Pom in Oz with Derek Goforth: What I aim to do more - and less - of and my predictions for 2023

I am not one for making resolutions to be honest.

I rarely use January 1 as inspiration to start anything new. I am normally on holiday and not really in a position to make changes.

But this year, as I am still writing for the newspaper, I thought I would lay out — not resolutions as such — but more a mixture of what I want to do more of and less of and what I see as inevitabilities this year.

What do I want to do more of? Well, that’s an easy one — spend time with my family and friends.

I lost a dear friend and coach late last year and he was my age, it caused me to pause and look at what is valuable in life.

Relationships with my wife, my kids and the people I count as true friends — that’s what is worth more than gold. That’s what I want more of.

I love playing board games with them, not because I love the game, but it is such a good vehicle to allow us to sit around and chat, to just be with each other.

Also, to spend more time on myself.

For the exact same reason, we need to care for ourselves if we expect to be there for others. I have been on the weight loss-fitness merry-go-round all my life but the year I turn 50 is my year — it’s a pull up or bust this year!

More of speaking up. There are things I feel very strongly about, but am afraid to speak out for fear of losing friends, losing “respect” or just looking like a nut job. Well, enough is enough, for certain things. I won’t be thrusting things down anyone’s throat, but if asked I will no longer shy away.

So what I could do with less of? Worrying. I am always going to have things in my life — money issues, work issues, family issues.

But why worry now? Why stress about things out of my control? As a wise man once told me ‘never let the circle of concern be larger than the circle of your influence.”

Basically, don’t sweat the small stuff and don’t concern yourself with stuff you have no chance of changing.

I’m also determine to eat less crap.

Not just no longer eating unhealthy food, but not eating stuff that hasn’t been made fresh, made with love and made for consumption and not for storage purposes. If I am going to eat, I want to savour every bite, every flavour and every morsel.

What do I see as inevitabilities this year? My predictions?

Shane Van Styn will be re-elected as mayor. COVID will linger on like a bad smell, people will use it for their own gain, and it will continue to hamper our lives, but hopefully in smaller ways.

The country will continue to turn its back on the church and Christianity. This is sad for me, sad for my family and friends.

But the world will tick on, what’s right will remain right.

Science will still be true despite what others may want it to be. Language will still be language, regardless of how people want to use it for their own devices.

The world will keep on turning, God will keep on loving, and people will keep on failing — myself very much included.

Derek Goforth is a teacher at Geraldton Christian College