what moments were good?
- spending time with family
- spending time with Bry
- game nights
- when my lessons go well, time with my students
- finding friends @ work
- first art show in sg
what moments were bad?
- growing/learning pains at my job
- struggling with mental health
- being impulsive/reactive in my interactions with others both at work and in my personal life without properly considering consequences/processing my thoughts
- everyday life impacted by covid restrictions
- figuring out how to do my job well and balance my personal life, and giving myself permission to rest, constantly letting productivity define my worth
- figuring out friendships as more of us are going through different phases of life/ realising that what people need in a friendship differs from person to person and when those needs are not proportionate/ don't align, friendships drift. but i guess that's life right? doesn't make it hurt any less!
how did you grow as a person?
i think i've really pushed myself - in my job and applying for art showing opportunities. think in doing so i've also begun to be more aware of my limits
- friendships: choosing to invest in friendships that i value, supporting each other through new opportunities/transitions, recognising what i need in a friendship.
- teaching: growing more as an educator - figuring out how to do my job well/ find a balance of rest and work, being shown my weaknesses too and painfully working through my mistakes. constantly humbled and wanting to keep being better for my students
- artist: picking back up where i left off with my art practice. need to find my footing again and not make excuses for my lack of making/ motivation. gotta start somewhere. realising my lack of technical skill.
how would you have done things differently?
- prioritized my wellbeing more. i tend to lose myself when i am too invested in things e.g. my job/art/others and forget that i am not superhuman and can't be in many places at once/ can't be responsible for everything/ juggle that many responsibilities. the ripple effect of consequences is horrifying.
- be more conscious of what i consume/ put out - i could have been more positive/ be more conscious of my thought patterns
what are you grateful for?
- family, bryan, friendships, good colleagues
- grateful for feeling like what i'm doing with my life is meaningful/purposeful/gives me life
- climbing and my love for it and the community of climbers
- support from my loved ones to pursue what i love, and their belief in me
what can you learn more about to make yourself feel better?
- strategies to cope better with my anxiety
- writing down things that come to mind so i don't constantly ruminate
- routines when i end work so i don't keep bringing my mental stress/work stress home
- identifying sources of my anxiety when i get panic/anxiety attacks
- strengthening technical teaching abilities for art + learning from other teachers classroom management strategies and putting them into practice
- being more organised
- developing more awareness on how to market/ price my works/ gain more exhibition experience
goals/resolutions
- work on being less reactive - to process/ think before reacting
- think about the energy i'm putting out into the world/ the energy i'm surrounding myself with
- feel more in control at my job/ find my own working pace/style
- make more art!!
- spend less time on social media and be more present in life - "wherever you are, be all there".
wishing you a life-giving, fulfilling 2022!
