Ladies and gents, what I’m about to tell you is something my past self would never have believed I'd say. With that said, please prepare yourselves for the inevitable chorus of me saying, “2024 marks my fifth year of having this blog, so welcome to the fifth annual end-of-year post!” I should probably apologize in advance. Now that what I do here has become more of a solid habit, I feel like I have the right to be a little proud.
If I may confess, this year has been… erratic… in the most eyebrow-raising way. From the outside, it might only seem like another year spent in my new job as an ordinary tax staff. I managed to survive a low-tide-like peak season and the onslaught of both easy and difficult tax-related letters. From a more personal perspective though, this year hasn't been as simple. A change in job and lifestyle has just truly settled in, and adjusting to a slow-paced life requires the same amount of effort and time.
Let me take you down memory lane for a moment: from October to December last year, I was soaking in the comfort of slow living. After periods of hyperventilation, focusing on my wellness and truly living in the present became a dream come true. I started my morning unrushed, went on a regular walk, and became a member of a library nearby—everything seemed like it was in the palm of my hand. As a consequence of my hastiness, however, I had to swallow a bitter pill for being too quick to assume that this year would be no different. It came as a shock to me that, after the honeymoon phase was over, I was no longer over the moon. Adjusting to a pace much slower than I was accustomed to was a struggle very much different.
I hope I don’t sound ungrateful or, God forbid, come across as dramatic. At the end of the day, what I’m doing now is simply looking back and being grateful for the good, humbling lessons learned. I understand the beauty of living slowly now—the craving for busier days has long subsided. What has been escalating, much to my relief, is the desire to romanticize every little thing—and I've come to realize how important it is to keep that spark burning.
As proof of my newfound love for this slow-paced life, I actually made an effort to meet a lot of new people this year—and I did! Some of them stick, while some don't—that's life and I catch on fairly quickly. I also visited so many interesting places this year: Singapore (to watch The Eras Tour), Pangalengan (to join in a short glamping getaway), Thailand (to watch The GUTS Tour), and Semarang (to attend a friend's wedding).
I didn't finish many books this year—just 12, according to my trusty Goodreads. I didn't include the one that I DNFed though. Sorry to disappoint. With a lot of equally fun activities to do, reading admittedly hasn't been a priority. But I still feel very grateful to find some memorable gems: You Had Me at Hello by Mhairi McFarlane, Northanger Abbey by Jane Austen, A Deadly Education by Naomi Novik, Crooked Kingdom by Leigh Bardugo, Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom, and How to be Popular by Meg Cabot.
It's no secret that I still consistently write short reviews of the book I finish. I haven't stopped writing about other things either. To me, blogging is still the perfect outlet to vent—a safe place that holds the archipelago of my small legacy. I'm so happy that I get to share my writings with you here, and also at my new lifestyle blog, Rolife Coaster, which I publicly announced around midyear this year.
However, there is also something you should know about my new blog: I was a little hard on myself about it at first. I strived to be as consistent in posting as possible, but it was not healthy. Taking a step back to reevaluate my goals after some consideration has definitely helped. I don't push myself too hard anymore. I post only when I feel like sharing something, and writing feels even more fun than before. Just like the lives of my favorite YouTubers have appeared this year. I've been watching a lot of Sydney Serena, Julia Huynh, and (I know this is so random, but) Shanty di China, and I'm completely obsessed! (P.S.: TV show-wise, I only watched Sex and the City—which was a bit draining—What's Wrong with Secretary Kim, and Season 4 of Emily in Paris.)
So... 2025, huh? I can't believe how quickly this year has flown by. Am I excited for the brand new year? Of course, even though spending it in the office does make it a little hard for the atmosphere to be as festive as it should be. Dare I claim 2025 will be an amazing year? I do. I'm claiming that 2025 will be a wonderful year full of love, prosperity, amazing news, and all things sweet.
Cheers! Happy New Year! God bless us all!
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