In my line of work, the consummation of a
project is typically marked by the completion of final report which includes
the description of the research study, highlighting the key findings of the
research (which should be telling a story), and finally summing it up and
giving some recommended moving forward steps for the client. And so I thought,
why not do this as well - to sum up my 2013 and make a list of how I intend to move
forward this 2014.
Summing up 2013
My 2013 definitely has its share of highs
and lows, but more highs I think than lows, thankfully!
A Year Filled with Travel
Ever since I have been earning my own money, I make it
a point to travel wherever my feet and my budget could take me. But I was
blessed the past year to have enough dough to keep my wanderlust satisfied. I
have been to different places with the people I love and care about.
- ü Blessed to have seen Cebu and Bohol early last year in all its beauty and glory prior to the devastating earthquake that hit it late last year. Praying that they recover and bring back a hundred-fold whatever they have lost in that tragedy.
- ü Rode the waves of Balerrrr and explore the other beautiful sites that it offers!
- Visited the beautiful historic island of Corregidor, not just once, but twice. Next to Caleruega, this is where I want my wedding to take place. Hope to have a very huge windfall this year or the next. :P
- ü Had our first out of the country trip together. It was kind of unorthodox for us since we did KL-SG-KL when all the other bloggers were suggesting SG-KL-SG. It turned out awesome for us so I don’t mind being different at all. I wonder where our next out of the country trip would be.
- ü Was finally able to put a tick mark on one of the travel destinations on my list when we got to see Caramoan. It’s disguised a sleepy island but you’ll be surprised at the many wonders it could offer. And yes, we did a bit of our own Survivor stunt with that spelunking.
- ü Work does sometimes require us to travel but only for a day or two and without any other time to spare to go out of our hotel most of the time. My last out-of-town fieldwork was different however because we got to stay for three days and had the last of it to ourselves. So we planned a clandestine day trip to Samal Island, at the same day when typhoon Haiyan made a landfall in Samar. That didn’t get in the way of us enjoying the trip, which somehow made me feel guilty at the end.
- ü Mini-trips to Tagaytay towards the end of the year to celebrate my birthday and Low-Cal’s Christmas party. Tagaytay never gets old!
- ü We treated the family to a short getaway in Antipolo. Except for my brother, I think the gang enjoyed the trip. This is a leveled up version already since our previous trips were just daytrip in nearby parks like Luneta or EcoPark. Hoping that 2014 would be a better one.
Homes
My sister and I got the guts to finally renovate our
house because the old one was already giving up on us – dilapidated roofs which
would leak every time it rains. By combining our savings and some loans, we now
have a better place to stay. It’s all by God’s grace. We’re still not yet done
paying the loans but we’ll surely get there soon.
Also, my papa encouraged and helped me get a unit from
one of QC’s low-cost housing programs. The image-conscious part of me frowns at
the funny address it has, but as they say - beggars cannot be choosers. :P I
see it as a blessing and so I am aiming at making it a beautiful home this
year.
Health
I gained weight year but was generally healthy. I think
I haven’t gone to the doctor except to do APE and twice visited the dentist to
take care of my long-ignored teeth. Occasionally, I got to exercise, i.e. when not
too busy at work and not lazy to get my ass moving. Lately, I also got into
boxing, thanks to my great buddies at work.
Immediate family was generally healthy too, with only
episodes of cough, cold, fever getting in the way of our lives.
The sad thing though is that, my lola got weaker this
year, no thanks to that freaking accident she gotten herself into. That caused
her to become immobilized and thus required greater care and attention. It’s really
a painful challenge for everyone that it sometimes gets on the nerves of
everyone. But by helping each other, we manage to get by.
Career
The year was not a good one for the company – with some
unmet targets, rumored layoffs, and
under the table memo of using our earned leave credits or else!!! Busy is an
all-year description of how it was, with some respite in between to give us
room to breathe. Being here for five years is making me view this as a vicious cycle,
a love it-hate it relationship, a kind of slavery where they periodically shine
a light at the end of the tunnel in order to make you stay. Nevertheless, I am
glad that I have this job and that my team makes it all bearable.
Moving Forward 2014
I don’t know what 2014 will bring but I hope
it would be more awesome than the previous year.
·
More travels
·
Fitter, healthier, stronger
version of us
·
Financially-wiser and richer us
·
Spiritually more mature me
I don’t know how this could be done and I don’t
have any specific NY resolution. I will just take each day as it comes and hope
that I will approach it the best way I know possible.
But yes, I have a specific goal that I am
setting for myself this year – to make my tiny house beautiful and livable.
Dream on! :)
