Notes to myself for a bright new 2017!

What's good people ! It's 2017 ! What are your New Years resolution(s) ? Honestly until now, I never really took New Years resolutions seriously. I mean - if you wanted to change or do something, you can do it anytime of the year ! Why do you need to wait until the next year to start aiming for that goal ? Right ? .... Well this year I said "What the heck" and decided to follow the trend for once and set actual resolutions that I will (try) to follow in 2017.

Here are those resolutions :)

1. Do things for 'me'.

Somehow in 2016, I had a particular experience that made me think "Hey life is short ! Maybe I should do things that I want to before it's too late".

I can't lie, I've always been a person who cares about family and friends and I've always loved giving and caring to make those people around me happy (I'm pretty nice). However throughout 2016, I asked myself "What have I done to make MYSELF happy lately ?" ... and after thinking over and over .. I had no answer. My mind was blank. From that moment, I just felt like a year, 2 years, 3 years, even 10 years just had gone by so fast that I thought I'd better just start doing things that I wanted to do before it's too late.

You guys might be wondering "So what are those things?" .. are they things like getting a tattoo ? Skinny dipping ? Bungie jumping ?..... Ermmm.. not exactly. I'm talking about doing things that I enjoy and will further develop myself as a person - things like yoga (6 months in training now !) , translation and language skills ( English / Japanese / Thai ), writing (Shibuya Papaya woot woot !), traveling to new places (see northern lights ?), cooking (not great at it but it's fun to create!), art (draw & paint ), and lastly develop my long lost musical side - playing an instrument or singing maybe? (believe it or not I'm a music freak and used to sing around the house since I was 10).

In reality, doing things that you love may "cost", but as long as those "things" are something that will better develop you as a person then I think it's worth the investment. I believe the more you try to develop your skills on something (that you love), or just trying to learn something new (that you always wanted to try), or even just getting a new experience of a lifetime (sky diving !) - all of these things will not only make you happy but it will help you become a better version of yourself. I think you'll learn to love yourself more / be happy with who you are as a person and surely new doors/ opportunities will open in life ❤︎

2. Appreciate what I already have.​

This is such a cliche but - I would like to appreciate more the people and things I have already in my life. I'm guessing I'm like many of you where we tend to seek or dream of some things that we do not have. You know how they say "It's always greener on the other side" - yes this true only when you don't appreciate what is already infront of you. I've dreamt of having a successful career with a beautiful family and maybe living in Hawaii - but guess what, life doesn't go the way it does in your dreams sometimes.

In 2016, I realized that I hadn't been seeing my family (parents and sister), or taking time to see my really good friends, or even having good adventure with my hubby much. I was so focused on things that ended up not going as planned and forgot to simply look around to realize that my life is already full of greatness - I have loving parents and a sister, a wonderful supportive husband, 2 crazy but adorable Boston terriers (Kuro & Sora❤︎ IG : @kurosorawoof), a good amount of years in career experience, wonderful lifelong friends, an ok amount in my bank account (good enough to pay the bills for now), and much more.

Of course I wanted to be more successful, rich, have kids by now, but hey - what I already have now is pretty awesome already ! Of course, that doesn't mean I will give up being motivated to reach my dreams/goals, but I have become more appreciative to the people and things around me in this lifetime. Without them, I wouldn't be the person that I am now and my life wouldn't be as awesome as it is! I plan to spend more time with my family, hubby, friends, and of course my boys (doggies) as I come to realize that they are really important aspects in my life.

3. Be healthy!

I can't lie, after the big 30 my body has pretty much changed ALOT. I used to party like there was no tomorrow until my early 30s (hmm early 30s ? How old am I now? Not telling ya !) and somewhat be sorta ok the next day. BUT NOW, I literally would feel like I'm dying if I end up partying hard the night before. Alcohol equals to the evil toxic drink from hell for me now. While I am typing this up though, let me remind you that the last time I partied and puked was only a month ago.. so this whole "being healthy" thing is a HUGE reminder for me to take it easy for my body from now on !

Putting the alcohol issue aside, my family are natural health enthusiasts. So juicing (... ok haven't done that for awhile) and exercising (yoga ! jogging !) just comes natural to me, but I haven't really been careful with the foods that I have been eating lately and along with all the traveling my body had become a bit worn out. Ultimately I sorta got sick.

It's not like I haven't been taking care of my health at all, but all this sickness just made me realize even more that without a healthy self, nothing else is possible! So from now on I plan to juice at least 3 times a week, cook healthy meals at least once a day, and do yoga at least 3-4 times a week ! I hope to become more fit/firm and stay forever young hehe !

4. Letting go.

I'm sure every single person has at least one bad habit - whether it may be hanging out with toxic crowds, being addicted to video games, or being addicted to sugary sweets, smoking, etc.... whatever they may be if you know it's not good for you then it's time to LET IT GO!

For myself - (relating to what I wrote above) I will let go of partying too hard ! I need to let go of the fact that I am not in my 20s anymore (ha !), let go of the people who do not have good influences on me, let go of thoughts of regrets or worries that have already passed. I will let it go, let it gooooo like how Elsa and Anna in "Frozen" did.

Tomorrow is a new day and you are able to paint your day any way you like it. Just make sure that your canvas is clean so you are able to paint a beautiful rainbow ! - Yup this is another note to myself :)

Last but not least - please have an awesome 2017 guys ! Whatever your resolution is for this year, stick to it and surely things will go your way ! If in the end it doesn't go your way, at least you know that you've tried your best ! - final note to self as well hehe..

Let's do this 2017 !

From your favorite Papaya in Shibuya,

#newyear #2017 #newyearsresolution #shibuyapapaya