New Year Resolutions
The New Year often signifies new beginnings for us. It is an opportunity to rethink our lives and promise ourselves to fix what we think needs to be improved upon. Hence New Years Resolutions. I think a resolution is always a good thing. It need not be done just at new year but at any time of year. A resolution is exactly what it implies – resolve to maintain something.
In today’s day and age we are all health & green focused and it would not be unusual to find that most resolutions will be health focused or world focused. Now it is all very well to say that as of today, I will eat my 5 a day every day, walk everywhere and catch buses instead of drive, quit smoking and drinking and lose weight in the process. Truth is if you currently don’t do any of these, well suddenly doing all this will be an impossible chore. If you actually manage to maintain your resolution until the end of the week I would be majorly impressed. It is always far better to chose one resolution and stick by it no matter what, even when the going gets tough. And it will get tough. After all, if it were easy, you would not need to strengthen your resolve. And only when it has become part and parcel, should you attempt to add another resolution. And if you think you cracked it in a week… think again! The minimum amount of time it will take before it can be considered habitual is 9 weeks. Having said that I believe it is better to be prudent and give it a minimum of 3 months. And even then you need to keep a watchful eye. After all it is always easier to slip into a bad habit. Usually because bad habits taste better, are easier or simply more fun!!
I wish you the very best with your resolution(s) and hope that your find the strength and perseverance to stick to it!
Happy New Year!
Festival of Trees 2008
The Festival of Trees has become an annual display at Ronaldsway airport. Having started in 2001 in aid of Save the Children, it has become one of their biggest fund generators and promoters.
The first time I came across the Festival of Trees, it took my breath away. I felt like Alice in Wonderland. It was a surreal experience full of magic and inspiration. You would think that after the first year, it would have become repetitive and dull. However, not only is it not dull and boring, it actually manages to retain the magic and uniqueness every year that I experienced the first time I saw the festival. Each tree is a work of art and riot with imagination. The trees are themed, decorated and created by small Manx businesses. Anyone passing through can actually vote for their favourite tree. I can only imagine the pride of winning the best tree award, because each tree is obviously put together with pride, care and great attention.
I took my toddler son to the festival and he was in his own magical winter wonderland. He loved the rocket (though not quite so tree themed in my opinion) by Thomson Travel, but his favourite was the one with silver stars sprinkled at the bottom – Wish Upon a Star by One World Centre! I am sure that is because he did not notice the one with chocolate coins and monopoly money by Eden Park Garden Centre. I personally loved the tree made of Balloons by Balloons To Go, though the tree made out of little children’s hand prints definitely caught my attention. This is not to say that the others were not just as fascinating. You see, Santa was there having his beard curled for Christmas, there also was The Teddy Bear Tree (selling Teddies in aid of Save the Children), the table of Trees, The Opticians Letter Tree that wished a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year, The Red Christmas Tree and so many more. There were more than 20 entries this year.
My biggest problem? Deciding who to give my vote for, as they were all so good. So, if you have time to pass by the airport, do go take a peek. It can make a good outing out that won’t even cost a penny bar perhaps a donation to Save the Children.