Que Sera Sera, what ever will be, will be.

2012 Achievements:

1. Became a qualified beauty therapist.

As I have mentioned before, I did a Diploma of Beauty Therapy. I finished the course in August after a year and 2 months of ripping hair off people's vajayjay, armpits, legs, face, cleaning their faces, fingers and feet, and stroking their full body... no not in a sexual way. Its funny how as someone who has never stepped into a beauty salon or gotten a massage in her entire life, decided to pick up the course. Gotta say it's interesting and I didn't regret a single bit of it :)

2. Became a permanent resident.

And it happened on Valentine's Day! The timing just couldn't get anymore perfect. After years of planning, it finally happened. Nothing much changed, but it certainly opened a lot of doors for future planning.  

3.  We've hit one decade.

It's scary but amazing too how quickly time passes by. Looking back, who would have thought we would be here in a suburb in Melbourne, sitting next to each other in our little cosy apartment, relaxing after a hearty home-cooked dinner we whipped up together?

4. I am employed.

Yes, finally, as a beauty therapist. The search was frustrating and disheartening at times, but I'm glad it came to an end when my employment was confirmed. Really, seeking for a job is all about luck. You need the skills too, but probably only 30%, the rest is all luck. I'm sorry if it comes of as discouraging but that's just life. It's been only 2 months and I'm still in a probationary period though. I shall elaborate on it once I'm out of the period.

5. Goals

Out of 8 goals/resolution I've set last year, I'm super happy to report that I've achieved 7 out of them! I couldn't even remember all these goals I've set for myself until I looked back at my blog archives. Things tend to happen when you're not stressing over them don't they?

I've learned:

1. To have self control and save money.

Coming here and leaving all the convenience I had in Malaysia has definitely made me so much more disciplined when it comes to money. I'm not the best at it, like I don't think I can be a stingy arse or only shop in thrift stores or only buy reduced price groceries, but I'm so much more disciplined now. I go to Asos.com, I see so many things I like and saved them in my cart, at the end of the day I don't buy them because I know I don't need them. I call it window shopping at home, haha. Besides, I don't have the space to buy so many stuff anyway.

2. The art of selling.

Being a music teacher in the past, I have never had to sell a single item until I started helping out at my dad's shop. We do framing and glass work services and we sell paintings. I hated doing sales, SO. FREAKING. MUCH. And I stink at it. I hate it when I have to pretend to know the stuff and promote the product, or when people ask for discounts (MAJOR HATE, damn hagglers) or free delivery etc. Being a beauty therapist, we're required to retail the products. Its slightly different because with beauty, I know what I'm talking about and I know what to recommend, and you can't bargain for these sort of products (YES!). And when they actually buy something, oh gosh that sense of reward is priceless. Slowly but surely, I'm getting there.  

3. That hard work pays off.

It's true and it applies in every single situation. I know I said looking for a job is all about luck, but without the effort to actually look for it, you'd end up with nothing anyway. When I was studying, eventhough it was only a diploma, I did and gave my best in everything. And I dare say that's exactly how I landed myself in this job. If I had not been serious in it, I wouldn't have gotten good testimonials from my instructors, I wouldn't have gotten recommendation from a friend who's working there.

4. That being a beauty therapist is not easy!

Honestly I've never thought that being a beauty therapist involves so much of knowledge as well as stamina. I don't know about Malaysia, but when I'm working an 8 hour shift, it's 7.25 hours of standing (unless it's a facial or mani/pedi), 45 minutes are all you get for break where you can sit down, eat and think about nothing. That being said, I'm not complaining as I prefer this over sitting by a desk for 8 hours for the rest of my life. Being in the industry myself has definitely changed my thoughts and views on beauty therapists.

5. To let go.

As much as I would love to continue living in the world of music, I know that I'm not young, I need to pay bills, I need a retirement fund, and I need to secure my future. And I don't see all of this happening if I were to teach music or do anything related to music (with my fading experience). It's funny how having learned and taught music all my life couldn't even get me a job but a little diploma course has managed to get me a job that gave me the capability of paying bills and supporting myself. In the past I've told myself and everyone else "music is my passion, I will do it in the future". Pfffft. How silly. Nobody knows the future. I'm letting the thought of doing music go for now, but the experience will always be a part of me that I'm proud of. Que sera sera, what ever will be will be, the future's not ours to see.

This year I shall:

1. Be positive.

So many times I've allowed myself to dwell in so much of negativity whether it's at school, searching for a job, or at work. Fortunately I have someone who's always there to pull me out of it and inject as much positivity into me as he can, and continuously reminds me of all the positive things that exist along with the negative.

2. Save more money.
Because everything is about money when you get older.

3. Buy a piano.

Eventhough I stopped learning to play the piano many many years ago, I still find myself going back to it and just casually playing some pieces. It's really therapeutic (if you don't play the virtuosic ones of course) and relaxing, something I tend to do when I feel stressed. I've never realised how important is its presence until I moved to Melbourne, leaving my good old companion behind back in Malaysia. I really do miss getting my fingers dancing on the keys of a piano.

4. Stay healthy.

Exercise, eat healthy, and get a health cover. Because nobody gets healthier as they get older.

5. BLOG MORE.
I really do miss the feeling of being able to type on and on about a simple day I've gone through, or a funny encounter, or just any kind of random events. Sad to say I'm slowly losing that ability. Probably because as you get older you just tend to not give a shit? Haha. I like how I have all these stories or thoughts saved in my archive and whenever I feel like I want to relive or remember what happened, I can just look back into my archives. I really want to be able to write like there's no tomorrow again.

***

Ooh I managed to do everything in 5... what a coincidence. No... totally planned it. Anyway, anyone's still reading this lousy blog? Haha. Share with me your resolution/goal/whatever. Would love to know what people like to say they'll do but never end up doing LOL. No just kidding. Have an awesome 2013.

Twenty Eleven Reflection

Achievements:

1. Embarked on a new journey

I'm talking about moving over to Melbourne. Not sure if it's necessary to call this an achievement. At least I know I've escaped from doing things I'm not happy about and I decided to give my life a change for the price of familiarity.

Thank you all who came for the gatherings/to send me off ♡ That includes you too Cathy Moo! You must be hiding behind someone in one of those pictures hahaha.

2. Ended long distance relationship

This would most probably be one of the best things achieved this year. It may not seem like a huge accomplishment to others but for Wk and I, we've never been happier.

3. 9 years

On Christmas this year, it's been 9 and half years since we started dating. Gosh... we're so old! :P Hitting the decade omg. I'm so grateful to have met someone I can proudly say I can spend the rest of my life with. Someone who helped and will still help me grow (mentally, not sideways wtf...) and be better, someone who will always be there for me in any situation :)

4. Dyed my hair red

It's one of the 'must do before I die' which I can now happily tick off!

5. Distinctions

3 of my former violin students achieved Distinction in their violin exams! Well technically the credit goes to their new teacher but as their former teacher, I should be proud of them!

6. Topped Scores in Vege Samurai and Fruit Ninja!

I've never been able to top Wk's score in anything because well, he's a gamer and I'm not so it's only normal that he's better with games. But not these 2 apparently :P

I do realise that all these are actually not that substantial at all to be called achievements :P This post is not meant to be super serious anyway. So what if I haven't really achieved anything great? Life's too short to be whining over achievements.

I've learned to:

1. Cook better

I started being active in the kitchen when I was 15, it was more of a hobby thing but as the years passed, I got lazy and the skills just got rusty. Coming here, I don't have my grandma to cook for me anymore. Eating out is just too expensive. And I'm picky with food in terms of taste so in order to keep up to my standards, I'll have to cook and just learn to cook better. It gives a great sense of satisfaction once you hit the right taste and knowing you cooked it from scratch. 

2. Appreciate food

When I was home, I used to not eat whenever I think my grandma's cooking is not tasty and I would choose to eat out even when the food's prepared. I feel so terrible for being such an ungrateful grandaughter :( Having cooked for the past few months myself, I learned to appreciate how valuable everything is not just the food, but the effort to have something served up during dinner.

3. Eat healthy

It probably has to do with being the one cooking. I cook almost everyday that over time, I become more and more conscious about the things I put in my body. But I'm not a hardcore healthy eater. I'm just more aware and I would not find it time wasting to google on information about nutrition of specific foods. Afterall, you are what you eat. That being said, I still eat junk. In moderation of course.

4. Swim

I've always been afraid of water, never known how to swim and always wanted to learn. Fortunately, Wk used to swim when he was a kid and he is a confident swimmer. We go to a community centre 5 minutes walk away from our place to swim every 1-3 weeks depending on our schedule and so far, I'm able to do breaststroke and a little bit of freestyle already! 

5. Have self discipline in spending

Don't think there's much to say about this as I constantly mention how things are so expensive here in Melbourne. I used to be so frivolous in spending only because I've never had any serious commitments hahahah. Coming here, there's rent, there's monthly transportation fares, groceries, household, there's the money you need to save up for rainy days, there's bills... of course, there's that irresistable occasional shopping or eating out but I've learned to be more aware of what I actually need, what I only desire and NOT need, and to watch my expenditure closely. Speaking of eating out...

A collage of most of the food I've tired this year. Seems like a lot but most of it are from one same place. Told ya everything's expensive. If I were to eat out so often... pokai man.

6. Listen to Kpop

and swoon over cute Korean boys lol.

7. Keep in touch

... with my favourite people back in Malaysia. You know who you guys are :)

 

8. Be vain (as always), capture funny moments and have fun :D

Lol I was trying to depuff my eyes by pressing cold spoon on it.

You never regret the things you do but often, the things you didn't. There are so many things I wish I would have done or done better but I think there's no use living in regret. For the new year, I shall:

1. Get. A. Freaking. Job!
I have no excuse for this honestly. I procrastinate and I'm terribly good at it. Yes I am studying and I am aware that it is not an excuse at all because there's plenty of time for a part time job. Need. To. Get. Resume. Done!

2. Still keep in touch
... with my favourite people of course :)

3. Go home...
... during the holidays hopefully?

4. If I ever get to go home
I will eat and finish my grandma's cooking and never ever say no, I will help her cook, and I will cook for her. I miss my grandma so much :'(

5. Decide
Life has been full of uncertainties ever since I came here. First, it was visa issues. Now... something I don't wish to talk about so publicly. This year, I shall decide.

6. Still have self discipline in spending!
Definitely a must!

7. Blog more!
While looking through my archives, I realise in year 2009 and 2010, I have an average of 100 posts respectively. In 2011, THERE'S LESS THAN 50 HOMG! Oh what has age turned me into T_T Hopefully I'll get back into my blogging mojo and start publishing 10 posts a day hahahah! Of course not. But seriously, I should blog more. There's something about it that relaxes me. It's a good way to reflect on your past or yourself too.

8. Get a haircut, period.



Happy New Year 2012 everyone!

*This post was inspired by a blogger. But I'm pretty sure lots of bloggers would do a year end recap/self reflecting post so... if it sounds familiar, that's why :)