Anyway, back to the topic of my personal reflections for 2013 and moving forward to 2014. Visiting the Holy Land was definitely one of the best decisions that I made this year. Since young, I have heard a lot of about Christianity, Islam, Taoism and many other religions. Never did I live through a year without someone asking me if I believe in God? Rather than to hear it from the priests, the followers, etc., visiting the Holy Land meant so much to me to see for my own eyes how it all started. Holy Land or not, my answer remains the same. I choose to believe in that there is a greater Him out there who has created us though I may not pledge my allegiance to Him.
I do not deny that one of the many reasons why I enjoy traveling is because it is an escape from reality. However, visiting Jerusalem made me realised that all the stories that I hear while I was there, all the sights that I visit and see with my own eyes, the museums, churches and the old city meant that getting to learn about such ancient civilisations was the more compelling reason behind my love for traveling. While on tour, I would diligently take down notes of what the guide was explaining and information in the museums so that I can blog about them and also recall whatever that I heard or saw. This meant so much and I am totally in love with Israel. I did not travel to that many places this year but going on one good trip beats going to multiple lousy getaways.
Besides traveling, I have also set out to do what I had wished for last year when all the talk about 21.12.12 being the day the world will come to an end was ongoing. I wanted to stop nua-ing and do away with the excuses of work draining me and my life. So in 2013, I made my decision to return to school and though the process was tiring and sometimes I question my own decision, I am glad I pulled through round 1. Before I know it, round 2 will come knocking and 2014 will be a year filled with uncertainty. I have decided to take the plunge and step out of my comfort zone - leave behind whatever that I own now - income-less, starting all over again either as a student or in a new career, perhaps go on a one-year travel to places that I would never imagine myself going?
In 2013, I also revisited my professors, my old friends and my old self. Perhaps like the saying, "Experience is not what happens to you; it is what you do with what happens to you." It finally dawned upon me that despite me having the ability to satisfy all my material wants at this stage of my life, I am still not truly satisfied. I saw a nice quote somewhere about enjoying a high quality of life but I cannot recall it! Arrghh! All the craze about the branded bags, cars, money, etc. seems meaningless to me at times. I would still love to own them but perhaps not as badly as I used to be.
Come 2014, a new life begins at the end of my comfort zone. I have to blog about this before 2014 comes knocking and I would then be too lazy to blog.
A quote from a friend's blog many years ago that left a deep impression on me:
When we were five, they asked us what we wanted to be when we grew up. Our answers were things like, astronauts, president... or in my case, a princess.. When we were ten, they asked again. We answered, a rock star, cowboy, or in my case, a gold medalist. But now that we're grown up, they want a serious answer. Well, how about this. Who the hell knows? This isn't the time to make hard and fast decisions. This is a time to make mistakes. Take the wrong train and get stuck somewhere. Fall in love... a lot. Major in philosophy, because there's no way to make a career out of that. Change your mind, and change it again, because nothing's permanent. So make as many mistakes as you can. That way, someday, when they ask what we want to be, we won't have to guess... we'll know.
