Hello 2018.
With dark clouds that weren't merely threatening to dampen this celebratory mood looming outside, I was armed with a powered vacuum cleaner doing one last clean out for the year. I thought to myself that the weather these days is nothing short of felicitous but I will crash into the new year energised like the ball of sunshine I am, albeit underlying with ambivalence.
In retrospect, 2017 had been a pretty good year. It was less tumultuous than the many worst-case-scenarios I had adumbrated in this quiescent mind. And it was filled with mostly positive energy and good news.
1. I travelled not once or twice but three times.
The year kicked off with a week-long vacation to Seoul where I spent some of my coldest days. Followed by yet another chilly holiday to Canada in May, and ended with a short getaway to Bintan in December.
Seoul was a beautiful place, but I will never torment myself by traveling in winter again.
It was not just my first time in Seoul. It was also the first time I travelled with the cousins. And then we wrapped up the year nicely by spending the Christmas weekend in December.
Wherever we go, I'm convinced we will be the noisiest (and weirdest) bunch. We will sometimes laugh too loud and other times find ourselves in a parley of serious matters.
Truth is, I would never imagine the close bonds we share today some years ago. Time definitely opened doors for us to find our way to each other.
May we be emboldened by one another's unique personality, and continue to bask in the comfort of familial ties.
Another first of 2017 is visiting Canada. Ottawa, Toronto, Quebec City; I'm so glad we focused on sights this time (although we spent a considerable amount of time in the malls). I bagged home at least five new pair of shoes!
It was definitely a year of family travels. And I'm looking forward to yet another exciting year of discovery this year!
Already planning for Borocay in March and UK-Italy in May. We never seem to get sick of UK actually.
2. I started a new job - and found a new interest.
I'm inherently naive and entered my current job with utmost confidence that I'm a blank canvas ready to be taught and guided. But I was wrong, of course. There was no hand-holding and I was literally thrown into the unmeasurable depths of the dead sea to swim - on my own.
But in the midst of careful navigation and many trial-and-errors, I was lucky enough to stumble upon the art of creative visual. The beginning was inundating with fear and navigation but Google has been my best left-hand aid ever since, and I'm coping.
I also found out that the corporate world is a cruel place if you do not play your cards right. You're either two feet in the game or not at all - and thankfully, I've successfully dissociated myself with office politics and exaggerated drama.
Some are guile in their ways to enforce their plans while others are mere milquetoasts blindly following the leader. I've met ignoble characters who thrive on gossip and try to probe into my personal life just to spin tall tales upon. But that's all right because the small close-knit community I've found is a gem and I trust they've got my back.
3. I sent an angel to heaven.
I've come close to Death one too many times, ever since I could remember. What's left is a deep void that either becomes easier to live with or harder to bear, or both. And most of the time, it's the latter.
As I sat at my desk on a Monday morning struggling to keep awake, I received a message from a friend I hadn't spoken to for a long time.
At first, it was pure disbelief as the news sank in. I could feel a weird numbness settling in but I recognise it was fear that the truth was as it was: She passed away that morning.
Exactly a year ago, we were both lying on the floor in my house - she stroking Shelty as she normally would as we talked about life. I don't even remember the details of our conversation but no matter what it was, I always remember a down-to-earth lady with a strong will.
As I looked upon her motionless body through the clear glass of her coffin, it felt frighteningly familiar but it broke my heart.
(5 June) She lost the battle against depression, and she took her own life in her home where her father found her motionless on the cold floor of her safe haven.
4. I attended two concerts!
My very first concert was Big Bang's concert in 2012. And I swore I would never buy tickets to the mosh pit ever again because it didn't make sense for someone my height to be there. So off I went to my two concerts, comfortably seated from a reasonable distance where I could enjoy music and occasionally the sight of the performing artists.
The first one was Music Bank in Singapore where Nisa and I spent a bomb just to see BTS live. (But thank God the other acts were equally amazing - Taemin's solo stage still vividly etched in my memory.)
And then I spent a bomb again on Backstreet Boys. I couldn't say no when I knew they were coming. I literally grew up with their music and even today, I'd listen to their old classics from the late 90s. Ah, music back then was seriously gold.
5. I gathered with my neighbours!
For the first time since we've moved here, in fact. I'm not sure how much of a tradition this is with other HDB blocks but we had a New Year's Eve gathering with our neighbours from the second to fourth floor, where we are.
It was a simple potluck and a good opportunity to thank one another for all the help we've received over the years. These are the people I see almost everyday yet take for granted. How fortunate am I to meet such kind neighbours really.
I'm hoping it'd be the first of many more to come!
With dark clouds that weren't merely threatening to dampen this celebratory mood looming outside, I was armed with a powered vacuum cleaner doing one last clean out for the year. I thought to myself that the weather these days is nothing short of felicitous but I will crash into the new year energised like the ball of sunshine I am, albeit underlying with ambivalence.
In retrospect, 2017 had been a pretty good year. It was less tumultuous than the many worst-case-scenarios I had adumbrated in this quiescent mind. And it was filled with mostly positive energy and good news.
1. I travelled not once or twice but three times.
The year kicked off with a week-long vacation to Seoul where I spent some of my coldest days. Followed by yet another chilly holiday to Canada in May, and ended with a short getaway to Bintan in December.
It was not just my first time in Seoul. It was also the first time I travelled with the cousins. And then we wrapped up the year nicely by spending the Christmas weekend in December.
Wherever we go, I'm convinced we will be the noisiest (and weirdest) bunch. We will sometimes laugh too loud and other times find ourselves in a parley of serious matters.
Truth is, I would never imagine the close bonds we share today some years ago. Time definitely opened doors for us to find our way to each other.
May we be emboldened by one another's unique personality, and continue to bask in the comfort of familial ties.
It was definitely a year of family travels. And I'm looking forward to yet another exciting year of discovery this year!
Already planning for Borocay in March and UK-Italy in May. We never seem to get sick of UK actually.
2. I started a new job - and found a new interest.
I'm inherently naive and entered my current job with utmost confidence that I'm a blank canvas ready to be taught and guided. But I was wrong, of course. There was no hand-holding and I was literally thrown into the unmeasurable depths of the dead sea to swim - on my own.
But in the midst of careful navigation and many trial-and-errors, I was lucky enough to stumble upon the art of creative visual. The beginning was inundating with fear and navigation but Google has been my best left-hand aid ever since, and I'm coping.
I also found out that the corporate world is a cruel place if you do not play your cards right. You're either two feet in the game or not at all - and thankfully, I've successfully dissociated myself with office politics and exaggerated drama.
Some are guile in their ways to enforce their plans while others are mere milquetoasts blindly following the leader. I've met ignoble characters who thrive on gossip and try to probe into my personal life just to spin tall tales upon. But that's all right because the small close-knit community I've found is a gem and I trust they've got my back.
3. I sent an angel to heaven.
I've come close to Death one too many times, ever since I could remember. What's left is a deep void that either becomes easier to live with or harder to bear, or both. And most of the time, it's the latter.
As I sat at my desk on a Monday morning struggling to keep awake, I received a message from a friend I hadn't spoken to for a long time.
At first, it was pure disbelief as the news sank in. I could feel a weird numbness settling in but I recognise it was fear that the truth was as it was: She passed away that morning.
Exactly a year ago, we were both lying on the floor in my house - she stroking Shelty as she normally would as we talked about life. I don't even remember the details of our conversation but no matter what it was, I always remember a down-to-earth lady with a strong will.
As I looked upon her motionless body through the clear glass of her coffin, it felt frighteningly familiar but it broke my heart.
(5 June) She lost the battle against depression, and she took her own life in her home where her father found her motionless on the cold floor of her safe haven.
4. I attended two concerts!
My very first concert was Big Bang's concert in 2012. And I swore I would never buy tickets to the mosh pit ever again because it didn't make sense for someone my height to be there. So off I went to my two concerts, comfortably seated from a reasonable distance where I could enjoy music and occasionally the sight of the performing artists.
The first one was Music Bank in Singapore where Nisa and I spent a bomb just to see BTS live. (But thank God the other acts were equally amazing - Taemin's solo stage still vividly etched in my memory.)
And then I spent a bomb again on Backstreet Boys. I couldn't say no when I knew they were coming. I literally grew up with their music and even today, I'd listen to their old classics from the late 90s. Ah, music back then was seriously gold.
5. I gathered with my neighbours!
For the first time since we've moved here, in fact. I'm not sure how much of a tradition this is with other HDB blocks but we had a New Year's Eve gathering with our neighbours from the second to fourth floor, where we are.
It was a simple potluck and a good opportunity to thank one another for all the help we've received over the years. These are the people I see almost everyday yet take for granted. How fortunate am I to meet such kind neighbours really.
I'm hoping it'd be the first of many more to come!
~~~~~~~~~~
There were other good occasions I won't explicitly name but I made new friends and coolly practiced good riddance. I'm slowly but surely maintaining the peace I've forged with myself.
2018 wasn't off to a very good start but I'm sure it'll get better.
Comments