The Hogwarts Headliner, Issue #22 Holiday Edition

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═════════════A═Christmas═History═════════════ By Adelaide Barlowe

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Christmas is a Christian holiday that is loved and celebrated by many worldwide. Just imagine the chance to spend time with your family, decorate a Christmas tree, eat a delicious feast, and experience the excitement of opening presents you’ve longed for all year round! Really, what’s not to like about the holiday? But have you ever found yourself wondering about the origins of Christmas? Where did its traditions come from, and why do we celebrate it? You may be thinking the answer to the latter question is because Jesus was born on Christmas, but did you know that that is not entirely correct? If you find yourself curious about the answers to these questions, I suggest you continue reading! ───────────────────────────

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The celebration of Christmas stems all the way back to two millennia ago (that’s two thousand years ago, or a really, really long time ago in simple terms), and it’s celebrated by Christians as the anniversary of the birth of Jesus. Despite Christians celebrating Christmas as the birth of Jesus, the tradition of the holiday itself has actually been around for centuries before Jesus was born! The middle of winter has always been a period of celebration worldwide, and many people rejoiced during the winter solstice because they could look forward to longer, more warmer days after surviving the bitter chill of winter. There have been many different celebrations throughout history that have played a part in ───────────────────────────

creating what we today know of as Christmas.

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Firstly, let’s focus on the celebration of Yule. Yule is the name of a winter festival that lasted from the 21st December until January on the German lunar calendar. It was mainly celebrated in Scandinavia and some of the celebrations included fathers and sons bringing home large logs to their families, which would then be set on fire to celebrate the return of the sun. People would feast around this log until it burned out, and the Norse believed that each spark from the fire represented a new pig or calf that would be born during the new year. People honoured the pagan god Oden during Yule, and they were surprisingly terrified of him because they believed he made flights through the sky at night to observe his people and decide who would perish or live. ─────────────────

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Now, Yule is a part of Christmas tradition because in the fourth century, the Church decided to celebrate the birth of Jesus with a 12 day feast (Epiphany) and planned to celebrate it alongside the pagan holiday, so over time these emerged to become what we now know today as Christmas. Kind of cool, right? 2nd years and above may also remember the Christmas errands last year celebrating Yule and Epiphany! Next up we have Saturnalia, which is an ancient Roman pagan festival that is held in the middle of ─────────────────

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December and it is one of the main sources from which we get our Christmas traditions from, such as present giving, feasting and wreaths! As winters were not as harsh in Rome this holiday was honouring the god of agriculture, Saturn, and it was a time when food and drink were plentiful and businesses were closed so everyone could participate in the holiday. Some of the more upper-class Romans also celebrated the birthday of Mirtha, an infant god who was born from a rock, on the 25th December, and they believed it to be the most sacred day of the year. We can already see that Christmas pulls many of its traditions and celebrations from other festivals celebrated during the winter ─────────────────

solstice, but why do Christians today celebrate it as the birth of Jesus Christ? Well, believe it or not, the Bible actually never states when Jesus was born and it is believed that he actually wasn’t born on Christmas (which makes sense when you think about it, because why would shepherds be out with their sheep on a chilly winter night?), and instead was born sometime during spring. The reason we celebrate his birth on 25th December is because Pope Julius I chose it as the date, and it’s believed the Church chose this date to adopt the traditions of the Saturnalia festival; ───────────────────────────

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by doing so, they hoped that Christmas would be properly embraced since it was set during the time traditional winter solstice festivals would’ve taken place. They certainly got that right, as it is now one of the most celebrated holidays worldwide! ───────────────────────────

Believe it or not, there is a lot more history to Christmas that I haven’t mentioned because we would be here for a very long time if I have written everything down, so if you want to know even more about the holiday then I suggest doing your own research! I hope you learnt something new today, and happy holidays, everyone!

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CHRISTMAS PG. 02

GIFTS PG. 03

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 05

RESOLUTION PG. 08

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Gifts for Your Loved Ones
By Adelaide Barlowe

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Are you stuck on what to get someone for Christmas? Do you simply run out of amazing present ideas for your loved ones? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us, and there is still enough time to throw together a lovely, high-quality present for your family or friends! Today I’ll be giving you some present ideas that will hopefully spark some inspiration for your presents and will blow your loved ones away when they receive them on Christmas. I think we can agree that most of us	xx	at Hogwarts are major sweet tooths. So, if someone you love loves sweets, why not head down to Honeydukes and buy them a basket of their favourite sweets for Christmas? It’s very quick, simple, and definitely won’t cost you an insane amount of Galleons. Now, obviously if you aren’t a third year or above you can’t go to Hogsmeade, and I definitely am not recommending breaking the rules, so I’m afraid this certain present idea may be limited to only third years and above, unless you can find someone to go and buy a bunch of sweets for you.	xx
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This may be quite obvious, but books are always a great present idea, especially if the recipient’s a bookworm or loves to learn new things! Flourish and Blotts has a wide collection of books available, fiction and non-fiction alike, so I would suggest heading down to Diagon Alley and picking out a few books for them. If you’re not entirely sure what books they would like, here are a few of my recommendations: Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them by Newt Scamander (non-fiction), The Tales of Beedle the Bard by Beedle the Bard (fiction), Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen (fiction), and Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontë (fiction). Unfortunately, if you’re looking for some books for a Muggle friend then I can’t help you there, but I’m sure there are lots of great Muggle books available in Muggle London if you search.	xx	Not up for spending a lot of money on a present, or you simply don’t have that much money to spend? That’s alright! There’s still quite a lot of gift ideas you can do that are very meaningful and will surely bring a smile to the receiver's face. If you’re feeling quite sentimental this holiday season, a photo album of photographs together is always an adorable gift idea! Whether it’s for your best friend, sweetheart, or even a close family member, they’ll love it. Choose some of your favourite photos you have together and take some time out of your day to put together a cute little photo album that they will surely treasure for the rest of their life. Some other simple ideas that you could always get include: Quidditch merch of their favourite team, a rock friend, new clothes, a cool new quill or different coloured ink, or some pranking items for your jokester friend from Zonko’s. I’m sure if you do some wandering around Diagon Alley or Hogsmeade, you’ll eventually find a gift that you think would work wonderfully. That is, if none of these ideas sparkes any motivation (which I, on the contrary, hope they do!). Well, that’s all the ideas I have for today! Hopefully they have helped and inspired you in deciding what to get someone this Christmas.
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CHRISTMAS PG. 02

GIFTS PG. 03

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 05

RESOLUTION PG. 08

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───────────────── ──A HOLIDAY SEASON ─THROUGH LATIN AMERICA By Lucinia Thawin ────────────────────────────────────

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Oh, it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Beautiful scarves, bright leaves falling and eventually progressing into snow, families all together. Everything seems light, airy, and beautiful. It’s bound to be the favorite time of year for at least half the people in the world (yours truly included). And it’s understandable. The gifts, the lights, and the food. Oh, the food.	xx	In my family, food makes the world go round. My dad experiments in the kitchen, but my mom made magic. She was the daughter of immigrants who left the States when she was a kid. In our flat, my brother and I visited some of the most amazing places on Earth…all through my mom’s cooking. Dinner was the best, but the desserts were perfection. Without further ado, I present to you five of the best desserts for this holiday season.
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Rosca de Reyes: A sweet treat typically enjoyed after Christmas, Rosca de Reyes is a ring-shaped cake decorated with caramelized fruits and sugar paste. Translated to mean ‘Wreath of Kings,’ whoever finds the hidden token inside becomes responsible for the next family celebration. Like most breads, the Rosca starts with a few simple ingredients: flour, eggs, yeast, water, and salt, and a hint of sugar…but it delivers a subtle, sweet taste. Quite unlike regular bread, its exterior is high on the decorative factor: the signature oval shape and perfectly lush candy toppings. Rosca de Reyes – also known as ‘Three Kings Day’ – is typically enjoyed after Christmas, on January 6th. But don’t let that stop you from getting a big mug of champurrado and digging into a slice this season.	xx	Buñuelos: This one is my absolute favorite. Buñuelos originated in Spain, but its remastered versions quickly found their place in countries like Colombia, Mexico, and Puerto Rico. It’s a delicious, fried dough treat, easily adjustable to fit any tastes. They can be lightly dusted with cinnamon and powdered sugar, drizzled in honey, or topped with delicious whipped cream for a snack or dessert. Roll them into snackable spheres or flatten them for a crispy treat. Create a batch and watch them evaporate at the speed of light!	xx	─ ❝ ─ ──────────┓ x ─. In my family, food makes the world go round. ── x┗────────── x❞ Budin: Budin is a dish that can and often is enjoyed at any time of the year, but there’s something about baking bread during Christmas that makes any heart sing. The dish is a simple bread pudding, but the remixed take on the dish includes extra hints of spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, and cloves. It’s preferably served cold, (way better than room temp to be honest,) trust me on that. Grab a loaf of bread, tear it into pieces, and get ready to dip and bake your way to greatness.
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Dulce de Lechosa: This is a year round dessert which mostly hits the spot during Christmastime, like Budin. Sweet, candied, and way better served warm – Dulce de lechoza is made from papaya. It’s a great treat, made by slow-cooking papaya strips with sweet syrup. The papaya is surrounded in sweet cinnamon, vanilla, and sugar for a quick and easy dessert which leaves an impression. A simple but durable item which can last quite a while if preserved correctly.	xx	Now, there’s no one way to create these dessert dishes. You can take ingredients out, add things in, create your own flair of taste. The way people live their lives and feed their families comes from the heart. It’s my great pleasure to have not only experienced the love and joy from making food with loved ones – but also to be able to share them with my peers. Happy Holidays!
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CHRISTMAS PG. 02

GIFTS PG. 03

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 05

RESOLUTION PG. 08

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THE MOTORCYCLE DIARIES
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• • •──Where Do I Begin? ── • • •

──────────────────By Marius Brown──────────────────

American pop singer Andy Williams and I share a similarity: we both ask exactly the same question. However, whereas Williams wonders where he should start to tell “the story of how great a love can be” in his 1970 hit “Love Story”, I’m trying to decide which historical version I ought to retell as I attempt to present you, my loyal readers, the history of motorcycles.

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For many Muggles, the story began in 1885 when German inventors Gottlieb Daimler and Wilhelm Maybach introduced their brainchild Einspur, also known as Reitwagen. Their baby was the very first petroleum-fueled motorbike on Earth, but it may not be very accurate to dub it the first motorcycle ever invented. Just a year before Einspur was born, English inventor Edward Butler conceived a three-wheeled, self-propelled motorcycle design that he named the Butler Petrol Cycle and displayed it in London; for some reasons, though, the vehicle was completed not in the same year, but in 1888 in Greenwich by the Merryweather Fire Engine company.

Same old story – before Butler proudly shared his idea, American Lucius Copeland had actually successfully created a steam-operated bike with a relatively small steam boiler. Copeland’s invention could run at only 0.12 kilometre per hour (km/h) (try to compare it with today’s motorcycle that can reach 350 km/h), but it was considered a great achievement back in 1881.

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As with many other inventors and researchers, Copeland’s brainchild was a development of a previous invention: his compatriot Sylvester Roper’s 1868 coal-fired, two-cylinder motorbike (also considered an advanced technology in its time). Coal-fired steam was not the only power utilised to operate early bikes. In 1871, Louis-Guillaume Perreaux used an alcohol burner chamber for his motorcycle.

Is it still possible to look back in our attempt to determine the world’s first motorbike? The answer is yes. In 1867, France’s Ernest Michaux was perhaps the first person to fit a small steam engine to a manual bike his father produced. However, it seems that Michaux didn’t commercialise his work. It is thus difficult to prove or disprove the claim that Pierre Lallement, an employee of his father’s, had against him. According to Lallement, he was the one who designed the prototype in 1863. Later, he brought the design to the USA. With the disagreement between Michaux and Lallement, our attempt to discover whether or not someone before them had tried to create a machine-propelled bike ended – for now.

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While there might be disagreement regarding which brainchild should be considered the first motorcycle, it’s clear that German’s Hildebrand & Wolfmüller was the first series production motorbike, and it was the first to be dubbed a “motorcycle” (in German: Motorrad) in 1894. Its birth also marked the booming of mass-production firms in the early 20th century, including Triumph Motorcycle, Royal Enfield, and Harley-Davidson.

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The development and popularity of motorcycles continued throughout the First World War, post-Second World War, and even in the 21st century. Today, motorcycles are used not only as a method to transport, but also for hobbies, sports, and even showing off monetary status.

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CHRISTMAS PG. 02

GIFTS PG. 03

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 05

RESOLUTION PG. 08

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Activities in the Snow
By Cassandra Ironwoods

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With winter around the corner, many wonder which activities are available during the season. Well, you’re in luck, lovely readers! Although usually winter is basically cold and snowy, there are a surprising number of things you can do.	xx	In this month's article, instead of mentioning what kind of activities you can do, I will divide them into three categories. One category for you outdoorsy lot, one for those who prefer to stay warm indoors, and lastly, one for those of you who are up for a challenge.	xx
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Outdoor Activities: 1. Snowball Fight! - Up for a challenge? Turn it up a notch by changing it into dodgeball. Draw a small pitch with a line in the middle. Then divide the players into two groups and make snowballs in advance. The team whose players have all been hit loses the game. 2. Build a snowman. 3. Go sledding. 4. Spray paint snow with food colouring and water — simply mix it up in a spray bottle. Maybe try spray painting the snowman too. 5. Make snow angels. 6. Play a giant game of tic-tac-toe in the snow. Draw the board and use twigs	xx	x and acorns as Xs and Os. 7. Have a sled-pulling contest. 8. Have a scavenger hunt in the snow. 9. Have a contest to see who can roll the biggest snowball. 10. Make and warm up around a winter campfire. 11. Make different tracks in the snow. For example, point your feet out and stagger them to create tractor tire marks. 12. Go out searching for animal tracks after a fresh snowfall. Not fond of the cold and wet weather? Don’t worry, I got you covered! This is for you lot who prefer to stay indoor and warm.	xx	Indoor Activities: 1. Bake a Batch of Cookies 2. Baking cookies fills your kitchen with a tastier aroma than any candle ever could, and it will keep little hands busy on long snow days. Not to mention, you get to eat cookies at the end. Even if Christmas has long since passed, holiday cookies taste great any time of year. 3. Drink Hot Cocoa 4. Nothing warms you up quite like a steaming mug of hot cocoa. Turn it into an activity by setting up a hot cocoa bar with mini marshmallows, candy canes, chocolate shavings and your favorite candies for topping.	xx	x 5. Go Bowling When was the last time you went bowling? It's retro chic, relatively inexpensive, you get to wear silly shoes and striking out is actually a good thing. We call that a win!
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6. Go See a Show Hit up the cinema, a local theater company or musical performance to get out of the cold and into some culture. 7. Make a New Recipe Dedicate the whole day (or night!) to crafting a complex, multi-course meal for a fun activity that also tastes great. If you aren't usually much of a cook, here's your chance to learn. Culinary savants, challenge yourself to a new recipe or different cuisine. 8. Play a Game Turn off your devices and gather around a game board for some old-school fun: No electricity required. 9. Read a Good Book Make yourself a cup of tea, grab a comfy blanket and cozy up with a good book. Escaping into another world feels especially great when there's a snowstorm roaring outside. 10. Light a Soothing Candle Aromatherapy has great benefits for your mood, and makes your house smell wonderful. Many candles come at an affordable price point, so you don't have to shell out much for comfort. It'll make your house feel super homey, too. 11. Try Knitting or Crocheting It's already scarf, hat and sweater weather, so you might as well learn to make them yourself. Even if you don't consider yourself crafty, knitting can be a fun activity to keep your hands busy.	xx	12. Watch a Movie Marathon Some days just call for TV or a hand-crank one. Turn it into an event by popping a big bowl of popcorn or gathering a slew of snacks, putting on your pjs (even in the daytime!), and really leaning into a movie marathon. Pick a theme, watch your favorite actor's whole repertoire or let each family member take a turn choosing the next flick. If my suggestion above still makes you bored or perhaps not in your alley. Perhaps this next selection of sports-related activities can make that heart pumping. Go Out and Work Those Sweat: 1. Go skating at an indoor and/or outdoor rink or on a pond. 2. Play football or soccer in the snow. 3. Go on a hike. 4. Go skiing. 5. Play a game of hockey. 6. If skiing not challenging enough for you, go snowboarding. 7. Go snowshoeing. 8. Play a game of bowling using snowballs. 9. For older kids, try a game of icicle javelin and see who can throw the farthest without their icicle breaking. 10. Play a game of snow golf — bury tin cans in the snow to be your holes. There you have it, dear lovely Headliner readers. Being in the snow does not have to mean you need to play outside the whole day. Whether you are the indoor or outdoor type or a sports enthusiast, there are plenty of activities you can choose from the above. For me, if I had the time, I want to try my hands at learning how to snowboard. Which one do you want try?
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CHRISTMAS PG. 02

GIFTS PG. 03

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 05

RESOLUTION PG. 08

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======================= The Sound of "Silence" By Marius Brown =======================

	xx	═════════════════ It was a day before Christmas Eve of 1818, and snow never ceased falling in the village of Oberndorf, near Salzburg, Austria. 26-year-old Josef Mohr, a Roman Catholic priest in Saint Nicholas church, watched the snow falling, thoughts filled with sadness. The church organ was broken, and thus there would not be any organ-accompanied song in the Christmas Mass. Christmas carol without organ… he couldn’t imagine this likely probability. Still watching the falling snow, Father Mohr remembered a poem he wrote two years ago. Inspired, he took the poetry, which painted the cold night when Saints Joseph and Mary travelled to Bethlehem and
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baby Jesus was born, and headed for Mr Gruber’s house. Frans Xaver Gruber was Father Mohr’s friend and a choir conductor in the same church. The priest requested for the conductor to compose a melody for his poem and asked if it was possible to have it ready for the next day’s Christmas Eve Mass. Against all odds, Mr Gruber was deeply impressed by the words. Grabbing a paper and a pencil, the 31-year-old sat in front of a piano and started composing. It didn’t take long for the song to finish! Finally, there was joy on 24 December 1818. The parishioners felt both touched and peaceful as the song Silent Night was sung in a Holy Mass for the very first time. There may not be an organ, but Father Mohr’s guitar made a perfect replacement. Interestingly, how the carol became	xx	famous throughout the world began with another incident of a broken organ in Saint Nicholas Church. When Carl Mauracher came to repair the instrument in 1824, he had a chance to listen to Silent Night and requested permission to take home a copy of the partiture. Not long after that, Mr Mauracher and his choir performed the song in their concerts around Europe. The song had started to gain international love and admiration, and its positive recognition rocketed even more when John Freeman Young, a priest in New York, USA, translated the lyrics from German to English in 1854. And what about Father Mohr and Mr Gruber? Sadly, it turned out that Father Mohr had passed away in 1848 from a respiratory illness. He never had the slightest clue that his poetry had become very well-loved throughout time and space. Similarly, the first time Mr Gruber realised that his melody had been	xx	recognised as a masterpiece was in the year of 1854, when a messenger of King Frederick William IV of Prussia came and enquired about the originality of the Christmas carol. ═════ ═════ As time went by, though, rumour has it that the broken organ origin was nothing but a fiction written by a journalist for the sake of dramatisation. People who believe this version claim that the most plausible possible backstory of Silent Night is that Father Mohr had wanted to play his latest work on his favourite musical instrument during a special Mass.
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	But whether it originated from a broken organ or from a guitar dream, most everyone agrees on one thing: the carol possesses a special ability to spread peacefulness xx and friendliness among its listeners. Let us too, then, spread the spirit of friendliness and peacefulness every day of our lives. Happy holidays! x──────────────────────────x xx x──────────────────────────x
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CHRISTMAS PG. 02

GIFTS PG. 03

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 05

RESOLUTION PG. 08

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Do You Really Need A New Year’s Resolution?
By Lucinia Thawin

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❝ ─ ───────────┓ x ─. “This year, I’ll…” ── x┗─────────── x❞

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And here’s where we insert some idea that may or may not take a year to accomplish. On New Year’s Day, we make these huge promises to ourselves, or set impossible standards to reach throughout the length of a year. But what if we didn’t do that? Maybe we should free ourselves of the pressure and expectations that come along with these resolutions. People use resolutions as motivation or reminders for themselves. But sometimes, those very same resolutions we strive for may hold us back from the things which we want to achieve. You spent months saying ‘Oh well, I have more time to get it done. I’ll do it tomorrow!’ but tomorrow never. Sometimes, you don’t need a New Year’s resolution to start the year in the best way possible for yourself. Instead of doing so, here are a few alternatives: ───────────────────────────

Making a Bucket List: I know, I know. What’s the difference between this and a New Year’s resolution? Well, I’ll tell you. A bucket list is not something you have to achieve before the year is out to be considered a success. It’s a lifelong goal process that can always be adjusted or eliminated entirely. There’s no time limit imposed. Create Monthly Challenges: If a bucket list seems like too much of a long-term commitment for you, try monthly challenges! Short term goals that can be achieved. If you are going to devote your time to something every month, make sure it’s fairly important to you. ─────────────────

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Change Your Everyday Mindset: Rather than being driven to achieve a goal, maybe analyze your reasons for wanting to make the change. For example, say your resolution is to fall in love. Analyze why you need to find love in a single year. Are you lonely? If so, what about making friends? That doesn’t take a year to accomplish and can help solve the issues of loneliness. Be Realistic: If you simply have to have a New Year’s resolution, please consider realistic options. No way you’re going to become the next Gwenog Jones with one year of quidditch practice. (That’s a note to self.) Consider your ambition and limitations, then plan accordingly. ─────────────────

There’s nothing wrong with wanting a resolution, but I think we should question whether they’re necessary. Especially when they can lead to pressure or even disappointment if not achieved. Our flaws and our mistakes make us who we are. We evolve because of them. Maybe our personal developments can come in time, and not because we force them to as a clock strikes midnight.

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CHRISTMAS PG. 02

GIFTS PG. 03

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MOTORCYCLE DIARIES PG. 05

RESOLUTION PG. 08