“This Is The New Year” (almost)

I know it’s an overdone thought – to make resolutions by the 1st of the year. And while I do agree that resolution-making can happen any time, what I like most about my New Year’s resolutions, is that I can look back and see where my head was at this time last year. Let’s take a look at my 13 resolutions made on December 31, 2012:

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1.) Get accepted into a Child Life Masters Program

• [  ] Not only did I switch from Chid Life to Developmental Psychology, but as we all know, I ended up deferring my acceptance.

2.) Keep tabs on UCLA Happenings and attend more events – it’s my senior year!

• [~] While I did not really keep tabs, I did attend more events and ended my year with an event in Royce Hall.

3.) Have two more successful quarters for CEC and leave behind a positive legacy

• [X] It depends on what you define as “positive legacy”, but personally, I gave CEC my all and looking back, I’m proud of what I accomplished.

4.) Learn how to play “Stop This Train” on guitar

• [~] I took some steps towards this goal. I enrolled in guitar lessons and have learned a few songs including “Stay” by Rihanna.

5.) Take advantage of megabus’s $1 offer and take a semi-spontaneous trip to San Francisco

• [X] I did ride the Megabus, but to Vegas, not SF. It was definitely not spontaneous, not did it cost me a mere $1. More like that + 40 more smackaroos. And to be honest, it wasn’t as great as I was hoping it would be. (*Sidenote: But I DID take a spontaneous trip to Davis via the Amtrak and while it wasn’t cheap, it was an amazing trip with one of my best friends*)

6.) Take a trip to Las Vegas, post-21

• [X] Yessir and it was quite an experience.

7.) Exercise at least twice a week and slowly expand that to every day

• [~] This didn’t really kick in until the latter half of the year, but better late than never!

8.) Follow a healthier eating regimen – take multiple trips to Ralphs and be conscious of all foods

• [~] Still working on this, but I have definitely made changes in the houeshold. Now to get my mother to use brown rice instead of white.

9.) As always, go to at least one concert

• [X] Not only did I go to multiple concerts, but I attended the CONCERT of concerts – Coachella. Check and mate.

10.) Attempt to do better in school – whether this means, procrastinate less, prioritize/focus more, or simply, thrive in new setting

• [  ] I’m still working on this. Study smart, procrastinate less, concentration endurance – tips are welcome!

11.) Write consistently in this blog, every day, for the entire year

• [  ] Oh, I wrote this with the intention of having a separate 2013 blog that represented blogging for 365 days. But by Day 22 I realized that I didn’t have the time, nor that interesting of a life, to fulfill this.

12.) Finally close that “7-year” chapter and do what I need to do to move on.

• [X] Done and done.

13.) Never lose faith. Everything happens for a reason, so keep powering through.

• [X] Losing faith in life is like losing the will to live. With everything thrown at me this year, I think I’ve managed to say afloat, no?

6/13 done properly. 4/13 done so so. And 3 that were just not completed – but I wouldn’t count them as failures. 2013 will always be significant to me as this was the year I graduated UCLA and came out as a recipient of a Bachelor’s Degree.

This time last year, I was trying to rebuild an image that had been demolished by certain events. I wanted to keep moving forward despite all the signs telling me to slow down. This year, I’m hoping to discover myself  and really focus on my emotional, physical, and psychological well-being, while keeping in mind of my friends and family who have been with me through thick and thin. Here’s to hoping that 2014 not only brings me one step closer to an acceptance to medical school, but an awareness of who I am .

One key lesson for the year:

Value yourself. The more you ­elevate your self-worth, the more you will ­attract what you desire.

And with that I leave you with my 2014 resolutions and my sincere wishes for a wonderful new year. Cheers!

Au revoir, 2013.

Happy New Year,

A.

•  “This Is The New Year” – A Great Big World

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2013

Hello there!

Welcome to a resolution within itself. Committing to a project for a full year without procrastination and/or laziness interfering.  I’ve alway enjoyed those yearly challenges – whether they be the 365 day photo challenge on Facebook or a 365 tweets on Twitter – but it never crossed my mind twice to actually do one myself. Until now. However, I found it more comforting to blog for a year, because let’s face it, I can only truly get my thoughts out through writing. However, I know myself and I know that I won’t likely stick to a strict regimen of blogging daily. So let’s say “tending” to my blog as much as possible this year and releasing it to the public before the end of the year?

2012 was a year of extreme highs and lows. I began to write a quick recap, but then I realized that for the most part, if not all of what’s happened, I’ve accepted and moved on. So here’s to not dwelling in the past. Goals were seized, expectations were failed, some doors closed, leaving other doors open.

So here’s to the beginning of 2013 – a slightly unorthodox introduction than past years, but nevertheless, a year of hopes and dreams. And more so, a year of pursuit of these goals in order to make a better life for myself.

It’s not only me who sees this year as a larger step towards the bigger picture. I’ve seen countless astrology readings (both the Hindu and English versions), and although I take everything in with a grain of salt, all of them state the same thing. My career aspirations will further this year. Here’s a few quotes that I found meaningful from the great Y! Horoscopes:

You’ve been blessed to merge the needs of your soul with your career since 2012, and now you’re learning to use the power of smoke and mirrors to your advantage in the most powerful way. Your offering to the world is incredibly healing. People are mesmerized with what you have to offer and you can use the power of your imagination to captivate your chosen audience and target market. All of this leads to greater exposure and possibility. You know the stakes are too high to take the easy way out and throw away all that you’ve built. Just remember: where there is love, there is no effort.

I only hope that this is an approving nod towards all my work that I’ve done with infants thus far. Regardless, this is my year. I graduate from my undergraduate career this year. I move on to that next step this year. I’m not sure when or even if this blog will go public, but this time next year, hopefully, I’m further along than I am now.

Until then, thanks for reading and may 2013 be full of love, laughter, and many accomplishments.

A.

January 1, 2013

Happy New Year!

With the start of the new year – a year of endless possibilities – today, I have made a resolution to blog more regularly. And it is the first step of many that I plan to take in order to take care of myself and have a better me.

Making time for your inner world, spirituality and self-inquiry becomes a necessity rather than a luxury now. Carve out time to sleep, dream, write, draw, journal or whatever it is that your soul needs to thrive during such a busy and productive time.

Today was unlike any other 1st of the year that I’ve ever experienced. First off, I did not count down to 12:00 AM. Period. I was not with friends, nor with family. I went straight to bed, tried to will myself to sleep, though failing miserably, and eventually knocked out. I woke up this morning and did not watch the Rose Parade, nor go to the temple as planned, but instead, stayed in bed until a fight with my father had me dragging myself out of bed. You could say that my pride got the better of me. And you know what, you are 99% right. That 1% is my pride not owning up. Regardless, I could have dismissed all the negative thoughts running through my head yesterday night and instead, put on a face and celebrated. But maybe, deep down, I didn’t want to ring in 2013 on a lie. Especially when so much is riding on this year.

A quick recap of New Year’s Eve 2012 to explain my, slightly less than ecstatic, mood can be found here. Reflecting on the events, I recognize that yesterday, regardless of it been the last day of 2012, was a bad day. And that just spoiled my mood for today. But it’s alright. Life goes on and I’m sure I’ll find a way to make up what was supposed to be the best 1st of the year in upcoming years.

But in a way, today was a good day. And this could be due to a materialistic reason such as going back to Old Navy, finding a pair of gray pants in the right size that fit well as well as trading in my ugly green flannel for a nice blue one. However, I’d like to attribute today’s success to my courage in speaking to a friend about my  love life/dilemma that I’ve been strung up on for the past seven years. It felt good to finally tell someone and to have him respond with genuine concern and understanding. Although, I’m sure he sees me as a little crazier now, I think he really will respect my wishes and help me on my quest of moving on and finding true love out there. I won’t be as childish as I was in the past and have my resolutions revolve around ‘finding my love’, ‘getting my first kiss’, and ‘having a boyfriend’. All of that will come in due time. For now, I will simply relish in that fact that I’ve moved one step forward

After creating considerable difficulty and challenge in your romantic sector since late 2009, you’ve learned the hard way not to get involved with the wrong people. When you draw a sharp line, your partner will respect you. If they cannot accept your limits, they do not deserve you. This has become crystal clear for you now, Gemini. It’s as if a huge rock is being lifted from your romantic life and you’re finally clear about whether you want to commit or quit. 

I’m quitting. I’m going cold turkey. This is the end of seven years and by this time next year, I hope to made advances in the romantic department – whether physically or spiritually. Until then, I will say that today has been one of the more productive 1st’s of January.

Happy Tuesday,

A.