News from Mr Grady
11th January 2024
Hello Everyone,
A Happy New Year to you all. I do hope that you had a restful break, and that the Christmas holiday and New Year period was a pleasant one.
I was talking to students this week about the traditional new-year topic of “New Year’s Resolutions” and how they got on with any they made last year, or what they might consider this year.
Obviously I was updating them about my own resolution from last year – to undertake my weights exercises at least 2 to 3 times a week, and the fact that I have managed to do this. To be honest, I think this is possibly the only new year’s resolution that I have managed to sustain for the full 12 months. I’m not sure I’ve ever managed to sustain other resolutions for the full year! The key to my success, for the first time ever, I think was because I took this, firstly week by week in January, and then month by month, banking each month that was successful and not getting down if I missed a day, or even a week. Just calmly making sure that the next week, I made just a little more effort.
I chatted to students about why some resolutions might be successful, and some changes, or adaptations to one’s day-to-day lives may not quite take.
Obviously, in addition to the “take it a bit at a time approach” the key one is thinking about something that is achievable, aspirational, yes, but realistic.
Yes, I could have the resolution of “this year I will make my West-End debut in my one-man play,” I might even make the time to start writing the play itself, but there are aspects of this resolution that are out of my control, and so, may not be achievable. As such, is the resolution going to give me the sense of fulfilment that I am hoping for?
So, as we all start a new year it is useful to think carefully about what we want out of the coming 12 months. What is it that’s going to make me happy? That’s going to give me fulfilment? That is realistic and achievable, and isn’t going to make me feel worse if I don’t quite manage it?
The tiniest of changes can make all the difference to one’s approach to the ins and outs of daily life, and can offer you a real sense of achievement.
So as I polish off the weights from 2023, and start thinking about adding a little more weight to my sessions, I challenge you to think – what’s the little change I might commit to this month, that, if effective, I might take into February and then March and so-on. How will it make me feel? Why do I want to do it? Ultimately, how exciting will it be to say as you start 2025, “yes, I did that for a whole year, and I am so proud of my achievement!”
Stay well and safe everyone,
With all best wishes,
Mr Grady
