2010 - Looking back

I love inspirational quotes and 1 of my all-time favorite is the simple four words "Look forward, not back". However, look back (with frank and brutal honesty) on 2010 I will in this post before we move into the brand new year 2011.

On 29 December 2010, a year ago, I wrote out my resolutions for the year (click here) so I will review the success/failure of each of them before writing out my resolutions for 2011 in the next entry tomorrow (the 250th entry).

(1) The new body - While I did not keep to any of the action steps for any sustained period this year, I've lost 8 - 10kg in the past year. So I guess that's a Pass for this resolution.

(2) Take up a masters - Nope, I'm afraid I didn't do that. Been a tardy lazy ass this year and not taken any courses at all despite having loads of spare time which I squandered on self-indulgent activities. Procrastination and sloth have been my bosom companions instead. Fail.

(3) Improve my finances - Again, did not carry out any of the action steps. Then again, although I haven't had time to trade given the sheer volume of work @ the office, from Sept 09 to Aug 09, my monthly pay has improved 30%. Borderline fail.

(4) Improve my EQ and IQ - Yup, been reading loads of non-fiction books esp self-improvement books. Also, been updating this blog and made friends out of colleagues. Pass.

(5) Mastering various fishing techniques - Yup, the first 3/4 of the year has been all about fishing. Fishing in KK, Langkawi, Bkk, offshore, onshore...it has been A-fantastic. :) However, I have yet to learnt how to effectively connect my leader to the main line using the FG knot (or an improvisation of the same). Pass with room for improvement.

There certainly were many things I didn't count on happening in 2010. In fact, as the saying "Pride comes before a fall" goes, there were times this year when I felt on top of this world, when I felt as if I had everything I could ever ask for and more.

Careerwise, I'd been promoted again this year, was again part of the co's talent pool and had the absolutely best boss in the world. A boss that was a worthy role model for me in every single way (professionally and, as a wife and mother) and to whom I had pledged my undying loyalty to - the kind of loyalty that replies "How High" when she says "Jump". I was also on gd terms with all of my other colleagues and had my good colleague (who shares the room) to provide guidance and give positive encouragement. Also, the company I work for is rock stable with strong fundamentals and has a high level of corporate social responsibility.

Finance-wise, I was unencumbered in every sense of the word. I had the necessary buffer of savings, my precious car had been fully paid for within a year of its purchase and my pay had increased 30% within the year given the promotion and market adjustment. Freedom was mine (more on that later) and I could travel at whim (thanks to my beloved boss), buy whatever little fancies I wanted and do as I please within my little means. Because of my relatively few needs (no, don't scoff here - I really have few needs), I would say tt I was content.

Relationship-wise, I had friendships that stood the test of time and distance, I was making friends out of colleagues and even finding new friends to enjoy my new hobby (fishing) with. I'd finally moved on successfully from the failure of that ten-year relationship with Mr Womaniser and also saw the true colors of the obese obnoxious prick whose arms I'd rebounded into, putting an effective end to any regrets I might once have had hurting him. I'd also been lucky enough for the first half of the year to dabble in a variety of distractions given my swinging single status and to find a companion in someone who gave me a lot of loving support and acts of love. The second half brought an unexpected surprise which is of course, the relationship with my CEB who had all along been nothing more but a platonic friend to shoot the breeze with.

However, as with all good things, a twist of fate in early November abruptly changed the course of my life and brought me to my knees just as I was counting my blessings as stated above. I can pin down the day I was thinking I was so blessed ("what more could I want?") - that was the day I received the blackberry from my beloved boss. And I can pin the day about 13 days later when everything that I've held dear the past 4yrs odd fell apart and nothing mattered.

It is now the second last day of December 2010 and following the 2 biggest life-changing decisions which I made in the past 3 months of the year, I'll still say that 2010 has been one of the best years of my life and I am truely grateful and thankful to the good Lord and to everyone who has been in my life someway or other for making it so.