2020

GOODBYE 2020, HELLO 2021

January 7, 2021 by Little Miss Honey

Wow, what can I say about year 2020. It surprised every single person inhabiting this earth in unimaginable magnitude that I have no words. It shook all of us at our very core and so many changes were happening, we couldn’t barely keep up. The year started with bad news after bad news. There was volcano eruption. There were bushfires in Australia. There were talks of impending war. Then of course, Covid 19 came in and nothing became the same again.

It was hard year for everyone. It tested us. It challenged us. I gave us some serious thinking of what truly matters in our lives. It also allowed us a pause button in our crazy hectic lives. It was coincidental that my word for 2020 was Zen and the year definitely gave me that – a zen-like state to dig deeper inwardly. I feel guilty that I didn’t suffer much of the repercussions of what pandemic caused everyone. I feel very grateful yet feeling undeserving that I still have work amidst the increasing unemployment due to the pandemic and have my family beside me & not separated from them while some are far from their loved-ones without knowing when they will see each other again. My heart aches for those who are losing jobs & businesses and friends who are suffering from homesickness being away from their families. Mental health are crashing down and on & then, we feel the wave of homelessness, anxiety, fear, loneliness and sadness. Yet, I felt somehow we showed our resiliency that we can survived all that and we can look forward for a better new year.

I always do a gratefulness list for the year that past as I look back at the things that happened for the last year. In spite of the pandemic, it is best to look at the silver lining and create a heart of gratitude for all the things that we have been blessed.

Gratefulness List of 2020:

New hospital with good work system with an amazingly efficient & wonderful leader & boss

I mentioned in my last year’s gratefulness lists that a month before the 2019 ended, I was informed I will be transferred to a new hospital. I had my apprehensions in transferring to a new work environment because my previous one was a wonderful health center with great workmates & nice patients. But I was glad I was transferred to a slightly bigger healthcare institution with more doctors whom I learned from with a great work system in place and an amazing boss who kept the place in tiptop shape in spite the demanding patients and workload. It challenged my skills as doctors and I am happy to be learning everyday.

2. Having a renewed purpose

There were few things that I have let go before the year ended in 2019. But in early January of 2020, my family and I had several discussions about life plans. We seriously considered it so we decided to make plans. I felt a new sense of excitement of what is to come as long as it coincide with God’s plan for us.

3. J passing the driving test and getting our family vehicle

Passing the driver license here in Oman is not a joke. Even experienced drivers fail several times in the driver license test here in Oman. They need to pass the Drum Test and Road Test before they can get their driver license. J passed the Drum Test in 2 tries and the Road Test after 5 tries. We were so happy because having a vehicle of your own here in Oman is a necessity due to the lack of public transport especially in the interior areas.

On the very day J passed his driving license test, we automatically called the car dealer that we will be getting the car we are interested in. We got our beloved Ushr, our grey Toyota Rush after a few days. Our life in Oman got really easy and more comfortable once we got Ushr.

4. Daycation at Shangri-La Barr Al Jissah Resort for Howell’s Birthday

Covid 19 has not ruled it doom & gloom over Oman yet at that time so we were able to have this nice relaxing celebration for Howell’s 4th birthday by getting Day Passes at Shangri-La. ( Read about it here.) It was lovely day. We may one of these day try to do staycation there too.

5. Still earning in spite of Covid and not separated from my family during pandemic

I lumped these two points together because both are related to Covid 19. Like I mentioned earlier, I am so grateful that I still get to keep my job, even with all its risks while others are losing theirs and I have met family beside me while others are indefinitely separated from theirs. I thank God so much for these and I pray for those who has lost their jobs & businesses and those who are aching to be with their loved-ones that the pandemic will end soon so they can be reunited with them.

6. Transferred to a nice villa walking distance to work

Living 30 minutes away from my workplace can be taxing for the whole family. Having no helper, we have to take the kids whenever I go to work and they would fetch me again when I get off work. Sometimes if I am on morning shift, they have to wake up at the break of dawn to tag along with their sleepy eyes to bring me to work and if I have evening duty, they have to fetch me late at night. It disrupts their nap time, sleeping time and even meal times. I was apprehensive to try for driver license and been postponing try to get one. I hate driving and I am too scaredy-cat to drive.

On May, we were happy we were informed that a nice villa was available for rent near my workplace. We liked it and decided to transfer. We were happy with the decision. I don’t need to get a driver license. I can just walk to work and I don’t need to disturb my family.

We are also happy that we got a wonderful Filipino community in the area and the kids are happy to have Titas in the neighborhood that they can visit and spoils them with sweet treats & presents on special occasions. We didn’t feel as isolated as we were in our previous place which was very far from everyone.

7. Online courses, classes and workshops

Due to the pandemic, there was a surge of online classes and courses offered. I was happy to learn about Coursera and EdX that offer great courses and classes online for free. (You will only pay if you want to get a certificate for the course you took.)

I also was happy to do Leslie Ludy’s online workshop. Leslie Ludy is a Christian author and speaker who inspired women of all walks of life to become closer to God. She has helped strengthen my faith with God during the trying times of the pandemic.

8. My sweet boys

My boys are growing up so fast. They are the sweetest little boys. I am amazed at how caring and loving they are growing up to be. They are so funny too. I enjoy their amusing conversations they have with each other & with me and their incredible imagination & innovative ideas. They come up so many wonderful block creations, ideas for new games to keep them busy & entertained and interesting hypothesis on certain thing, it make me laugh so hard until my belly ache. I am blessed to be a mommy to these adorable little men.

9. New friendships

New places always means new friendships. I am grateful to have gained new friends who will accompany me in this adventure here in Oman. I am beyond blessed that I have people who are willing to help me & my family as we navigate this new life in Oman.

10. Visit to Ras Al Hadd Beach

When the lockdown ease up, establishments were slowly opening and public beaches were opened. We drove to Sur and had fun day at Ras Al Hadd Kite Beach. It was a nice change from being always coop inside the house. It was wonderful to enjoy the nature and explore some parts of Oman that we haven’t been to yet.

11. Birthday staycation at Jebel Sifah

For my birthday, we got lucky to have found a lovely unit to rent at Jebel Sifah at a very good affordable price. It was lovely way to celebrate my birthday with a relaxing staycation at a luxurious apartment unit with nearby pools, beaches, playground for kids, a bar/restaurant and a wonderful marina view.

My kids loved our stay there so much they said, “Mommy, let us go back to this hotel house again, okay?”

12. Christmas in Muscat

This is our 2nd time celebrating Christmas in Muscat at our go-to accommodation in Somerset Panorama Serviced Apartment. The kids hanged their Christmas socks in the unit’s tall lighting stand and found it full of Santa’s sweet treats with a wrapped gifts beside it in the morning of Christmas. We went around Muscat and was happy to discover new places to go to during our stay.

I am looking forward to what 2021 will bring. I am optimistic that it is going to a good one. It will make up for the shortcomings of 2020. I know that we came out of 2020, strong, resilient, more centred and with more purpose. 2021 will be a great year. We owe it to ourselves to make it a great year. Let us do this!

GOODBYE 2019, HELLO 2020, HELLO NEW DECADE

January 24, 2020 by Little Miss Honey

In my usual tradition of looking back through my last year as a means of reflection, act of gratitude of the year that was and my way of keeping memories through the years, I would often create a gratefulness list for the last year.

My 2019 started out promising. My prayers were answered. The change I have been praying for the last part of my 2018 has been answered, a change my spirit has badly needed. But yes, change is never easy. In fact, it is even painful. But sometimes you just know you need that change.

My 2019 was a year of change, a year of new adventure, a year of jolting me out of my comfort zone, a year of slowing down. In spite of the discomfort and struggle of the new changes that were happening in my life as well as my little family, 2019 was a better year for me than my horrible 2018.

Here is my GRATEFULNESS LIST OF 2019:

1. Reached my goal weight at 8 months postpartum

It is a bit superficial to put this 1st but I was proud of myself for being able to reached my desired goal weight at 8 months postpartum. It took me several tweaks in my diet to find the right formula to achieve my goal weight.

We considerable amount of discipline and consistency, I did these to lose the baby weight:

– Sticked to an almost Vegetarian Keto diet. Stopped eating white rice. Replaced salad as my “rice”. However, I eat quinoa and occasionally brown rice.

– Did modified intermittent fasting (ate breakfast by 10:00 am and stop eating by 6pm)

– Drank lots of water. Avoid sodas. Removed milk in my coffee. Used stevia in my coffee & tea instead of sugar

– Try to eat clean and avoid processed junk food. I try to keep my diet gluten-free.

I felt great with the weight loss. Though I gave back a bit after my vacation in the Philippines because it was hard to resist temptation with all the foods I miss in the Philippines. But I am getting back into the groove again.

2. Got my visa to work in Oman

I have been praying in 2018 that I will get my work visa in Oman. I been wanting the change so badly. I was hoping to get it before the end of 2018 and I was so disappointed, I didn’t. But the start of 2019, I got the good news that my visa was ready.

3. Wonderful memories of my 6 years in Singapore

I have very fond memories of Singapore. The Little Red Dot surely have a special place in my heart. It will always be a second home to me and my family. It is where I matured, started a family and learned so many things in life. My initial months leading to a year in Singapore has been a bit rocky as I navigate the challenges of moving to a new country but it was truly a blessing that I get to live and work in Singapore for a few years. I have gained so many experiences, learnings, friends and memories that I would treasure fondly as I closed my chapter with Singapore last year.

4. Second chance to go back to my profession: MEDICINE

Not everyone get to have a second chance but I did. I realised I missed being a doctor. So I was grateful that I got a chance to work as doctor again in a new land.

5. Fulfilling doctor work in Oman

Being exposed to a super busy polyclinic work in Singapore, seeing 60-80 patients a day, working 9 hours with 1 hour or less lunch break, no tea breaks, my physician work in Oman was a wonderful contrast. Average patients a day would be around 30 at a 7 hour shift. It was great to have nap times after work and lull moments at the clinic. Though I have to struggle with learning Arabic to communicate with my patients and there are night calls & ambulance escort rides, I was still feeling blessed to be in a less busy environment and I get to learn new things, upgrade some physician skills I have never used before and become more confident in my management. I got to learn how to do antenatal check up & pregnancy ultrasound, deliver babies and ACLS, etc.

6.Assigned to a work place that gave me an opportunity to learn at my own pace and meet wonderful workmates

I prayed to God that I will be assigned to a clinic or hospital that wouldn’t be intimidating for a timid doctor like me. God has answered my prayers by bringing me to a peaceful health center in the tourist spot area up in the mountains of Oman. The workplace totally matched my personality and my workmates were all so warm, kind and helpful to a newcomer like me. It was the best place to start my work in Oman.

7. Experience single living again (at least temporarily)

Any mother (or father) would agree that even how much they love their kids and family life, sometimes they miss the joy of single living. The life of having the whole time for yourself, the peace & quiet, the absence of chaos or abundance of self-made domestic clutter without caring about it. I have to travel first in Oman and settled in the country & my workplace, waiting for my family’s documents to be ready for their move. So I got to experience my single living days again. Emphasise on the “my” single living because for some, it may mean, frivolous night outs and constant partying. But my definition of fun single life would mean binge-watching on Netflix shows, junkfood dinner on the bed, quiet night with the incense lamp burning on with a good book, uninterrupted exercise mornings and nap times in the afternoon.

8. Simple Minimalistic Living

I aimed since 2018 & 2019 to live a minimalistic lifestyle and living in Oman forced me into the “real” minimalistic living that I have been trying so hard to achieve. Due to the distance of the city, inaccessibility of transportation and the culture of modesty & simplicity in Oman, I am living in a simple minimalistic way. I didn’t need a wardrobe of different outfits or various kinds of accessories. I let go of my expensive monthly beauty sessions for eyelash extensions, manicure, pedicures, facials, etc. My schedule has less activities and less hustle & bustle. Even my beauty and makeup regimen is simple and I let go of my 8-step Korean beauty routine.

9. My family joining me my adventure here in Oman

I was ecstatic last September, my family finally joined me here in Oman. I miss my boys terribly. Even if I did enjoy my single living moments, it still never tops my happiness to be with my family. Living abroad for me is best experienced with my little family with me. I enjoy discovering new foods, new spots and learning about the country together with them. And I must say, my husband and I have always been a great team in life and I always believe living abroad, raising family in a foreign country is easier with him by my side.

10. Support group for my healthy living & vegetarianism

I have always been flirting with vegetarianism since I was in Med School. It was the only way of eating that made me lose the weight I have gained when I reached my 20s. I was never able to become consistent with eating vegetarian. I have also an interest in healthy eating which is important now that I am getting older. I am glad I found support groups that is helping me in my desire to eating healthily and become fully vegan.

11. Found a nice home for my family

I have always been lucky in finding a new home in places that we have lived in. I am glad I found a nice villa in Oman that would be my family’s home for the next few years. It is a large duplex villa with 3 big rooms and 3 bathrooms, a living room, dining room and a rooftop. The neighbourhood is very peaceful and not crowded. The owner of the villa is a nice Omani guy that speaks very good English and extremely receptive to our needs.

12. 1st Christmas in Muscat

We had a lovely 1st Christmas in Oman. We celebrated it by have a 2 nights staycation at Somerset Panorama Hotel, our favorite go-to hotel in Muscat so far and a Christmas buffet at City Seasons Hotel. We had a grand time and we even hang the kids’ stockings in the hotel living room for “Santa” to drop his goodies & gift for the kids. We also spend some time at Snow City at Mall of Muscat. It was a wonderful Christmas family time in Muscat.

13. Learned about the importance of Habits

One of the best books I have read this year is the Atomic Habits by James Clear. I learned the best way to achieve goals and be the best version of yourself is by have strong good consistent habits. Steven Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People have proven the importance of cultivating good habits. James Clear’s book went further by creating techniques and guides to make good habits stick and abolish bad ones. I learned that creating specific system to achieve is more essential than having only a goal to reach. If you have only one non-fiction book to read this 2020, I suggest you read this book.

14. Workplace transfer nearer to our house

Even if I love working at the health center in the quiet mountains, it was 1 hour drive away from the villa I am renting with my family. I was hoping to be transferred to a workplace nearer to the villa. By the end of the December 2019, my bosses officially informed me that I will be transferred by 1st week of January 2020 to a hospital 30 minutes away from our house. I know I will need to adjust again to my new environment but I don’t mind as long as I am nearer to my family. When we do get a car soon, a drive back in forth work and home is much easier than if I am working 1 hour away up in the mountain.

15. New friends

New country, new place, new friends. I am grateful for the new friends that I have gained last 2019. It made my transfer here in Oman so much easier. I made new Filipino friends, Indian friends, Omani friends. I felt taken care of by the generous wonderful people I have met and made friends in 2019.

Now 2020 is a new fresh year. It is full of possibilities. It is a new decade too. In the last decade, I realised I was busy building a family of my own.

2010 – J & I became a couple

2011- J proposed

2012- I move to Singapore for work

2013- J & I got married, J joined me in Singapore, I got pregnant

2014- Gave birth to Naj

2015- Got pregnant

2016- Gave birth to Fynn

2017- Got pregnant

2018- Gave birth to Zeke

2019- I move to Oman for work

2020- Hello New Decade

I feel complete with our little family. It is time for us to secure our future and that is our goal for this decade.

I made a list of things I decide to let go as the new decade. I have several items on the list. But what is funny, come January 2020, one of the item in the list that I decided to turn my back on came beckoning back to me. My family and I are on a new mission and we hope to achieve it in a few years time.

My word for 2020 is Zen. I hope for this year to be a peaceful calm one. I hope to renew and strengthen my relationship with the Lord. Even with all the worldly goals and desires we hope to achieve, in the end our ultimate goal is to be reunited to Him and I need to work on pleasing Him starting this decade. The world has been getting chaotic and we have lost sight of our real purpose here on earth. But while we try to better ourselves and learn in our temporary sojourn on earth, I would like to work hard to slowly reach the goal my family and I are aiming. Please pray for us that it will be bestowed to us if God wills it.

May you all have a wonderful 2020 and amazing new decade ahead!