Listening to: Stereophonics
“Mister Writer, why don’t you tell it like it really is, before you go on home?”
Concurrently reading: Of Love & Shadows by Isabel Allende and The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho

And so a new year is upon us.

Forgive me for my “long” departure but 2009 decided to greet me with a massive head cold that left me bed bound for a few days. However I am proud to say that I am well on my way to recovering and that already I have made some really big decisions – ones that I have been hesitating about and mulling over till I was blue in the face.

So let us get a few things out of the way. With respect to resolutions, though I have a few in mind, the one that I am hoping to accomplish most this year is to teach myself to be a more assertive person, versus someone who sits around zen-like waiting for things to fall into my lap. Faith is one thing but it is completely something else to be lifeless and to use that as a poor excuse. I need to learn that some things need to be fought valiantly for, as to show perseverance denotes a willingness to hold up your end of the deal no matter what the cost.

2008 was a memorable year to say the least. I learn a lot every year but last year (yes, it is finally in the past, thank goodness) was a long and arduous one where I learned a lot of tough life lessons and met a lot of different characters and learnt the fine art of Communication and Sifting Through the Bullshit. Hence I also learnt just how far I am willing to go and thus consequently, the lengths to which I simply will not subject myself to. I may be young, but I have dignity and the right to be happy and I will fight for that right tooth and nail.

I successfully completed my honours year, made a lot of awesome new friends and maintained some old and dear ones. You can count yourself lucky if by my age, you know the ones willing to hold your hair back while you’re slumped over the toilet bowl are the ones who’ll have your back through life.

I also fulfilled many personal goals this year and God taught me many of His own lessons in trust and perseverance. The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren is a book I will always hold close to my heart as the book that got me through a lot of rough spots. Definitely the biblical quote of 2008 for me would be from Isaiah: ’The Lord gives perfect peace to those who keep His purpose firm and puts their trust in Him.”

I know I could never have gotten through 2008 without my Lord, my family, my Barath (six years darling, woohoo!!) and some of my closest friends. If I could learn one valuable thing from them, it would be that if I could help someone immensely just by being there, that would make all the difference in the world.

And another thing; though we may pray and pray, I have learnt that sometimes, God says no, and that is an answer too. We’ll just have to deal with that and move on.

So now that the significant substantial stuff is out of the way, allow me to humbly get all material girl on you. These were my favourite gifts/purchases of 2008.

1. My new schnoodle

Say hello to the latest addition to my family;  Lincoln, my Schnauzer poodle or rather, my schnoodle. The matriach of the family, my first dog the German terrier, Lizzie, is still very much alive and he annoys her to the limit because he is 5 months old and all he wants to do is play but at eleven years old, she is the epitome of grace and elegance. Why the name Lincoln? Because I was trying to pitch ‘Scofield’ to my parents in lieu of the gorgeous Wentworth’s character from Prison Break but they preferred Lincoln, so I guess that’s the closest I could do (Go WWM!). Plus he is as naughty as he looks (re: likes to chew underwear instead of shoes) so he keeps us pretty busy throughout the day.

2. My new shoes

I dedicated my 200th post to her (or them I can’t decide) but this was my most beautiful Christmas purchase ever. She fit my entire bill of specifications.

3. My iPod touch.

I won this baby in a university level competition and at 8GB and WiFi, he can do just about anything (within its space of course.) Sigh, so sayang to start using without a casing though which will be the next thing I save up to buy.

5. My CKs

This was actually a gift from my parents for Christmas. I have to say quite unashamedly, I have never had authentic Calvin Kleins before. Seriously, this one was quite a nice surprise.

6. My inspiration to do yoga again

My brother gave me this yoga mat for Christmas because I kept moaning that I couldn’t do yoga properly without a good mat. Hence not only is it lovely, I’ll finally have no excuse to put off doing yoga anymore. I should start though, the Christmas pounds are refusing to come off on their own.

Have a lovely 2009 everyone!