Hello and Happy New Year to you! How did your festivities go? I hope you had a meaningful holiday season and had a good start to 2021. This space has been very quiet. To be honest, I had a whole slew of holiday-related posts that were already in draft mode and just needed some tweaks before publishing. But our holidays were a bit more sombre with the loss of a loved one, that I just didn’t feel like working on the blog for the past few weeks.
I hope I can write more consistently this year. I’ve always told myself that I’m not really blogging to get followers, but really to document my life–our life. And if anyone finds anything useful and inspirational here, then that is a great bonus to have. This 2021, I do have some more plans for this space, just a little something to connect to the “outside world”, make new friends and even reconnect with old ones. I hope you watch out for that.
We’re still a few days into the new year, and I thought I’d answer a couple of questions that look back on how 2020 went for me. I’m always a believer of looking back and reflecting on the past to understand the lessons we’ve learned as we move forward.
This questionnaire would be helpful especially now that most of us are into planning mode for the year. It’s really nice because it celebrates your accomplishments, it doesn’t matter if they’re big or small. Even though you may think last year was a crap year, you’ll be surprised at what you’ve done!
The full list of questions is at the happinez website. You can choose to answer all, or just a few of them, it’s still a good way to review the year that was.
* What’s the best discovery you made last year?
I never really appreciated the beauty of silence. Of doing absolutely nothing. Last year, when the lockdown lifted and the girls went back to childcare, and I had a few months of being just by myself at home, there were periods where I’ve finished all the chores, I didn’t feel like watching Netflix, or reading a book or working on a project. I would just sit on a chair, stare out the window, and be quiet. It’s a really nice experience when you learn to silence your mind and just be still.
* What was the biggest surprise?
That all you have to do is ask. Like when I emailed the editor of the Filipino newspaper here in New Zealand, and said I’d like to write for them. We talked for a bit, and he, surprisingly, agreed.
* What’s your favourite purchase?
I am doing a round up of my favourite products from last year in an upcoming post, but I would have to say it’s my Merge Blender. Portable and easy to use!
* At which point did you ask for help?
A few weeks before the New Zealand lockdown was lifted, I was mentally not in a good place, with trying to work at home and handling the girls at the same time. I felt that I could not do both as best as I could. So I had a talk with my husband who told me it’s ok for me to quit my job and just focus on myself and take care of the kids. I really don’t take for granted how privileged I am, to have that option to stop working and I’m grateful for my husband understanding that my mental health should take priority.
* What did you learn or develop?
I think I’ve improved on my Korean language, and hope to learn more. I also learned how to make Kimchi (yum!). I’ll share how to do it next time.
* Is there a quality or skill you’ve become more certain about?
This past 2020, I’ve felt more confident in my writing and how I’ll be able to use it to get paid writing gigs. I’ve written a few articles for the Filipino Migrant News paper and website, which has really helped me venture out and meet people, and write better. I hope to attend some Creative Writing courses to improve myself.
* Which simple pleasures made you happy last year?
I will never again underestimate being able to go out of the house, even for just a quick walk to the park.
* Which goal did you work on, or reach?
I finished more books in 2020 than in the past 4 years, combined.I ran a 10K (pre-lockdown). I finished my Amorsolo cross stitch project, went vegetarian for a week, finished a book from the Bible and got my writing published in another website/newspaper.
* What did you try without success, although it did teach you something?
Going plant-based for longer than a week. It’s really hard to change your meat-eating habits immediately, and I’m not sure if I will ever be completely plant-based, but I’m hoping for more veggie days this year.
*Bonus(not from the website, but mine)–What do you look forward to this year?
This year, I look forward to doing more of the things I love–cooking, writing, travel, running and taking pictures. I think last year has emphasized how precious and fleeting life is,so it’s really important to take good care of our health and do the things we love while there’s still time. Last year was probably the worst year in recent history, 2021 just has to be better, right? (fingers crossed!).
