Overview of 2008

2008 was not spent in vain - had the leisure time to do a variety of activities, forged meaningful friendships and strengthened existing ones, and most importantly, was happy and carefree everyday (except for those darkest days during Practicum). Come 2009, a slow-moving and uncertain year, which marks the start of my three-year bond to my profession. I am grateful that I still have a job in this economic gloom, but I know most days I will just be too tired and disillusioned.

What I have achieved in 2008:

• A credit certificate from NIE (incredible considering that I was not so focused on my studies)
• Scaled Dragon's Back and hiked Lamma Island
• Another happy and peaceful year with Slug

What I have learnt (or rather what is reinforced):

• Teaching is not what I want afterall. Today's youths are such a challenge, and the stifling education system and laborious administrative work make it worse. Shan't reveal more (see point three).
• Looking forward to life's little pleasures helps to make me happy - Fridays, strawberry bubble tea, manicures, Mum's cooking etc.
• Self-censorship is a must, especially when online.
• Live to work, die to rest.
• Importance of investing in time spent with family and loved ones - the emotional rewards reaped are so much more enriching than job satisfaction.
• Subconscious desire to take up permanent residence in HK

What I want to achieve in 2009:

• Work life balance. I don't believe in selling my soul to work.
• Steel myself to go to work everyday. I just need to pull through the next three years and I will be free.
• Continue to strengthen the bonds with the people around me, some of whom are my pillars of strength whenever I am down
• Start building the love nest and prepare myself for domestication
• Update my blog regularly (easier said than done, actually)
• Be happy
• Take time to figure out what I really want to do in life (still wallowing aimlessly in what Babs and I affectionately term the quarter-life crisis)

Shall not overwhelm myself with too many tasks, but my priorities still remain very clear, and hopefully they will guide me to achieve the ideal life that I want. Here's to a great year ahead!