New Year's Resolutions

this cute cartoon is taken from anansisweb.wordpress.com

Every year I make my own New Year's Resolutions, except for last year when I went que sera sera. I think this year I'll do the same, but I will also reflect on 2012 and its impact in my life.

2012 is a year of failures, disappointments, and success for me. I mean it quite literally - I've been through so much these years I feel like this is the year of sinking and bouncing back, both in the same year. The beginning of 2012 was particularly tough, and I remember working really hard during the first and second semesters of the year until I could hardly feel my sleep anymore.

Writing-wise, I did finish 1 novel draft for 2013 publication. I usually targeted myself to write two, but this year, with my schedule and a longer than intended break, it just wasn't possible. I'm really proud of my latest project, because it really took a long time to finish, and it was similar to Unforgettable, a project I considered my personal breakthrough. It took almost as long for it to brew and finally get written, just as its predecessor. We haven't had a title yet, but so far I'm calling it Rewind.

On the social front, we had a middle school reunion that reminded me how much we all have changed. Someone who used to be my best friend was suddenly sprouting alien sentences, and the person who used to call me names now has more in common with me than the rest. My friends are getting married, being pregnant, having babies and building their little families. On the other hand, I keep writing, working, living in my own world. Some good friends I stopped seeing, losing more friendships than I've had in years, we go our separate ways. Some good friends I met again, finding that I miss them more than I thought I would.

Life goes on. So my resolutions for 2013 are simple. I wish to keep writing good things, and to be able to listen to my heart, to be able to live life courageously, to be able to barrel through hardships and not sweat the small stuffs so much. And I want to be content being me, because frankly I can't live this life twice.

And that is one hell of a resolution for me. Amen to that.