1.What one event, big or small, are you going to tell your grandchildren about?
2.If you had to describe your 2016 in 3 words, what would they be?
stressful, reassuring, affirming
3.What new things did you discover about yourself?
I learned that my intuition is always right. I learned that I will let myself me shouted at or walk away before I shout back. I learned that I might be more of a smaller city person than a huge metropolis person.
4.What achievement are you most proud of?
5.What was the best news you received?
That I had $1700 in tax returns from a year ago waiting for me in Taiwan.
6.What was your favourite place that you visited in 2016?
7.Which of your personal qualities turned out to be the most helpful this year?
8.Who was your number one go-to person that you could always rely on?
9.Which new skills did you learn?
I learned how to live in a developing country.
10.What, or who, are you most thankful for?
11.If someone wrote a book about your life in 2016, what kind of genre would it be? A comedy, love story, drama, film noir or something else?
12.What was the most important lesson you learnt in 2016?
The same patience that has gotten you so far in every aspect of life, also makes you suffer way more than you should before you read your threshold.
13.Which mental block(s) did you overcome?
I think I’ve made good headway with regard to finding my style and niche artistically.
14.What 5 people did you most enjoy spending time with?
Natasha in the Philippines. Abby in Dubai. Yin in Taipei. Alex (a new friend), and MY- mother fucking SELF!!!
15.What was your biggest break-through moment career-wise?
When I got promoted in Dubai, and had all those bitches whispering secretly about how awesome I am before I hit it.
16.How did your relationship to your family evolve?
My family saw troubled Michael for the first time. My brother and I bonded about relationship woes.
17.What book or movie affected your life in a profound way?
Maybe arrival? That movie had me shook.
18.What was your favourite compliment that you received this year?
When Beana and I were smoking and bonding about being Cancers at FFWD and she said that she heard Flo and Jyoti gushing about how competent I am. Also when Saif from D3 really earnestly said the same thing.
19.What little things did you most enjoy during your day-to-day life?
In Manila I liked looking out the window of the car at the kaleidoscope of folie outside. I also liked how tropical it was, even though it is urban awful. In Dubai I liked going to the top floor of the building and looking out at the power-lines in the desert. In Taipei I like looking at the plants growing off of and on everything.
20.What cool things did you create this year?
21.What was your most common mental state this year (e.g. excited, curious, stressed)?
22.Was there anything you did for the very first time in your life this year?
I went parasailing. It was terrifying and fun.
23.What was your favourite moment spent with your friends?
Boracay with Marga and Nour and Ryan was fun. It was also fun circling Cebu with Ryan and Natasha.
24.What major goal did you lay the foundations for?
Hopefully, being and artist in the future.
25.Which worries turned out to be completely unnecessary?
I had a lot of worries and almost all of them turned out to be justified. However, when Casey ate 5 earplugs when no one was home and the vet told me over the phone, he might die and I was actually worried, that turned out to be a false worry. He puked them up 3 days later.
26.What experience would you love to do all over again?
My Visayas itinerary that Ryan and Natasha bailed on because on because they were scared of Abu Sayaf. I want to sleep in a hut in Siquijor.
27.What was the best gift you received?
When Sean let me move-in on his deposit for 3 months. That was really nice and i appreciated that.
28.How did your overall outlook on life evolve?
2017 was balls. I kinda think everything is futile now.
29.What was the biggest problem you solved?
30.What was the funniest moment of your year, one that still makes it hard not to burst out laughing when you think about it?
When I looked up from my desk at my class and Lynn was in the middle of trying to secretly wholf down a bundt cake and we made eye contact and I just couldn’t be mad. We both just burst out laughing.
31.What purchase turned out to be the best decision ever?
I don’t really buy stuff, but I do love my Kumamon plush set, even though I didn’t but it.
32.What one thing would you do differently and why?
There are a lot of major things that I would like to say, but I think I’ll live with those and just choose times I yelled at a kid at school too harshly (they always bounce back)
33.What do you deserve a pat on the back for?
Getting out of Manila in one piece. Emotionally, psychologically, and financially.
34.What activities made you lose track of time?
After not working and seeing how time would just drag by, I find teaching really makes days turn into months overnight.
35.What did you think about more than anything else?
I thought about the best way to live life, and the way that I wanna do it.
36.What topics did you most enjoy learning about?
I enjoyed learning about the Philippines, when it was my home. I often wondered why Filipinos are so proud overseas, when most of them come from Metro Manila, one of the most horrid stink holes ever, but regardless of the apocalypse city, The Philippines is definitely a super unique and interesting culture that is unlike any other. Certainly, much different than any of its neighbours in Asia. The Philippines is super dynamic.
37.What new habits did you cultivate?
I quit smoking and I don’t crave garbage food as much. Just coffee.
38.What advice would you give your early-2017 self if you could?
Stand up for yourself. You are right.
39.Did any parts of your self or your life do a complete 180 this year?
My eating habits are way different than they used to be.
40.What or who had the biggest positive impact on your life this year?
41.What do you want the overarching theme for your 2018 to be?
42.What do you want to see, discover, explore?
I want to see Sulawesi, or Sumatra. I want to explore my imagination.
43.Who do you want to spend more time with in 2018?
I want to spend more time with Yin, Cindy, and Andree.
44.What skills do you want to learn, improve or master?
Photoshop and Illustrator.
45.Which personal quality do you want to develop or strengthen?
46.What do you want your everyday life to be like?
I want everything to make me imagine like I used to when I was a kid. I want my brain to stamp a narrative on everything. The children help me do this.
47.Which habits do you want to change, cultivate or get rid of?
I want to exercise more and I want to watch less Youtube garbage.
48.What do you want to achieve career-wise?
publish again and be an entrepreneur
49.How do you want to remember the year 2018 when you look back on it 10/20/50 years from now?
The year that I started something special.
50.What is your number one goal for 2018?
My number 1 goal is to create a side hustle that allows me to travel.
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