New Year. New me.
Resolutions. Not new ones.
The same ones as last year, but this time I’m going to stick to them.
Get up, get moving, shift the pounds, feel the burn.
No more lounging around the house in pyjamas.
Dress for success.
Productivity is the key.
New stationery organised.
Ready for work.
Not sure what the project is yet, but keep the energy up and it will come to me.
New lockdown.
Gym closed.
Pavements icy.
Not to worry. I can start exercise next week.
Work called.
Furloughed again, no need to get up in the morning.
New stationery sits untouched.
Another stationary year ahead.
Written for Friday Fictioneers hosted by Rochelle Wisoff-Fields (more details HERE). The idea is to write a short story of 100 words based on the photo prompt (above).
To read stories of 100 words based on this week’s prompt, visit HERE.
Happy New Year everyone. Let’s hope 2021 turns out to be the year we get back to some sort of normal life. I hope everyone is safe and well.
I keep telling myself that while the planet is stagnating, I should use the time to create something wonderful… Hasn’t happened yet, but the worm is turning!
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Hope inspiration hits! But I do feel we shouldn’t pressure ourselves to have to use this time. It’s enough just now to keep on keeping on. Thanks for reading 🙂
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My thoughts exactly, but I need to be doing something…
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Lounging around in our pyjamas has become our national duty. It’s how we keep each other safe
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I didn’t get any new pyjamas for Christmas, so I have to keep coming to work.
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Good use of stationary!
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Thank you! 🙂
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You’re welcome Iain
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Indeed. What seemed like a bright new start has quickly morphed into the same old same old. Cleverly done, Iain.
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Thanks Sandra. I’m still clinging on to some optimism that the vaccine roll out will get us back to some freedom by late spring. Fingers crossed.
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Great play on the prompt. Great take on the present continued uncertainty and our unrelenting need to make new resolutions, that we ultimately fail to achieve. 🙂
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Better to try and fail than not try at all. Or something like that!
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Dear Iain,
So much for resolutions. At any rate, there’s time to write…right? Wonderfully constructed poem in any event. I hope this blight is cleared soon. Best wishes for your safety this new year.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Thanks Rochelle. Fingers crossed we all get a bit of freedom in the months ahead.
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Next to impossible to achieve new year goals in that sort of environment. Great take on the prompt though.
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Thanks so much.
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Never do today what you can put off till tomorrow.
Words to live by, Iain!
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I try to live up to them as best I can!
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My mantra, CE!
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The urge to create can be squelched when people are so tightly controlled. Nice use of stationery/stationary.
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It certainly can. Thanks Linda
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Know the feeling. I checked back with the church where I was working about plans for the new year. they’re still closed and don’t foresee opening the childrens wing anytime soon. Meanwhile, I’m tired of sitting and waiting. Already filled out some apps. In the meantime, my desk sits unused, notebooks gathering dust… just can’t seem to find inspirations lately.
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It’s hard to be inspired at the moment. Hope something comes along to spark something for you.
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It is extra hard to find inspiration during lockdown. Keep well and the sun will return and melt the ice
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It certainly is a draining experience. Thanks Mike.
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Really nice juxtaposition of the words. I am actually hoping I can become more active with the stationary in this lockdown. Of course, that means making sure my handwriting is legible.
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Ha, good luck with it 🙂
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That about sums it up, Iain.
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Yep, best intentions and all that, then life gets in the way.
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As I started reading this I began to feel guilty about sitting here in my dressing down, but I think I got let off in the end!
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Yeah, just surviving is enough for now!
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New year’s resolutions tricky enough at the best of times; I’m not sure this is the year to fix that.
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You’re right – best just to survive this year!
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Something tells me that Covid or no Covid, your narrator wasn’t going to stick to his resolutions. Unlike you, I suspect, who are plainly well disciplined in your writing!
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Ha, thanks Penny. Lockdown is at least good for keeping us indoors and with plenty of time for writing!
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At least all your office supplies are in order. 😉
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It’s the small things! 🙂
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Yep, sounds familiar. I have such plans… 🙂
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There’s still time, if I could summon up the energy to get out of my pyjamas…
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Oh I loved this! We get so caught up in the inspiration the month of January and new stationery brings, and we don’t even know what project we’re feeling so inspired to do. Clever play on the words stationery and stationary, too. SO much movement and then – nada!
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Thanks so much Fatima, glad you liked it 🙂
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Oh Iain! You see straight through me, I’m afraid, although thanks to covid, I didn’t get new pens etc but I did buy some new notebooks to do extensive journal writing which is mostly going well, and the extra writing is also stewing the juices which is great.
However, there’s one area where I’ve already had a major fail. I lost my new week to a page appointment book. I am rather dependent on this not only for organizing myself but the entire family. Searching for this, has both lead to additional sorting and throwing out as well as increased paper work sprawl. It looks like having too many places for it has created confusion and delay.
Hope things pick up for you over there re covid. It’s a dreadful business.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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Thanks Rowena! I’m sure you are not the only one who can relate. At least your search has meant everything else has had a good sort – even if it led to extra work! Hope you are safe and well and this year will be a good one for you.
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I wish you and yours a Happy, safe and covid free New Year. History tells us this will pass, but it doesn’t tell us when.
Best wishes,
Rowena
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What happens to resolve when there’s nowhere to put it? You capture the irresolution of the day perfectly, Iain. (Happy New Year, by the way!)
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Thank you Dora, and Happy New Year to you also 🙂
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‘The same ones as last year, but this time I’m going to stick to them.’ That line really caused a chuckle!!
Enjoyed!!
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Thanks Roger, always glad to raise a smile 🙂
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Get up … Get dressed … all should be well. NOT …. isolation feels like a good excuse for p j’s all day.
Actually, as of 2021, I decided to rise with a positive attitude and getting dressed does seem to help.
Happy New Year 2021 to you, Iain. Be Safe 😷
Isadora 😎
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Thanks Isadora! I have to convince my kids that spending all day in their pyjamas is not healthy, even if they don’t have to go to school! All the best for the new year 🙂
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Thank you on the New Year wishes.
No kids here, but we do have to push ourselves sometimes. I think no one expected to be home working/studying for so long. 😎
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I really enjoyed this one and it was a very clever use of the prompt!! I know there’s hope on the horizon, but it doesn’t mean it’ll all be over soon. But, I have to say, it’s going to take some getting used to to dress up again or at least to get out of my comfy pyjamas. Take care!
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Thanks Brenda. Who knows where we will end up and when. I’m in the taking it one day at a time mindset at the moment!
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Best way to live!
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The inevitable motivation of good intentions. I’ve kind of stopped making New Year resolutions.
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They never seem to really pay off, so you’re probably right to avoid them!
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The weather is certainly not conducive to the daily exercise I took in Lockdowns 1 & 2. And I still think to myself, StationEry as in papEr, stationAry as in cAr.!
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We never knew how lucky we were when we had the good weather in lockdown 1! Doesn’t make it any easier.
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great title. i love the play of words. well done.
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Thanks so much
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Fun poem with a definite ring of truth. Made me smile and I can use it this week!
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Thanks Anne, happy it gave you a small moment of lightness.
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Happy New Year Iain!
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And to you Roy!
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Good one Iain. Better put those pyjamas on. I don’t think we’re going anywhere for a while. Happy new year!
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Seems to keep going back, latest was autumn in the UK to have every adult vaccinated – so there goes the summer again!
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We have the same problem here. Planning ahead does not seem to be a political strong point, unfortunately for us plebes.
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That last line is so symbolic. And so true to the start of this year… I’m keeping smaller goals this year and hope I can meet them
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Good luck. Just getting through the year will be enough for 2021 I think!
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Oh so so true
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