what was my love/hate relationship with 2015

Social media is a lie. Probably one of 2015's hottest topics.

I personally had no take on it. For me, it didn't carry enough weight to be discussed at length. Social media is what you make it and your success (or number of likes) is more a reflection of other people's opinions of your life than your own.

I'm not saying I don't appreciate the likes I get (oh yes, I do, a big part of my livelihood relies on that so please keep on liking, thank you! :P), I'm just saying that what garners the most hits doesn't always best represent real life and the hits and misses that go along with it (especially if you like to keep your personal life private, like me).

Here's my "Best 9 on Instagram"

It doesn't remotely tell you the real story of my tumultuous 2015....

ps. it's kinda long but I hope you'll read 'til the end, that's where the best parts are :P



HOW DO YOU MEASURE SUCCESS?

If based on paper and print, 2015 was probably one of my best years career-wise...

I had several features in local magazines, my home makeover even made the cover of Real Living magazine which gave birth to my career as a non-licensed interior designer.

I even got featured in an international paper abroad:



That's me in the pages of the Borneo Bulletin:



OH THE PLACES YOU'LL GO...

My job even allowed me to visit places I used to only dream of...

It gave me the opportunity to cross things off my bucket list...

 

It gave me the gift of realizing how good it feels to get out of your comfort zone once in awhile and try things you wouldn't normally do.

How to appreciate life, the goodness of everything and everyone around me. 

How fleeting life really is and how to slow down and #livethelittlethings.

#ADULTING

2015 was also the year I decided to branch out and tap into my entrepreneurial skills with Beach Born (which is thankfully doing better than I expected.)

We sold out in a day at BeautyMNL.com! (I still get excited each time I recall that day :P)

Looking back at all that's happened, yes, indeed, I have a lot to be thankful for. I can't deny how good 2015 has been for me...

As is my life and who I am, nothing goes to plan.

I initially began writing this post to tell you guys about all the personal struggles I went through last year but after listing down all the good, it doesn't seem important anymore.

I could tell you about how I almost lost my family, permanently shifted careers, risked living a whole new different life somewhere abroad (I didn't know where yet).

I could share my sob stories with you and tell you how I overcame it all along with some tips thrown in here and there. But no.

I think the internet is already far too littered with articles that tell you how you need to live your life.

And I think it's all bullshit. Reading those things always make me feel like a fuck-up when I'm not.

Although all our problems may seem alike on the surface, I believe that none are entirely the same.
The process of going through a break-up or any other personal crisis is unique for every individual. Our thought processes, the people involved, our emotional strength, etc are all distinct.

So no single (or 100s) of articles on relationships, business and life can solve whatever it is we're going through. Only we can.

And I guess that's the best advice I can give you and the greatest lesson I learned in 2015...

It's all you. Your life is in your hands, whatever happens depends on the decisions you make and nobody else. The choice to end or save a relationship, start a new business, shift careers, go to different places, anything and everything is possible.

Where you end up is where you want to be. That is why it is extra important to focus on the positive and attract only the good.

But "Where you want to be" doesn't always translate to greener pastures. Our minds are tricky bastards. There is a drama queen (or sadness) in all of us that wants and needs to be experienced and expressed. Just like in the movie, it's fine, give her time. Sometimes we need to hit rock bottom to be able to appreciate what we have. To see and appreciate all our blessings in a new light. To realize how good we have it and how much worse it can get.

"The sweet ain't sweet without the bitter"
-Vanilla Sky

With that being said, I can honestly say that 2015 was one of the best years of my life.

I have nothing but love and gratitude for all the people who helped make this personal journey an unforgettable one.

You may find it hard to believe but I learned something from every single one of you no matter how long or fleeting the times we spent together were and I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

You taught me without even realizing it.
Us meeting has turned me into a better person.

Thank you.



Thank you.



Thank You.



Thank you.



Thank you.



Thank you.



Thank you.



Thank you.



Thank you.



Each place/province/country I visited,
all the new friends I made from different backgrounds and nationalities,
all the new religions I discovered...

I came out of it all different, Better.

You are all my brothers and sisters. Knowing you has made the world a smaller, happier and more friendly place for me.

Thanks for all the strength you gave me.

In closing, I'd like to make a toast and I think it's apt to borrow the words of a dear friend...

This 2016...

I wish that all "Our hearts be light and our pockets heavy!"