Thank you for being part of my journey!

There’s only 3 days left this year and like previous years, I’d love to write a gratitude note to the people who have supported my journey and being my friends (new and old). I am very thankful to each one of you for your unwavering support. Especially on hive, thank you for reading my little story in this corner and interacting with my post. It always means the world to me when you all do that.

Unlike last year, I was quite ambiguous with my achievements or setbacks. Honestly, last year and this year were tough on their own. I lost a family member early this year but also experienced some of the most amazing things I would never really expect to happen in my life. So, let me revisit those moments, the good and the bad.

This January, I organized my first hive event, something I am still proud of…

Throughout January to February, I was active introducing hive and sharing my bits of knowledge to people out there. I stepped out of my comfort zone for the first time and ventured into the unknown. I knew I could do something like this, and I haven’t lost my magic, something that I used to work for back in the day.

When you’re depressed, it’s easy to lose interest and forget who you were. But for some reason, despite the challenges I had, I was still enthusiastic about it all.

March is when I lost my adoptive father.

Losing a family member that you have a complicated relationship with isn’t exactly easy. I told myself that I did my best in taking care of him and it’s still something that I am still recovering from. Having to take care of multiple people with terminal illnesses these past two years aren’t necessarily cheap. They cost a lot and through it all, I survived through the generous support of my very good friends. Without them, I don’t think I would survive the cost of it all.

April, May, June, July, shows that time heals the pain

It was around these months when I started going to church regularly, being a part of the church and slowly coming out of my shell. I celebrated my 28th birthday full of gratitude as if my pain has been lifted though right now, I am still paying for a lot of the things that happened then, I was more than happy that my life is looking for a lot brighter. I finally found my peace, and I would never trade it with anything in this world.

August, A month of festivities!

It was my first time celebrating Independence at the church. It was something unique and memorable to me. My mom started going out more and the atmosphere of the house changed a bit. We used to have our bread moments where I spent days baking bread and now, I can say I know how to make all sorts of bread.

It was around this time when I started questioning a lot more things in my life. I felt like something needed to change but I don’t know where I should start.

September, October…. Speaking at Hive fest

One of the things that I still couldn’t believe was being at Hivefest and speaking there. Something surreal and I don’t know if I should be humble about it or talk about it again. According to my mom, it’s nothing to be proud of, so maybe I shouldn’t be so proud of it?

I started reconnecting to my biological family again and though I wasn’t really talking to them much yet, this was the start of my new adventure.

October was when I got reconnected to my old friends but also met new ones. This got to be my favorite time of the year & I am forever grateful for it.

But more than that, October was the time I really felt like my life has transformed. It’s like it was no longer as dark as I used to be. If I am being honest, I could attribute it to that special someone. Not sure if that person reads it but if so, thank you so much for showing me there’s a lot of hope and life in this world.

November and December

I got a new job! After some job hunting throughout October to September, I was back on the job. I am back on my family business and was sent to Papua. A place I would never expect I’d visit in this lifetime.

These two months, I realized that I was not depressed anymore. Life is brighter than what I used to remember. I have more reason to wake up every morning, going to church every Sunday and starting my life anew.

With so much financial baggage from these past 2 years, I hope through this new job I can be free of it as soon as possible.

I even went to Papua New Guinea, another crazy place I’d never thought I’d set foot on. I have also saw an island I never thought I’d visit called Biak.

These November and December were surreal to me but also when I got sickness for almost 2 weeks in early December. It was such a down time that I entered Christmas time in sickness. And this December, I am waiting for another assignment and apparently, I will be back to school sometime this January.

There were two unrealized plans this December. I was supposed to be in Kuala Lumpur before Christmas but because I was sick and hospitalized, I had to let go of the plan. Then, there’s the US plan but because this November, there was problem with my visa application, I had to let it go too.

But most importantly, unlike previous years when I was half-heartedly enthusiastic about the next year, this year I am very excited about many things.

I am moving once again to a place where I will live and work. I am excited about this new independence again, to be away from the house that I stayed in just because I had to. So, I am looking forward to what next year will bring to my life.

I also think about the next hive fest, the trip I have to make, the countries I haven’t visited that I should, the place I need to return to, the people I need to see again, the next Christmas, the next birthday and many other things I haven’t done.

To think that my depression felt like it was gone is something that is surreal too. That suddenly, I have more reason to live one more day and one more year. That despite the difficulties life throws at me, there’s still hope and will always be hope.

Thank you for being a part of my journey this year, for all the support given to me and help too. Thank you for being my friend in this little corner of the internet too.

Last but not least, I hope next year will bring you more prosperity, wealth and more travel on your horizons!

Cheers to amazing 2026!