A Week Into Your New Year’s Resolution, eh? We have a song for you.
January 4, 2020. We’re almost a week into New Year’s Resolutions, people. And some of you are probably earnestly trying to keep up with the resolutions that you made... Personally, I’ve never tried doing a New Year’s Resolution because I’m lazy and I’m very in tune with this lazy side of myself.
That being said, I realize a lot of people have resolutions and are working hard to keep up with them. And to that, I say, job well done! But if you’re feeling down because you weren’t able to commit to anything or failed outright already, don’t be too sad! We have an awesome tune that may cheer you up. It’s called “A Week Into New Year’s Resolutions” by The Little Miss, which is the moniker of LA based musician, Haley Johnson.
In her interview with Glide Magazine, Johnson explains the story behind the song:
I wrote “A Week Into New Year’s Resolutions” about a week into my New Year’s resolutions… My desire to “optimize,” be productive and GET IT TOGETHER, DAMN IT, left me feeling completely defeated…Then, in writing about all that I had left unfinished, or rather, un-started, I experienced relief. All of the shame I’d been carrying around let up, as I was able to shine a light on all of my self-imposed pressure. No one was telling me to go running every day, I had merely internalized the traps of comparison culture, societal expectations, and the old, mean voices in my head that were telling me, again, how I didn’t measure up.
This shame is toxic, and it is ever-present in our society. For so many of us, productivity and new modes of “enlightened” living have become the new keeping up with the Joneses. We’re graded, we’re pitted against one another and we’re told to always do more, not less.
But where’s the room for just existing? For our humanness? Because none of us are all one thing. You can be an advocate for both personal growth and naps. You can stress eat gummy bears and also eat kale salads. You can chase your whiskey with green juice. Our seemingly conflicting, multi-faceted nature is what makes us endearing and loveable and relatable – not the opposite. So, maybe, JUST MAYBE, let’s all resolve to lean into what’s already there. Because it’s great as it is, and heck, because life is short.
The Little Miss is the moniker of Los-Angeles based artist, Hayley Johnson, who created the project in the spirit of old-times folk and country in 2012. The Little Miss’ debut full-length album, Best Self, is due out in early 2021.
I really love this message of “leaning into what’s already there” and embracing life as it is. To be clear, I see the song less as a critique against New Year’s Resolutions, but more an encouragement to be yourself and continue doing what you truly love. There’s nothing wrong with having goals and working towards them. What’s a little alarming, though, is all the external pressure we put on ourselves to become these ridiculous, idealized versions of what we think we ought to be. Our irrational commitment to self-improvement and optimization is captured brilliantly and sardonically all throughout the song. For example, in one of the first verses, Johnson sings, “I buy running shoes, but I don’t run (She don’t run). I buy sunglasses, but I don’t go in the sun. But I buy groceries, but I don’t cook (she don’t cook).”
So in that way, the message is to take a step back and figure out what you really want to do. We hope readers embrace the New Year — it's a wonderful opportunity to reset and try to let all the stress and uncertainty of the last year go. But be careful, because ironically in our quest to become ‘productive’, many of us typically end up wasting time, energy, and money investing in activities that we don’t even really like. Unfortunately, some of us are just destined to become a satire of human commitment. Happy New Year, everyone!