New year, new me

Looking back on 2011

It's a brand new year! A time when you reflect on what's happened the past year, write down resolutions & look ahead for a better one. As for myself... 2011 had been a relatively smooth year, no emotional issues, no ups & downs, no nasty people. Come to think of it now, it's been a rather quiet & bland year as compared to the past 2 years, & I like it much better this way :)


Just a few days ago on nye, a friend told me I'd changed alot. Curious, I asked if they're good or bad changes & why. He said I used to give people an "atas" feeling & look aloof, but I'm much more friendly & approachable now, so it's a good change. He's not the first one to say I'd changed, I had another friend tell me that a few weeks ago. But I'm quite surprised, cos I never knew & never intended to be seen as aloof, but somehow I just had alot of people tell me that over the years. With that said, I'm glad I've learnt to talk more & be more friendly, though it still takes me awhile to warm up to people. So there're still room for improvements.


I've also grown to be more mature over the course of the past 1 year, being able to see things differently & act rationally, not like in the past where I will just do what I like. I guess the biggest change in me is that I no longer trust people easily. In a way its good, to not be so gullible. But it's sad really, that I find it hard to place my trust in people, that I still have reserves about people, sometimes more than necessary but I now find the need to protect myself.


And... I place alot more importance on my dental health now, even the way I brush, cos I finally visited a dentist this year, after... 4yrs?! I'm embarrassed to say this but the last time I visited a dentist was in secondary 4 at the mobile dental caravan. I'm dead scared of dentists! All along I thought I had healthy teeth cos I never fail to brush my teeth twice a day, no matter how late/tired I am. I'm appalled at my friends who don't bother to brush at night when they came for stayovers! It horrified me when the dentist told me I had 6 cavities, I honestly thought she was going to pluck them all out. Luckily that's not the case. So now every night I will strictly follow these steps: 1) Floss teeth, 2) Gurgle with mouthwash, 3) Brush in the proper way, i.e up down up down instead of left right.


I'd done most of the things I promised myself- get a license, learn a new language, learn baking... so here's my new year resolutions:

#1  Start volunteering already (This I'd procrastinated for months)

#2  Get connected with old friends

#3  Stop shutting myself from people & open up more

#4  Don't be stingy with praises, praise people more!

#5  Travel more

#6  Exercise more

#7  Learn something new

#8  Improve my interpersonal skills

2011 had past exceptionally fast. I can vividly remember last December like it was yesterday. Everyone knows that Christmas is my favourite festive seaon. I'll hum to xmas songs & prance around like a kid when I see xmas deco & lights. But strangely, it doesn't have the same effect on me anymore this year. I don't feel the xmas mood as early as previous years... but I still felt the festive joy & it's still my favourite occasion :)


Over the past year that I'd been single, I'd become a better person. In terms of character, temper, maturity level, people skills etc. I used to just be myself & not care how people think. But now I know how to better behave, control myself & my emotions. Sidetrack: Have I become an emotionless person or does relationships put people in turmoil? Because I realised I hadn't had much heartache, I could even count with my fingers the number of times I'd cried this past year.

Being single makes me understand myself a lot better, & I really love the time spent alone doing the things I enjoy. I'm not one of those girls that hop from one bf to another with no gaps in between. I think that's pathetic becos they can't stand being alone. Of course at times I feel envious when I see a lovely couple, but for me, I can't bring myself to be with just anybody. I have to really like him to be together with him. I still remember it took 10 months for me to finally meet someone I like & open up myself in my previous rs. It's taking a little longer now but I haven't really met someone I'm interested in. 

And sometimes, the best relationship resolution is not to have a relationship at all, until you find the right person.

After some months of bumming around, I'd also gotten a job at OCBC, which made me regret not starting work earlier! My workplace & colleagues are an amazing bunch! And although I'm not entirely sure of my future, this job had made me see a clearer view of what I want in my career path. But work takes up ALOT of my time. Almost like a full day!


The first thing I'd do in the morning when the alarm rings at 9am is to switch on channel news asia in my blurriness. Then with the news anchor speaking in the background, I'll lie with my eyes close for 5 more mins, before waking up to prepare. Then I'll go to work, have lunch at 4pm (I have to had lunch late, else time will pass very slowly & I'll get hungry quickly), go back to work, which ends at 8pm earliest. Mostly I'll have dinner with my friends, or at home, in whichever case will be supper timing. Then watch abit tv, go to slp, & the day repeats itself. Standard. Boring eh?


Oh & I'm proud to say that I'm good at saving! I'm not as spendthrift as in the past anymore. Actually I've been less of a spendthrift since a couple of years ago, but the biggest difference is I don't care for branded stuff anymore now. I don't have the urge to own a new bag AT ALL. I just realised I've not bought ANYTHING branded over the last 12 months!


And I don't shop often, maybe once or twice every couple of months? That explains how I'm able to survive through the months of bumming around. I've worked for 2mths+ already & all I spent is on food & transport, meaning I'd probably saved 90% of my salary? But I love a good meal every now & then, & would rather spend on food or leisure trips than on an expensive branded bag.


Kudos to you, Alicia! Keep up the good work! I miss bangkok & want to go back soon! Lastly, happy new year to all of you! I wish 2012 would be a better year for all of us!! :)