2019 Resolutions

I took my time to think about what I wanted for myself in 2019. In 2018, I forwent making resolutions and focused more on intentions instead. It helped me shape what I wanted for 2019 and clear the way to a more positive future for me. Writing them here and sharing my thoughts with you is something I’ve always enjoyed and I endeavour to continue that.

Work and General Direction

I’ve mentioned a couple of times that I would like to take a year off to do nothing. Unfortunately, I still don’t feel that 2019 is that year for me just yet. Work is always going to be an essential aspect for me this year, but I’m going to be a little more selective with projects. It’s vital for me to focus on the ones that pique my interest and passion than to fill up my daily schedules. I hope that in 2020 I’ll be able to transit into a bona fide sabbatical year where I can spend it pursuing new directions and honing my passions.

Travel

2019 is still going to be a year of travel. The wanderlust aspect of me hasn’t changed since I was a teen. The world holds much fascination and a lifetime is too short to uncover all the mystery and wisdom it contains. This year, I do hope to be able to write and share more of the action with you. In the last couple of years, I’ve travelled without sharing as much as I would like to on my platforms because I was busy catching up to my schedule. Sharing the experiences through words or even just photos is a good way for me to consolidate my feelings and process the knowledge I’ve acquired and I want to do more of that.

Between Continents

For business and personal reasons, 2019 is the year that I will be setting up a second home in Australia. This plan has been in the works for the longest time but the inertia to make the first move has been overwhelming. I love Singapore so much, and the convenience of everything in Singapore is deeply appreciated. While I’m not ready to make a full transition over, I will be shuttling between Singapore and Australia very frequently. Those of you following my IG stories on @renzze might have already got an inkling of it.

Health and Wellness

Health and fitness are on almost everyone’s new year resolution. I haven’t had this on my resolution for a few years now. Not because I don’t believe it’s important but because I knew I was bound for failure given the number of things I had on my plate. A lot of my schedule in the last couple of years were forced by circumstances and not by choice. I’m finally able to regain control of my commitments again, so I’m not spread too thin. My health and fitness goals are to stay active. I’m not going to make sweeping statements like no more carbohydrates or gain to 10kg of muscles. I know myself, I have a huge weakness or a great appreciation (depending on how you see it) for comfort and good food. Happiness is the most important goal for me, so I don’t want to stop having the little things that make me happy just to have washboard abs. However, I will attempt on small changes. To stay more active and to cut down on snacking at all times of the day. I can be an emotional eater (eating makes me happier), but overeating is never healthy. I hope to be able to cook more and be more aware of what I’m consuming.

Cutting down

If you have Netflix, you will probably understand why Marie Kondo is all the rage right now. I’m not a neat person by any standards, and I’m not sure if I can ever reach Marie Kondo level of neatness. Nevertheless, I do see the appeal of only keeping things that “spark joy”. Reducing clutter and keeping my hoarding instincts in check will be one of my side goals this year.

Loving Our Planet

I’m also trying to do my part in being kinder to the environment. I used to be much better at eco-friendly practices, but I got lazy and chose convenience. In the past few months, I started to bring my eco-bags to the store, use more reusable containers instead of disposable ones, and reduce waste. Nothing too extreme but I think it’s the easy switches that make it sustainable. Surprisingly, I found it pretty easy to adapt. In time, maybe I’ll progress to those that require more effort.

Relationships

I will be spending more time with friends and family. Shuttling between continents is going to take a toll on relationships. With years of keeping friendships despite the distances, I believe it is possible to still stay close relations with my family and friends by being for them in any way I can (even if it’s only by text or voice calls).

Wisdom

The last intention I hope to set is learning to know when to let go and when to hold on. Since I was young, I’ve placed a significant emphasis on my relationships with people. I don’t have a big inner circle. Being introverted means, I hold few people close to my heart and will do anything for them. In the last five years, I’ve had a couple of let downs with people and unwittingly let myself build a wall so I won’t get hurt emotionally. I’ve seen myself change in the last decade. The Karen of yesteryears will hold on to the belief of the kindness in people no matter the situation. But in the last few years, I became the person who will be first to let go and hide in my comfort zone the moment I’m uncertain. This enormous extremity in the reaction is probably governed by the unprecedented number of disappointments I’ve encountered in the last number of years. What I’ve come to realise though, is that humans are complicated creatures. The good comes with the bad, and I want to acquire the wisdom to discern the right fit that is worth my unconditional loyalty and love even if it means taking risks to trust and be vulnerable.

Gratitude

I’m grateful for my family and friends in my life right now, and I want to accumulate many more beautiful years of memories with you all. Thank you for always being there for me.

Also, thank you for coming here and reading my thoughts after all these years.