End of Yet Another Year

Ah it has come to the time of the year where I sum up the year that is going to pass. If you care enough to read, thank you :)

There was once upon a point in my life where love was all important, where weekends were best spent partying and where dressing was more flamboyant.

Today, I prefer to spend time at home or with friends in cosy settings. I drink little if not none at all. My ideal gift (other than money haha) would be good books or CDs because they help me in writing. I prefer laid back and casual. I don't try hard to impress. Yeah maybe I am not a social animal but at least you know I am being sincere. Socialistic hypocrisy ain't my thing.

Overall, I would say this is a better year than 2006. There are many things for me to feel happy about. As I wave goodbye to the year that gave me a really cool birthday date on 20.07.2007, these are the things that made my year:

1) Writing

I really can't possibly dismiss how important this discovery has been to me. You probably know by now that I love writing and there have been people who have encouraged me to pursue writing more.

It is by pure accident that I started writing fiction. I really have to thank DBSK for that, for giving me inspiration, Hei Bi who started me on fanfics and the many readers who have accompanied me along the way. Without that, I would not have started writing on a whim of fancy to discover how much I enjoy and how this may turn out to be a serious calling for me.

Writing gave me reprieve and brought me joy, not to mention the many friends that I have since known. They come from all over the world - Canada, France, Venezuela, Korea and so on. Never mind that we have never met, their heartfelt words and encouragement have touched my heart greatly. To these many strangers and a handful of real life friends who have shown their support for my work, read, commented and regularly stayed updated - they have made this path so much less lonely.

If you are one of them, thank you. I can't even begin to tell you how much I appreciate the support because it is simply such an important part of my life now. For being part of this important part, thank you.

2) Yoga

I have been wanting to do Yoga for the longest time. I held it off until I finally decided to try to improve my flexibility. It turned out to be one of the most important fitness discoveries I will ever find. I was so impressed that I even cancelled my gym membership and signed up for a yoga membership instead.

In yoga I found peace. I also believe it to be responsible for improvements in my flexibility, patience, health and energy levels. I didn't believe it until I tried it and like they say, I have never looked back. I always look forward to Yoga every week now.

3) Happiness

I remember once writing about happiness and the pursue for happiness. We often find happiness in other things but at some point I started to wonder about the possibility of pure happiness - happiness that does not result from owning something, but exists just because one is purely happy.

I can't say that I have found it. But I can say maybe I experienced a little of what it may feel like.

For a long time, I could not bring myself to say I am happy. I had too much to be unhappy about. Thus, you can imagine my surprise and joy when I recently started saying to people that "I am generally happy with my life."

Folks, I have not achieved financial independence and some woes continue to plague me. My health is not at its best even if it has recovered so much. I am not at my slimmest and neither has my skin finally reached my dream porcelain state. Like many others, I have many things I still want or want more of.

Yet, I can surprisingly bring myself to say I am happy. Happy to be on my own, happy that I don't need another person to feel complete, happy that I have friends, happy that I have a roof over my head and just so many mundane things - but to sum it up, it isn't so bad. I am sure discovering writing has a big part of play but still...

If you wanna know how much this means to me, try telling another person that you are happy. There are not that many people I know who are capable of seriously saying that. If you can, I truly from the bottom of my heart, congratulate you.

4) Sotong family

Oh yes, we shriek and shrill over the silliest things but I have found true friends in sotong family. They have made this year so much more fun and I am truly thankful for their friendship.

5) Connecting with friends

I must say I have connected more with some friends whom I really should have connected more with. For that, I am thankful.

Now, for the wishes for the new year ahead...

1) I hope to met good clients, hit my targets and for the studio to do well = more money heh heh
2) I hope to keep writing and to polish my writing to make it good enough to publish or film.
3) I hopw my writing project comes through and it gets published.
4) I hope to stay in good health and good shape (yes, vain).
5) I hope to be even better at saving money (hey I made improvements this year).
6) I hope to improve in Korean and visit Korea this year.
7) I hope to connect more with my family and people that matter.
8) I hope to meet Leader-shi kekekeke

The list goes on...I will try to add on :)

And as always, Thank you to God and all the nice people I have met who have made life wonderful for me this year.