It's 2013! Again, I am late in posting for the new year, but hey, better late than never! It has been busy since I last blogged. School preparations, and now, school. But 2013 will be a good year. I can feel it. And it's starting off great. I usually get overworked and burnt out by the first week of Jan every year for the past 3 years. Think it's the crazy meetings and the stress of planning for school programmes that it makes me delirious and majorly sick. 2 years ago, it was a super high fever which left me immobile for 3 days. Last year, it was another super high fever of 40.5 deg, and slight bronchitis which saw me passing out and breaking down my bathroom door (cos I fainted, not cos I turned into the hulk or something). I was out for a week then! This year, so far, it has been great. I am healthy, I am eating, I am exercising, and I am happy!

As with all years, I always pen down my thoughts for the year. 2012 has been a year of ups and downs. It was a year where I struggled professionally as I put on so many hats and did well in some areas while sucked in other areas. It was a year where I almost lost myself in work and struggled to find that work life balance which I am really good at. It was also a year where I kind of gave up on any semblance of relationships due to many bad bad experiences.

But on the upside, 2012 was great because it was a good year for friendships.  I got together with so many of my Australian friends this year after so long. It started with my darlings Anri & Foize where we met once again in March, after 4 years apart since our studies in Australia. It was so great to be together again even if it is only for 4 short days but those 4 short days were probably the most memorable for 2012. I met up with Nad, and her adorable siblings, and Ryan in Melbourne and then met up Rushika and Mark in Perth during my June break. 2012 was also great cos I made a new friend. A really good friend, Su Ann. She is as crazy as me, if not crazier, she is kind, and genuine and sincere and I appreciate her so much cos she makes me so much happier and such a better person as well. And it was a year where I reconnected back with K after so long of being apart and it is so great to have her back in my life as she is one of the kindest and most non judgemental person I know.

 2012 saw me fulfilling one more dream that I had, to get my licence and a car. And it has been so fabulous to be free and be able to go wherever I want to and I never fail to appreciate how blessed I am for having that financial capacity to own a car.

Most importantly, 2012 is the best year ever because I rediscovered God. I have always been one who believes that you determine your own path in life, and God always took a back seat. Of course I believed in HIM but HE wasn't a priority. But due to the lows of 2012, I was so desparate that I had to find help. And help came in the form of HIM. And it has been so peaceful for me. I have never been at peace so much with myself, or as happy as I am now. I used to be so overwhelmed that I will break down and cry. But praying to God has made me calmer and more at peace. HE has helped me chart so many new paths in life, and overcome so many obstacles in my life with a positive spirit. And I know that I did not do this alone but with HIS help.

So yeah, I think 2012 started off shit but ended off with a bang. :)

For 2013, I hope to:
1. Achieve milestones in my career. I am more confident professionally, and after holding on to my portfolio for a year, I am not clearer of my work, and am keen to push myself and my team harder to make a difference this year.

2. Find that joy in teaching again. Ever since my darling batch graduated in 2010, I haven't found a group of students I have felt passionately about. I hope that I can re discover that purpose I used to have in coming to school and make sure that I do not lose sight of the purpose I became a teacher in the first place.

3. Be at peace with myself and not be affected by people who do not matter to me.

4. Continue to make time for people who matter in my life. My family and my friends, they will always take priority over anything else.

5. Be healthy by exercising right and eating right. I hope to continue to be as disciplined as I was in 2012. Thrice-weekly hot yoga sessions and weekly 5km runs. Minimally.

6. Most importantly, to continue to be close to God and not let myself be swayed in many other directions cos at the end of the day HE paves the right way for me.

And with that, have a good 2013 everyone!