2017: The Year of Moving Away

ou know, just like every year, I can’t totally describe how 2017 was like for me. But I will try to describe it anyway. Because while I look forward to the new year, I am taking the stock to look back on my accomplishments, or lack thereof.

The beginning of my year was a blast, had a kickoff trip to the best island in the world, Palawan, Philippines. In the following months, I went to Batangas, Zambales, Bataan, Alaminos, Bolinao, Baler, Caramoan, Legaspi, and Mindoro. The stories included on those travels were pretty much beyond words. I had a lot of blessings as well; on the road and behind the espresso machine.

This year on my career, I got promoted, met a lot of people who share the same passion as I do, and got picked to open the first and probably (so far) the finest ultra-premium store in the country. It was incredible. I get to work with the company’s most popular and finest baristas. I couldn’t be more thankful than that!

If I haven’t told you yet, I am a strong believer in responsibility and time. Simply believing that if I put all the hard work and my time, I can accomplish everything. That’s what I believe. But that didn’t work much this year. I used to think that I could be a success in almost what I do, but reality slapped me real hard in the face with a big bouncing NO. And it was okay, to tell you the truth.

So this year, I learned to let go of what I cannot change.

A change of heart is this year’s plot twist, and I didn’t see that coming. Not at all.

A lot of things can happen in just a snap of a finger. We all know that, right? I never would have thought that I am ending the year being a little extra-independent. Because as of now, I just moved out of my parents’ house and am currently living in another city.

2017 isn’t for me. Though looking back, I could make a long list of accomplishments and happy moments and it will put a smile on my goddamn painful face but I will still feel incomplete.

Then I’m already here, still alive at the end of what I thought was “my year” telling the universe, that I’m ready. Ready to learn, explore, discover, and fall in love with a hell bunch of new things again. And even though my heart still aches from this year’s pain, I know my heart screams for restoration. And that’s the crazy thing about love! It always comes back. I probably won’t recognize it at first because love comes back wearing different bones. And I can’t wait for the day that I will smile because I’ll know that it’s there all along.

It took me 3 years to realize that I can do everything right and still end up unhappy. I can do all the things they want me to do and still end up being displaced. That no matter how much I try, there are things that not meant for my stars. And some things will never be the same again and that’s okay. It’s always going to be okay.

All I can say is that 2017 is the year of moving away. It’s all about walking away and not keeping yourself caged in something that just not meant to be. Last year, I got what I want. This year, I got what I need.

So for the coming year, I am ready for new adventures. Little ones and big ones, in whatever form it may appear, I am ready for another chance.

May 2018 be a year of magnificent transformation: physically, mentally, and spiritually.

I know that 2018 is going to be a year for replenishing myself and taking care of my soul. And I will start that next week! Because I booked a plane ticket going to one of my dream island in Mindanao. Exciting part? Going there alone.

So yes, even though the last few months of my year did not go as I wanted it to be, I am ending my year with so much positivity; not for the coming year, but just being positive for whatever results I got at the end of my 2017. Because I think life is about making yourself proud in your own terms and more importantly it’s about finding happiness that works for you.

Somehow, I’m glad I did.

Happy New Year!

Marron