Christmas is over for another year, and it’s time to start planning presents for Christmas 2025—or not. Maybe that is one of the many New Year’s resolutions that will fall by the wayside. There’s always a reason why resolutions don’t quite pan out. Too ambitious? Too vague? Not seeing quick enough results? Or is it simply too hard to change ingrained habits? Excuses are readily available when it comes to mid-January or February, and we decide that winter is just too cold and miserable to persevere—when our bodies just need pampering! But then there are a raft of reasons why we should just plough on and stick to our plans, regardless of how ambitious they seem. The problem is they all seem to include words like accomplishment, transformation, well-being, and meaningful, as well as the dreaded ‘fulfilling’. Looking back over some past issues this Christmas, I was struck by Humphrey Walwyn’s thoughts in the post-Christmas issue in 2020. It was just before the pandemic hit, and everything closed. He talked about shifting the New Year’s resolution paradigm to pamper rather than punish ourselves. Humphrey’s suggestions included a trip to a local spa to enjoy a bit of aromatherapy or a soothing massage, or a visit to a barber to be shaved, oiled and smothered in warm towels. But another option—that may appear like punishment for some—was his suggestion of ‘Tech Burning’. This included unplugging your phone, turning off the radio and TV and walking to the bottom of the garden. He suggested wearing earplugs for a better and completely silent effect. The idea is to divorce yourself from everything that’s happening in your life. Unfortunately, it does mean you don’t avoid seeing what needs to be done in the garden!
