Happy New Year! 2022!

 At least this year ends on a higher note than how it started :)

Truthfully, I didn't expect much out of this year :")

I was, and still kind of am, on the the pessimistic side of things, and boy does the universe deliver. 

This year, even though my body and mind have got the working from home rhythm down,

the losses hit harder. We say goodbye to people, sometimes within a moment's notice. 

But the world begins to re-flourish all around. 

I hope and pray that next year, things will look better and better. It has to. 

While we're waiting and holding our breath for what 2022's going to bring, 

here are my 2021 highlights:  

* Making a Good Friday short movie project. aaahh! took a month to edit xD but what a learning curve! 

* got vaccinated. 2 jabs so far! 

* got myself a cat-ear headphone LOL 

* a new laptop & ipad, cz both of my old ones decided to stop working properly at the same time :')) 

* WC x IC creative team! honored and happy to serve! 💙

* coming back to the movie theater!!!! 

* Sharing my story to my junior high alma mater for Independence Day! LOVED seeing my teachers still faithfully educating the generations (and still keeping me in their hearts. bless them!!)

* Turning 25 - help!

* approved projects :')))) finally after 1.5 years, our team has some luck xD 

* travelling again! Road trips + hotel stays ! and food. YUM! 
Surabaya, Jakarta, Jogja. 
Most memorable food: sourdough pizza in Surabaya. Melbs vibe. 
most surprising: finding good mexican food in Jogja. love.

* Working from office and shoot days💙 after seeing and hearing them through zoom, it was weird seeing them stand in front of me, in the flesh. I can see the texture of their skin, the pattern of their blinking, everything! but i'm so blessed to work with the most incredible, kind, amazing team. it was a blast. and I'm looking forward to learning more from them.

* Online WCC 2021 - I LOVED the masterclasses! I loved the keynotes! I love all the moments in between! Reminded me and positioned me once more as a creative with a purpose. 

* Christmas, once again ! Getting my hands on the prep, oh how I miss this 💙

The day-to-day still feels unsettling. 

But I don't feel as suffocated. For the most part, at least. 

and that's still a win in my book. 

Am I scared that I'll end 2022 still the same person? in the same place? Maybe.

But maybe I'll prove myself wrong. We'll see. 

Later, 2021!

Happy 25th !

 So, here I am. 

Tomorrow, I wake up on the other side of my 20s. 

Leaving my 'early' years behind to walk right down the middle. 

I had one of the best days since the quarantine began:

* got a day off work xD 

* baked a cake! (Prepped some components last night & finished this morning)

* read a book (currently reading Graham Norton's Holding)

* had yummy birthday noodle for lunch

* kombucha drink

* watched Shang-Chi on the cinema !!!!!!! I mean, how good!!!

* frozen yogurt treat <3

* Sushi for dinner ^^

* replying to well-wishes from everyone 

* cutting into the DREAMIEST cake!

* finding plant-based choc that I like xD

I'm still at that stage where birthdays feel uncanny.

I'm not gonna be a hypocrite; I love being spoiled at least one day every year. 

But maybe I'm being critical on myself. What did I do this year that's better than the last?

I don't know. 

I feel like the answer is nothing and yet everything. 

C'est la vie. Ma vie au moment.

Packed days feels hollow, while others feels filled by the simplest things.

I'm loving what I do at work, but half the time I still feel like I'm not good enough.

Making decisions used to be a privilege, but now becomes a chore.

25 feels like fear, anxiety, joy, happiness, sorrow, excitement, hope, 

all wrapped up into a bite,

and this is just the appetizer. 

Who knows what the next year is going to be like?

Who my friends are, what I look like, what I do, where I live, what I create?

Whether I turn out better or worse?

I will only promise myself one thing: to find joy everyday, in everything, and to bring joy. 

And we'll see how the rest plays out. 

Happy 25th, me. 

May you always bloom and grow. And glow.