New Years Resolution 2010 Revisited: In Pursuit to Happiness
It was on this very moment, exactly a year ago, 11:59 pm; 31 December 2009, many people across the world were celebrating and welcoming the year of 2010 with so much love and happiness. I on the other hand was no exception. At the stroke of midnight, I jumped on to my interactive treadmill in my gym room and ran.
You ran? Yes, that is right, I ran. I usually run as part of my me time – a moment where I can think out loud, to myself. I ran to feel good and most of all I ran to collect my thoughts on what I wanted my new year’s resolution would be.
After the night was over, I decided to pen down the 10 most valuable new years resolutions in my mind. I was thinking along the line of neither overwhelming nor too easy. I wanted something simply impactful yet achievable - something that could keep the momentum going to spill over to 2011. I knew then I had to craft my new year’s resolution with care. So, here I was at 4.00 am at my peninsular table in my kitchen crafting my new year’s resolution 2010!
Fast forward at this very moment, 11.59 pm a year later,today,31 December 2010, I looked at it with so much contentment. My resolutions 2010 blossomed so nicely. It was actually a good practice to always have it under my radar to eye on the prize. I remembered telling myself out loud a year ago, if I touched 70% I would be more than happy, considering this is one of my first times actually putting it on paper. I wanted to really focus on what I want, what I can do and what I made of. But surprisingly, I did better than expected, a 90% achievement. It would have looked much nicer, if it was 100% but it will give me an opportunity to push myself forward to reach my goals.
That last goal which I have yet to be ‘checked’ is to run 6mins/km, which is actually not that far of from running an average of 8 mins/per km. I am not sure whether my goals were too sky high or I didn’t push myself harder. I think it was the latter.*sigh* Its alright, I did pretty well for a first timer. So here goes to the 10 terrific wish lists gathered from my mind, heart, body and soul on to myself:
1. To manage and balance the wife, mother, daughter, career woman and life role – CHECKED
I believe this year I become closer to the Almighty and feel at peace. I think this one I will not share it as it is sacred and pure to me. This I believe is between me and Him. Nevertheless, I am so blessed with all the good things given to me.
3. To instil positivism and discard the negativity by always waking up to a brand new exciting and challenging day and say ‘Today will be a great day for me, Alhamdullilah’ –CHECKED
With His guidance, I managed to dig the truth in me and developed my own core value that I uphold to deliver happiness in whatever I do. Among them are :
1. Connect the dots backwards – Keep faith. Trust the dots will connect the future and believe in qada’ and qadar
2. Giving your best shot – Driving results to greater heights
3. The mind can conceive and you will achieve – Believe you can do it!
4. You gotta find what you love – exploit your strength that move mountains and valleys
5. Building bonds and avoid broken bridges – keep relationships close at heart
6. If today were the last day of my life. Would I want to do what I am about to do today? If no, I need to change – Enjoying Success requires the ability to change. So change is inevitable.4. To take charge and charter my writing career – CHECKED
One of the most significant events for me this year, was leaving the banking industry, in pursuit of happiness in a writing career within the oil and gas industry. It was bittersweet for me as I felt connected with each and everyone who has worked with me, across Malaysia in the last 6 years as being a banker. I loved the travels, the great company, colleague turned friends and most of all I love what I have learnt in the industry that enriched my working experiences.
I am happy to know my ex-bosses acknowledged my contribution ( she wrote a beautiful and sincere recommendation letter )and to find out that 1 of me had to be replaced with 3 more people to get the job done was overwhelming. I never knew that I had that kind of impact to my team but it was remarkably rewarding running a one man’s show ! Before I left the HR told me I was being listed as a top achiever for 3 consecutive years and that was a big achievement to me in my whole career. No monetary value could give that kind of satisfaction. Nevertheless, I chose to go so bye bye fat chunky bonus L. My love and passion for writing was stronger so a bid farewell.
6. To take part in race running on average every quarterly – CHECKED
Yes, I made 5 running competitions in which 4 were in 2010. Yes, as this is my first year running I decided to take it slow on the distance (nothing more than 15km). I was tempted to do a half marathon in the Penang Bridge International Marathon, but decided not to especially the strategy of my running is to progressively increase the distance. So next years strategy is to take atleast 1 half marathon competition.
7. To reach a running target pace of a 6 min/km by year end - UNCHECKED
I realised in the last 5 years, I hardly read any books. If ever did, it was usually during long holidays. So, my strategy was that I will find time if this is important to me. So I stole an hour in the train journey – to and fro; another half an hour before I start work in the office and another half an hour before I go to bed. I often read on weekends too, when Aisya takes her afternoon naps.
An unbelievably, I managed to read 27 books this whole year!
1. Build Your Own Ladder : Secrets to making your career dreams come true – Dr. Tony Zeiss
2. Body for Life – Bill Philips
3. Public Relations : Writing & Media Techniques - Wilcox
4. The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs – Carmine Gallo
5. Technical Communication – Paul V Anderson
6. The Secret – Rhonda Byrne
7. Marley and Me : Life & Love with the World’s Worst Dog – John Grogan
8. Skinny Bitch in the Kitch – Rory Freedman & Kim Barnomin
9. Action Plan – Suze Orman
10. The 9 Steps to Financial Freedom – Suze Orman
11. Necessary Shadows – Tina Shireen Salleh
12. Just Listen – Goulston
13. If not now, when? – Stephanie Marston
14. Improve Your Copywritting – J Jonathan Gabay
15. Total Immersion, The Revolution Way to Swim Better, Faster and Easier – Terry Laughlin & John Delves
16. Eat Right For Type: The Individualised Diet Solution to Staying Healthy, Living Longer & Achieving Your Ideal Weight – Dr. Peter J. D’Amo
17. Eat. Pray. Love – Elizabeth Gilbert
18. The Triathlete Swim Training – Steve Tarpinian
19. Arctic Diary: Surviving on thin Ice – Sam & Richard Branson
20. You are what you eat – Dr. Gillian McKeith
21. The Communication Challenge – Julian Saunders
22. Out of the Box : Thinking Creatively – Rob Eastaway
23. Ab Diets for Women – David Zinckzenko & Ted Spiker
24. Runner’s World Complete Book of Women’s Running – Dagny Scott Barrios
25. You are what you eat – Dr. Gullian McKeith
26. The Athlete’s Guide To Yoga – Saga Rountree
27. The 4 Hour Workweek – Timothy Ferris
9. To complete my obligations of fasting – Puasa Ganti & Puasa 6 within the year –CHECKED
I am so thankful that my determination to breastfeed my darling daughter this long became a reality. But I knew as hard it may seem, it is time to stop and move on. She came around eventually. I learnt to be a firm mother too, when to give in and when to show her who is boss! Before she turned 2 she was completely off breastfeeding. The experience has been nothing but wonderful for Aisya and for me.
What can I say overall? 2010 has been so kind to me -blessed with wonderful positive events. The negative ones were there too, but I took it well and learned from it. I am blessed to Him for all that He has given to me, my family and friends. He gave us our bubbly, alert and adventurous Aisya, whom we thought that we can never ever have, Alhamdulliah. I am happy that I am a changed person now alive, exploring the possibilities, cheerful, positive, happy , thankful to all the wonderful little and big things in life. I also look forward to continue my journey to self discovery - something I would like to share with all my readers out there.
In pursuit to my happiness continues! Watch out World, for my next posit on my new year’s resolution 2011. Happy Electrifying New Year!!!! xoxo
10. To wind-off breastfeeding completely by the time Aisya turns 2 – CHECKED
8. To read at least 12 books a year – CHECKED
I became editor and enjoying every moment of it, so far it has been challenging and rewarding. I recently made to be a confirmed staff. And to see a note saying “ Nazeha drive results through her positive attitude, determination to learn and is able to take higher responsibilities.Therefore, I highly recommend her.”
5. If I ever leave my workplace, I would leave with a positive impact – CHECKED
Now that, Im all ‘balanced’, what are my key performance indicators? The answer to this is the number of complaints I make everyday. Yap, I don’t have one!!! Zilt. Nada. None.But why ? Because I enjoy my roles so much that I feel so happy doing it!! Before I had Aisya, I complained all the time of not having the time to this and that. I was basically doing unproductive work. I think that was where all my time went. Hence, that explains the unhappiness. Bwahaha!
It’s true, what the mind can conceive you will achieve! Yes, challenging as it may seem but I am able to balance ALL together, harmoniously - the house chores, the nanny to Aisya, the keeper to Halmi, the productive employee and best of all I even I have enough sleep and have my me time – swimming & running! Its all about time management ! We can have it all, if we want to! So checked to that!!!
2. To strengthen my spiritual sense to HIM regularly – CHECKED
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1 comments:
I feel great!!
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