It is a bit ironic I end 2017 with a blog post titled ‘Stopped drinking’ when I am definitely going to drink my face off tomorrow night as I kick in the new year. But as we roll into 2018, I will be limiting my consumption of alcohol, starting with a sober January. One of my friends broached the idea a few days ago and it didn’t sound like a bad idea. Not because I drink too much, but because it is a healthier, and also cheaper, lifestyle, for the most part. Alcohol is also my gateway drug to soda. I’m a big rum guy, and naturally, I mix it with soda. Any time I go into my ‘not drinking any more soda’ runs, it’s always with the stipulation that I can still have some if I’m mixing it with a drink, which I do, but then I always end up buying soda with the intention of mixing it only to drink it straight. So by cutting out alcohol, I can better cut out soda, too.

My health is what I want to continue to focus on in 2018. This is not a resolution for the new year. This is something I have been working on since February of this year and that I want to continue. New Year’s Resolutions are great in theory, but lacking in implementation. Plus, I do not agree with the premise that you’ve gotta wait until the new year to start kicking ass and bettering yourself. Much like I don’t agree with waiting until Valentine’s Day to express my love for those I care about. I do that every day. And I try to work on bettering my self every day too.

This new push is coming from the holiday season. I always become less active during the winter months (read: cold weather), and with Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas (plus my birthday) following right after each other, it is a tough time not just for me, but for many others. I have been stagnant these last six weeks or so and have gained a few pounds back as a result. Overall, I am still about 25 pounds lighter than when I began this journey way back in February, but I am not satisfied with that and I don’t want to be satisfied with that. I want to keep pushing. I have still got a long way to go to hit my target mark and I don’t need a new year to tell me to get my butt in gear; I tell that to myself every day.

And so that’s my message to you all: Don’t be satisfied with anything less than your goal, and don’t wait for someone or something to come along and tell you to get going, to keep pushing. You can do that yourself. I believe that, because if I can do it, then I know you can do it. So write up some New Year’s Resolutions if it’ll help, but remember, you can make a resolution list for yourself at any time, any month, any week. It’s up to you to push yourself.

As always, thanks for reading. Until next time, take care. And Happy New Year!

The lyrics for this post’s title came from Childish Gambino’s Shoulda Known