A wrench in the plans

First visit here in the new year, and I took some time to read all my previous posts. It's always interesting to get a peek into how I might have thought or felt at certain points in life.

Six months on now, or actually the start of the 8th month really. With the virus situation now taking hold of the world and sweeping away travel plans, this seems a good time to pause, reflect, and give thanks.

Thankful for...
1. The previous stage in life and company that helped me grow in leaps and bounds through my 20s.

• Time flew. 1-2 years became 4-5 years, and then eventually 7 years. Gasp. 
• Finessed my third language and somehow picked up the basics for a fourth. 
• I was glad to be at a company and in roles which valued words and showed it: Active, proper, casual. I will always remember that feeling of "Ah, this is it." when I first saw the header of the contract and terms. 
• Interacted with so many managers and a whole spectrum of them, and learnt about myself through that. 
• The early lesson of knowing my own value and never committing to a company before numbers. Some thing tells me this will be an invaluable lesson, and best learnt early on. 
• Knowing that I have the confidence to stand in front of regional directors and managers to present; that I could prepare, and the flow would come. 
• The chance to take on roles and responsibilities that I would not have otherwise known about even a year prior. Machine learning, fraud, compliance, operations, management, audits. Whole new worlds. How many have a chance to do so much in such a short time, especially within that company? 
• Funnily enough, also knowing that while I learnt more of valuing myself, it was good to truly know that I could let go of monetary value to pursue 

2. Family 

• For all the good and not-so-smooth that comes with family, no one in my immediate family has questioned my decision. No one. How amazing is that? Even my grandma doesn't ask me face-to-face, and I have lunch with her every 2-3 weeks. 
• Being able to take on a reno project for PP last year. Learnt so much plus so much fun. 
• The youngest graduating and coming back, and being able to get an internship pretty quickly. 
• Having the means to still take a trip each with mom and pop. Patience level definitely still needs work though heh. 

3. Chosen Family 

• Having a network of wonderful, inspiring, warm, loving friends, in many places. So, so lucky.
• That a couple close friends got married, especially the darn good friend, woohoo. Moving fast and even looking to adopt a furkid now. And some other good friends recently entered the holy realm of motherhood. So happy for everyone. 
• Being on fun terms with most of the folks whom I play my sports, and even able to travel with a few of them. 

4. My circumstances 

• With the recent global situation, I have to say right now there's really nowhere else I'd rather be. So fortunate to be born in a place with good governance, planning, and top-notch facilities. 
• Parts 2 and 3 may be on hold but how lucky am I that I was able to complete travels Parts 1 and 1.5 (the parents).
• And that critical thinking and gut feeling had me holding off on booking the tickets for Part 2. 
• That I continue to be healthy and fitter than before, thanks to wonderful incentives like credit for 10,000 steps per day. What other government gives you money for staying healthy and fit?!
• Health. Health. Health. For someone who often spent infancy and childhood sick and easily sick, and then the injuries plus eye scare 5-6 years ago, the last 3 years have been full of blessings. Keeping my fingers crossed that it stays that way! 
• On a sidenote, dropped around 7-8 kilos since last August. Most of it slowly over Travels Part 1 with the increased daily activity, but the quickest drop recently was all thanks to the intense 4 weeks at the bistro bar. Lol. Reminded me how much fun F&B can be, but also how I should move on if it doesn't have anything new for me. 

5. Myself 

• That I could keep this direction in mind for so many years, since 2015 I think, and now still have the courage to take half a step forward. 
• That I continue to like reading. 
• That my heart didn't drop with the recent market reds. 
• That I had the discipline the last few years, so that I continue to have the means to contribute to the house in a small way, and maintain living standards. 
• That I'm often so eccentric in my tastes and non-mainstream in my consumerism. 
• That I like to cook! Recent accomplishments include: 노각무침, 숙추무침,꽁나물 탕,양파 장아찌, 겉절이, 가지밥, 味玉. More to come! 
• That I continue to take on tasks of all kinds, and keep on learning. For a while, learning pretty much equated to learning on the job or while employed; time to overturn that. 　

Pray that I stay humble and open-hearted, that I have the courage to keep on my path whatever it may be, yet the wisdom to stop and smell the flowers and rest, and to know when to settle for the next chapter. Pray that I always choose to be kind.  Health and happiness for all. 

I really need to get back on to the bike lessons argh. And Espanol, and Norsk. But really, the bike. Not sure why that's proving to be so hard right now though. Odd.