Friday, December 30, 2011

Goodbye 2011, Hello 2012

Alright folks, just when you have gotten used to writing 2011 on your cheque books, its time to make the same mistakes again come 2012. The year, the weeks, the days, the hours, the minutes and the seconds are ticking way too fast for me, for you, anyone with me?

I am not sure how many of you like me have a cluttered work desk but in the midst of piles of papers, there's a photo here, a picture frame there, a piece of drawing your child did at play group, a sketchy penmanship of your 5 year old that says, Happy Mother's Day? Memorabilia to remind us of the passage of time. Then it dawned on you that your little child is now turning 13 and ready to embark on another journey. It daunting to be reminded that the clock is indeed ticking mercilessly. Everyone is aging, coping with wrinkles, age spots, greying hair and whatever comes with becoming a year older.

In a few hours, we welcome 2012. To some, its a radiant new beginning, to some, another dark, painful year, with nothing to look forward to. Some have great pay bonuses while some will wonder if whatever little they have will see them through the month. Its been like a long distance run for me.
At some stage, I pace well. At times, I sprint and many times I pant. Its the uncertainty of the physical and emotional momentum that we are often not prepared for. We don't know how far the drop is. But we just close our eyes and hope we survive the fall. Isn't life all about risk-taking?

The kids had great gifts this Christmas; a smart phone, and mp4 player, a nintendo wii, Nike Pegasus (while my trainers are in dire need for a trip to the cobbler). Its all about the kids isn't it? My biggest wish for 2012 is to see my family happy and indeed, they are. No skiing trips but Hong Kong was just as awesome. The company was all that matters. I just make sure they know mum and dad work really hard to give them a well deserved gift and their obligations is to be good kids and to do their best in school. A good friend had to be away on work stint for most part of the school holidays, as it comes with the job. To make a living, to provide for the family. If you don't give your family the best now, then when? The fragility of life is very frightening. There may come a time when we can no longer provide. Embrace them while they are clingy for they will not be so very soon.

New year resolutions are archaic. I never make them and never will. Do yourself a favour, don't. Live for the here and now. I hit the gym less than 10 times this year and the scales didn't lie. I enjoy my food escapades with my family way too much to be worried about whether I fit into my Levis. So what if you are a couple of inch wider, not gonna hurt anyone? You know your own body better than anyone. Listen to your body and take good care of it. Eat all you want but know when to stop.

Nope, I am not going to fret the small things in life. Be happy you still have a job, your children, spouse, parents, friends, best friends, lovers and that they are all well, and truly be happy inside. We are all communal beings, no man is an island. Reach out and talk to someone. You never know you could save a person's life just by opening up to him or her. Be a better person, be generous, don't talk behind each other, hard to do but try. I am still struggling with this for the longest time. Don't talk about others because we are also easy targets for gossips. Its so hard to be good, so easy to be bad. If there's ever a need to make a new year's resolution, let this be one. To be a better person, period. That alone encompass lots of elements to make the world a better place to be. There's always a way out, just open up your world and get out of that dark tunnel. To those short-sighted, narrow minded, selfish people, I hope you'll be enlightened in some way. Be nice and don't take unfair advantage of people. What goes around, comes around.

To all my acquaintances, friends, siblings, colleagues, my closest friends, my husband, mum and dad, have a Funtastic & Happy 2012. Let the good times roll. I wish you and your family well, hope to see you more often and looking forward to hear your happy stories. Cheers to all and to my special ones, I love you dearly...