To strike balance, that is the key.

People naturally aim for balance—with their spirituality, career, family, and all other things that are dear to them. I would like to think that I was to able to do a little balancing trick this year with all the crazy schedules I needed to attend to. But in some ways, I know I have failed to fully do so. There are times this year that I’ve felt grown up and responsible, but moments come that I also tend to be unreasonable and insensible.

That’s human nature I guess, while I get intertwined in this world, in this lifetime, I know I am bound to commit errors, but that’s not an excuse and I am always making effort to find ways to find my light

To sum up my year, here’s my 2012 list:

1. A word to describe 2012
Busy

2. 2012’s overall color
the hues of a golden sunset

3. Top movies I’ve seen this year
My Neighbor Totoro, Spirited Away, Slumdog Millionaire, Billy Elliot, Life is Beautiful, 500 Days with Summer

4. Books I read
I didn’t read much, but I bought 3 art books—Illustration School: Let’s Draw Plants and Small Creatures, Let’s Draw Cute Animals and Cathy Johnson’s Sketching and Drawing

5. New places I’ve been to
Bolinao, Pangasinan, Tacloban, Biliran, and Eastern Samar, Tiwi, Albay etc.

6. Most loved places I’ve been to
Greenhills and Greenbelt

7. Song/s of the Year
Quel qu un m’adit by Carla Bruni, Someone Like You, and Kiss Me (English and Japanese versions)

8. Favorite food/s
Veggie wrap, Mexicali burrito, Kangkong Pakora and my own pasta. hehe

9. Food/drinks discovered
burrito from Mexicali, kangkong pakora, milk tea, and Laughing Cow cheese.

10. The most tiring moment of the year
Walking in Greenhills with high-heeled sandals, searching for a dress. And there are other times, that I keep walking although my feet hurt so much.

11. New friends/people I’ve met
Shina, Hanny, and Marris

12.  Best gift/s I received this year
Phantom Tollbooth and Starbucks planner from Chack and Sketching and Drawing book. J

13.  Favorite new stuff/acquisition
My basil plant, drawing books, and 2 canon cameras.

14.  Website/s I discovered and loved
http://felicitasala.blogspot.com/ and Professional Heckler blog.

15.  Regrets/ Failures
I didn’t finish my b-day project this year.
I wasn’t able to do my detox plan.
And didn’t finish my Children’s story for a contest.

16.  Favorite lines/quotes
L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux. (“[One sees clearly only with the heart.] What is essential is invisible to the eye.”)

17.  Top experience/s
Going to Botolan, Zambales in IP’s abode
Pinoy Henyo stint with my friend
Radio broadcasting training in Tagaytay
Fun run
Seminar in Cebu plus Skywalk
And many more…

18.  Improvements/achievements
Scrapping beef and pork in my diet.

19.  Happiest encounters
Makati strolls with my two best friends. Moon leaf moments.

20.  Saddest moments
The night I got a sprain.

21. Things I plan to do next year
Learn how to play the guitar and study arts

22. Things I will never do again next year
Maybe eat pork and beef, and scrap softdrinks (esp. Cola, Rootbeer) and alcoholic bevs.

23.  Lesson/s Learned
There are just a lot of mysteries in the world.

24.  Wish/es for last year (or previous years) which came true this year
To ride a bike and have photo. J

25.  Wish/es for next year
Still, write a heartwarming Children’s book, go to Japan and/or France. Try surfing. And attend art classes/school.