J-emine's reflexionando

2013 has bid us farewell, a new year has come upon us – along with new hopes, challenges, encounters, losses, lessons, gains and so on. With my recent trip to the mountains in Vietnam, visiting the minority tribes that I humbly and wholeheartedly learnt the richness in the simplicity of each day, of each year, and possibly, even a lifetime.

To many it’s just another day, nature soldiers on with its usual routine –  some humans like to pepper the occasion with a huge, big-ass like confetti;  others like to spend it in solitude or quiet moments with self or close ones, and for some, it’s just simply, another day.

What is it to you?

Yesterday night as I sat around the table filled with 20 odd of my dearest family and family friends, I said a silent prayer for a table filled with delicious food, hearty laughter, and togetherness. I smiled graciously at what the present moment gifted in the form (s)  of – saying ‘bottoms up’ to my two 7o+ yo Uncle and Aunty, blowing kisses and throwing small hugs to my adorable nephew, giving a tight hand squeeze to my dearest friends for choosing my family as family, rubbing my Daddy’s tummy as he goes around making sure everyone’s glass was filled with wine, watching my Mummy busy herself around her family and for simply being where I was. Yes, where I was. At that moment.

It’s been a good year, I probably wouldn’t have said that when the ‘down’ were upon me, sucking up my energy,  loosening the tear ducts and shrinking the will power or whatever that was left to shrink. However, I have grown – and that is how I shall measure each year, not by achievements but how much I have grown from all the ups but even more so, the downs in my life. Indeed,  I have grown – to love myself more by knowing the sort of  relationships that needs to be kept and those to sieved out, work principles that I like to adhere to and that translates into the work I choose to dedicate my time too, working through my adversities and keeping the head held high whilst I lose some sanity along the way, and lastly but most importantly,  learning to accept and build a better relationship with and within – me.

So, in 2014, I intend to see how much further I grow…and how hard I push myself towards it.

Blessed 2014, to you, you and You!