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Birthday Post | Life Recently

Happy Birthday… So How Are You? How’s Life Recently?

This was what most of my friends said when they whatsapped me Birthday wishes. “How’s life recently?”

It would have been easier if I just do a “Great, thank you”, but that would be lying, and it sucks to be lying to people. Yet again, if I was to say the truth, I will be repeating my problems to 20 over people at one go, and this will be extremely exhausting and negative. Hence, I decided to not reply this question and write this post instead.

I’m quite glad my birthday is just a few days after the New Year, which means I have some time to think about my New Year resolutions and make birthday wishes at the same time! So here’s a #LifeRecently post inspired by a blogpost I read 2 years ago. I don’t really have time for a monthly post, so I thought I will change it to an annual one instead:

READING RECENTLY//

SOURCE DANCINGINTHEBUBBLE.TUMBLR.COM
SOURCE: DANCINGINTHEBUBBLE.TUMBLR.COM

Right now, I’m reading the book “Room” by Emma Donoghue. This book was recently made into a film starring Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay (see my movie review here). As I do movie reviews, I tend to pick novels that have been made into films (especially if the films were good). So for the past one year, I’ve read “The Martian” by Andy Weir, “The Maze Runner” trilogy by James Dashner and also JK Rowling’s Harry Potter heptalogy (over and over again). It felt good to be a bookworm once more, as books are portals to temporary freedom from real life. Not that life hasn’t been good for me, it’s just how the real world is so complicated.

“To acquire the habit of reading is to construct for yourself a refuge from almost all the miseries of life.”
― W. Somerset Maugham, Books and You

LISTENING RECENTLY//

There’s a few songs on my iTunes repeat list which I like listening to, songs that I can relate to or motivate me. There was a period of time where I like to listen to emotional love songs which makes me depressed. I realised how I was wallowing in self-pity and bitter against everyone. Why am I making myself unhappy? Listen to happy, if not hopeful songs that will lift your mood! Never underestimate the power of happy music. It is like a musical pick-me-up, a form of self-hypnosis or self affirmation to make your day better than before.

WATCHING RECENTLY//

SOURCE TUMBLR.COM
SOURCE TUMBLR.COM

Movie-watching is a passion, a hobby, a lifestyle and a job for me. Ever since I decided to focus on movie reviews for my site, it has somewhat become an addiction. My last film was Room, and the next few I have in mind are: Joy (Jennifer Lawrence), Our Brand is Crisis (Sandra Bullock), Dirty Grandpa (Zac Efron), The Revenant (Leonardo DiCaprio) and perhaps Concussion (Will Smith)…

TV-wise, I haven’t switched it on for the longest time. The only local drama I’ve watched for 2015/2016 is “The Dream Makers 2” (志在四方 2) as I love the first series from 2013. My favourite character was Jeanette Aw’s Zhao Fei Er (赵菲儿) as I felt that the situation the character was in from first series was very real. I was more of team Jason-Fei Er, but sadly, it was not the preferred choice.

Other than this drama, the rest of the shows were mainly light-hearted China variety films adapted from Korea such as Daddy Where Are We Going《爸爸去哪儿》, Dad Came Back《爸爸回来了》, With You All The Way《一路上有你》and We Are In Love《我们相爱吧》as they were featuring some of my favourite actors. Besides, I was trying to learn how the videos were edited to make it so engaging and entertaining!

USING//

Some readers have emailed me to ask me, which I thought will be good include it here. I am currently using a 13″ MacBook Pro (My Boyfriend) for all my photo/video/blog editing work and a iPhone 6S Plus Rose Gold (Husband!) for photography (unless stated otherwise).

WORKING + WRITING RECENTLY//

SOURCE THEMUSE.JEZEBEL.COM
SOURCE THEMUSE.JEZEBEL.COM

2015 was a year where I tried on many hats and experiment with the different ABCs. From Acting, Blogging and Coaching, I travelled, worked with clients to host media events and tried doing more Youtube videos by joining Beauty Bound Asia. Towards the end of the year, I joined Page Advisor to be their freelance copywriter, and also assisted Eden with his various aspects of Business.

There were so many things to do every day, sometimes till late nights (or early mornings) that I lost track of time as well as my goals. I had to push away many paid posts and delay sponsored reviews because of these commitments. I lost the motivation to blog because of the amount of typing I had to do in the day.

But I am back, and I’m glad to be back.

“I choose to write because it’s perfect for me. It’s an escape, a place I can go to hide. It’s a friend, when I feel out casted from everyone else. It’s a journal, when the only story I can tell is my own. It’s a book, when I need to be somewhere else. It’s control, when I feel so out of control. It’s healing, when everything seems pretty messed up.
And it’s fun, when life is just flat-out boring.”
― Alysha Speer

RECENTLY FEELING//

Disoriented and lost. I guess that’s what I feel right now. I am quite disappointed with my progress and achievements in 2015. Perhaps I was too greedy wanting to try many different things. Perhaps I was too trusting, believing in the best of people, only to be disappointed by their broken promises or backstabs.

At the same time, I feel loved too. There were friends who were willing to put down their work just to help me when I ask for assistance. There were veterans who were willing step in warn me before I make mistakes, and also offer advice in terms of life paths and dealing with people. There were people offering me help to achieve the goals I wish to fulfil.

RECENTLY THINKING//

SOURCE HTTP://CRASH2THESTARLIGHT.TUMBLR.COM
SOURCE HTTP://CRASH2THESTARLIGHT.TUMBLR.COM

In this 2016, what should I do? Should I follow my brain or follow my heart? I need to let go of some responsibilities. Which one? Job A helps boost my existing skills. Job B provides me with overseas opportunities. Job C gives me chances to further my passion, yet it drains me emotionally and mentally. It is a tough decision. But I have to set my mind to do it before I go insane.

RECENTLY LEARNING//

How Not To Be Too Hard On Yourself
I’ve learnt a lot from 2015, mainly about life, and friends. Nothing is permanent. BFF can become strangers in a blink of an eye. I’ve also learnt about the carrot, the egg and the coffee beans story. When each of these objects are subjected to pressure under the boiling water, each reacted differently. The carrot became soft and weak. The insides of the egg solidify. The ground coffee beans, instead changed the water.

When adversity (boiling water) knocks on your door, how do you respond? Are you the carrot that seems strong, but become soft and lose my strength with pain or hardship? Are you the egg that starts with a malleable heart, but after a breakup or some other trial, become hardened and stiff? Do you look the same on the outside, but become bitter and tough with a stiff spirit and hardened heart inside?

Or are you like the coffee bean which change the situation around you when things are at their worst and elevate yourself to another level? How do you handle adversity? Are you a carrot, an egg or a coffee bean?

In 2016, I am going to have enough courage to make the most of everything that comes along their way. The brightest future will always be based on a forgotten past; you can’t go forward in life until you let go of your past failures and heartaches.

REMINISCING RECENTLY//

SOURCE: HIGHSCHOOLMUSICAL3
SOURCE: HIGHSCHOOLMUSICAL3

My school life when everything was simple and straightforward, just like High School Musical. Being the school nerd, there’s no playing with feelings, there’s no cheating, there’s playboys coming to disrupt my life. Having idols simply because they are eye-candies and brighten up your life.

PLAN & RESOLUTIONS//

SOURCE TYIM5.TUMBLR.COM
SOURCE TYIM5.TUMBLR.COM

This is perhaps the first time in many years that I had difficulty coming up with a proper resolution to follow through.
Health & Fitness: To increase my working out frequency to 6 times a week.
Work: To learn how to compartmentalise my different jobs, duties and learn to say no when I can’t handle it.
Self: To volunteer and give more to charity. The type of happiness I get from doing this is different from Bubble tea!
Face my fears and insecurities, Stop pleasing everyone except myself.
Learn a new skill – be it driving or new language.
Love: Do not fall for gamophobic guys. Spend time on the one who will love me unconditionally. Don’t waste it on those who will contact me when they are bored, or when the conditions are right for them. I should be the only one, not one of the many. Love doesn’t hurt. Loving the wrong person does.

P.S. The last one is for all ladies out there. 🙂

It’s never too late to start over. If you weren’t happy with yesterday, try something different today. Don’t stay stuck. Do better.

Man, this took way longer than I thought it would. Now, share with me your “Life Recently”. I love reading (Remember?). Long stories. 🙂

xoxo
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18 thoughts on “Birthday Post | Life Recently”

  1. Wow, you really had a lot going on there. I read through this and if I could summarize or take away anything from this, it’s that you are actually doing well with these things.

    As a tarot reader reading for people, I’ve learned that a birthday is a symbolism of ending a current chapter and starting a new one. There are people who really wanted me to read for them on their birthdays. I usually give them advice on the “Four Corners” of their lives: emotional, mental, physical, and spiritual. Doing one productive activity for each of these corners can really bring about rewards on so many levels.

    PS: I just realized just now that this post was back in January. Wow. Well, ultra-belated happy birthday then? 😀

  2. You seems to have it all work out, planned and being done, but that would be a lot for me, but it really good that what your doing is passion and work at the same time.

  3. Choosing which job to go for is really hard especially when you need to compromise on some things. Is there a job where you can follow your passion, boost your existing skills, and provide you the convenience and be happy about it in the long term? 🙂 I hope you’ll find it soon!

  4. Happy birthday! And like you, I’ve read the Harry Potter series many times. I’m still mind blown by it. If I could go back in time, I’d go back to the time where I haven’t read it yet….just to feel the same emotions I did hahaha!

  5. I could relate to most of what’s in this post, especially on taking on too much work, that it’s hard to balance with everything else. I have a stable job, and blog on the side, I had to let go of some blog opportunities because of too much work. Anyway, here’s to making our 2016 better than 2015!

  6. Happy Birthday! I guess it’s not always easy answering how’s life is recently question. It’s great that you get to reflect on all the aspect of your life through this post. Good luck on your goals.

  7. You definitely had a great year last year and I hope it continues ’til this year. Decisions are hard to make, but always try to follow your heart. Belated happy birthday!

  8. I admire you for being able to handle all the tasks. Right now I feel like I have a lot to say to you. Anyways, about the music, before I also used to listen to love songs but I realized its just hurting me so why do I keep listening to it? Instead of listening to love songs I moved to Christian song. It really give me peace of mind and comfort. I feel like I’m in the hands of God.
    About the many task you have, it made me think twice should I pursue getting an MBA. I was thinking, can I manage my time? But as you’ve said learn to say no and please only yourself. I realized I must pursue because this is for myself and it’s been my dream. Unlike you, my 2015 I feel like I’ve done nothing so valuable. So this 2016 I will start making a difference in my life. God bless you and more power.

  9. That’s a beautiful read. Yes, I went through this phase of being totally dis-oriented. I think I still am to some extent! Deciding on job was a major major decision in my life too! Best wishes Tiffany!

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