Remembering 2008 and advancing into 2009

It had taken me almost the whole of January 09 to find the time to write my reflections for 2008 and resolutions for the year 2009.

2008 was another year to remember and I will review the year using a couple of sub-headings!

First let’s start from Health, Exercise and Keeping Fit:

Going to gym regularly became the practice though pretty reluctant as I struggled to wait up early to start my trainings as early as 6.30am in the morning. However this practice did not continue later in the year as I started to go to gym in the evening. My muscles are tone but I do not see any significantly decrease in weight!

In the later half of the year, I started going to the gym opposite Takashimaya so that I could pop down into Kinokuniya after the work out!

On sickness, nothing major except the normal “morning flu” and bouts of headaches that progressed to migraine on several occasions.

Next will be on Career, Jobs and Living:

In the first 3 months of 2008, I was still miserable in a job that promised but never delivered, tasked to perform mission impossible with no option to say “NO” and a boss that attributed your behaviours to the education levels of your parents (meaning if your parents are not educated, then their ability to bring up their children to persons of ability, integrity and good character is questionable). By the 4th month of the year, I had left this “bottom of the well” to a place of “higher learning”. I thought I will lose my performance bonus but it seems naught! The new job provides new challenges, pretty of “walking about” and learning.

Before I left the old workplace, I was given an opportunity to organize and even lecture in a workshop. This was a great experience and I also got to go on board of warship!

Then we go on to Professional Development, Trainings, Conference and Publications:

Seems pretty a diverse headings but all linked (I think so).

First I venture to better myself by enrolling for the Specialist Diploma in Workplace Safety and Health at the local Polytechnic which I completed by September. This diploma eliminated many of my fine brain cells and imaginations. Good new was my typing skill has improved!

In my new job, I was also required to attend trainings to learn the basic trades of the job. I was also certified in CPR-AED and hopefully in 2009, I will receive my Instructor qualification.

In the first half of the year, I finished the formatting of a book and brought it to publication. This book was very well received when it went on sale during a related conference in September. For the conference, I was part of the publication team where my formatting skill is further honed and fine-tuned. I guess nothing brings more satisfaction when you see the fruit of your effort being published! From publishing the two books, I learnt much on ISBN and its applications!

I took my second try with Law and it din turn out well, thus I decided to give it up academically.

Now we move on to Friends, Family, Entertainment and Life:

My nephew is born in March and he is such a darling! Many of my friends gave birth in 2008 too and one of them gave birth to her second son! I guess meeting with friends were not that frequent so 2009 must be better!

No traveling in 2008 outside the country and the furthest I went was probably Changi Airport!

Many friends got married too and I was invited to be the “sister” for two of the weddings!

I could not remember the number of times I went to the cinema but I did purchase many VCDs and DVDs to make up for the “loss in opportunity”. Books are always my constant companions but I shan’t do them justice here as I have decided to write a list of books and short reviews later (This should be my 2009 resolutions!).

On a personal note, I gave up my “obsession” or rather hopeless insistence on somebody! Yeah, please cheer for me!

Lastly and an important component is Gakkai Activities:

Beginning of the year, I got myself involved in the Future Division’s Musical entitled “The Little Prince”. This was a musical performed by Students for students and we did 3 shows altogether. The music was original and not copied from any existing pieces!

In October, we had a Chapter Friendship meeting that began planning since the beginning of the year. I took part in my first ever hip-hop dance. Well, most of the time, I did more singing than dancing! It was most significant as we managed to gather most of the young YWDs from the chapter in this dance!

Friday Rendevous workshops started in April 08 on every 3rd Friday of the month. We had grooming, EQ, hair styling make-up, Aroma therapy and even counsellng. As part of the workshop committee, I tried to attend all the sessions. I was the moderator for the session on SOKA education where I “interviewed” 2 graduates from Soka University Japan and US respectively.

I ended my short stunts in the English district to move to a Chinese district in the same chapter.

This year I finished my 1 million daimoku which I started in 2007.

There were other activities but too many to write them here and I really cannot get the diary habit started! 2008 was a year of change and guess changes were seen as the world economy took a turn down and a new president for the USA!

2009 will be another challenging year and I have yet to set my resolutions. However this will be done!

I pray for world peace and heighten environmental awareness among all! Someone told me that a slowing economy will do the environment good as pollution will be reduced with decreased industrial productions and reduction in transportations!

“We need to awaken to a common consciousness of being all inhabitants of Earth. This consciousness is not to be found in some distant place. It will not be found on a computer screen. It lies in our hearts, in our ability to share the pain of our fellow human beings. It is the spirit that says: "As long as you are suffering, whoever you are and whatever your suffering may be, I suffer also."

- Words of Wisdom from Daisaku Ikeda