Life in a Year:2022
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It’s been quite awhile since I’ve wrote on this blog and honestly, no one to blame but myself! While maybe writing on here was not a 2022 priority, it will definitely be more of a priority in 2023. However, I thought I would end the year with one more post to wrap it all up.
This post will be different than the annual Christmas letter - I will highlight some of the things that happened this year, share some pictures of different highlight moments, and also share some takeaways/things I’ve learned/things I’m bringing into 2023.
let’s start with the most obvious highlight this year: Teddy.
That little bear, I just have no words on how much light he brings into our lives. Now at 9 months, he is incredibly active and his little personality is slowly starting to come out. Zia Kim is biased, but he is SUCH a little cute munchkin and I adore him so. I would like to say though after 9 months of watching him grow, kudos to all the parents out there. You have an incredibly hard and selfless job. As a teacher, I knew this, but I think seeing it play out live in front of me, it definitely has double confirmed what I already knew.
Adding on to the baby highlight, my best friend also gave birth to a beautiful girl this year. The fact that my sister and my best friend gave birth this year (And in close proximity in terms of timing as well), just makes it the more special. Shout out to little Rae, auntie Kiki loves you!
HIghlight #2: Turning 30
Honestly? I don’t really feel like I turned older. Maybe the signs are from the increased lower back pain or the increased fatigue after coming home from work or the going to bed at like 9/10pm instead of the late nights I used to do. But some of that could be from me just being not as fit as I once was.
What I did find the most special thing about this birthday, is the coming together of all my favourite people. My sister threw me a wonderful surprise party and invited my friends from different walks of my life to come and join. Not only was I surprised because I thought the dinner was supposed to be for my nephew, but I was incredibly touched by the people who trekked it down and celebrated with me. Definitely a highlight this year.
HIghlight #3: Summer of travels
I was so fortunate this summer to be able to travel to several different places and spend time with people I love. Not only did I get to witness one of my best friends marry the love of his life this summer, but I got to spend a lot of time with my immediate and extended family. For that I am extremely grateful. Throw in there a mixture of delayed flights, missing luggage, testing positive for COVID, attending a childhood friend’s wedding, meeting new friends, reconnecting with old ones, eating SO many amazing food and falling in love with Bali again – it was indeed a busy and amazing summer.
Highlight #4: teaching
I’ll get into a little more about how I got into role later, but I am currently teaching a contained special education class. I think ever since China, special education is something that I’ve really been thinking about and I am again grateful that I got this opportunity to teach this group of students with the most amazing team.
2022, just like other years has its ups and its downs.
Though you may not see it from the social media posts, there were definitely portions of this year that was tough. And as much as I love sharing the wonderful things that have happened throughout the year, I think it’s also important for me to share that there are also tough seasons. So I want to end this blog with some of the learnings, reflections and things I’m taking away from this past year. Things I am bringing with me into the new year and things that I am leaving behind.
Let’s start with a light one – make sure you pack your carry-on when you’re travelling internationally. You never know when you can’t find your luggage and you need to go to a wedding the next day. And oh, keep your luggage tag with you at all times. Take a picture of it and of your luggage before you send it off.
Home is not a place. While I adore my physical home, I really felt this year that my home is with my people. My family especially.
You really don’t know what people are going through. I think the news about Twitch really shook me to the core and it was very hard for me to process, even though I didn’t personally know the guy. Got me thinking about the things people must be going through and not being able to share/feel like they can’t/can’t get the help they need and it’s absolutely heartbreaking.
A reminder too that life is short. Reach out to your loved ones. Let them know how much you care about them.I think this goes hand in hand with the point above, but your mental health is important. Period.
Here’s the honest truth, my mental health journey is ongoing. There are ups and there are downs, and I feel like there were many downs in 2022. It’s me consistently having to work on it. And I am a big advocate in not only self-care and that comes in many forms, but also therapy/counselling. I think we’ve come a long way in terms of diminishing the stigma surrounding mental health, but we still need a lot of work to do. So if you are going through your own journey and need to chat, hit me up.Having a support system is important, at least for me it has been. I will forever be grateful of the people who has shown up in many ways this year. From going on walks, to having jam sessions in the car, to Facetime calls or late-night ice cream runs, to crying sessions or watching basketball games, or dance parties. So grateful. Thank you, you know who you are and I love you all to bits.
Grief is not something you “get over”. When you lose someone you love, I think there is a part of you that will always be missing. And it’s okay.
Here’s my last takeaway. Hindsight is 20-20. Clichéd but true. And sometimes in the moment it’s so hard to see the bigger picture or the plan. In my room, there is a decal of my favourite verse that my mom bought for me. This verse means a lot to me, because a friend of mine sent it to me when mom was first diagnosed with breast cancer many moons ago.
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declared the Lord, “Plans to prosper you and not to harm you. Plans to give you hope and a future.” – Jeremiah 29:11
I think when things are a mess and you’re right in the middle of the crazy, you really cannot see anything. What plans? But year after year, I’ve seen God’s hand moving in the midst of everything even when I couldn’t see it right there and then. It was the same this year. Let me give you three examples:
I left my phone in the photocopy room the first year I was at the school I am currently at. Someone picked it up and saw my Bible app, and it started conversations. And that connection would be a God-given grace this year, because this friend has been a source of light, advice, and comfort this year, when it was much much needed.
My lost luggage story? I lost it at the Kuwait airport. Well more like I realized it was lost at the Kuwait airport. It was 3 am, my best friends were asleep, I was by myself, and no one around me was speaking English. Long story short, I beelined for the first stranger that spoke English and was holding a Canadian passport. Well let me tell you that that particular meeting was no coincidence, because that stranger is now one of my close friends.
My current teaching contract? Well I was not supposed to be teaching a contained class this year. I expressed interest previously but it didn’t really work out. In fact, at the end of the school year before I travelled, I accepted a one-year contract to teach a kindergarten class (which btw if you know me, you know that I love teaching kindie!). Well, fast forward to end of August as I was coming back to Toronto and I get a call saying that there was an opening to teach in this contained class…like seriously what are the chances? And what an amazing opportunity because I finally get to see if this is a route that I want to pursue in the future
I’m not really sure where 2023 will take me. While I am anxious as I usually am about uncertainties of the future, I am hopeful it’ll be a great year!
Sending love to you and your loved ones! Wishing for an amazing new year!