Xmas @ Midvalley Megamall, KL
Resolutions.
You know it’s coming close to the end of the year when everyone starts drawing up lists. Lists of Christmas gifts yet to be bought (and hurry, while the sales are still on!), lists of friends and family to be invited to parties, lists of a year’s worth of achievements at work in hopes of a juicy bonus, and on and on.
But most of all, we draw up lists for the coming year, lists of things we want to “absolutely get done, by hook or by crook, this time round, I swear, really, seriously, I’m not joking…”
Such as losing that five kilos so that you can fit into that itsy-bitsy almost transparent bikini in time to hit the beaches in June. Getting that promotion. Learning French or Japanese or Spanish (or if that fails, just dining and dating in that general direction, ahem).
Speaking of dating, I have one friend who drew up a five-point action plan to get himself a girlfriend before he turns 33 next year. Dude is determined and I wish him all the best yet I can’t help but wonder if Life will accede to our spreadsheets and schedules any more than someone would fall for us on the strength of our Powerpoint presentations (“…and on the next slide, my investment portfolio…”) — or would they?
Me, I have no lists to draw up. Instead I pull from my drawer something I wrote in the beginning of this year. Things I wanted to have:
- A less stressful job
- More money, please
- A place of my own
- Stronger, healthier, fitter
- Friends I can count on
- Someone to love and to be loved in return
- Feel better about myself, to be simply happy
(Okay, maybe it isn’t very poetic or epic, but it is just a list. Or so I keep telling myself.)
And with pleasure, and with surprise, and with much gratitude in my heart, I tick every darn item off that list. Every single one. They’ve come to me in a variety of packages, some quite different from what I had expected but acceptance makes more of everything.
Gosh, for all my ranting and whining and all the bloody drama, I’m one lucky, lucky bastard. And I know it. Perhaps this is the biggest blessing: the awareness of all the good in my life and being very, very grateful for it.
Thank you. Thank you all of you for being a part of my life this year, for helping me learn so much, for supporting me through the worst of it, and celebrating with me through the best of it. Thank you simply for being here. I love you guys! 
So… Tell me now, what are the things you are grateful for in 2007?
32 Comments
It’s the surprises that hit us when we least expect it. Almost like Christmas came early and Santa screwed up his planning and started delivering goodies in April. In my case, it was a life-sized package in a 65kg (or thereabouts) frame. *wink* For the rest of the stuff I’m grateful for, go read KLue lar. *ahem*
Lyrical Lemongrass
Well, if you are interested, that life-sized package in a 65kg frame has managed a gain of 1.2kg in the past month alone due to the wonderful influence of his boo. *cue Disney music*
And KLue, did you say?
If no drama, then no fun lor.
I think I drew up some resolutions early this year too, but as usual, I’d forget by the end of the year. Even if I wrote them down, that little piece of paper is missing somewhere haha! Yes, I have no aim. Sad.
Stuffs that I’m grateful for… Hmmm…
I think I’ll do a blog post about it and you can read it there!
Merry Christmas to you, Kenny!
Wow. You replied really fast to my post, man. Thanks for the comfort. I really hope so.
And what? It’s time to make resolutions? ALREADY?! =)
guess am really grateful that i managed to spend less money and save more money lol…
kookymonsta
Merry Xmas to you too!
And for some reason, this made me laugh out loud, inadvertently: “Yes, I have no aim. Sad.”
Oh you should have a chat with me; I’m the King of No Aim. Heck, I’m the King of Sad too. Except, you know, I’m happy.
The Angry Medic
Screw resolutions; it’s time to reflect!
*someone asks in a little voice: “and the difference is?”*
MeiyeN
Me too! Though I could have saved so much more if I had tried harder… Well, there’s always 2008, no?
things that i’m grateful for in 2007?
hmm….wonderful friends that i’ve made, especially you whom i noe WILL be there for me. (u will won’t u..blekk..!)
the holidays and trips that i’ve managed to go to and of cuz.. the love of my life.. ;o)
happy holiday kenny! and hope all your wishes will come true,, well ok lets me realistic, not all, but at least 70% of them OK?
we should go yum cha when I get back!
Spiffy
Of course we will be here for you… like lovers, good friends are forever, or at least till someone better comes along!
Kidding! I’m kidding! Stop hitting me! Ouch, ouch, ouch!
sulee
Hope all of yours (or at least 70%, haha) comes true too. And most definitely yes on the yum cha… will email you my mobile number, ok?
*wheeee-s in giddyexcitement*
eeeediootttt…..! *whack* *whack*
Spiffy O Spiffy…
What’s with me and women being violent towards me? Sigh…
heyyy…! that happened like months ago kay? there is no need to bring that up again is there? =P
Spiffy
Thought you’d know me by now… I ALWAYS bring up ancient history…
What to do, I’m such an old fuddy-duddy ma…
Year end.. it’s all about list. But I list my plans till end of the year… no resolutions. I am not a resolution person because I never keep them! I have been telling myself to lose weight for the past 20 years and I have given up! Hahahha!
May you always be well and happy, Kenny.
yay you, for being able to tick off every item on the list!
i didn’t make any resolutions or lists, because, well, I don’t ever stick to them 
but i guess i’m most grateful for having friends who’ve been there for me throughout everything i’ve been through this year (good and bad).
emmm… emmm… resolutions… make new friends n reconnect with old ones…
at least i got to meet da man in da flesh b4 2007… really kenny… u shud not run away…. i dun bite…
hv a lot of things to reflect on…will post dat up soon. cheerios… *hugz*
gina
Actually, I’m not a real big believer in resolutions either. Years past, time and again I have made resolutions which only serve as a reminder at the year’s end on how little I have achieved and how much I have failed.
This year, however, I did put the list aside. Not so much resolutions than true desires for myself. But I set out instead to investigate and explore as much of myself as possible — through writing, design, fitness, blogging, opening myself up even more to others — and I believe the sum effect has been tremendous.
Everything has come into play and into its own right place. I started the year off feeling miserable and unsure as ever about my life, a rigid person in a world of constant change. I’m still amazed at how the year is ending.
I have so much now, so much good and pure and fantastic in my life. I am truly happy, even in midst of daily toil and troubles. It’s a great thing to be alive and Alive!
carrot
Friends like those are friends indeed and in deed, aren’t they? We don’t need many but those few who stick by us and whom we stick by… these few we pray are for life.
asstha
Hehe, yeah we finally managed to meet up (and I’ve always great encounters with fellow bloggers and readers) and I won’t run away (never did, my dear, hehe). But.
You do have quite a bite. A very nice one. *growlssss and purssss*
I’m grateful for my sight as I had a close call to losing my right eye vision in 2006. Had two operations, once in June and Nov 2006 :o)
All those resolutions… I have only manage to met one before. The rest are a list of things I look back and laugh about. I never had the will power or the discipline.
wmw
That’s something to be grateful for alright. Sometimes I forget how blessed I am just to have all my basic senses (and limbs) intact. We never know how much we need them till they’re gone.
teckiee
Trust me, will power is not something I’m strong on, hehe. But the ability to look back on our weaknesses and failures (perceived or real) and laugh about them — that’s an achievement alone, dear. Well done!
oh man… those things you want are life-long challenges. i think many has died without getting it…
ok, i am being morbid… sorry… lol!
Wow ur fren set his eyes in getting a gf eh?Hehehe!! Hey the pix looks good! Mid Valley right? I haven’t got the chance to check it out yet. As for me I have no plans in looking for one. My aim is Australia and I dun want any commitments to distract my dream in migrating to that beautiful country and leave all these here.
Aah beautiful Australia… wait for me!!
Oh Merry Christmas!!
zewt
“those things you want are life-long challenges”
I couldn’t agree with you more, bro. I do want to point out though that meeting these challenges begin with baby steps, and we see it as such, we don’t have to wait a lifetime to fulfill them in some sense at least. (More on this in a future blog entry, methinks.)
Nastasshea @ Nesh
Thanks, I love the Xmas decor at Midvalley this year (though they outdo themselves every year, amazingly) — so fairytale-ish and warm. (Wish I didn’t have such a dumb expression on my face, gacks!)
All the best with heading Down Under, dear, but don’t dismiss Life’s other plans for you while chasing your dreams. If the Right Person turns up, geography may well turn out to be a convenient excuse for more travelling, no?
Merry Xmas, both of ya!
greatful that i left my old job; got my health back and had a big regret (but taught me a huge lesson). not as colourful as yours i guess :p. Merry xmas!
Well, not really the same with my list but I think there are some similarities in some parts.
Grateful of in 2007? I got another job back in my hometown. I’m grateful for that. Maybe for the part that I got a job but not the in my hometown part .. I find myself missing KL badly.
sc
Getting your health back on track is a pretty big thing in itself, and that’s something we all ought not to take for granted. Good health enables us to enjoy everything else good in our lives, and that’s mighty colourful I should think.
cibol
Well, I guess I’d miss KL too if I were elsewhere now, but who knows? It’s worth the attempt to love wherever we are cos that’s where we are, no?
Hmm…time for me to start doing a review on 2007 and a resolution for 2008 hor? But then again, i shall stick with the review as resolution for me, is a waste of time cos I never stick to it. Hehehe.
basically for the yr 2007, I’m grateful for all things academic. I’ve got da chance to further my studies in a local U, i’ve got my desired course, and i’ve got some pretty good results in my finals. And yes, I got my own laptop for goodness sake!
My resolutions wud be more holidays! LOL! I hope my family r healthy and thriving, and I’ll continue to strive for better results.
Great blog dude! I’ve downloaded your short stories and will try to read them all…what i’m grateful for this year? good health, good friends and a start of a flog! need to watch the weight, though…
Precious Pea
Hehe, I guess most of us do have problems sticking with resolutions. Upon reflecting, I think the only reason I came through for once this year was cos I forgot about the resolutions … and then they were fulfilled, like fairy wishes, utterly unexpected.
kyh
That’s a great list of accomplishments there! And I share your sentiments for next year, but in my case, it’s simply to have some vacation! (Haven’t had any at all this year!)
Nic (KHKL)
Thanks for downloading the stories… Looking forward to more great reviews on your flog… though that may be counter-productive on the weight-watching, no?
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