Ulrika Jonsson, a self-proclaimed New Year’s Eve cynic, expresses her skepticism about the annual tradition and the societal pressure surrounding New Year’s resolutions. She finds the expectation of sudden, miraculous life changes at midnight unrealistic and prefers a quiet evening at home to overpriced meals and underwhelming parties. Jonsson acknowledges the pervasive pressure to reinvent oneself on January 1st, questioning why this date should hold more significance than any other for personal growth. She also takes a swipe at “Dry January” participants, suggesting their motivation stems more from inevitable hangovers than genuine commitment. This cynicism extends to the broader state of the world, citing ongoing conflicts, economic crises, and widespread suffering as reasons for her tempered outlook.
Despite her general pessimism, Jonsson reflects on a personally challenging 2024, highlighting her decision to embrace sobriety mid-year as a transformative experience. While life continues to present difficulties, she feels better equipped to handle them without the influence of alcohol. This newfound clarity has fostered a growing appreciation for positivity and gratitude, replacing her previous tendencies toward negativity and self-pity. Simple pleasures, such as finding a parking space or witnessing her son’s responsible act of changing the toilet roll, now bring her joy. Jonsson emphasizes that this shift isn’t about achieving perfection, but rather striving for personal progress and making positive changes in her life. A lottery win, however, would be a welcome bonus.
Turning her attention to societal trends, Jonsson expresses her hope for greater authenticity in 2025, particularly among celebrities. She criticizes the prevalent trend of ageless appearances, arguing that it sets unrealistic beauty standards and negatively impacts the self-esteem of ordinary women. In contrast, Jonsson celebrates Pamela Anderson’s decision to embrace her natural aging process, foregoing heavy makeup on the red carpet. She lauds Anderson’s courage and describes it as a revolutionary act, challenging the prevailing norms of the beauty industry. Jonsson admires this embrace of natural beauty and its message of self-acceptance, although she admits she might not have the same level of bravery.
Another of Jonsson’s New Year’s wishes revolves around improving communication with her 16-year-old son. She humorously describes the generational language barrier between them, highlighting the slang and online terminology used by Gen Z. Her son’s constant use of phrases like “sigma,” “skibidi rizz toilet,” and other internet-derived slang leaves her feeling bewildered and disconnected. While recognizing the typical teenage angst and social pressures her son faces, Jonsson expresses a desire to bridge this communication gap and reconnect with him on a deeper level. Their current compromise involves her reluctantly using these slang terms, which he then shares with his friends for their amusement.
Jonsson also touches on her single status, expressing contentment with her life and challenging the societal pressures and perceived stigma associated with being single, especially for women of a certain age. She cites a study identifying traits like introversion and resistance to new experiences as characteristics of lifelong singletons, but disagrees with its conclusions based on her own experience. Referring to another study, she points out that single women and married men report the highest levels of happiness, attributing this to the freedom and lack of traditional relationship responsibilities enjoyed by single women. Jonsson champions the growing acceptance of singlehood, particularly among women her age, and encourages a shift away from judging single women as failures towards celebrating their independence and strength.
Finally, Jonsson expresses her strong opposition to the UK government’s ban on XL Bully breeds, deeming it a knee-jerk reaction to tragic incidents. Having signed a petition against the ban, she argues that the focus should be on holding irresponsible owners accountable rather than demonizing specific breeds. She emphasizes that well-trained XL Bullies can be gentle and loving companions and that the problem lies with owners who neglect or mistreat their animals. Jonsson calls for stricter regulations and enforcement targeting irresponsible pet ownership practices rather than breed-specific bans.
