2021: Beginning

“Do not wait until the conditions are perfect to begin. Beginning makes the conditions perfect”

~ Alan Cohen

The magic in new beginnings is truly the most powerful of them all. The year 2020 will never get erased in the lanes of memory of many. Battles were fought on all sides of life by people from all countries. I haven't seen my co-workers in almost a year and refuse to see my friends and get stuck at home every day. Hopeless a little bit, yes, everyone does. Whatever the case was, I believe that 2020 has exceptional lessons and 2021 loaded with even better opportunities.  As always, I made the small wins that I want to do and achieve every year. Hope my journey through the New Year 2021 would turn out to be an exciting one.

Keeping my life busy while staying at home begins with improving my language skills. I learned Japanese for six years in high school. I did not want it to end in vain thus I want to improve it a bit. I am learning Spanish too, out of curiosity. The second most spoken language in the world. Also, I am learning French, an inheritance skill, my grandfather was an expert and fluent in it back in the military. I have plenty of books out of him to read in French. "a different language is a different vision of life. the window of the world" he said. Other than those, I play musical instruments. Most of it guitar and piano, my brother's. Singing was not a talent, but I promise to do better.

The second is my health obsession. At the start of the pandemic, I was doing pilates for an hour each day. My routines change when I suffered lower back pain, sit for long periods working and studying. Out of that concern, I decided to combine pilates with a set of minimum running or walking goals for an hour a day, around 7 kilometers - 8.000 steps. I also moved to a city with much better air quality to practice breathing, get lots of oxygen, and release fatigue. I am taking care well and consistent of my body shape. A one-hour workout is only 4% of my day. Exercise does not start with physical activities but your mindset and willingness. Next is to monitor anything I consume by start with dieting as my way to go healthy eating. It does not just require that I am mindful of what I eat and drink, but also how I prepare it. I gave up sugar, hate chocolate, and getting more sensitive to sugar contained food. I use healthy cooking oil ceaselessly, less fried, no junk food, no instant noodles, less online food delivery. Cooking is definitely my thing during this pandemic. Thanks to the 450-homemade food cookbook, never run out of ideas. I only drink water and low-fat milk (or non-dairy), nothing else. 

About my financial possessed, save it as much on the grounds that I am not into branded or trendy goods. Rare view of social media, dunno what's the hype. Luckily, in such a healthy friendship without any demands to impress each other. Classy food can be cooked by myself, though zero similarity, and I supervise whatever I eat, on a strict diet, so I rarely eat out. I have never been in a relationship, so I do not have to spend on this one. I invest a lot in different portfolios and only left 5% on saving accounts (for now). “Do not save what is left after spending, but spend what is left after saving.” and never spend your money before you have it is my ultimate commitment. No credit in life, except for the house. Doing well with money has little to do with how smart you are and a lot to do with how you behave.

This year, I have bigger things to pursue. Things that I have been waiting for years, fight for it for years, and pulling several all-nighters in the process. Hope things turn out well and the world will get better.