Welcome 2013

I welcome 2013 with open arms and not because 2012 hasn't been good. It's because 2012 has been good, possibly one of the best years of my life, and 2013's going to open doors to greater things!

So maybe, very quickly, a look back at some bits of my life that are worthy of mention in 2012, and that I have plans for in 2013.

Relationships
When it comes to people I guess I have been spoiled. I let go off more people than I should have, mainly because I didn't know any better. So now I do know better and I count my blessings. I will fight harder for you to be in my life, family and friends. You deserve it as you've stuck around when I deserved it the least. It's the most wonderful feeling in the world and I know it. I don't take it for granted and maybe now it's time to show it. Now I see it's not important that people share the some interests, come from the same background or speak the same language. It's the willingness to stay in contact and believing that through our connection, we become better people.

It's something I sincerely believe in, that we learn and love and are enriched by the people around us. That's the basis of relationships, human interaction, and our connection.

Money
Dammit I promise to only buy things that are on sale! Or not. Maybe lesser on iTunes. It is my new year's resolution not to go to weddings? If only I could. Not that I don't like to celebrate happiness, of course. This tradition is particularly stifling and money draining. Save up on the small stuff and gun for the big purchases. I'm glad my laptop is still around after 5 years, going 6 I believe. It must survive one more year. I'm not ready to get a new one. I hate eating expensive food. I enjoy the ambiance. I like hanging out with friends at restaurants over delicious dinner. There's something cosy about getting together in an excessively well-furnished interior. But is it necessary? I hate spending money on food.

Like many people my age, getting a place of my own and possibly a car are the two things that I really want but seem so out of reach. Ridiculously out of reach. That and constantly feeling upset about public transport are some of the things I have to deal with living here. But if you think about it, that's pretty tame compared to living elsewhere in the world.

I'd love to get my own place. Save on the small stuff, the expensive stuff and the stuff in-between and hope this will happen soon.

Fitness
Stellar, really. I've never been more fit in my life. I've never had to train so hard. I've never had to run so much, so far. I've never had to work out till I feel like throwing up. I've never had to expend so much mental energy to find physical strength I never (knew I) had! It's an amazing collections of challenges, from races (Men's Health Urbanathlon, Sundown, King of the Road Malaysia, Standard Chartered Half-Marathon) to IPPTs. There were also work out sessions at Sweat!, a little bit of trekking at Taman Negara, cycling in Darwin... It's super fun to engage my entire being in such activities. It's when I feel most alive!

So this year it's going to be more of the same. I'm going to continue my circuit training. I'm going to continue running, but will definitely cut down on the races. (I think I managed to complete something like 10 last year!) I hope the strength and endurance I gain will not only help me in new sports that I may take up this year, but also exploring the world around me. Hopefully I'll have the chance to go overseas to race, climb mountains, canoe in rivers, hike in forests and cycle in the countryside.

Of course, looking good in a pair of boardshorts for Zoukout 2013 will be awesome too.

Writing and Teaching
I'd like to pretend that being chummy with people is a skill, but clearly it isn't! What I'm left with, I think, is writing and teaching. I enjoy both very much and hope to really do more this year. It's getting tougher because the tuition well is drying up and I haven't been making enough effort to find kids. I guess that's my fault and also possibly my word-of-mouth among parents hasn't been particularly outstanding, despite what I think, is my rather outstanding track record teaching upper Secondary School Mathematics! And writing, well, I'll start with stringing together more words for this blog! I've been neglecting it severely last year, partly because, well, it's sort of an identity-crisis for me really. I no longer know what to write about, when so much of what I do is work. And also then there's a lot of laziness too.

But no more excuses. Maybe a few more posts what I've been through outside of work, and also a bit of insight on the work I do. No harm in that alright! Not as if I've been shutting down my social media presence. I'll get down to it. My review of Wreck-It Ralph tomorrow maybe?

I'm very happy that the first week of 2013 has gone by smoothly, except for the weather. The rain has got to stop, especially when I get off work. Other than that I had fun ringing in the new year with people I love, cosy celebrations, happiness and activities (mahjong, mahjong, mahjong) I enjoy.

To a fruitful 2013.