My 2009 in Retrospect

While typing this entry, I am eating leftover Christmas eve food, which needs to be consumed or it will spoil in my fridge. So yeah, it's dinner time here. I am by myself in my apartment, which I kind of appreciate especially when I am blogging.

Every time this time of the year comes, I always feel reflective and I want to look back on how my year was including the challenges and achievements I had and accomplished. And it gives me a sense of closure and a feeling that I can freely move on into the new year.

So here's to the year of learning to let go...letting go of doubts, letting go of worries, letting go of hatred and letting go of emotional baggage that has been pulling me down and delaying my journey.

January 2009
I went home. I felt so incredibly happy and ecstatic that once again, even for just a few weeks, i can be with my friends and family once again. I got to hang out with my mom and exchange stories just like what we used to do. :) I had the chance to go out of town for an entire weekend with my dearest friends without worrying about anything else except for how drunk we wanted to be. I missed the noise, the traffic, the lights and the humidity of the air. I felt comfortable as I walked around our house barefooted, eating pandesal and queso in the morning and hearing jeepneys passing by. I felt so relieved to be home. And i had the feeling of not wanting to leave. But I had to. And for the 2nd time, I didn't look behind me as I walked through the airport glass doors.

February 2009
We bought our 1st car. One of my dear friends at work decided to move to Sydney so she sold her Camry to us. It felt so liberating to have your hands on the wheel of your 1st car that you paid for with your money. Not anything given to you by your parents or some generous godparent. But it is your own. Our own. And it feels damn good!

March 2009
I was team coordinator several times which felt both scary and good.
I also had a pay rise this month. :)

April 2009
I had another pay rise. :)
I was chosen by my Charge Nurse to attend to a seminar wherein I met a lot of other health care professionals from different hospitals around the country. I felt so privileged. :)

May 2009
Angel came home for a 2 week stay. We ate out and had a lot of fun and a lot more talking. :) This is also the month when Rommel came over to Auckland for a visit and we showed him around and for the 1st time, I met Marge who has been in NZ for half a year, i think but I never had the chance to meet her when she came. So it was a 4-6 reunion of some sort.
I also did a teaching session for approximately 20 nurses in our ward wherein I got very good feedback. :)

June 2009
Completion and submission of work portfolio.

July 2009
He bought me an engagement ring, which he hasn't formally given to me as of date.

August 2009
I had a birthday party for the 1st time here. It was fun and different because I haven't had a party since my debut. So it was kinda cool being the star of the night for everyone.
Our car's wiper broke down and we had to be towed from North Shore back to our apartment.
It's our 7th year anniversary too.
Talked with him about my being aloof and my not so warm and equally strange relationship with his mother who isn't my favorite person and who feels exactly the same way about me. It was uplifting to be able to share such intensity of subject with someone and still feel loved at the end. This is when I decided that he is for keeps.

September 2009
My mom went to the USA for the 1st time to visit Ninang Glen and to accompany Lolo until he settles down. She stayed for a month there. During her stay, 2 incredibly devastating typhoons hit Manila where the rest of my family suffered tremendously. I felt so worried, anxious and helpless.

October 2009
Felt betrayed by a friend. And that spelled all the difference in what used to be our friendship.

November 2009
I have repaid in whole the money I loaned. So now, I can fully enjoy and share the fruits of my labour. :)
My parents had a separation fit which tore my heart and taught me how valuable family is.
A close friend revealed something to me that I swore I will bring with me to my grave.

December 2009
We started talking about when our wedding will be. And that is 2 years from now. So we gotta start saving.
I was hit by pangs of loneliness because of separation from my family during the Holiday Season, which is so depressing.
My parents decided to give our family another chance.

***

Being 5 days away from 2010, I am looking into the coming year with hopeful eyes and an unwavering faith that I will be able to endure and enjoy the next 12 months. It is after all, what the new year is all about. I am definite that there will be more lessons and experiences plotted for me this coming year and I will pull through it, without a doubt. :)