Year of the Horse at Last!

I have been waiting for what I can call 'my year.' The last 3 years have been the most trying and most destitute of my life. It was a phase of major changes in my life such as closing a business I nurtured for three years, raising a family and bearing a second son, and quitting a job I loved and entirely changing my career field from Education to Human Resources. With all these come challenges in my financial, emotional, social and even psychological spectrum.

As I assessed my life and my performance, I think I sucked big time. And yet, I am happy that the challenges came at this point of my life as I have made major realizations as well. They are basic ones, things like planning and sticking with your plans, thoroughly thinking and rethinking before making any decisions, making investments and saving what little you earn (as I was not born with a platinum spoon in my mouth.) I have realized that (actually I heard this from the radio) that there are four stages in a (wo)man's life based on Maslow's Hierarchy of needs--(1) the stage of a problem existing and being ignorant about it, (2) the stage of realizing that a problem exists but you not knowing about it, (3) the stage of realization that a problem exists and that you can act on it; (4) and lastly, the stage when one is is successful solving a problem. With my major problems in life, I am personally still at stage 3 when I am still trying to learn about solutions to life's many challenges.

As a mother, wife, daughter, and leader, I have failed many times, but as the phoenix I believe myself to be, I rise and try again, and realize the power and strength I have within. And when I focus my mind and my heart on what I do, there is no one more proud but myself, and this results to an even higher respect for myself and my esteem. I have realized my worth maintaining my foothold on the ground, that enough of tolerance for abuse, that like many successful people I, too, can be successful.

2014 proves to be promising, and I--without giving myself away too much--am very excited that it is finally the Year of the Horse--as tattooed on my shoulder to be symbolic of my grace and power. Write ups say that this year would reward people with 'relief' and 'recompense' for hard work--which I have been doing for the last three years! And so the last three years go to my experience bank.

My new year's resolution is to work just as hard, to plan well and to stick with my plans. Kindly add to lose 10 lbs. ;)

To the people I offended, your cunning probably deserves it. To the people who declared they love me this year, I love you, too. You deserve my love and respect, too. You know who you are. To the people I do not wish to talk to anymore, I do not wish anything for you. Life will take its toll on your useless existence.

Happy New Year, everyone!