What a year, what a year... everyone seem to be cursing 2009 for all the misfortunes it brought but for me it was a thrilling, sometimes hellish (yes, I learned some valuable lessons but do I ever want to go through this again? Definitely, no!) year. At the end, the good outnumbers the bad and here are the significant events:
This is the year I conquered great (literal) heights!
I climbed mountains this year. If you met me before 2009 and I told you about my new hobby, you would think I'm kidding. You would even joked about my lung's capacity to do such a thing. Then, I would just flash you a really smug smile. Mt. Batulao was amazing. It's like a breath of fresh air in this polluted murky world that is my life. Somewhere between Batulao's twin peaks, I started believing in myself again. To do something no one, not even myself, thought I could do; just feels so unbelievably awesome, that I would be forever thankful to Moni for inviting me to be part of her, err... semi-stalking escapade. I also made new friends, I grew, learned and experienced a lot more because of them. Special mention should go to Sid, who I judged to be The Friend of the Year for 2009. Having a male buddy to sort out all kinds of drama is nice, but if that male buddy has a psychology degree and you can get therapy sessions for free; that is way, way better. Plus the loyalty he gave me through all that K situation (breaking the bro code and all), saved me from a really complicated deep shit.
Overall, mountaineering gave me a new perspective on life that I begin to hope again. It also started a fire inside me that pushes me to enjoy life anew.
Another defining event was when I cut my hair really short and finally heeded the call of hairdresser everywhere to undergo relax treatment. I'm almost unrecognizable. I lost my fragile look and I look, can you believe it? Edgy. I could pass for a member of UP PEP, if only I could do back flips. Sometimes I miss my long hair, but for now I enjoy the freedom my short hair affords me.
2009 was not all fun, fun, adventure; it has its dark moments too. The depression bouts are harder this year because now, I'm fully aware that I am depressed unlike before when I just zoned out and escape it. But since I am aware of what is happening to me, I am now better in dealing with it. Plus, the realizations and insights I gain after the drama are very helpful in my healing process. At least now, I'm no longer in denial and I'm keeping my eyes and mind open. Let's just hope we get less and less of those dark nights.
I almost fell in love this year but I caught myself before I jumped off the edge, with a bit of help from my friend of the year. I thought the getting over process would be long and tedious but surprise! surprise! It took less than a week. I guess it wasn't really love or rather I just love the fairytale story presented before me. It was a classic case of too good too be true. Oh well; if its not meant to be, then its not meant to be. The experience was not too drastic, it was even a little sweet but it was not meant to go anything beyond that. Schoolgirl hopes don't mesh well with grown-up relationships, anyway I learned to just enjoy the good stuff and be careful with the bad. From now on with things like this, I'm heeding Bheng's advice: chill lang.
This year I got to experience to be a foreigner, then I realize it does not have much impact when you look just like the natives. Still, they speak a different language. It was not the rock-my-world-experience I imagined my first out-of-the-country trip would be but Taipei has its charms; the best of which is Luis. When I was sitting by the sidewalk while he was gushing about the plants, I cannot believe how lucky I was to be having this moment with him. He seem to define both awesome and adorable at the same time. Besides Luis, Taipei is the land of pretty cakes and shoes. The shoes are Makati products that have lower than Divisoria prices. It is shoe heaven. When I go back there, I'm going home with a trunk full of shoes. It's nice to experience a cleaner and more organized city living than ours, but although Taipei zoo is a million times better than Manila zoo, I would never fall in love with Taipei the way I did with Manila. Manila's got some crazy charms.
Lastly, I'm gonna include this because I'm so crazy about it, Glee is the best thing on TV right now. I love it! I've never been envious to people who can sing till now. Glee is Happiness. I so thankful for Glee.
So that was 2009, I just realized I had a better year than most people. Even if I had some down moments I am still very lucky. I'm thankful for that. For 2010, I want more mountain climbing and less drama.
