t go according to plan.

Resolutions regularly go by the wayside after all

so what do I want this year?

Set my boundaries,

begin a new chapter,

get the next part of my transition on the road,

oh and to stop smoking

and eat more healthily,

yeah I think I have some good plans,

let’s see how long they last.

5 Videos To Watch This Week On YouTube!

Hi everyone! 🙂

Keeping with the holiday theme, here is my latest five video suggestions.

Music

First up we have the music video for Someday At Christmas by Stevie Wonder and Andra Day. This is such a gorgeous song which is sung so well by Stevie and Andra. Their vocals combine and harmonise so beautifully together. The lyrics are really meaningful and important. A really gorgeous music video.

Next up we have a performance of Walking In The Air from Malakai M Bayoh and Aled Jones from Classic FM’s YouTube channel. It’s an amazing performance. Malakai and Aled sing it so well together.

Also from Classic FM’s YouTube channel here is a second performance from Malakai M Bayoh and Aled Jones of O Holy Night. Another really beautiful performance.

Next up we have the music video for Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas by John Legend featuring Esperanza Spalding It’s a really great, fun video and I think John and Esperanza sound wonderful on the track.

Finally here is an animated music video for The Christmas Song (Merry Christmas To You) by Nat King Cole. This song is one of my favourite Christmas songs of all time and to hear Nat’s vocal over the beautifully animated video is just mesmerising. The story of the music video is very well put together and heartwarming and then Nat wishing everyone a Happy Christmas at the end just worked so beautifully with everything too. So much attention to detail, it’s just magical.

5 Videos To Watch This Week On YouTube!

Hi everyone! 🙂

Here is my latest 5 video suggestions. Happy holidays to you all. 🙂

Music

My post today is all in keeping with the holiday spirit. First up is a beautiful song from Whitney Houston called One Wish (For Christmas). Here is Whitney’s amazing video for the song. Whitney’s vocal is stunning as always. It is so beautiful and warm. Love this.

Next up we have the amazing music video for Leona Lewis’ One More Sleep. I love the whole coming together of loved ones in the video and the song is just a lovely modern Christmas classic. Leona sings the track so amazingly well. Stunning.

Next we have Glen Hansard’s and Imelda May’s version of Fairytale Of New York by The Pogues featuring Kirsty MacColl on The Late Late Show with Ryan Tubridy recently. If you don’t know the history of this song and the controversial lyrics in it, I shall not get into it here as it would be too long! 🙂 Maybe in the future. However the song is a Christmas classic in Ireland and they changed the controversial lyrics for the performance which I adore. I also want to say though that I don’t think there was bad intent in the original lyrics. I personally think the lyrics were to draw attention to the badness some people put out there but certainly they have translated very negatively to groups of people who think the song celebrates them instead of highlights and condemns them. Well that’s my tuppence worth on that for now. This performance had a divided reception but I personally love it. I love that Imelda and Glen stood up for what they believed in and I think it is a stunning performance by two of our finest performers. Love it.

Art

Next up we have 30 Amazing Christmas Decorations You Can Make in 5 Minutes from 5-Minute DECOR. I am mesmerised by all the ideas which are mostly arts & crafts but also some style and cookery tips. So amazing and sure to help you out for the holidays.

Food

Finally for today, here is 24 Delicious Treats for Christmas from 5-Minute Crafts PLAY. So many unique and wonderful ideas here for food for the holidays. I don’t cook regularly myself but my amazing sister is a superb chef and gradually she is getting me very interested in creating food as opposed to just eating it so who knows? Maybe I will start cooking in the new year. Though I know I could never be as good at it as my sister. She loves it, she’s excellent at it and she makes it fun so hopefully we can make some good memories together if I don’t frustrate her too much. Honestly she is so kind, she wouldn’t show it even if I did. 🙂