Lessons from 2013

This time, instead of my usual end of year post, I thought I would do something different and talk about what I'm grateful for this year, what I've learnt and how I want to improve myself. 

Because if you ask me to sum up my year for you, there wasn't much of any "event" (As this year for me, was pretty mundane. No big celebrations, no major exams, whatsoever). This year, if you ask me to sum it up, I would say, is the year of growth. Not that I am gonna stop growing physically or mentally after this year but I feel that this year I've really grown a lot (mentally) and also I'm not shy to say, I honestly have matured. (*very singlish tone* NOT ONLY I OWNSELF SAY ONE OK!!)

From working for Chloe to working for Joanne.

From a wish to a camry.

And so on, looking back at my photos, I see little minor changes that has happened within this past one year even though I feel like nothing much has changed/happened this year.

This year, I've went through minor ups and downs. But compared to the other years, this year wasn't so much of a roller coaster ride. However and very surprisingly, I've learnt more than ever before.

What I am thankful for this year:

• "Good" health: Not that I have been very healthy this year compared to the other years because I've gotten food poisoning just this month during my bali trip (will blog about it soon) but this year, I noticed I haven't coughed as much as I used to? Like normally I would start coughing and my cough would last for like 2-3 months and this year, except for minor cough once in awhile, I'm thankful my bronchitis didn't work up.
• Protection: Also, I am thankful for the protection. Protection over my family and myself. Whether is it protection from sickness, major accidents etc, I am thankful my grandparents, brothers and parents are still healthy and needless to say, around. 
• Provision: This, I must thank my friends around me for always reminding me how lucky I am whenever I forget once in awhile. I am thankful for the provision over my family. That we, (my family) still have the financial ability to get a new car, travel overseas and spend like how we spend normally. Basically being financially sufficient? (If that's the word lol)
• People: People who have stayed on. This year, instead of dedicating a section of my post to each and everyone of the people whom I am thankful for, for being in my life, and hopefully the rest of the years to come, I have decided to send a personal message to each of you (people I am thankful for) just like in the past. 
• Blessing: Thankful for the minnie mouse, thankful for the kenkan (that I NEVER thought I needed it but after receiving it, I realized I've been using it so very often. Thank you for your thought. Thank you for your love), thankful to have met another nice boss who is alway so very generous towards me, thankful to have passed all my theory tests and now I just have to book my final driving test.

What I have learnt this year: 

• Not to place my happiness in the hands of people: Because they will drop it every time. Sad but true. And I will never forget what Josh told me "If you depend on others for your own happiness, you're in for a world of disappointment after disappointment." And I'm glad I heeded advice or else I'll be miserable all my life. 
• To be able to see people more clearly(?): You can say I was naive. I used to treat friends like they are my life. But this year, I've learnt not to be stupid(?) anymore. Because people do come and go no matter how much you think they won't. And I've learnt to see people more clearly. This past year of events has shown me clearly who I want to be friends with and who I don't. No hate seriously. Just disappointed. Disappointed that the people whom I thought were true ended up making me feel like a fool. 
• To never give someone a reason to doubt your love: One way, is by making them one of your priority. One of the reason why my relationship didn't work out in the past is because though I did love my boyf, I didn't make him one of my priorities. Which is making time for him. And I've never truly understood that till now. If you love someone, you gotta make time for them. No excuses. Make time to connect with them, make time to meet them, make time to understand them.
• To be a better girlf: Yeah, no joke. To be a better girlf. Though I haven't been in any active relationship whatsoever for the past few years, and this past one year, seeing people in relationships had me reflect a lot on my past relationships. That I need to be more sensitive, more understanding and also, I need to really make an effort to open up.

What I want to improve on: 

• To not let things affect me so much: I'm already working on it. And I'm quite happy to say I'm doing pretty well. Like I won't be so hung up on feeling sad for things whether minor or major. Time has been passing really quickly and I don't wanna waste time feeling sad. Esp for people who aren't worth it.
• To not be so blunt: Guess my bluntness has ultimately, unintentionally hurt the people I've loved. Not that I want to change who I am of course not. People know me for being straight forward and I wouldn't change that. But I just wanna learn to be more careful with my words especially towards people who don't understand me well.

This year, I've honestly learnt a lot. I've lost those whom I loved. And I've seen more clearly who I should actually be loving. Nonetheless, this year has been a great year of lessons.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, And never brought to mind.

CHEERS TO 2013 AND HERE'S TO A BETTER 2014!!