It’s time again to look back and be grateful for the year has been. If I were to sum up year 2023, I would say eventful! Last year, we were slowly working to reclaim our normal lives; ’23 was, for me, the true post-pandemic. It isn’t that the virus is gone now (it isn’t, and we should still follow basic health protocols, not only because covid is still around but for everyone’s safety too). But it’s nice to leave the house, enjoy the company of your loved ones, and do the things that were out of our reach during the lockdown and restrictions.

Going back to the topic, the year was eventful! The first month was hectic! Firstly, we were able to travel again and go back to my favorite country ever, Japan! There were so many new things we learned about this country, and we got to experience so many firsts, too! All’s well that ends well, even though it ended with a snowstorm and us missing our flight home. Then the rest of the month came in really fast. I had lots of fun, and some scary things happened, especially about my health! I’d been holding myself back from consulting a psychiatrist since forever, but I took the first step and asked for help! It’s liberating to know that what I knew all along was real, and it’s okay—not to be okay. It’s still far from my mental health goals, but the scary first step? I’d managed to conquer it! And that’s good enough for now! Then there was the super scary health thing. I’m so relieved and thankful for the strength that God’s given me (by extension, my family). This is my forever prayer because health is really the wealth anyone can have.

Taking things one step at a time is, I believe, the biggest lesson I have learned. In work, so many changes happened in the span of one year. I met new colleagues, then said goodbye to some. I feel like I’m constantly running onto something; I should take a breather and pause to take in everything in. The world is so fast paced already, I should learn how to prioritize what’s important, as life sometimes have funny way to make us miss out on the smallest important things. So we should know when to stop and breathe.

So my plans for 2024 ✍️

I think I did well on that small, humble list I made last year. And I want to keep it simple this time too.

• Don’t over-promise. I tend to set very high expectations for myself, and that’s probably the reason why I procrastinate so much (aside from being an incredibly lazy self): I think of a grander result, and sometimes I dread the process because I might not be able to achieve it. So I’ll try to make an effort to be more modest about my intentions. Don’t be overly ambitious, and develop an appreciation for the small things in life.
• Invest in timeless things. Life’s hard, and y’all know that for sure. So I want to invest in things that I can use for long periods of time. We sent our old clothes away; we accumulated so much, and we knew we wouldn’t be wearing them (aside from the fact that they don’t fit us anymore 😭). Going forward, I probably want to keep neutral and minimalist pieces—classic ones. I am cheapo so I tend to hog bargains, but I learned that investing in quality products is much more cost-effective than scouring for cheap ones, be it electronics or other items. I need to weigh in too to avoid impulsively buying, making sure it’s a need not a want (for now). We need to keep our money’s worth.
• Exercise, exercise, exercise. I’m starting to do those 5-minute zumba lessons. 💃🏻  And don’t be fooled; 5-minute exercise is nothing to be sneezed at! This five-minute workout will easily become a part of my daily routine once it does. And it’ll be something natural for me to do, and that’s my plan!
• It’s fine to document things, even if they don’t look good. You know the reason why I don’t IG a lot? Because for me, it’s hard to maintain. I want my feed to look polished and well thought out. I only want to share the photos that I deem pretty. But looking back, I am missing out on documenting because of this perfectionism. Maybe I’ll be active, maybe not, but I should stop feeling ashamed of taking photos.
• Upskill. This year, I did tasks that were kind of beyond my skills and repertoire. It was intimidating, as it was fun. There are so many things I need to learn and so many things I need to improve on. And there are also new things I want to try! Life is like a classroom; learning never ends!

My always and forever prayer for next year 🙏

I always pray for me and my family’s health, safety, faith, financial stability, and overall security. The year was really good for us, and I’m super thankful for it. We are heading to 2024 with a huge smile on our faces, and this positivity is something I would like to bring to the new year ahead! Thank you, God.

Happy New Year, everybody! 🥳🎉🥂🪩