my goals for 2012

Today, I met my best friend from college and until now, a very close friend, Lani. The last time we saw each other was December 29 - 30 of 2011. Since 2009, we only saw each other once a year, but as I was with her today, I feel like nothing has changed.

Because we were only two, we could only take picture of each other. :3

Lani, enjoying her Caramel Smoogee and the Seafood Pizza.

That cap is Lani's gift. I really like it. 

And of course, she took the picture. <3

We think and talk about the same things - social work, social problems, love and all other small things beneath the sky to be pondered of. She has gone beyond a friend, or a best friend, she is a sister, a family member. "A family member doesn't forget another one", as I quote from my Japanese friend Shohei.

"Straight and curly" Photo by Lani.

She became more beautiful and happy, especially that he has found his God's will. I hope to meet mine too in the near future. :3

"We'll all come home when the years collide." - Stereo Goes Stellar

Photo by Kuya Guard using Lani's camera.

And she told me that she has "New Year Goals" rather than "New Year's Resolution". I appreciate this kind of thinking because if you talk about resolutions, it feels like dwelling on problems while goals seems positive, and something to be reached while being contented with where you are now.

So... as I've been pondering last week. I would have to limit my goals into only 5, so that it would be easy to achieve. Lol. And I wouldn't get frustrated much since more goals - more frustration. 

My New Year Goals are as follows:

General Goal: Healthy, Balanced, Happy 2012.

1. EAT, SLEEP, DRINK HEALTHY

My family and close friends really worry about my disorder in eating. Lol.

So, that's the primary thing to be fixed.

Photo by Jesse Altez

For it is basic. Health is wealth. I should have learned that earlier. :3

2. TRAVEL MORE

Travel with Jay to Alabat Island.

By the way, he is also a good photographer.

Photo by my BFF, Eljay Lactuan.

This is easy if I stay active as ACCESS-VOA member because I may be compelled to go to Alabat Island, Smoky Mountain and Pampanga for study tour. However, I also want to go to other places like Anawangin, Sagada, Baguio and Palawan. To go out of the country finally, maybe Thailand or Japan? Because of Kuya Onin's stories, I also wanna be a budget-traveller because life is a never ending study tour. However, all travels should have a purpose (to meet friends, to rewind, to experience new things - Haaaa. It's easy to find a purpose). :3

From one of my travels in 2009. At Alabat Island.

Photo by Shohei Kato.

I read from a blog that this is the right time, (while I'm still young and has fewer responsibility at work) to travel and see the world - so I will.

3. SAVE MONEY

I got a leap with my salary this year and yet, I haven't saved. Lol. It all went down the drain of hang-outs, clothes, shoes, books. I have so many books already in the To-Read List. I have to finish all that first before I buy another new one! Per meal should only be P50.00 but IMPOSSIBLE. =p At least, save P1,000 per month. And the end goal is to save enough money for a DSLR. Yummy. :3

This is me with Kuya Onin's camera. :3

Photo by Bro. Jun of CSsR, a person I look up to in photography.

4. WRITE MORE. STUDY MORE. PLAY MORE

Writing is therapeutic so I want to write more and keep up my blog. It has always been a resolution every year but I'll try to make it attainable by setting my goal to have at least 15 blog posts per month. :) and get back to guitar-playing.

My notebook, 3 years ago. The subject was Social Work 143.

Community Organizing.

After that, study Japanese 30 minutes per day. And as December comes sooner, try to take JLPT N4. I'm still scared to take the test, and I don't know how it costs, but I hope by this year, I have the courage to do so. Probably, it might become more difficult to study Japanese when I start as post-graduate student of Psych and still work as full-time in DSWD. Let's just weigh things at the middle of the year.

5. JUST LIVE. 

I shouldn't worry much about mistakes, frustrations so that I won't fall into depression. I shouldn't also fall into my sickness of being a workaholic because it has seriously damaged my lungs last year. Take one day at a time. Find happiness in each day, and find a way to laugh in each hour. When things go wrong, don't worry, trouble shoot. When things go the right way, enjoy it and seize the moment.

Friendship.

Photo by Yours Truly.

Life is an ice cream, eat it before it melts. I'm excited for 2012!