A new year is a gift. Still in its packaging, it gives no clues as to what is inside. No use shaking the container – it’s not going to give any clues as to what it holds. Best we can do is open it slowly and revel in the anticipation. For us as South Africans, New Year comes at a particularly good time, right on the heels of a summer holiday and the enjoyment of our beautiful country and the fantastic weather.
At Loxtonia Cider, we are super excited about the new year. 2018 saw the launch of our ciders in the local market and we are thrilled with the response we’ve had so far. We have big dreams and plans for the year ahead and look forward to launching more flavours, welcoming you at the tasting room on our farm and exploring international opportunities. Roll on 2019, we are ready for you!
With the luxury of time away from our daily routine, we have had the opportunity to reflect and refresh, and have been working on a couple of new year’s resolution, just like so many of you.
While it is good to have a new year for a fresh start, new year’s resolutions can be tricky. They are sometimes a bit too ambitious and lofty to realistically achieve. It is hard to change the habits of a lifetime – every year we promise ourselves to eat less junk food, exercise more, spend more time in nature etc. Come mid-January, our best intentions are already failing us.
It might be because the resolutions we set are too unrealistic. Instead, set yourself 5 resolutions you might just keep – getting them right will be a great motivation to keep building the life you aspire to, and one which is within your reach.
Live in the moment
Yesterday is gone – nothing you can do about that. There is no use in living with regret, so let it go, whether it was good or bad.
Calm the chaos
Declutter and simplify your life, your thoughts and emotions, your possessions, activities and even your relationships. In the words of Marie Kondo ‘decide to only keep those things in your life that spark joy’.
Practise gratitude
Being grateful for what we have (our families, friends, homes, jobs, skills and talents) gets us to focus on what we have, rather than what we don’t have. This can only make all of us happier and more content.
Keep the dream
When a reporter asked, “How did it feel to fail 1,000 times?” Thomas Edison replied, “I didn’t fail 1,000 times. The light bulb was an invention with 1,000 steps.”
Never give up!
Be kind to yourself
Take time out for yourself. Do more of the things that you really enjoy doing and book time out in your diary for rest- as diligently as you schedule meetings. When you are kind to yourself, it’s so much easier to be kind to others.
Celebrate the victories
Big or small, take the time to celebrate every high and give yourself and others the recognition that is due. Record and raise a toast to every milestone.
Cultivate a sense of wonder
Dealing with the stresses of life can leave us disappointed, jaded and anxious about the future. But no, the sky is not going to fall on our heads anytime soon, so reset the default button and expect good things to happen. Be on the lookout for small miracles and build a bit of fun into every day.
May 2019 be a good one for all of us! Cheers!
