Reflection

Looking back on 2009, perhaps I should make a summary of all the main things that happened this year. There are only 11 (almost 10) days left of it and it is perhaps inevitable that one feels a certain sense of sadness, of loss, at the passing of one year into the next. Even though the measurement of time is such an abstract concept, there is something infinitely concrete about labeling this year as 2009, and closing it - done and dusted, to face the coming new year with a messy concoction of feelings.

Well the early parts of the year were spent preparing for the IB exams. I pretty much shut myself into a little hidey-hole as my family and friends can testify to. I learnt so much from the IB. Both in terms of academic syllabus and also about life in general (and how to organise my own). I miss studying and working the way I used to. 7 months spent sans intellectual stimulation is a form of mental torture. So anyway, I took the exams, didn't get the perfect score I wanted, entered depression mode for several weeks, and finally managed to pull myself out of it. I realised that life really does have to go on whether or not you miss by one point. I can say that this certainly helped:

Due to the fact that I had so much free time on my hands, I frequented the gym like, well, a gym freak. Gym is awesome. There is nothing more satisfying than working up a sweat and screaming your lungs out in RPM (for me it seems that my mouth works more than my legs). And I've got a great bunch of gym buddies who make the daily experience so very fun. I made a lot of new friends and bonded in the way that only fitness freaks can.

And my love for running was certainly positively reinforced by all the events I took part in. I used to shun competitive sports (I still do) but the occasional race really does give you that extra motivation and commitment to push just a little further.

Powerman 2009, our team Airborne got second place:

Tanjung 10km Run, I got first place in the Women's Open:

Penang Bridge International Marathon, I came fifth in the Women's Open:

And all the little things that happened this year: Finding a new love for trance music, getting my first iPod, making new friends, discovering things about myself, learning to accept, learning how to be grateful, finishing the compiling of my book of poetry (to be published soon, people!), developing my writing techniques, receiving presents from people, making presents for people, going for holidays, spending time with my family, going for parties, having quiet nights in, having late night chats with some of the most wonderful friends I could ask for, falling down, getting up, crying, smiling, laughing, learning, sighing, breathing, running, being. It is good to be alive. And may the coming year be even more exciting and challenging as this one was. Here's to a new adventure; my new life in a foreign place.