A New Year, A New Beginning

Happy New Year! I begin the new year with high-spirited optimism, having ended 2005 on a good note. Here's what was significant for me last year:

• I started blogging. Yah I know I was quite late in jumping on the blogging bandwagon but better late than never right? I'm glad I did as I find blogging extremely therapeutic, though I really wish I could blog as and when I want to.
• I did well at work. I've been working for a year and even though things are not always rosy, I am generally pleased (and more importantly, the important people up there are pleased) with my performance.
• I strengthened and renewed old friendships. I made time for those who matter to me and that has definitely paid off. Though I didn't get many Christmas cards last year, I still got SMSes from old friends with festive greetings. And the occasional "how are you doing" SMS.
• I made a new friend :) I will not reveal her identity here but I'm looking forward to getting to know her better. She's young, cute and hip, which totally gels with my personality :)
• I visited the greatest city on earth, NEW YORK! It was a whirlwind holiday I will never forget and as mentioned in my earlier posts, I'LL BE BACK. It just felt very liberating to be out of the country alone, finding our own way and deciding what we wanted to do on our own. Not to mention the great food and shopping. New York is paradise for the uber cool, hip and forward-looking individualist. Which is not always bad. And New Yorkers are not as rude and cold as Londoners. PLUS, New York is cheaper. Ok I am gushing.
• I went on my first overseas working trip to of all places, London! Though it was quite tiring and I only had 2 hours of free time, it was a great experience. I had just started working and didn't expect to be sent overseas so quickly. I remember my comfy, plush and elegant hotel room, walking the streets in the refreshing zero degrees cold, the quaint little cafe near my hotel where I had great caesar salad with thin cheddar shavings and riding all over London in bumpy cabs.
• I probably shopped the most in 2005. This is what happens when you start working and suddenly have much more disposable income. Suddenly everything on the shelves is within your reach. Having said that, I do not regret shopping that much. I just have to remember to use everything in order to get my money's worth!
• I listen to the radio more often now thanks to the opening of Lush 99.5. This station is the coolest station I've ever listened to in my life and I will continue to listen to it for a long time. Right now I just need a little radio I can put in my office cubicle so the music can permeate my being every minute at work. It will put me in a good mood I am sure.

With 2005 gone and memories still fresh in my mind, here's my list of New Year resolutions, which I really hope to keep to:

• Keep my faith going strong. I'm glad I've grown closer to God over the past year and it's been a truly wonderful experience. He has blessed me with so many good things and insights about myself. I hope to read more Christian literature and keep up with my prayer life.
• Read more books. I am a very ill-disciplined reader when it comes to books. I never have enough time to read all my newspapers and I tend to feel newspapers are more important reading material than books. But that is not necessarily true. One way to balance this is to watch the news for a snappier update and try to read at least 4 pages of a book everyday. Hopefully this will work out. I've already started on a book a few days ago and it's very interesting so I'll keep going.
• Whatever happens in the office, don't work myself sick. I've done this at least three times last year and it wasn't a pleasant sight. I just paralysed myself, which is very silly of course. This year I am trying to be positive about every task I'm given. Easier said than done but I figured that if I don't adopt this attitude, I'll be falling sick every so often and getting depressed as a result. Sad that it took so many bouts of illness to wake me up, but then some people learn the hard way. I hope my health will be better this year, which will mean trying not to take everything so seriously and not reacting negatively once something vaguely threatening happens.
• Try out more new recipes. Last year I was too tired over the weekend to try out all the delicious recipes I cut out from Today. I hope to cook more this year and not only try Western dishes, but try to cook a complete Chinese meal all by myself. This includes steamed fish and soup. My long-term goal is to become a domestic goddess! This is going to take a long time, but I'm sure it can happen :)
• Bake more for my colleagues and friends!
• Spend less, save more. That means buying less clothes. I'll have to prevent myself from walking into the shops. Easier said than done. Already by 1pm today I have shopped and spent $34.10 on 2 pairs of socks, a top and a bag. As they say, a leopard never changes its spots. We'll see if I can.
• Clean up my room once a week. I've always been very lazy about this. I only bother to clean up when the table gets very cluttered. I should wipe the dust away during the weekends and throw away old mail.
• Exercise more regularly or more intensively. Visit the gym or maybe sign up for a yoga course. If you know of a gd inexpensive yoga class, pls let me know!

What I'd really like to do in 2006:

• Maybe take up a cake decorating course and become a famous cake artist through word of mouth, hee ;p
• Club. I have clubbed less than 5 times in my entire life and the last time I went clubbing was in 2000 to Mambo Night at Zouk. Now that the authorities have imposed smoke-free legislation on pubs and clubs, to come into effect this year, I hope to be able to behave like a teenager again.
• Participate in more interesting activities like going for the Tree Top Walk at MacRitchie instead of the normal Singaporean watch a movie, shop and eat routine.
• Try out more new food places. I hope to try one new place every month.
• Ideally, gallavant in UK and France with a friend AND go to a nearby resort. Ever since I started working, I realise how important holidays are.
• Blog more often.

Welcome 2006! I hope it'll be a great year for you and the world.