Countdown to the New Year

It’s hard to believe that 2018 is coming to an end.

As the countdown begins tonight, remember that it will be time to say goodbye to any of the negativities, suffering, sadness, heartbreak, and pain of 2018, and welcome the happiness, prosperity, good memories, health, and improvement that 2019 will bring.

I want to start a little 10 second countdown right now. It’s the 31^st of December, and after today, there will never be any more of 2018 again. So let’s all take the time to enjoy this day while it lasts and be grateful for all the lessons that 2018 has taught us, and for the people who have been by our sides this year.

For my 10, 9, 8… countdown, I thought I might share 10 thoughts on my mind as I look back on 2018 and reflect on the year that has been.

Let’s begin the countdown…

10!

Year of the Dog

This year was special because in the zodiac calendar it was the year of the dog. Dogs are my favourite animals and Missy, our beautiful dog, means the world to me. So in January, I decided that for us, the year of the dog could also be the year of Missy!

Being away from her this year because I was living at university made my heart ache longingly for her every day. When I did come home to her, we would go on walks together, play together, and simply soak up each other’s company.

Earlier this year, I started listing down the life lessons she had taught me, three of which I’ve shared here, because I never want to forget all the miraculous ways in which she’s changed my life and made me a kinder human.

I want to thank you Missy for all your love and patience, for always greeting me with the same level of enthusiasm no matter how many times you see me during the day, and for reminding us of how to love.

9!

New Year, New Motto

At the beginning of every year, I decide upon a new motto for the year ahead. Nothing fancy, but just a few words to leap out at me from my bedroom wall each day. Some mottos in the past have been…

2014: The Year of Improvement

2015: Maximised Improvement and Input!

2016: Your admirable qualities make you a winner.

2017: Is that all you got?

And this year…

2018: No complaining!

I was in Japan on the 1^st of January, 2018, at my beloved grandma’s house. My uncle gave us a lesson on calligraphy and wanted us to write a word or phrase for the New Year; much like a motto. My phrase didn’t feature very special characters but I wrote ‘monku o iuwanai’ which means ‘No complaining’.

Monku o iuwanai - No complaining!

Through my time in Japan, I watched as my grandparents smiled at us lovingly. They never complained and they hid their pain or struggles from us, even if they had it tough. I was so touched by how strong they were for us, and how they poured all their love and devotion to family while we were staying in Japan. It made me realise how foolish I had been to whine, whinge, groan, moan, fuss, and complain about trivial problems which are puny compared to some of the things my grandparents have had to go through.

Their fortitude inspired me and that’s why I resolved to never complain about anything in 2018. Every time I felt the urge to hold a grudge, I would think of the calligraphic ‘No complaining’ on my bedroom wall, and remember my grandparents’ strength and positive outlook. I would think about the millions of people around this world who have it worse off than me yet still keep fighting for their loved ones and families. And I would remind myself of my grandpa’s life lesson that ‘when we’re alive, we’re becoming stronger, and no matter what stands in our path, life is a gift and shouldn’t be worth complaining about’.

To my grandparents in Japan and Mexico, I am so grateful for how strong, forgiving, and loving you are to us year after year. Thank you for inspiring me to be more grateful. I love you so much.

8!

Unexpected Year

In many ways, 2018 was so unexpected. I wasn’t accepted into the university I had originally applied for, which left me unsure as to what I was to do this year. I ended up getting into a university in an entirely different state from where I lived, and so for the first time, I moved away from home.

What made 2018 even more of a year to remember was that I still managed to compete in my sport, Artistic Roller Skating, in my home state. Each weekend, I would travel from Brisbane to Sydney, going back and forth so I could study in Sydney and go to training in Brisbane. I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way though. It helped me ease into life away from home because, well, I could still see my family each week! And I loved skating and performing in the quartet routine this year. By the time I found out that I had to move interstate, we had already put together a routine. It was a team skate and so I wouldn’t want to pull out and leave abruptly. With our skating goals already set for the year, I think it was important to keep that momentum going, even if it meant traveling 900km on a 14-hour train!

Thank you to all my skating family, my quartet team and coach, to my mum for making this plan work out so I could basically live between two states, to my dad for picking me up from the train stations at 4am in the morning, and to my parents and family for their generous support.

At the start of the year, none of us would have ever thought that 2018 would play out the way it did. It was wildly unexpected! But it turned out to be a blessing and I am so grateful for the learning experience that it was, and for the people who helped to make the unexpected a little less scary and a lot more enjoyable.

7!

University

2018 was my first year of university. Before that, I was just a schoolgirl with no clue what uni would be like. The thing that frightened me the most was the thought that uni would be busier than twelfth grade. And since I barely survived twelfth grade at school – too much stress, too little sleep – I was mortified of the fact that uni would be even worse.

Two semesters later, I have come to the conclusion that it is less stressful than twelfth grade! Maybe that’s just first year and everything will change next year, but there’s no denying that uni was more manageable and it’s possible to get a good night’s sleep! I think it helps if you’re studying what you enjoy and are passionate about.

I’m grateful for how the University of Sydney opened my mind, expanded my horizons, and put me out of my comfort zone. I’m grateful for the wonderful friends I met along the way, and for finally learning how to keep motivated, move away from bad study habits, and not get distracted (somewhat!).

I definitely did find some subjects quite difficult and my time management during those final exams was pretty appalling and positively unheroic. There’s always room for improvement so no matter what we’re pursuing, let’s all put in 120% in 2019!  

6!

After 10 years of skating…

2018 was, sadly, my final year of competitive Artistic Roller Skating. After 10 years of this beautiful sport, I had to say goodbye. It was like letting go of a huge chunk of my life but I’m grateful because the lessons I learned on the rink are lessons for life. I was so thankful that I could skate my final performance in New Zealand with the quartet.

Thank you to my beautiful coach, to my skating friends, to my family, and to my parents for supporting me financially and emotionally all these years. I will always cherish the memories I’ve made through skating.

5!

Living alone

I definitely learned a little bit of what it means to be independent this year. Having to cook and wash and clean for myself and basically, keep myself alive, was at times, tiring and monotonous but it taught me a thing or two about responsibility and independence. To be honest, I think there was a lot more microwaving than cooking though! I guess I’m pretty lazy!

Living away from home came with its benefits too. The new study environment was a welcome change from my cluttered room during those high school years. By twelfth grade, I couldn’t walk into my room anymore without my stomach somersaulting in stress. Spending this year in a new distraction-free environment was like ‘new room, new me!’

Although I missed my family a lot, spending time with myself allowed me to get to know myself a bit better and learn about who I am, what my inner ramblings are like, and little things like what music, films, and food I genuinely enjoy. It also gave me the time and space to think aloud and consciously engage in self-improvement and wellness.

4!

My grandparents

I think about my grandparents a lot. I miss them all the time and wish I could go to Mexico and Japan to see them. In 2018, I wanted to keep in touch with them more often and make the effort to be present in their lives. Because if you really love them, then there should be no excuse not to keep in contact and show you care, even if you’re oceans apart.

This year, I tried to make the effort in sending postcards to my grandparents throughout the year and call them too. I hope that I could bring happiness into their days and show them that I am thinking of them, even if they’re on the other side of the world. To my loving grandparents, all I wish for is that you are blessed with health and comfort and are always surrounded by loved ones this year.

Let’s all show our grandparents how much we appreciate them in 2019.

3!

Thank you family

Thank you to my sister for your support this year. Thank you for your understanding and your compassion, and for lending a helping hand and a listening ear when I needed it. You have a fiery determination. Always let it radiate from your heart. I hope that 2019 can be your year to shine.

Thank you to my parents for believing in me this year. Without your support, I am nothing. You both work so hard behind the scenes and never complain about it. You sacrifice so much time, money, and your own pleasures so that you can support us and encourage your daughters to grow into happy adults. Thank you for making 2018 happen.

2!

Bring on 2019!

Let’s make the rest of our lives the best of our lives! Starting now! If you’ve felt unhappy about yourself, leave it all behind in 2018, because when the clock strikes twelve tonight, it will be a brand new year to start afresh! There will be 365 new opportunities to grow stronger and become the best version of ourselves!

How do you want to grow yourself in 2019? Which aspects of your life do you want to revolutionise in the New Year?

Is it your wellbeing?

Self-esteem?

Career?

Study?

Travel?

Sleeping habits?

Sociability?

Spirituality?

Health?

Time with family?

Relationships?

Whatever our goals or resolutions are, let’s try to do one thing each day that will take us one step closer towards our goals! Take it one day at a time!

1!

The launch of this blog

In December of 2018, ‘Young and Unheroic’ was finally born! After 8 months of thinking about it and dreaming up articles in my head, the blog came into existence this month. It’s only been a month but so far, the journey has been truly wonderful.

I want to thank my readers for being here with me! You are the reason I write, and although this little blog probably hasn’t made much of an impact yet, if it has helped one person’s life in some way, even if in a small way, then it has served its purpose! What truly matters is your happiness and wellness! Let’s keep going on this journey together!

10..9..8..7..6..5..4..3..2..1!

As I’m writing this, the midnight fireworks are lighting up the skies! I can hear them right now! I started writing this post last year (hehe) and now it’s 2019!

HAPPY NEW YEAR EVERYONE!

2019 has been waiting for us! Now, we’re finally here and we’re ready to make each day count!

Love, Young and Unheroic

Photo: the beginning of a new day at Lady Elliot Island, Australia, from our 2017 holiday.