I'm grateful for 2023.
Finance - I was quite stable though my savings went out the window. I was able to travel - I went to Ho Chi Minh City, Phnom Penh, Bangkok, Kuala Lumpur and Bali. That's a first in my life, traveling to 5 different countries in 1 year. My iPhone, MacBook and AirPods decided to crash one by one - so I had to replace them one by one. And that's where all my money went to. Honestly, I need to plan my finances properly. Even though I do have spare cash but it's not enough for me to fall back on for emergencies.
Travel - I was blessed to be able to go to 5 countries this year. I did a 2 weeks trip to Ho Chin Minh City, Phnom Penh, Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur. Completely exhausted but it was totally worth it. I can't believe that I was on 5 flights within 2 weeks, physically demanding. Then for my birthday, I went to Bali and honestly, I didn't like it much. I'm quite proud of myself that I was able to visit 5 countries for 2023. For 2024, I need to go to Tokyo - it's a need. After 10 years, it's time for me to go and explore Tokyo alone. And maybe celebrate my birthday in Bangkok. From all the TikTok videos I've seen, Bangkok looks fun in December.
Career - I lost interest in my job at start of the year. I have been applying for jobs since January 2023 and I think I have applied for around 100 jobs. Though this time round, I can see the difference in the job market or maybe it's just my resume. I remembered after graduation, I applied for almost 800 jobs and only gotten response/rejection from less than 50 of them, with no replies from the rest. Now, I actually got replies/rejections from about 50-60 of them. I went on job interviews with 4 companies - 2 government agency and 2 private companies. I got a new job which I am quite excited about and it is in the direction that I'm looking to further explore. I'll be starting my new job in February 2024.
Arts - now that I have completed my 33 BL couples drawings, I'm trying to think of a new theme to start but so far, I got nothing. I'm considering of doing "fonts" but I'm not feeling it yet. I already did 99 male portraits and 99 random patterns. All 3 themes, I was quite excited to start them and felt motivated to complete them. So for the next theme, I'm just waiting for the same feeling to come to me before I stick to it. Let's hope I get inspired soon.
Birthday - I went on a solo birthday trip to Bali. I guess it was on impulse since I booked the ticket and the hotel while I was on my vacation in September. And part of me regretted it because it wasn't my type of vacation. I am a 100% city person type and the trip made me realise that I am not really not a beach/nature holiday type of person. I love trips that mentally stimulate me rather than trips that physically exhaust me. Though I will consider going to Bali again with friends but not solo. And it also doesn't help that I was sick for 3 days out of the 4 days I was there. Oh well, time to start planning my next solo trip.
I just need to make sure that 2024 will be better than 2023. I need to start thinking of my monthly goals for 2024, nothing grand but at least I have monthly targets to look forward to and to keep myself on track.
In Shaa' Allah, everything will be alright.
