Now is the time for reflections, they say. An entire year’s worth, it seems, is now open to investigation and incisive analysis. Twelve months of folly and foibles, work and worries, play and penance, all coming under the penetrating glare of a single eye, a kind one, I pray.
Let’s sit down first, and get comfortable. Find a beloved chair with well-worn cushions, your feet rested and your whole body at ease. A cup of freshly brewed coffee within easy reach, perhaps a small plate of your favourite biscuits would not be out of place?
Relax.
Let me tell you a story.
I could tell you that there was once a boy who suddenly found himself an adult after years of running around with all the cares in the world. He had turned twenty-eight, and that meant he had to learn to deal. Sure, he would still have all the worries and stress to combat daily, but now he had to move on in spite of all that. He had to learn to live.
He had no choice, really. Learn to live, or remain merely alive and breathing for the rest of your days. And so he began.
But this isn’t the story I’m telling you.
I could tell you about this guy who finally opened up his heart to all his secret passions after denying himself the pleasures and the terrors for what seemed like forever. He started writing (something he all but gave up since high school) and published his first stories online. He read in public, and in private too, for a select few. He felt alive again.
He ignored his own fears and doubts and did the unthinkable for someone who still had memories of being obese and ridiculed — he auditioned to become a fitness instructor and managed to complete the training. Some pro bono design efforts (amateurish, he thought) led to professional book cover work. He was amazed at what he could accomplish if he simply gave it a decent try. Simply believe.
But this isn’t the story I’m telling you.
I could tell you stories of lust and lustre, of falling head over heels and your world turning upside down, just like the best clichés are wont to prove. I could tell you that it’s a fine thing to be in love and also how terrible, that if the romance doesn’t kill you, all the demands and expectations after the honeymoon ends will.
I could tell you that, but we all know I’m too much of a hopeless romantic to even pretend for half a second that I don’t believe in Love. For I do, even after the relationship cannot hold, there is always love. And more love. I believe in second chances, and sometimes these are the lessons we have to learn to be a better lover, no, quite simply, to be a better person.
But this isn’t the story I’m telling you.
The story I am telling you is this: I am very fortunate; we all are, my friends. It is a blessing today to be alive and to be able breathe as freely. The year has seen its fair share of good and bad, but when I look back at it all, I can only see how much I have grown, how much I have changed. How much happier I am.
For one thing, I’m no longer the somewhat lost, restless young man in January who had no idea what the rest of his life might bring. Honestly, I still don’t but it doesn’t bother me anymore. I’ve met so many good and incredible people along the way and I’m proud to have shared part of our journeys together.
I have learned to love myself first above all, but instead of turning me into a selfish cad, it only makes it easier to love you all, my dear friends. So, you ask me, how does this story end? Well… I haven’t the faintest clue, folks.
What I do know for sure is that it’s been a pretty good year. A pretty damn good year. And I’m glad to have spent it with you.
Happy New Year, guys! Here’s to even better things to come in 2008! 
42 Comments
What a lovely story of hope. And I love your picture collage. There’s really a story to be told in all those beautiful faces.
may you have a fantabulous 2008, kenny! ^__^
and those pictures are lovely. =)
Oh I love that shot of Nick and I. Can you mail to me, please?
All my love and warmest wishes for you this new year.
Hugs
hi got here from your comments at my blog. thanks for dropping by and i am already love what you are doing here. seems like i found a fellow passionate writer. i have downloaded some of your short stories to enjoy later, at work now ha-ha. anyway, happy new year!
OOo..err..couldn’t recall when you took a pic of me. *Still scratching my head*
Anyway, glad 2007 is treating you well and may 2008 even a better year for you. Happy New Year FlirtyBoy!
inspirational. real. beautiful.
***** - Nic, Black Tie Daily
to love others, we must learn to love ourselves first. well said, Kenny.
ohh…happy 2008 too!
Lyrical Lemongrass
You know, dear, this is why I love your comments. You see things I don’t, and how remarkably true they are. I guess this is a story of hope above all… and hope realised. And these faces all tell their stories if only one paid closer attention…
Zaty
Fantabulous is exactly how I shall have my 2008, dear. Mucho gracias!
Sharanya
Yes, it’s one of my favourite shots of you and Nick. I’ll email it to you shortly. May the coming year see more of your dreams fulfilled, sweets.
*hugs hugs hugs*
yeap its a pretty darn good year celebrated with alot of foodies and food rite??
rokh
Hi there back! Thanks for dropping by too!
Hope you enjoy the stories… but do read them after work, okay? Wouldn’t want to get you into trouble on the last day of the year, hehe. Have a great 2008!
Precious Pea
Hehe, it was at FBB’s Potluck High Tea… But since you lot are anonymous bloggers, I didn’t put it up till now. With the collage, it’s up to the readers to guess who’s who — I’m not telling! Hehe.
And is that my new nick — FlirtyBoy? Aiyo…
Nic (KHKL)
I’m touched by your kind words. It was really good to have met you at My Elephant last Fri. Wish had more chance to chat with ya though. Let me know when you’re up again from S’pore and we’ll go makan together, okay?
lotsofcravings
That’s quite true — one of the best parts of 2007 is meeting so many foodies and floggers — as I keep telling my other friends, there ain’t no other group quite as warm and friendly and altogether perfect company! Agree, yes?
coming fresh from some coveted flirtatious award
from some glittering retro bash would require not an incisive but a more explosive Xpo-se from
your youngish energetic aura…
… to complete another
pulsating New Year we are sure, countdown begins
…n o w …
good stuff. damn good stuff. touching too. sniff.
i’m glad it’s been a pretty good year for you. and that you’ve viewed the cup as half full.
here’s to a wonderful 2008. i’m sure it’ll be even better.
yin
team bsg
Hmm, I still think I was maligned by that Lyrical Lemongrass… I where got flirtatious? Should have awarded me Most Shy Shy Blogger instead lah… *coughs coughs*
And the countdown does begin NOW!
icelebratelife
My dear Yin, I really love your nick cos that’s how we should all see Life — as something fantastic to celebrate. Maybe my new nick should be “icelebratelifetoo” instead of that obviously untrue Flirtatious Blogger moniker. Ahem.
It has been a pretty good year for me, and the cup is more than half full. This year, it’s filled to the brim and the cup doth runneth over, as the Bard puts it.
May 2008 be even better for all of us! *hugs*
Lovely summary of your 28 years… but too short la. (And Most Shy Shy Blogger? …need Fisherman Friends? hehe)
Have a great new year, Kenny! I am glad you love yourself more now and of coz, from here, there would be more and more lucky people to be loved by you, and love you in return.
very happy new year, kenny! may 2008 be great
Hear hear to a better year ahead!
teckiee
Haiya… it’s not a summary of my 28 years… just my 28th year alone. If 28 years har, must put up photoalbum oledi…
And are you mocking my Most Shy Shy Blogger non-award? Hehe.
Gina
Oh actually, there were many more photos that I wanted to put up… I just ran out of time. I’m so anal about selecting, discarding, re-selecting, Photoshopping, then discarding again, compiling all these snapshots… it nearly drove me wild! But I’m well-chuffed with the results, so it was so worth it!
And such sweet things you say. I’m hoping the same for you, dear: “there would be more and more lucky people to be loved by you, and love you in return.”
Bibliobibuli & Piggles
Happy 2008 for you two lovely ladies too, and may it be a great year!
Great post. I’m glad 2007 was a good year for you! I hope 2008 will be even better! Happy New Year!
beautifully written and something everyone can relate too, we should all be thankful everyday with great people around us, bringing us unforgettable experiences. That’s all that matters end of the day, isn’t it? Cheers to 2008 Kenny and, er, um … are you upholding your title to 2008?
It is an honour to have meet at the dinner, it was a fab one! Although we were not able to exchange words but hope will soon in 2008. Have a great 2008 and many returns.
This year is gone but it had also made us a little strong.
The path was long but we walked it with a song
There were fears and tears but we also had some reasons for cheers
Wishing you and your family a blessed new year
Cheers,
cibol
wokandspoon
Thanks, dear. 2008 will definitely be better! We will make it so!
FoodieLianne
Unforgettable experiences — that’s exactly what a great life is made of! And I do think I will hold up to my title in 2008, and then some…
Big Boys Oven
The honour was mine, sir… and words shall be exchanged this year. Have a fantastic year ahead!
cibol
Quite perfect, quite so. Cheers!
OMG Kenny… beautiful beautiful words…*sniff*
“It is a blessing today to be alive and to be able breathe as freely.”
So true. We tend to take things for granted at times.
Have a blast in this new year, Kenny - looking forward to your future entries of 2008!
happy new yr u flirtatious storyteller!! keep churning out stories like this to keep me entertained all summer
wished i had the chance to get to know u better in person that nite :>
ezura
I’m just happy to have you reading my blog, dear. Miss you so, can’t wait to see you again in the new year. *hugs hugs hugs*
kookymonsta
Thanks! I’m looking forward to my 2008 entries, if I can get around writing them, haha.
Jun
Yes, I do take it upon myself as a personal responsibility to regale one of our country’s future surgeons (assuming you return to our dreamy shores) with tales of thunder and lightning and the occasional whiny whimpers. Actually, not so occasional, hehe.
Lovely pics….I couldn’t remember when you took that too! Anyway, here’s to another great year ahead, a year of friendships, fun, food and most importantly happiness, peace and love.
Dearest Kenny,
I love this post that is bursting with pride, love and serenity. What a fantastic year it has been and heres to 2008! May it be all that you wish it to be!
x
wmw
Now, without giving away which photo is actually (and thus protecting your much-treasured anonymity), let me just say I took it during another well-loved foodblogger’s potluck high-tea… the one where we played Cranium?
(I still can’t believe poor Nipples had to hum John Lennon’s ‘Imagine’ — I love that song but so susah to hum, no?)
Paprika
Pride, love and serenity? What a wonderful way to describe how I feel about 2007! Thanks! *hugs*
hey no fair… i wanted to post of pics of my memories too… now i can’t do it unless it looks like i copied u… no fair…
hahaha… jz kidding i really don’t care what ppl say abt me anymore… lovely lovely compilation i must say.. .how come my picture is missing? *owh* ya… cudn’t take a pic with u on our first meeting without looking like a complete cracko…
happy new year kenny *hUgZ*… i’ll see ya on the other side no?
asstha
There is no originality left in this world, haven’t you heard of that, dear?
So please, do go ahead and post some pictures too; I’d love to see your 2007 in graphic summary. And as for why your pic is missing, let’s just say yours isn’t the only one … I’ve met so many wonderful new friends this year but I just didn’t have the time to search, select and Photoshop all of them… perhaps come end-2008, I will get a head start on this year’s collage…
So, are you reserving a square on it?
hey kenny …
at least a good start for dim sum
wish u had a blasting 2008 …
Kenny, sure, lets meet up for makan! I’m back most of the weekends (except this week)!
chee how
Here’s to you and a blasting 2008 too!
Nic (KHKL)
Makan sounds good… Facebook me lah one weekend!
that was beautifully written. i’m glad you had a good year
hope 2008 is another good one 
Lovely post, as always. Happy New Year to you Kenny. Make it a good one.
carrot & Eliza
Thanks so much, my dears. You ladies have a happy 2008 too!
Bla bla bla.
You didn’t say shit about what you actually did in 2007.
The only thing I can garner from this is that you took, or were involved in some way with 16 photographs.
Oh wait… for some reason I totally scrolled over the middle section there. Okay - strike what I wrote. 32 photographs.
Fitness instructor? The guy who can’t ride a bicycle? Ha ha - well I guess now you can. I hope I get some credit in your personal fitness resume for that.
Good luck and have a great 2008!
Mikey
Stone
“You didn’t say shit about what you actually did in 2007.”
That would be a cue for you to actually read the rest of the blog to find out. Dumbass.
And I’ll have you know I can totally ride a bike now. And swim. And do a backbend. And… Well, I can do a lot more things now.
You have a great 2008 too, Mikey…
when you say “the rest of the blog” - are you referring to the rest of this particular entry - or the whole backlog of a lifetime of kenny-ramblings in order to paint me a new picture of this guy I haven’t been paying to much attention to in the last 5 years?
You’ev got to remember that I’m a slow, easily-distracted reader.
No doubt you can do a lot more things now - but don’t forget your true talents. When’s the last time you made a 2-meter-high snow-a-sauras?
Stone
Just the rest of 2007, dude. How hard was that to understand? Or are you just being… ya know, you?
And don’t remind me about our Snowbearousaurus (With Life-Size Tits!!)… too many good memories… And that Wong Kar-Wai movie marathon, man…
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