2024: 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 2024 in retrospect (and in random order):

Personal project/s I was able to cross off my list:

Furniture restoration & upcycling of wooden furniture.  I had my Dad's antique table restored and some wooden furniture stripped off their varnish to show their natural colors. Though the various pieces' natural colors vary and look mismatched 😅, I like them - for me, they all look better).  I also had chair upholstery replaced by solihiya.  The chairs are now low maintenance (no need for seat covers or to vacuum) and they are now more fit for the tropical weather.  

Home repairs and repainting.  A lot of repairs were put on hold due to the pandemic so it was about time to do a one time, big time repair work and repainting.  It was challenging because I wasn’t physically present on weekdays but I just had to trust and detach myself from getting stressed if there's work that falls below my expectations.  And there were - like wrong paint color (haha…) but again, it’s okay since it’s one of the trade-offs since I wasn’t physically present to oversee it.  Took 3 months but all worth it.  But still haven’t finished unpacking/organizing all the stuff we've set aside during the repair works.

New heathy habits I adopted:

Drink loose leaf tea.  Typical tea bags are sprayed with plastic on the outside so it doesn’t rip or some bags are made from nylon.  When submerged in hot water, it releases microplastics.   Alternatives:  Dry own your leaves for tea or boil fresh leaves.

Fresh herbs from the garden

Butterfly Pea

Bring your own non-plastic water bottle.  When plastic bottles are exposed to the sun/heat, micro plastics from the bottle could mix with the water. Since you can never be certain on the handling and storage of water and beverage bottles sold in commercial establishments (if they were exposed to the sun or heat when they got transported from factory to distributors to retailers), just bring water from home in your own non-plastic bottle.

Avoid using paper straws. They are lined with substances too so paper would hold up.  When hot beverage passes through, lining melts and it’s mixed with your drink.

Bring your own bottle when buying coffee or a drink.  Paper cups are usually lined with wax or substance and when a hot beverage is poured, lining melts and is mixed with your drink.  In case I don’t have a bottle with me and end up buying, I just opt for a cold beverage and don’t use straw.

For clothes, opt for 100% cotton or pure linen.  When we sweat, synthetic fibers like polyester, nylon, acrylic, etc. releases microplastics.  When you shop, just double check the fabric tag to be sure it’s 100% cotton or pure linen, and not blended.

Travels:  

It’s my first year to go out of the country post-pandemic, but only to nearby destinations - Bangkok, Taiwan and Vietnam. It was my first time to visit Da Nang and Hoi An and I super loved Hoi An (I like the old city, great food and great for shopping too - you can have clothes, shoes and bags custom-made in 24 hours).  Was able to go to Boracay too - still the best beach destination for me and hope I can visit every year.

Taipei

Hoi An, Vietnam

Da Nang, Vietnam

Boracay

Spiritual Life (most important of all):

I was able to buy some antique Bibles and started reading the Bible.  In this day and age where there’s a lot of deception and gray areas promoted even among those in authority, the more we need to read the Bible - it’s the only source of truth.  Even if you get disappointed with Church leaders, continue going to Church.  Just remember - we don’t go to Church because of the leaders, we go to Church for God.  

New prayer I added to my daily routine - St. Bridget's Prayer Honoring the Wounds of Jesus.   My 90+ year old neighbor sent me a prayer book on St. Bridget’s prayers  meant to honor Jesus’ wounds.  He asked me to pray it daily for at least 1 year.  He has been praying it daily for more than 5 years.  There’s a list of promises if you’re able to complete it for 1 year, but I haven’t really gone through what the promises are.   Just to give honor to Jesus for what He has done for us is a huge blessing and grace already.

That's about it for my 2024 highlights - my own metrics, my own definition of enjoyment and my own criteria of what's worth my time in the 365 days of 2024.

2023: My Year in Retrospect

Image by Myriams-Fotos from Pixabay

It's been a couple of years since I last blogged.  Sadly, I lost the person closest to my heart and a lot of my regular routines got disrupted as I adapted to the new reality. 🥲  It’s always sad to lose a loved one, but the gratitude for having had the chance to experience life with someone who has deeply touched our lives and shaped us should precede any sorrow.  Admittedly though, our sorrow is often due to selfish reasons since we miss their physical presence.  

But though they may not be physically present with us, they strongly remain in us and help serve as our moral compass.  They are like an additional layer in our conscience - they remind us of the right values every time we are faced with difficult choices to make.  Hopefully, we are able to do the right things (so they don’t turn in their grave).😅  

Anyway over the last year, I’ve started picking up the pieces and reshaping my routines, so here’s going back to my usual 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 2023 in retrospect (and in random order):

Image by StockSnap from Pixabay

Discerning Mindset.  Don’t believe everything you read online - regardless from whom the info comes from. Always do your own research (preferably checking out 2 sides of the coin), reflect if there’s any underlying motivation (e.g. is there a party who gets an unfair advantage), and assess if there’s something off about it (e.g. why are options being limited and pushed when there are other equally sound solutions). Question everything.  Think for yourself. And trust your instinct.  

Unlearning some Health principles.  After reading some books, online articles and online comments on various posts, here’s what I embraced:

• Good fat is healthy, the real culprits are sugar and seed oils. I still do eat some carbs when it cannot be avoided (e.g. when it is served or given) or when I just miss some carbs (like ramen! I am only human. Haha…). But at least, I am now more conscious of my carb consumption.  

• Intermittent fasting (IF).  If you know me (and I probably mentioned this a lot in old posts) - I don’t like to get hungry, that’s why Good Friday is my most dreaded day because it’s fasting day. Skipping a meal or getting hungry is really a sacrifice for me.  This is so embarrassing (especially to God) - like on Ash Wednesday or Good Friday, though I would fast the whole day, I usually wait at the strike of midnight to feast.  This somehow defeats the purpose of fasting because it’s just delayed gratification. 🙊 Anyway, when I was researching about IF, I read a lot of comments that when they removed carbs in their diet, they never experienced hunger pangs and they even had clarity of mind.  So I tried it - and guess what, it is true! I was super amazed. No growling sounds coming from my tummy too. So now, I rarely have breakfast unless it cannot be avoided (e.g. breakfast meetups because it’s much more enjoyable if you all eat).  For a 24-hour fast, I can do it too if I eat at least 400grams to 500 grams of meat! Haha.. 😅 Given that fasting is no longer a sacrifice for me, I had moved on to harder sacrifices.  Btw, fasting is mentioned about 77x in the Bible - in both the Old and New Testaments (though the word “fasting” has been removed in newer versions of the Bible). 

• When you’re sick, address the root cause e.g. high in blood sugar? Cut carb consumption.  Use logic to fix your body.  Don’t just blindly take medicines.  Find a doctor that would help you address the root cause - the goal should be to get you off medication. If your doctor reassures you that there’s no need to worry because there are meds you can take, it’s time to consider changing your doctor. 

• Going back to healing properties of God-given food. Though some medicines help relieve symptoms, the downside is there are always side effects too.  Medicines can treat the target disease, but it could also hit or disrupt another organ or part of the body (e.g. antibiotics disrupt gut health).  If we just properly take care of our body - it is self-healing.   I’ve bookmarked a lot of recipes but so far, one that I tried and is effective (when I had sore throat, cold and light fever) is a recipe for natural antibiotic.  Nothing to lose since ingredients are all natural foods (lemon juice, garlic, onions, jalapeno peppers, ginger, horseradish root, apple cider vinegar and honey - ferment it for 4 weeks). To check out the recipe, click here.   

New heathy habits I adopted.

• Enjoying morning sun  - at least 30 minutes a day☀️ (and I don’t put any sunblock lotion anymore)

Image by WOKANDAPIX from Pixabay

• Walking barefoot (on grass or sand) 🦶👣 - though I can only do this during the weekends outside the city since there are limitations to do it in city parks.  Lucky are those who have gardens or live by the beach or by the mountains.  You have easy access to the healing properties of grounding.

• Spend time more outdoors.☀️  When I work remotely and I don’t have virtual meetings, I try do it in cafes al fresco where I enjoy natural light and fresh air. When I am home in the province, I set up my WFH station in my mom’s garden and go barefoot.   

• No more fruit shakes as it can cause spike in blood sugar -  it’s always best to consume them as whole fruit from what I read. But there are still some fresh fruit juice I can still enjoy (that require a blender) - lemon juice, calamansi juice and fresh coconut juice. :)

• Walking daily in the park.  🌴🌳🌴🌳I actually have a treadmill which I got during the pandemic, but nothing beats walking in the park surrounded by beautiful big trees and plants, and oxygen-rich.

Getting out of my comfort zone.  

• 

  Image by 3888952 from Pixabay

  When I like something, let’s say a restaurant or dish, I tend to just keep on going there and ordering the same dish.  So something I did differently this year (inspired by a friend who dined in almost all the restaurants in our area), I explored new restaurants, and for the old restaurants I frequented, I ordered new dishes and guess what? I discovered new favorites!  

• I was so used to just walking to my office for more than a decade and only drove during weekends. Because of this and also due to sneaky traffic enforcers around the metro, I don’t like to drive outside the places I am familiar with.  But last year, I started to drive to unfamiliar places since I had to go to some wakes and thankfully, I survived (prayed non-stop too in the car! Haha…). So now, I explore different routes and try to remember them so I don’t get too dependent on Waze.  Pre-GPS, hats off to drivers around the metro - they knew how to get around including the side streets. Amazing brainpower.  Which makes us realize - technology, though very convenient, has made our brains weaker.     

Travels.  I haven’t traveled overseas yet since the pandemic. But slowly, last year, I opened myself to local trips.  Went to Boracay and Davao with friends.  It’s been more than 3 years  that I haven’t been to one I realized how I missed the beach.   I’ve always enjoyed and feel energized when I am in the beach - even just walking along the shore, or sitting on the sand and enjoying the sea breeze.

Musicals. It’s my first time to go back to watching musicals too since the pandemic.  I was able to catch Tick, Tick, Boom, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Bawat Bonggang Buhay and Hamilton.
  
My new repertoire of prayers.  The Holy Rosary, then prayer for the poor souls, and several Memorares for all the people and petitions I promised to pray and for those who have pressing needs but don’t have anyone to help them pray.  The Memorare, when said 9 times straight, is also considered an expedited novena. 🙏

That's about it for my 2023 highlights - my own metrics, my own definition of enjoyment and my own criteria of what's worth my time in the 365 days of 2023.

Happy new year!

2020: 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 2020 in retrospect (and in random order):

• The year that changed the world

Source

2020 was a year like no other.  It was like a plot taken from a sci-fi movie.

One day, I just remember hearing the news about a mysterious virus called covid19 originating from a remote province called Wuhan in China. But like some people, I thought that the virus was too distant to reach to where we were.  The next thing I knew, there were rising cases and deaths all over the world (including in our area) and a global pandemic was declared. Everything changed after that.

Until now, things aren't back to normal yet and we don't know if life would still ever go back to exactly how it used to be. It's deeply saddening, but early on, I knew that the only way to get through this is to just embrace it and not resist (or we'll end up paralyzed, frustrated or depressed).  That's how I managed to cope. I didn't focus on things we lost or can no longer do, but on new things we can do given all the restrictions and limitations.  

And like many others, this year taught us many life lessons and helped us intensify values like compassion, empathy, generosity, resilience and contentment. 

• Something I did out of my comfort zone early in the year (pre-covid) 

Source

For the first time in a long time, I opened myself to new career opportunities. If you've been working in the same environment for a long time, you know this isn't easy. Adjusting to a new work environment and getting to know new colleagues require a lot of adjustment - that's why most people just stay where they are and that's also why I have been putting this off for a couple of years even if I had been getting nudges and  instinctive feelings about it.  Secondly, it's also quite a challenge to find an opportunity that you really like (or find any opportunity at all - and which becomes more difficult as you grow older).  The search could sometimes take months, or even years.  But I was lucky to find something I liked (and got offered) in less than a month, and so I made the big decision to move.  

On the week I started in my new job, guess what?  Quarantine was suddenly implemented.  Impeccable timing.  But good thing, I can do my work remotely so everything still went out smoothly.   

In hindsight, the timing of my career move could not have been more perfect. Had I dribbled my decision to be open to opportunities and continued to ignore my instinct - even just one week later - my plan could have been derailed for a long time given the pandemic.  

• My best (impulse) purchase

During the quarantine, to keep myself fit, I re-arranged my furniture and transformed my small space  into a walking trail with loops. As they say, if there's a will, there's a way. No quarantine can limit one's creativity and willpower if you want to make something happen.  And that's how I kept myself physically fit for several months because, otherwise, my daily steps would only total a measly 100 if I solely relied on going around my tiny space to eat, work, go to the toilet and sleep. 😅    

Source

Anyway, one time while on a video call with friends, I noticed one of them was walking (like on a treadmill).  I knew that friend was also staying in a condo so I asked her if she was indeed walking on a treadmill and she said yes.  Then, she went on to rave and demonstrate the foldable treadmill she recently bought and showed us how she can easily carry it and stow it away in one corner after use. It looked super light and easy! So I ended up ordering one.

On the day of the delivery, when I saw the box, it was huge! It didn't look like something I could carry on my own so someone helped me bring it to my unit.    

When I was finally alone with the box inside my unit, I tried to lift it but I could only partially lift it. 😨 Yes, it was the same treadmill model as my friend's but how come I can't lift it? Then, I suddenly realized - my friend is a CrossFit junkie!  She could easily lift barbels.  While my dumb bells only weigh 3 lbs each. Waaa... 

I had to carefully think through how to set up the treadmill with minimal lifting.  And I had to re-arrange my space because the moment I set it up, the treadmill would become a permanent fixture because I won't be able to stow it away or move it anymore - on my own. 😂  

The foldable treadmill (though it's foldability is useless to me🙊) was my best purchase for the year (the other was a pair of noise-cancelling headphones for work).  But assuming I didn't have a budget to buy a treadmill nor space for it, I would not have minded continuing with my make-shift walking trail with loops.  

• Total Audiobooks I finished - 28

The books I most enjoyed are the following:

• Jesus by James Martin SJ 
• Shoe Dog by Phil Knight
• Stillness is the Key by Ryan Holiday 
• The Man on the Mountaintop by Susan Trott 
• Option B by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant 
• David and Goliath by Malcolm Gladwell

• Personal goals

Despite the pandemic, I was still able to accomplish 2 personal goals. I actually thought I could do more, but 2020 was a busier year for me (which also explains why I haven't been able to blog). Busier, but ever more grateful. 🙏 

*****

2020 was a unique, enlightening, and overall, a difficult year.  But with hardship, things could only get better in 2021.  

To loved ones and friends we lost in 2020, we will always remember you and include you in our prayers. To innocent victims and the unsung heroes of 2020, we salute you and also include you in our prayers. 🙏

2019: 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 2019 in retrospect (and in random order):

New things I tried:

• I tried working remotely for 2 months and it was a good experience.  I fixed my sked so I could swim in the morning (before starting work) or during lunch break.  Then after I finish working in the afternoon, I would walk in the park and I would still able to catch the sunset and do other activities.😎Plus, I enjoyed hot meals at home or in nearby cafes.  Oops, I make the experience sound like I was a hermit but it wasn't the case. I was still interacting with my colleagues online during regular work hours, had telecons and physically attended important meetings during the period. I know working remotely isn't for everyone but it equally works for me.  As long as there's a desk, chair and good internet connection, I could work anywhere and forget about time. 

Not only was I able to enjoy the beautiful sunset in the neighborhood but also had the time to stop and smell the roses and watch the fishes in the pond. 💚 Sometimes, you really need to take a step back and see old places and things with fresh eyes.

• I had my place (including all cabinets and doors) repainted to all white.  For years, I was hesitant to do it coz it might be hard to maintain a light color but a monotonous light color makes a small place look spacious. I should have done it earlier. 😜
• Like most people, I tend to visit museums and points of interest when traveling, but ironically, we never explore the ones closest to us. 🙈 We all should and you might be surprised with what you'll see and learn.  What was I able to visit?  The National Museum of Anthropology, the San Agustin Church Museum (I think the first and last time I visited this was during a field trip in high school!😅), Casa Manila Museum and around Intramuros via Bambike Tour.  It was a great experience as I re-learned some historical facts (sadly, my mind automatically purged everything after I passed Araling Panlipunan).🙊😅  Sharing with you some highlights as I was not able to do blogposts on these -

San Agustin Church

The San Agustin Church was completed in 1607 which makes it more than 400 years old.  It's the oldest stone church in the Philippines and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage site.  Other interesting facts - (1) In 1863 when a strong earthquake hit Manila, it was the only public building left undamaged by the quake; (2) During the Japanese occupation, the church was used as a concentration camp by the Japanese; and (3) It is the only 1 among 7 churches in Intramuros that survived the WW2 bombings in 1945.

Inside the San Agustin Church

Do you know why the hallways of San Augustin Church are high and wide?  Apparently, during earlier times, when there is a scheduled procession and it suddenly rains, they held the procession of carosas inside these hallways.  

Spacious hallways where processions were once held

A tassel made from real gold thread 😲

Miguel Lopez De Legazpi's tomb. Legazpi was the first Governor-General of the
Spanish East Indies which included the Philippines.

There's a hall inside the San Agustin monastery which used to be where Augustinian friars prayed for departed souls.  During the Japanese occupation, the same hall was used as prison and execution grounds.  Today, it is now a crypt where some prominent people like national artist, Juan Luna, are buried.

Juan Luna's tomb

There are newly-opened sections in the crypt and according to the tour guide, you can lease a tomb space there.  It's in the 6 digits' figure for xx years' lease (forgot the specific figures shared by the tour guide) so if you want to be buried alongside national artists and other prominent people, you may want to inquire about the tomb lease arrangements in this historical place. 😉

The crypt inside the San Agustin Museum

Ever wondered how Augustinian friars made decisions?  It was via votes using beans.  For any question they need to decide on, each friar would put a white bean or brown bean in this small wooden box.  If majority of the beans are white, then the question is approved.  If majority of the beans are brown, then the question is denied.

The friars' voting mechanism

Bambike - a bike made from bamboo.
Bambike Tours go around Intramuros.

While in Intramuros, another museum worth checking out is the Casa Manila. 

Antique flat irons

See the antique flat irons above?  You put hot charcoals to keep the metal warm.   But why the varying sizes?  Coz it depends on what item you are pressing.  The smallest is to press handkerchiefs, the medium ones are for clothes and the big one for bedsheets.

The most fascinating trivia for me while at Casa Manila was surrounding this antique fridge.

Antique refrigerator

Since we have the tendency to take things we have at the present time for granted, it never occurred to me (until I saw this antique fridge) that in the earlier times when there was still no electricity in the Philippines, ice was imported from overseas. 😱 Imagine blocks of ice being transported via Galleons from across the globe and partly melted by the time they reached our islands.  And one of the signs of the truly rich at that time is if you have ice in your home (coz it means you are able to afford imported ice). 

This made me realize that the everyday and basic things we enjoy today were once upon a time luxuries and limited commodities.  And just thinking about that gives us an overwhelming sense of appreciation for everything - no matter how ordinary and basic an object or resource seems to be in the present time. 💛  

• I love to read books but since my eyes are in front of the computer most of the day, I decided to shift to audiobooks to give my eyes some break in the evening. It's also a great way to improve my listening skills plus it would allow me to multitask as I could listen while washing the dishes or folding clothes.  What were the results? My book consumption more than doubled!  From 10 to 15 books in a year, you know how many I finished listening to in 2019?  31 books! 🙌 I am loving Audible. 💙 

Here are the top books I most enjoyed listening to in 2019:

Musicals I watched in 2019:

Among all of them, Beautiful: The Carole King Musical was a great surprise for me.  I didn't have plans to watch it nor had any idea what it was about but a friend invited me to watch it and I loved it.  It's packed with life lessons and beautiful music we're familiar with but it was only during the show when I learned that those familiar songs were composed and/or sung by Carole King.  (Sorry, I am really bad at songs and singers. I listen to music but I don't know the titles, lyrics or singers.🙈)

Trips I took in 2019 -

Coron 

Siargao

Amanpulo

Singapore

US - (L-R) Kennedy Space Ctr,
Epcot, Grand Canyon and Las Vegas

In my trip to the US, I was able to visit 3 new states (Florida, Nevada, Arizona). This brings my visited states to 11 (North Dakota, Minnesota, Illinois, California, New Jersey, New York, Rhode Island, Hawaii, Florida, Nevada, Arizona).  Not that I have plans to visit all states but just taking note for posterity when I am too old to remember what I saw in my lifetime. 😅

Important realizations -

Stress can cause and make your body manifest real symptoms. I had a health scare middle of the year but when I underwent medical tests, all the results were clear.   The moment I was able to identify the cause of my stress and dealt with it, all the symptoms disappeared and never recurred.  Whew.

For personal goals, I realized that it's better to focus on 1 or 2 goals that you would commit to really work on during your free time versus having a lot of plans but end up not accomplishing anything.  What matters is not the quantity of personal plans you declare to others that you'll do.  What matters more is what you don't tell others but you just simply do them and see through that they happen.😉 So yes, I was able to accomplish the 2 personal goals I've set for 2019 but still needs improvement this year. 😅

2019 was overall a challenging year but that only means things can get only better. 🙏

That's about it for my 2019 highlights - my own metrics, my own definition of enjoyment and my own criteria of what's worth my time in the 365 days of 2019. 😊

Happy new year!