It is December 31, and just like that, year 2018 is about to end. It passed by so fast that I wondered in daze of all the thing that happened for the past 12 months. In terms of blogging, regretfully, this year has been a struggle. I was surprised to realize that I only posted one entry for the entire year. I guess it was the result of some of my personal struggles and choices on the types of entry that I intend to post. But I am hoping that by next year, i will get post more and get my bearings back.
So, for now, allow to me take a look back on how my 2018 went.
Health and Wellness
One thing that I am most thankful for this year is my sons’ good health. In 2017 we were shaken by a strong dengue strain that hit Heinel, then later, Hendrix. Precautions had to be taken and i’m glad that it all worked out as both of them are doing well.
Heinel continued on with his basketball clinic on weekends during school months, and weekdays during the summer. Aside from getting that regular physical activities and exercise, he also developed friendship with his teammates. The boys are of different ages and schools so it is good that he gets to mingle with them.
Hendrix also started taking speech lessons middle of the year. It is a major milestone for him and I am hoping we get to yield good results from it.
As I had a major health concern last year, I realized that i need to take my health seriously, and thus I decided to enroll to a personal training session at a gym. Months after, I already saw results. It feels great to be working out with a guidance by a professional.
It is not only me who took a step notch in terms of fitness but Daddy S as well. It was actually him who inspired me to get serious about working out. I realized that if he, who works full time and has a busy schedule, can squeeze in time to get to the gym, I can do it too since my schedule is not as jam packed as his! I am glad that as a couple, we are in tune with each other in terms of our fitness goals.
Career
It has been 3-years since I resigned as a full time employee to give more time to my children, and I am thankful for the opportunity given to me to still share my skills on a different setup. My work goal has always been to give my best in all that I do, and it still applies as I am a consultant. My mindset is that anytime my contract can end. And i guess that gives me the boost to (try) always give my best in every project given to me as if it were the last. I know that eventually that day will come though. But until then, I will aspire to deliver what is expected of me, and maybe even more.
Travel Adventures
Two travel adventures marked our 2018.
In May, we had our yearly trip to Pangasinan as our devotion to Our Lady of Manaoag for Hendrix. Then later we headed to San Juan, La Union for a 3 days, 2 nights vacation at the beach with the family.
Our annual road trip is something that we always look forward to. We are happy to discover places, relax and watch the kids have fun in the sun. Heinel, Sari and Hendrix are such troopers on long drives!
A highlight of my 2018 is this year’s trip to South Korea.
Going on an out of the country trip without my boys is quite unnerving at first. I can not help but feel anxious and guilty. I am blessed to have such supportive husband and in-laws who encouraged me to take the trip and take care of the kids while I am away for 6 days.
Korea is beautiful. Since it was autumn, the colors everywhere are vibrant and breathtaking. The cold made the trip more exciting (hahaha). My friend Jaja has been amazing all throughout the trip and it made everything more memorable.
Life Lessons
There were also challenges that each of us had to overcome. For every obstacle, I take it as a learning experience. For 2018, my greatest lessons are on parenting and friendship.
As kids grow, I realized that we had to adapt to the stage of growth that they are in. Things may become more complex, as there are more factors to consider, even I get confused at times. But i realized that when the going gets tough, all i need to get my bearings back is to close my eyes, pray, and remind myself of what my purpose of being a parent is, and that is for them to be God-fearing, responsible, kind and good kids who will eventually be citizens of this world.
As for friendships, I had my share of heartbreaks and disappointments. But I learned that over time, as we grow old, the course of our relationship also changes. There are friendship that eventually fall out, while new ones develop. There are also ones that gets renewed, and sadly, there are those that will never be as close as before. It is a natural course of life. And you know what i also learned? That lasting and deep friendships are the ones I do not need to fight for tooth and nail just to survive. Once i accepted these realities, friendships became easier and less emotionally burdensome. Whatever the outcome is, I am just always thankful that these friendships happen and became part of my life.
Definitely 2018 has been a great ride. As this year comes to a close, I am thankful for the blessings that came our way. 2019 is promising and I am excited for what is in store for us!
As I end this post, I pray that each one of us will take the memorable and learning experiences from 2018 and leave the negative ones behind. From our family to yours, Happy New Year everyone!