Ruining resolutions

How are your new year's resolutions going? Have they lasted the 9 long days since fireworks exploded in the rain?

The Cave’s new year resolution was to be more positive, to enter 2026 with optimism and energy. It lasted a matter of hours, if we’re being generous. 

Donald Trump ‘intervened’ (aka invaded) in Venezuela, capturing the country’s President, claiming the US now ran the country, and seizing a Russian-flagged oil tanker. He threatened to do something similar to Columbia, and then pulled the pin and chucked a grenade into the established world order by claiming he’d take Greenland from fellow NATO member, Denmark.

In Australia, there are warnings of “catastrophic” fire risks as a heatwave threatens vast swathes of the country, and conditions put major cities on the verge of LA-style destruction.

Iran is seeing violent nationwide protests, Myanmar has completed a sham election that is set to legitimise the military junta’s rule, and a highly transmissible flu strain is sweeping the world, adding to a 44% year-on-year increase on the virus’ mortality rate.

It’s not that any of this is new, or particularly unsurprising. In fact, it’s precisely because it is so relentlessly inevitable that has challenged our pledge to be more upbeat.

Misery loves company, and so it was with a certain degree of delight that The Cave came across some new years celebrations in Birmingham. Crowds of revellers gathered in the city to welcome 2026 with a huge fireworks display. Unfortunately, no such event had been organised, and attendees had fallen victim to false news spread online.

The real kicker? The exact same thing happened the previous year. That’s optimism we can all take inspiration from.