An unplanned resolution.

New Year’s Eve was upon us and my friends and I all promised ourselves not to put too much emphasis or meaning on the night. I think we were successful as, unbeknownst to us, when the clock struck 12, leaving 2012 well and truly in the past, my trousers were round my ankles as I squatted alongside my closest friends behind a car in the East end of London. Classy, I know. But I am almost glad I skipped the essentially meaningless smothering and desperation of the drunken majority leaning in for suffocating hugs and the occasional, much-anticipated, midnight-kiss. I know the culture of the New Year’s midnight-kiss has changed drastically over the past decades: transforming itself into an awkward fumble or an extremely passionate one-night romance, only to find that in the light of day you have zilch shared interests and strongly dislike the other’s morning coffee regimes. But some still pray this will be a ‘new year and a new start’ and therefore feel they have to try their hardest to get off on the right foot the second that big hand points to the sky.

 Should we not be able to accept and appreciate the strength of each of our friendships all year round - without having to fake a stronger form of love and affection to those whom we may only properly acknowledge once or twice annually? Admittedly, the excessive consumption of alcohol and drugs are rightly blamed for the formation of the newly-found love for one another. I suppose it is quite heart-warming and comforting to have one night, that may be different from all the others, in which you feel you have formed extremely strong bonds with 50+ people; 30 of which you may have only just met, yet feel you want to spend forever with, in a safe womb of love and fuzziness.

I’m losing direction. The question I have been worrying about is this: why are most of us unable, or fail to find the time, to show a more real display of affection to our closest and dearest human beings on a more regular basis? The New Year’s explosion of emotion is confusing, for one and all (if not one and all, then definitely myself). It would be a lot easier to let each other know where we stand with one another more regularly. You know if you don’t much enjoy hearing about the predictable downfall of Lisa’s 537^th failed relationship, do not pretend so. Or if you lost touch with your best friend after she’d got too wrapped up in her new love, tell her! Tell your brother you miss him. I do not mean to contradict myself, but do something stupid. Make that midnight-lunge yourself; if you have fancied this person for a while, have a new-found spurt of courage and know you want to follow it up into the New Year.

I had not planned this at all, but I think this will be my New Year’s resolution – present a more real appreciation for those around me on a regular basis.

Can we try and do that this year?