Beginning a new year is difficult. There is a tremendous amount of pressure to join the mainstream of people who have made numerous resolutions for the impending 362 days, considering the leap year. And if it were not bad enough to be compelled by friends and family to make a list of the things we would like to accomplish, the media shoves the most popular of those resolutions down our throat with each television commercial they can fit into an amiable time slot.
The start of a new calendar year should give us hope but those writers, those advertising gurus that tax their brains to come up with stunning ads, somehow make us feel like the earnest promises we make for ourselves are slightly off the mark.
I was feeling excited. I was entering 2016 on my terms and, although I had not made them public, I had made a small set of goals I would like to accomplish this year. I wanted to embrace my skills and I was looking forward to a year filled with prose and literary triumph. And then I made the mistake of turning on my television.
Thankfully I have the fortitude to block out the nonsense that is broadcast to us, in what they think is a subliminal missive. If I heed the message in those commercials, I would look at my humble goals and feel nothing but fat, undervalued and, as Bridget Jones’ Diary would describe it, like a spinster who would eventually end up being eaten by wild dogs.
The rubbish I receive by email can be just as bad. Countless emails for weight loss, dating sites and plausible scenarios to make me my best self accumulate in my junk box. Those messages are ignored just as quickly as they were downloaded.
I find great value in myself as well as my sincere goals for the new year. Screw the advertising monsters who want to make me feel less than I am. My worth cannot be described in a commercial. My life cannot be depicted by a summation of what presumed reality sees as my shortcomings.
I am me. I have worth because I care about people and I respect myself. I treasure my strengths, I acknowledge my weaknesses and I spend each day trying to have a positive effect on those around me.
Now, if they can write a commercial for something like that, maybe next time I’ll leave the television on.
polysyllabic profundities 
Good for you for not letting the ads take your self away from you. The pressure to be a certain way is out there everywhere. Just this weekend, I had someone ask if I was dating (goodness no!) And my almost-10-year-old shocked me by uttering something like “you’re almost single, get out there and mingle.” I had no words. But I’m thinking of asking Netflix for a date on Friday 🙂
This comment actually reminded me of a post I want to write…..it’s about people rushing you into the “next step”. I’ve been divorced since 2012 and am in no rush to date at all. Stick to your guns, as my mom would say.
I never watch commercials (unless I have the news on and can’t fast forward), and I delete all spam emails. Like you, I’d rather set my own goals and aspirations based on what makes sense for me.
Happy New Year to you! One that’s junk and commercial free!
Yes….what a lovely wish for happiness in 2016. I’m dying to find the time to finish The Seneca Scourge. I was reading in bed the other night and yelled “no way” and scared the you-know-what out of my dog….lol. Great writing!
Thank you so much! You are very kind to say. 🙂
I wouldn’t say it if it weren’t true. 🙂
🙂
Better get that TiVo box that lets you jump over the commercials!
Mute is a wonderful invention. 😉
You and me both then! My pet hate is that having a casual browse on the internet at shopping sites means that ads for things I don’t want turn up forever beside my mail 😦
Yes…..or in your Facebook feed. Big brother is getting a little obtrusive!