Okay, how will I start this one? Ah, whatever! So, first things first, this is my first blog post for the year 2018. Well, to be honest, this is also my first post in months (Yeah, a lot of inactivity with my blog in my part, I know).
I really want to delve on the reason for the inactivity and the somewhat dismal turnout of my 2017 blogging, but I guess I have to reserve that later in this post.
Let us get straight to blog business shall we? Obviously, the year that was 2017 already came to a close and unfortunately, I missed the chance to do a year-ending blog entry like the ones I was doing a couple of years ago.
However, since this will be my first post for this year, I think I can still make a somewhat year-ender post; kind of like a "look-back-post-to-start-the year" thingy eh? Sounds right to me.
As always, I want to look back on the happenings of the past year and see what I have accomplished. May that be little or big, those things being undocumented will be such a shame. Anyway, here we go.
January
The year 2017 started out solidly. I believe every start of the year fills us up with positive vibes so it is a given that January kicks out with a lot of optimism. One event that stand out on my happenings for January 2017 though was that I was finally able to bring my wife (together with our daughter) to my grandparents' (mother's side) resting place. So let us see, we dated for 10 years and had been married for 6 years after that and I never had the chance to bring her to meet my grandparents? Outrageous, right?! My Bad. Anyway, better late than never eh?! The great thing about it was finally, I was able to formally introduce my wife to my grandpa and grandma. It was late, I know, but still that was sweet.
February
I know you are familiar with the line from Closing Time (by the band Semisonic) that goes like - "Every new beginning, comes from some other beginning's end" - right? Well, for February I chose to end something and begin on something. After some five years of tenure in my old workplace, I decided to end it and applied in another workplace (Fortunately, I was hired). It was a new beginning and it felt refreshing to be honest.
March
Unlike last year, my daughter's graduation came a little early (March instead of April). It was her second graduation event and as the one before it, the event was a milestone and therefore it is considered the best happening for that month. Of course, me and my wife are proud of our little princess.
April
To be honest, I am a really stingy guy when it comes to myself. I rarely buy new stuff and when I do, I sometimes (ehem...always) go for the budget option. Last year, I bought an affordable smartphone and ended up regretting it a little bit. My dear wife came to the rescue and bought me a new smartphone as an advanced birthday gift. I have nothing against the cheaper options, but when it comes to quality, branded names are still the way to go and that is really true and proven.
May
Last May, we decided to go on an "Enchanted Adventure" at our country's very popular local amusement park - Enchanted Kingdom. We took three kids with us, but even us - the adults - cannot help but unleash the kid at heart inside us. We all had a great time. It is also a good preparation since this year, we will be visiting another popular amusement park - outside the country. I cannot say I am not excited for that, Yah?!
June
Our Paps had his annual vacation last June so since that month is still considered "Summer Season" , we all catched the waves and gone swimming. We had our fix in Batangas at Sigayan. It was my first time there and I can say that it exceeded my expectations. The place may be a far cry from Pagudpud or Boracay, but it is impressive in its own right.
July
July brings an important event not only for myself but for our whole family. After having a longstanding relationship with her boyfriend, my little sister will be turning on a new page in her life as they decided to get married. The wedding will be in December 2018. Of course, as Filipino traditions go, no wedding will push through without the traditional "Pamamanhikan", which happened on the first day of July. As early as now, I am wishing my little sister and her future husband the best for the new chapter in their lives that they will be embarking on.
August
I firmly believe that if somebody agreed to be on the "entourage" on your wedding day as a favor, then that favor should be returned one way or another. So, when one of our secondary sponsors (my wife's friend) tied the knot last August, we did return the favor - and even more. For her wedding day, both the missus and me are not the only ones who agreed to be on the entourage; even our daughter was included too. Yours truly and my wife are partners in crime as secondary sponsors (Veil) and our daughter is one of the flower girls. How is that for returning the favor, huh?
September
When it comes to raising a kid, I am a firm believer that most of the time, the mother does it better compared to the father. However, there really will come a time when "daddy dear" needs to step up to the plate and that came when I became the designated "companion" for our daughter's educational trip. The missus also has an important thing to do on that day so I have to do it. Well, it was both a nerve-wracking and enlightening experience at the same time. I was really shell-shocked how hard it was to be a companion to a little girl on her field trip (Read This: I fail in making a pony tail, sheesh!) but then, me and my daughter had the time of our life together on that day, we enjoyed all the happenings on that trip together - a two-thumbs-up daughter and father bonding experience. I can't say that I passed the experience with flying colors, but I am proud of the achievement nonetheless.
October
October's highlight is me and my family's trip to "Bicolandia", the home of the famous volcano sporting a perfect cone - Mayon Volcano. This trip is also special because unlike some of our trips that included the extended family, this one is just "the three of us" - and it was quite the experience. Seeing the Majestic Mayon Volcano (up close and personal) is really an exhilirating experience.
November
I for one, believe that I always get the short end of the stick when it comes to contests, raffles, and the like, so I never thought that a "tweet" will earn me some unexpected freebies, really. It goes like this; Instinctively, I replied to a tweet by a popular fastfood chain's official Twitter account. Little did I know that it was for a contest and well, I was surprised to be chosen and got some freebies - Free Burgers that is. Lady Luck does not smile on me a lot of times so I have to make this "little victory" the highlight of my November.
December
For the last month of the year, just like before, I will leave this one as an "anything goes" month. To sum it up, December will always highlight and punctuate a year. 2017 has been somewhat of a roller coaster ride for me, but being able to complete it again with a lot of happenings may it be good or bad, is still a wonderful thing. I can say though that I ended this year on a high note, so Hurray!!!
A Shock To The System
Okay, I said in the beginning of this post that I want to delve on the reason for the inactivity and well, bad turnout of my blogging for the year 2017 right? Well, here it goes.
To be completely honest, I started 2017 in a really bad note. There was a combination of pressure, stress, disenchantment, and anxiety that hit me from all fronts and it became a complete shock to my system that really sent me to a downward spiral - literally and figuratively. Almost all facets of my life was affected by it and my blogging activity was not spared thus there was an obvious lack of blog entries for the whole 2017. Believe me though, I tried my best but I was really affected with all that happened that I almost gave up on blogging. Thankfully, I still mustered enough intestinal fortitude to soldier on and still believed that the time will come that I will be moving on from what transpired and will be back to my former self in no time.
So yeah, I am not hiding the fact that I got sort of "depressed" the past year and still is suffering from it (although a little bit less) up to now. If there is one trait that I possess that will get me over this, that is my Resilience and yes! I am resilient and I will be soldiering on, you bet on that.
This 2018, I will strive to pick up the pieces and get back on my feet. That is a promise and a a promise that I need to live up to.
Now to close this one out, A shout out to my family, relatives, and friends. In the trying times of 2017, you guys have all been nothing short of fantastic! Again, thank you for the patience, trust, and belief in me. As I have said, I promise I will be better this coming year. I have been a very hard person to get along with last year and this year, I will do the best that I can to bring myself back to my "normal baseline." Hell, 2017 indeed was tough and some of the people who tried to put me down? Well, I can say they somewhat succeeded, but I will make sure that their success will be short-lived.
As always, I still want to thank the Lord for the year that was 2017 and here is to a 2018 with a belief that "every end is a chance to start again."
May we all have a blessed and peaceful 2018!
(A Belated) Happy New Year, Everyone!
Geronimo!!!!!
Until next time,
Ciao!
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