How many times have I said 'this time for sure'?

I think that this time for sure, I want to paint my nails regularly.

I don't dislike nail polish. In fact, I like it. Just having color on my fingertips makes my heart flutter. My mood brightens just by seeing my colorful nails while I'm typing on the keyboard. Even though it's just a tiny area being colored, it significantly improves my quality of life.

However, the process of painting my nails is a hassle. I have to make sure no air bubbles get in, that I don't paint outside the nail, and that the color is spread evenly. There are so many things to be careful about, and it requires concentration. Even after painting, I can't touch anything until they dry. If I accidentally bump my nail against something and the polish gets smudged, I have to remove it with nail polish remover and start all over again. It's a series of tense moments. For someone like me who struggles to maintain focus, it's one ordeal after another.

I want to cherish the nails that I've worked so hard to paint beautifully. I'm careful with my movements so that the polish doesn't chip. I avoid doing anything that puts stress on my nails. However, as I go about my daily chores, the polish chips away mercilessly. When I can't stand it anymore and remove the polish to return to my bare nails, my view feels lonely without that splash of color.

But just because I feel lonely doesn't mean I'll repaint them. It's common for me to realize I haven't painted my nails in about half a year, and the nail polish I bought with such effort hardly ever goes down.

I've been repeating this cycle since I was in my twenties. Even so, I don't want to give up on coloring my nails. Some might say I should just go to a nail salon. I know there's some truth to that, but for someone like me who is satisfied with just a single color, it feels like overkill. I've considered press-on nails, but I don't know how to choose them, and there are few designs I like, so I haven't tried those either. It's been since my wedding day when I had them put on.

In the end, I settle for the method of painting them myself, even if it's a hassle. But there are times when it becomes too much of a chore to do. That's why I can't keep it up.

However, wanting to keep it up this time for sure, I painted my nails a few days ago. I tried painting them while watching missed episodes of a drama, and it worked out quite well. It's different from my twenties and thirties when I used to set aside specific time for nails. I finally feel like I've found a method that suits me.

I won't give up on my nails this time for sure.
I vowed as I gazed at my glossy fingertips.

But I might stop again.
How many 'this time for sure's will it take before I can make nail care a habit?