top 10 things of 2007

i have to give credit to one of my ex-s for this topic, cos she comes out with this list every year as a means to see what she's managed to achieve over the course of 12 months. while we figured that our end goals, and even the way we wanted to reach them, were too different in the end, i admired her go-getting spirit (although loads of times they way she made decisions was so extremely fast and worse, unilateral... ok that's why we broke up i guess. she found so much more joy alone than together; the choice to stay wasn't mine anymore).

anyway, i digress.

a few of the following are related to travelling's different aspects. in no particular order:

#10 seeing more of the world. bali, london/paris, los cabos/LA, new zealand south island, ho chi minh, taipei, germany/austria/switzerland, macau/HK. plus went to malaysia 3 times: malacca, KL and kota tinggi; the most number of trips i've done in a year. i saw loads at each place, although i wish i could stay a bit longer at each (except ho chi minh). each was memorable (history professor as entertaining and knowledgeable guide in germany; leading the life of decadent taiwanese youth in taipei in a much better than expected trip; personal tour guide who showed us the most picturesque places in nz; mtv-style yacht cruise in the beautiful waters off mexico, quad-bike riding up into the hills of the desert... i could go on and on. and the people i met at each place.) the thought of just finding a crazy job in some weird country (argentina perhaps?), just so i can immerse myself in the local culture, still comes to mind at odd times. then a conversation in the past comes to mind, where i said 'singapore is so small!' and the reply came, 'do you think you're so big?'

#9 learning the art of delegation. when you're uncontactable, things somehow get done. and am also slowly learning the art of selective interpretation and prioritisation at work: to use the most efficient / minimal effort to achieve the greatest results. i need to learn more from the seniors.

#8 make grandma happy. although we didn't get to go to japan, i think she was still really happy (especially when she went into souvenir shops and supermarkets - are all old women like that?) visiting new zealand again after so many years. she can now go around crowing about how her grandson brings her on holidays. i think i'm beginning to not just think about what i should do for the people i love, but to actually do something concrete about it, and more importantly, in the form that they want that love to be expressed (in this case, a wish to travel). life's too short and unpredictable to know what's going to happen tomorrow, let alone next month or year, so i'm really glad to have done it. hokkaido / somewhere in japan next with a bit of luck.

#7 travelling with my gang. finally managed to travel with my closest guy friends. i think it's important to build friendships with people you can count on, and sustaining them with memorable experiences - especially travelling - is important. i'm glad we finally planned and executed one trip!

#6 got rid of emotional bloodsuckers. this may sound a bit cruel, but i cut out a bunch of people in my life this past year. a lot of past friendships are not worth it anymore; in fact realized many were shams. i don't mind giving my time to people - i think it's the most important thing anyone can give anyone else - but i was just too fixated on maintaining everything, despite the fact many just took without giving. i know in friendship one never talks about benefits, nor about reciprocity, but why should i waste time on people who couldn't care less, when so many people want a piece of me (=p)... rephrase: there are so many people that i ought to spend more time with, cos they care and deserve my care, after all they've done for me?

#5 maintaining my to-do list. i'm proud of my to-do list. i love to get things going. they don't need to be life-changing, or arty, or expensive. simple things will do. more importantly, i love to see people i know, even in the most mundane of places.

#4 got my investment portfolio going. not necessarily the best of times (performance-wise) to really take a proper look at my portfolio, but it was definitely a great learning experience, riding through massive volatility, learning how to cut losses, living with my calls. perhaps if i had enjoyed super positive performances this year, i might have ended up suffering an even more expensive lesson in future (not to say it won't happen, of course). a japanese general once said, "i can't be considered a good general, because i've never lost a battle before".

#3 inadvertently helping my buddy get attached. i don't actively seek to matchmake people - there've been too many disasters in the past. introducing people in groups as friends is normally enough; then let them seek their path and nature take its course. still, i'm glad through me, a close buddy had a shot at a relationship, at last. he deserves it. i just hope it works out, somehow...

#2 i took a chance with people. all too often these things end up in tears. still, such chances are meant to be taken, bravely, and always in expectancy and hope.

#1 attended a record number of weddings & being best man for one of my closest buddies. i reckon wedding dinners / solemnisations etc numbered 20+ over for me this past year. these dinners carry with them such great hope and optimism over the future, despite the fact that i think they are silly all too often - the sometimes contrived wedding videos involving the mandatory torturing session for the groom in the morning, a mad dash to eat through 10 courses, not having much time to interact with the couple, being put together with strangers at the table and watching the proceedings in silence. the same held true for my close friend's wedding, but still, i ought to feel honoured that someone to allow me to be a part of one of the most important days in his life.

i'm sure there are other things that could be up on this list, but unless they are so compelling, these first 10 to enter my head will stay.