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Foolish Oaths and Rash Promises

Not meaning to put myself in the same bracket as any of the 1000-faced heroes of legend, but in an attempt to cultivate positive, creative habits rather than reinforce old, less salubrious ones, I made a rash public promise that I would write a poem every day for a month, starting on the 14th January to the 14th February inclusive, meaning 32 poems over the next 32 days. 


This is something I think I need to do, to make sure I follow through. I've tried things like #100HappyDays, have told myself I would attempt 50 sit-ups and press-ups on waking up each day, or would get up at five am and do an hour's writing before showering and getting ready for work, but up to this point I have been incredibly consistent in the breaking of my word to myself. Guilt lends fuel to the shame spiral engine, and down I would go, into brown beer or red wine, and grumpy mornings, poor work ethics and general misery-making. So, having read a hippy-dippy article on habit breaking  which I then also found in The Telegraph from a year or six back to salve my prickled pecadilo, I decided to try something which might actually embed a useful habit in my quotidian routine. And I've made the pledge publically so that I can be called to account.

Therefore, from tomorrow I will write and post a new poem every day. Please send abuse if you spot a lacuna in my scheduling. Odds are I'm struggling with technology but constant chivvying will only help.

Thanks for your attention.

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