As a tradition, I always look back at the year that was before embarking into the new year. I thought 2021 was just an okay year. Covid cases may have lessened, more freedom to roam about but there were still restrictions of course. I thought 2021 was just like a “mediocre” year – not too bad, not too amazing. But looking back at it now, I realised I have so many things to be grateful for 2021.
Gratefulness List of 2021
1. Experienced Wahiba Sands and Desert Camping
For J’s birthday, we celebrated his birthday in the beautiful magnificent Wahiba Sands. We slept in a warm tent like bedouins at the Wahiba Bedouin Rustic Camp, played in the dunes and had bonfire at night. We are had a wonderful experience there and we are glad we got to experience that once in a lifetime.
2. Staycations
For this year, we have been doing lots of staycations as our way of celebrating birthdays and as our own way of travelling since travelling is still challenging because of Covid. Here are the hotels we stayed at this year:
We also went back to Sifawy Boutique Hotel in late November. We had our Christmas in Grand Hyatt and tried their sumptuous Christmas Eve buffet. For New Year, we spent it at Royal Tulip Hotel. I will be reviewing that hotel soon
3. Courage to stand-up for myself
This year, I learned to stand up for myself and I am glad I did. It made me feel strong and powerful. I usually let things slide to avoid conflict and maintain peace. I learned that I should never allow people to disrespect me and I should learn to fight for myself. I did and I reap good benefits. I gained respect in return and people now know that they shouldn’t mess with me flippantly.
4. Friendships
I am grateful for the friendships I have gained and nurtured this year. I glad I was able to have meet-ups with my two doctors friends who are working in far hospitals of Oman.
I also have wonderful friends in my work place. They are Indian doctors and I was honoured to be invited in one of their festival celebration in their home. I got to experienced the unique celebration of Onam, a traditional Keralite festival of India.
5. Paying off debts
One of the accomplishment and what I am really grateful for this 2021 was that we finally paid off our debts in our credit cards in Singapore and Oman. It is such a liberating feeling to be out of debt. We finally closed our credit card account in Singapore. Paying off our credit card debt allowed us to start invest in a property in the Philippines which we are really excited about.
6. Wonderful oppurtunity
I was given an unexpected offer this year which is so hard to say no to after thinking of all the pros and cons. It is not actualised yet but inshallah by 2022, it will be a reality and I will share more about it.
7. Acne-free
I been struggling with acne since I got here in Oman. Maybe it is the stress from moving to a new country, the harsh climate and lack of availability of the usual skincare & make-up products I used in Singapore that lead to my skin issues here. But I am so happy I discovered Sae Skincare. My skin finally cleared up and I am very happy to say that I am now acne-free. I also slowly discovered makeup products here that works for me.
8. Work fulfillment
This year, I realised that I loved my chosen specialisation: Family Medicine. I love its versatility and its opportunity to connect with patients holistically. I feel like I have gained skills and improved my management as doctor working here. I became more confident in handling obgyne cases, delivering babies, doing antenatal check ups, managing emergency cases, and doing minor surgeries. I feel honoured that my colleagues and coworkers trust me and feels relieved & happy when they know I will be working with them on that day.
9. Peace
In the middle of 2021, I got really busy in building my brand in Instagram. I gained traction, gained new followers, made new Instagram friends in Oman and even started in creating good quality reels (short videos with music) in Instagram. But I realised I been too caught up with social media even with posting in Facebook so I took a pause. I reassessed my priorities and realised that I should stop chasing likes & followers in social media. It was too draining already. So I decided to unpublish my Facebook Page, stop posting in my Instagram and Instagram stories. I would still post occasionally in my personal Facebook since I am using it as sort of an album for memories. But I try to keep the posting to a minimum and I now hold my privacy sacred. Result of this was peace. I am glad I did it. I still will be keeping my blog of course because it is my source of refuge & it brings me joy writing here. But there is no more pressure to promote it. If someone stumble into my blog, I will happily welcome them in my little space.
10. Passed BLS and ACLS course
I am happy that I passed the Basic Life Support Course last July and the Advance Cardiac Life Support Course just this December. The ACLS particularly is a tough course and I am glad I passed it. These certification will aid me in my job as a doctor here.
I am excited for 2022. For 2022, my theme is Homecoming. It is coming back to the source, to the original, to where I am suppose to be. Coming back to God, to what is essential, to my profession, to my loves….. This is the year we will be coming home to the Philippines by the end of this year if the situation permits. Let us all pray for a wonderful 2022. May this Covid leave us already and we can live our lives to the fullest.
