Happy December from Tara.

It’s that time of year when people start to think about cleaning to ring in a new year.

新年を迎える前にすることーその１

As you know, in Japan, this happens physically with ‘osouji’. The other day, I spoke to a Japanese person about this and she lamented that this is done during the coldest time of the year, so it’s a bit difficult to enjoy. In the US, we call it ‘spring cleaning’ and is usually done at the beginning of the spring months to freshen the musty air from the winter and prepare for sunnier days to come.

新年を迎える前にすることーその２

Besides the physical aspect, many people do a mental cleaning as well during this time of year. That is shown through the making of New Year’s Resolutions. 

Many gyms, diet programs, etc. see a dramatic increase in participation in January because of these goals that people make in December to start the new year off differently. Unfortunately, by springtime, the fad has worn off and participation dwindles. Does that sound familiar?

私の新年の抱負は？

In my case, I don’t make resolutions because they tend to set me up for failure and I don’t believe that is a good way to start. Therefore, I make three-month, six-month, and 11-month goals. I leave December for the time of reflection on how I did with these short-term goals throughout the year. So, in a way, I combine the concepts, but also build in stepping blocks to help me reach the long-term or yearly goals. Some years I do better than others. What about you? Do you have particular ways to avoid the start-of-the-year jump and second quarter drop?

No matter what method one uses, I think it’s important to take time to reflect, adjust currently unfulfilled goals, and set new ones. 

May the end of 2019 be filled with laughter, good memories, and hope for an even more amazing 2020!

 “Lamented”

This means to complain about something. It has a bit of a stronger nuance than complain.

“The employees lamented that they had to work overtime on a Friday.”

 “Resolutions”

These are the goals or determinations that we make. Often people make them at the new year. The verb form is ‘resolve’.

“When she started her new job, Marie made a resolution to do her best.”

 “Fad has worn off”

This is when the trend has stopped being so popular.

“Thank goodness, the fad for wearing bell bottom pants has worn off!”

“Dwindles”

This means to decrease to almost nothing.

“My funds have dwindled to about 10 cents.”

 “Stepping blocks”

This means as it sounds, but can refer to actual steps or mental ones.

“When we teach kids to learn something, it is important to give them stepping blocks.”

フルーツフルイングリッシュで英語表現の楽しさ感じてください 。初めての方には英作文添削チケット2回分をプレゼント。
「無料英語テスト800問（解説付）」メルマガも大人気。今すぐチェック！

Tara

アメリカ育ちで日本で９年間英語を教えた経験あり。日本以外にもAbu Dhabiでも英語を教えていたベテランの先生です。 ヨガを教える資格も持っていてとてもアクティブで、「諦めずに頑張って」とモチベーションをくれる指導スタイルで人気。
座右の銘は「We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence, then, is not an act but a habit」。