Thank you, 2011.

My first post in 2012 is about Day 3 in Paris where we strolled down River Seine, visited Museum D'Orsay and took in the key sights by the river. This must be a sign of the many happy things that will unfold in the coming year, be it travel or art. LOL.

As I look forward to the next 364ish days, I want to look back and say thank you to the past 365 days. I really like this article I read in today's zbW早报周刊 《 感恩不曾感谢的幸福》, about how we never show gratitude to the things around us when things go well but complain about them when things go wrong.

There are so many things (big and small, good and bad) that happened in 2011 that I feel thankful for. Here are the first 10 that comes to my mind as I post, so they must be at the top of the list!

1) Italy/Paris
Went to Europe with MQ and ML for 17 days. It was supposed to be my graduation trip 10 years ago but I never made it. This is definitely one of the highlights of 2011 to see Italy and Paris and the sights we have heard so much about. And I bought the first LV bag of my life! Go read my wordpress ilovelongvacation :) I have never been away from home and office for so long! And that's when I truly realised that everyone is dispensable at work and at the same time, I know that it's only possible because I have a good superior and subordinate :)

2) Club Med Bintan
Spent 4 days in Club Med Bintan with YK. It's so 'brainless' to holiday in Club Med because everything has been planned for you - unlimited food and drinks and activities throughout the day and be totally amazed and entertained by the talented G.O. I envy them for living the lives so many want to live but have no courage and talent to pursue. Happyness can be very simple yet elusive. But we must all pursue happyness and never give up.

3) Melbourne Trip
Visited the best place to live in the world with my sister. I was initially hesitant about going because the economy was slowing down and I thought it too extravagant to travel. In the end I went and I'm glad I did. On a two-day trip to the Great Ocean Road, I met so many solo or young travellers from Europe - two German girls who barely speak English were going to spend a few months in Australia, a solo female traveller from France who had travelled 4 months in Australia and a British boy who was on a gap year in Australia. I see so much courage in them so I am going on a solo one-week trip to Taiwan this year - minute in comparison but it has taken me a lot to make up my mind and take this step. Hope to blog about Melbourne before the Taiwan trip and hope to be able to blog about my solo trip on the go.

4) Superior and subordinate
This month, I turn 4 in my firm. It's scary how times fly. There are ups and downs. I have learnt to delegate more, to let go and give RL the opportunity to try. She may not get it all the times but at least, she tried. I am thankful to her because she complemented me - she's more social-oriented while I'm more task-oriented. And she had taught me a lot of things and draw the social me out of my shell. Sometimes, I feel that I take on projects that should not be mine, especially when I have to OT to finish them. And I wonder how I can grow through them. But I am thankful to ST because he has always empower me and seldom interfere in the way I work. He allows me to discover myself and grow in my own ways. I hope I have been a good superior and subordinate so far. And I know I want to be.

5) Circle Line
It's kind of funny to be grateful to the Circle Line but it has brought me to places that I usually avoid. Watching concerts at Kallang has been so much easier and recently I have visited the Botanic Gardens and Labrador Park which I have not been to for a long time. I'm definitely looking forward to exploring the Circle Line more this year.

6) Blog
I have blogged more this year and started a wordpress about travelling too. I'm glad to connect with myself and whoever wants to read what I blog out there through writing and photography. Blogs are like diaries that record my life and my thoughts. Otherwise, things would go by in a flurry, won't they? I'm not sure if committing to blogging shows that I have more time on hand. I'm not sure if it's a good thing but I'm glad I have time :)

7) Scapbooking
Scrapbooking is something I have been procrastinating for a while. I started this year and enjoyed making cards for my close friends' birthday and christmas. I'm not sure if it's a good thing too because it's costly. But I'm glad I have time and money :) And happy when my friends like these stuff madewithawholelottalove :P

8) BlackBerry
If you know me, I have changed only 3 phones in the last 10 years. I never really think there is a need to carry a sophisticated phone because as long as I can call/sms through them, they have served their purpose. So having a BlackBerry is a huge leap for me! If not for my firm, I would not have a smartphone and not be able to connect with my friends via watsapp. Technology may sound distant but I think it did close the gap somehow, especially for friends who I only meet once in a while. The camera and upload feature in BlackBerry also make me happy - it's like I could capture the moment and share it anytime :)

9) Friends
There are people you see everyday and remain acquaintances. There are people you see twice or thrice a year and remain friends. I'm not sure if you know what I mean but I'm sure you do if you mull over it. I'm thankful to the former because they never force me to share my private lives with them and they made me happy (sometimes angry) and help me grow professionally day in and day out. I'm thankful to the latter because they never become strangers and they made me feel close to them every time we meet up again :)

10) Fate
The last few months of 2011 got me thinking about life and fate. 很多事冥冥中早有安排。I'm not sure if I should thank or blame fate for how things have unfolded in life. But I'm thankful to fate for the many things that have taken place in the last year :)