2017: My Year in Retrospect

Background: I started doing this "year in retrospect" exercise in the year 2015. Why? Because at the end of each year, we tend to rant that a year has passed by so quickly. But if you look back and reflect, surely, you must have done something throughout the year.  Now whether you consider these activities productive, good, fun or meaningful is another thing. But for me, that's entirely up to you - your own rules, your own metrics, your own definition of enjoyment and your own criteria of what's worth your time with the 365 days we've been given in a year. :)  As my motto goes - life is never too short if we live it well. :)

Here's my 2017 in retrospect (and in random order):

1.  New activity I started doing - visiting a Home for the Aged.   It doesn't matter if you have 1 or 2 hours to spare but having visitors bring the elderly so much joy (even those with Alzheimer's perk up when they get visitors).   

Source

If you arrive in between mealtimes, usually you'll see them in their wheelchairs all facing the entrance of the building - maybe to get some fresh air or maybe, they are also hoping for visitors to come.  

The last time I dropped by, I witnessed the oldest in the group - a 101- year old lola -  push her own wheelchair and sit on it unassisted (yes, she can still do it on her own!💪 ).  I also learned that one of the lolas I chatted with in my previous visits, the one who loved to talk about World War II, has already passed away. 

But on the brighter side, here's a funny conversation during my last visit:

Lola #1:  May asawa ka na ba? May pamilya ka na? (Are you married? Do you have a family of your own?)

Me:  Naku, wala pa po. (Oh, none yet.)

Lola #2:  Pareho pala tayo! Sya rin, wala rin yang asawa.  (Oh, we're the same!  She isn't also married (pointing to Lola #1 and in an excited tone).

Lola #1:  Yan ngang mga yan (pointing to 3 other lolas in wheelchairs), may asawa at mga anak yan pero tignan mo, dito rin ang bagsak.    ( These 3 (pointing to 3 other lolas in wheelchairs) are all married and with families but look at them, they still ended up here.)

There was no trace of angst in their voices so either they wanted to tell me that it was ok to stay unmarried, or they were simply trying to point out that whether you marry or not, you'll still end up in a home for the aged. 😂 

2.  New physical activity I tried - Pilates Reformer.  I signed up for 3 months to improve my posture.  But don't underestimate the Pilates Reformer, it's one tough machine!  

You'll be pulling and pushing bars and cables on this machine using your feet, legs, arms and hands - and with corresponding weights for resistance.  Even the tiniest muscle in your toes would be working hard. 😅

3.  Things I did to shake myself out of my comfort zone:
- I tried swimming in an Olympic size pool (50 meters). 💪
- I re-enrolled in a swim class with a new coach (a stricter coach this time) and learned a lot of new things.
- I conducted a one-day workshop in a state university.  But like last year, it's still a struggle for me to do this kind of activity coz I don't like designing presentations and I don't like public speaking. :( Though I do want to help people learn new skills, I need to find another way on how to do this moving forward. Haha...
- I attended some dance classes - zumba, boogie and salsa. 💃  But wait, this is more incidental than intentional. I just accompanied someone.  And yes, I still consistently suck at dancing. 😂
- In the area of personal finance and investing, I got into bitcoin. 😬 Just a tiny fraction but I hope it would be worth really big someday. 🙏😂
- In the area of healthy living + minimalism, I eliminated shampoo from my toiletries.  I now only use soap - fragrance-free, color-free and natural oil-based.  It's a soap manufactured using the same recipe and process since 1900.  And this same soap, I use for the hair, face and skin. So if you come over to my place, please bring your own shampoo ... and dryer (coz I don't have these) ... and chair .... and mattress (coz I only have for one!🙋). 😂

4.  Number of books I read this year - 15.  I wasn't able to finish some books because one practice I started a few years back is when a book doesn't engage me, I don't force myself to finish it as it's not a good use of time.

Anyway, here are my top reads this 2017 -

Final Gifts by Maggie Callanan and Patricia Kelley made me understand more about what people in their final days go through.  To understand more about the elderly and the dying, read it here.

A Guide to Good Life by William Irvine made me realize that I'm Stoic in many ways.  For a peek into the Stoic mindset,  read it here. 

On the Shortness of Life by Seneca confirms my motto - life is never short if we live it well.  Take note, the lessons from the book were based on a letter written by Seneca in 49 AD.  For Seneca's timeless lessons, read it here.

Spark Joy by Marie Kondo was a good refresher on the KonMari method.  To review the key KonMari principles, read it here. 

The Checklist Manifesto by Atul Gawande reinforced my practice of using checklists to save time and avoid oversights.  If you're still not using checklists, learn why you should by reading it here.

5. Musicals I watched this year -  Kinky Boots, Sister Act, West Side Story and Matilda.  I was able to catch Matilda in Auckland and guess what? I watched it alone and I had a great time. Uh-oh, I am not just an introvert but becoming a loner.  😂😂😂

6.  Something new to increase my productivity - I finally got a proper work desk and a desktop. I've been trying to keep my stuff at minimum and so I have been using one small table as both my dining table and work desk in the last 4 years. 😂    But I'm so glad I finally got a work desk coz this is my new happy spot.  My La-Z-Boy is getting some rest these days.😂   

My new happy spot

BTW, still on productivity improvement, I got rid of my TV this 2017. 😆

7.  Movies I liked this year -  Wonder Woman, Beauty and the Beast, The Last Jedi ... these are the ones on top of my head.  But the movie which touched me the most and made me cry - in 2 scenes to be exact 😂  - is Coco.

Coco (Source)

8.  For travels, this year was a year I got back to traveling solo. 😊 💪   Coz if I solely rely on finding common travel schedules and preferences with travel buddies, I might not be able to go anywhere.  😂  

Tokyo in February was with high school friends.

Shanghai in June was supposed to be a solo travel but 2 friends tagged along and I was so glad coz they both speak Chinese.  Otherwise, I don't know how would I've survived if I went alone. 😂 

Auckland in September was solo travel. 💪

Guam in Nov/Dec was also solo travel. 😎

That's about it for my 2017 highlights - my own metrics, my own definition of enjoyment and my own criteria of what's worth my time in the 365 days of 2017. 😊

Happy new year!