Giving Up, Quitting?

This time of year often has people quitting on their new year resolutions.  Tis the season to give up.

I'm here to say DON'T. Not because I am a pillar of hope and success, but because I am an example of what happens when you do give up. Do you know how many things I could be by now if I ever just stuck with something?

Think back across your life, how many times have you quit? Okay, how many times have you quit for no good reason? I'm pretty certain it's not just me. Please say it's not just me.

It's me isn't it?
Damn.

Skills I don't have...

It's not just goals I give up, like the usual stop drinking, eat healthy blah blah blah, but I give up skills. WHY? If I had kept to at least one of my extra curricular activities when I was younger I could have been:

• a footballer
• a basketballer (REAL WORD*)
• a journalist
• a guitarist
• an urban/street dancer
• a pianist
• a ballerina
• an artist
• a french person
• a tap dancer
• a swimmer 
• a netballer (see above re: real word)

More often than not people quit things because they are hard, or they hold no interest for that individual. I was pretty good at the majority of these things, so why do I quit? Laziness I'm guessing, and what seems to be a deep rooted aversion to personal achievement.

Oh, the effort, emanating from my body...

To put it into perspective, here are things that I am, thanks to NOT quitting:

• an unemployed graduate
• an ex-smoker

Before you say "Hey well done on those two things!" with only a small hint of sarcasm, I probably could have earned a 1st but coasted to a 2:1, and quitting smoking is much easier when you have £0 in your bank.

I know what you're thinking, but I am not all self-pity, I don't think I am a total failure. I just know I could be better, and this is my mission for 2014, be the best that I could be. If I gave up on my goals this year, well then what would be the difference between this year, and last year? Progress is key, and only by sticking with things, week in week out, can I truly see progression.


So stick with whatever it is you set out to do this year, all the way through this month, and into the next, and so on. When you start to think about giving up, or have a little slip, carry on. Think about how awesome you'll feel next year when you realise that you have quit smoking/lost weight/learned to play the ukele, you will have made a change in you life, you will have progressed. Feel proud, advance further on the life fulfillment pitch.

Or...


 ...carry on like every other year, and end up realising what a waste of effort that first month was, when you have just given up anyway. Forget about your goals for a few months, find yourself making the same ones come 31.12.2014, and then realise you are back at square one, become jealous of your friends that stuck it out and furthered themselves, bettered themselves. Question the futility of your life.

Are you the best person that you could be?

 Ne me quitte pas has nothing to do with quitting or giving up, but the word quit was close enough to quitte, and it got into my head, so, you're welcome.

*nope.

Beauty Review: Rimmel Moisture Renew Lipstick

Available at Boots but is also on 3 for 2 at the moment at Superdrug . It is priced at £6.49.

I got a moisture renew lipstick as a freebie a few months ago, and really liked the formula but wanted to be able to choose my own colour, so I had a little browse during my last week at work. I was very close to buying a red shade, but at the last minute talked myself out of it because I ALWAYS buy red.

I ended up going for this shade, and I'm so glad I did. It's a fuschia colour but I would say still maintains a hint of red. The formula is fantastic, ultra moisturising without being too glossy. I find the pink gives my complexion a real lift, and can take a shit make up day to a 'hey you made an effort!' day. I've actually gotten quite a few compliments on this lipstick, so that's nice. I even sold one to a customer because she saw it on me. 

SOMEONE SAW SOMETHING ON MY FACE, AND SAID I WOULD PAY MONEY FOR THAT LOOK. 

Just think about that one.

 Unlike other moisturising lipsticks, this one actually has staying power too. I'm a lazy make up fan, I don't want to have to be reapplying things all the time, ain't nobody got time for that (ironically I currently have nothing BUT time). I wore this at work through a 9 hour shift, and only reapplied once at lunch after I'd eaten. If I can't be bothered, I can just let it fade slowly to a matte, vague, stain. This might not be for everyone, but I like to think I pull off the smudgy, lazy make up. Don't even care if I don't! If you are more one of those 'polished' people, don't worry you only have to reapply once, maybe twice if you're an obsessive.

When I am one of those members of society that earns money again, I will definitely be buying a couple of the other shades. Until then, buy one in my memory, you won't regret it!

TV to Watch : Broad City

A TV show set in New York, starring 20 something girls. Created and written by the young stars. Girls you say?

Nope. Something else...
It's only 2 episodes in but I already prefer it.

Broad City started out as a live show created by Ilana Glazer and Abbi Jacobson, (not that) long story short, they created a YouTube series, Amy Poehler loves them, they now have a Comedy Central show.

It shouldn't really be put in the same bracket as Girls because they are essentially very different things, but we live in the age where if young girls create a show, or even if there is just a female fronted show it, they must all COMPETE. God forbid we have many and varied female shows.

What I like about this show is that you can see the genuine friendship the duo have, watching them is like watching you and your best friend. They might even be funnier than you and your best friend (they definitely are). Instead of other shows where girl's friendships are shown as being these bitchy, two faced minefields, Abbi and Ilana just show what it's like to be ACTUALLY friends with someone.

This show has young females being portrayed in a modern way, they make crude jokes, and drink heavily, and smoke weed because, shock, that's what some girls do. They aren't overly girly, but nor are they overly butch. They just come across as genuine, and unlike other shows, you can appreciate it without dwelling on the whole 'it was made by girls' thing, it is just a really good show regardless of who made it. Hopefully it will pave the way for more female fronted writing that doesn't have to come with a 'MADE BY FEMALES' sticker.

Below is a clip, watch this at least, but I implore you to check out the series. These two are tipped to be the new Fey and Poehler (because again we couldn't have 2 successful female duos), and much as it pains me that someone beat me to it, I think the tips are right...