I need to talk to them about options on this and see how to work this out. Most likely, I will exhaust my insurance this year and continue on to next year for the treatment. Let’s see about it!

I have a new haircut! I tried Pump Salon in Kenwood. It seems OK so let’s see!

When I started 2011, I was feeling a bit angry to the world. 2010 and the early part of 2011 was quite a shocker for me in terms of what I wanted to do in life. It jolted me to actually do something more drastic than sit around and wait for things to arrive on my lap. I thought then – I’ve been a hardworking guy and I deserve it. No. It’s not like that. If you want something, look for it and grab it by the balls and do not let go. You have to fight for what you want/deserve. No one will intervene for you. It is you self who is your biggest ally. Still, 2011 is a year of changes! I moved out of my home, the Philippines for the US for work. I said goodbye to my parents and my closest friends! I did not realize it was going to be tough because I’ve wanted this for so long, but when it was already my last week in Manila, I felt so emotional, I did not know who that person was. It was a surreal experience and something that surprised me even until this moment.

In the US, there more surprises in store. I was forced out of my comfort zone. I met new people and I was able to experience new things that I wouldn’t really expected. I started having more control on what to do in my life, and even started dating here. It’s like I was presented so many options, and it’s all up to me now to work out what I need to do. I’m happy to have these choices. Going back to my 2011 goals which I made during the dying days of 2010, I’d say that I accomplished the big ticket items of what I wanted to be done in 2011. When 2010 ended, I just wanted to accomplish the following things:

1. a better gym plan.
2. better relationships with old and new people in my life
3. tighter financial controls – minimize eat outs and luho
4. iron out my personal 2-year personal plan
5. move out and be more independent

I put down some goals that I wanted to achieve and left out any career planning. I tried to work on #1 but did not succeed with this and 2012 will probably a better year to work on this (rationalizing). I enjoyed attending my Aero Step and Hi-Lo, but because of my move to the US, this had to stop. Due to #4 and #5, a lot of things were suddenly dropped like hot potatoes. So I can say that #1, #2 and #3 did not meet expectations, but I think being able to achieve #4 and #5 which was quite nerve wracking made things easier and faster. I am pretty happy with how 2011 went by actually.

Moving forward to 2012…

For 2012, I just want to go back and slice up small goals that I think is attainable yet challenging. I just want to focus on the following aspects: finances, career, health, personal and social.

Financially, I need to reduce my spending and earmark around 25% of my pay to go to savings. I need to be more wiser and save up. I will probably reduce Starbucks again as I’ve been enjoying Toffee Nut Lattes, Caramel Macchiatos, and Salted Caramel Mochas. I’ve been shopping a lot too! Gosh, living near a mall is really a pain (not!).

Career-wise, I am not seeing any big progressions and I don’t aim to do so. I’ll need to be prudent in what goes on and see where it goes. But, what I need to focus will be improving productivity. How can I improve what I am doing now. I feel that there is a big room of improvement and I’ll probably have to do some data analysis to come up with the gaps and how to address them. What to automate and what to standardize. These things I’ll need to write down and also include in my FPR goals.

As with health, I just want to be healthier without compromising my meat diet. I’ll probably put in some more greens, and really be serious about going to the gym. Hopefully, by the end of 2012, I had reduced my BMI (not that I am fat) and be leaner. I need good motivation on this!

Socially, I need to expand my social circle, seriously. I think this will be very, very challenging. I will probably have to join some social group where I share my interest so I can meet more people.

Finally, I have some personal things that I want to achieve like watching more movies, and enjoying some vacations this year. I also want to blog some more and be able to write down more my life experiences and thoughts regularly. I think I’ve skipped so many important milestones and I haven’t really been too transparent as well. There are tons of blog entries marked as private this year that it’s like I am living a double life. I don’t know really, but I’ll need to open myself up some more and lower down my defensive shields.

I don’t know if 2012 will be easy, but what I’ve learned this year with my move to America — you will be the one setting what you want to achieve and how to achieve it. So 2012, I’m ready for you! Be pleasant and loving!

1. What did you do in 2011 that you’d never done before?
- leave the Philippines and live on my own.
- sign a lease for an apartment, car and a loan.
- assemble a table, cabinet and a bed.
- celebrate Christmas without my parents.

2. Did you keep your new years’ resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
Not resolutions, but goals. Need to post another blog about that.

3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
None that I know of.

4. Did anyone close to you die?
This year, none.

5. What countries did you visit?
Hong Kong with Kathy, Singapore with The_Court, US for the move!

6. What would you like to have in 2012 that you lacked in 2011?
A deep appreciation of life and a solid direction on what I want to do with it.

7. What date from 2011 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
So many dates that will remain etched in my mind:
Feb 17-20 – HK with Kathy! Volume night! :)
May 20 – PMP certification!
May 29-31 – SG with the_court! (fun fun fun!)
July 28 – the saddest birthday I had because we (family, friends) were all feeling the weight of me leaving for the US.
July 30 – I left the Philippines.

8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Moving to another country. Getting my PMP!

9. What was your biggest failure?
Not being able to take charge, and not being able to be as decisive as I want to be.

10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
Flu, and I had a swarm of rashes. It’s all good and treated now.

11. What was the best thing you bought?
I got a good deal with my HP 23″ LED monitor! I also got a big purchase on a mattress.

12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
Can’t think of anyone at the moment.

13. Whose behavior appalled you and made you depressed?
There are things that should be left unsaid.

14. Where did most of your money go?
Setting myself up in the US. I needed to buy a car, to rent an apartment, and to fill up that apartment!

15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
moving to the US!

16. What song will always remind you of 2011?
Moves Like Jagger

17. Compared to this time last year, are you:
i. happier or sadder? – happier.
ii. thinner or fatter? – fatter
iii. richer or poorer? – richer.

18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
Take risks!

19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
overthinking.

20. How will you be spending Christmas?
I spent Christmas with friends here in Cincinnati. It was pretty different than how I usually celebrate it but it’s fun nevertheless.

21. Did you fall in love in 2011?
Nope.

22. How many one-night stands?
*no comment*

23. What was your favorite TV program?
Gossip Girl, American Idol, X Factor (UK), Vampire Diaries, Project Runway

24. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
Weirdly, none.

25. What was the best book you read?
I haven’t read much this year. I guess the most worthwhile I’ve read was the continuation of the Percy Jackson series…

26. What was your greatest musical discovery?
Adele

27. What did you want and not get?
Hmmm… Love.

28. Favorite film of this year?
Weekend

29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
I turned 28 years old this year. I just simply celebrated it with parents since I was leaving in 2 days then. It was very emotional for all 3 of us.

30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
Love.

31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2011?
Smart Casual.

32. What kept you sane?
Friends, internet, Netflix and food!

33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
Men of Vampire Diaries!

34. What political issue stirred you the most?
Philippine politics by itself has always stirred me! I’m starting to get hooked in the politics here in the US!

35. Who did you miss?
Family and friends from the Philippines!

36. Who was the best new person you met?
Ivan.

37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2011.
Be careful with what you wish for. You might actually get it and your expectations might be different from reality.

38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don’t ask why
It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time

• Do my annual year-ender survey. – done!
• Finish my 2011 look back – done!
• Finish my 2012 goals - done!
• Inbox Zero
• Have a hair cut - done!

Fairly easy, right? No. Not at all.

I watched Weekend. IMDb summarizes it to: “After a drunken house party with his straight mates, Russell heads out to a gay club. Just before closing time he picks up Glen but what’s expected to be just a one-night stand becomes something else, something special.” I have to say that it is one of the best movies I have seen this year. It’s very honest, and real without all pretensions on love, and relationships. It’s just one of those movies that grip you with its rich narrative and striking performances.  I was ready to say that Source Code is the best movie I’ve seen this year in my year ender summary, but this movie tops it!

* movie posted is owned by IFC

First time to make a carrot cake after 10 years. I was in Grade 7 when we baked this in my cooking class. Hopefully it is not a failure!!!

My friend Dan mentioned before that improving one’s self can lead to a boost in self-confidence. That is true, but will achieving that potential high self-confidence be enough motivation to undergo a physical transformation? I am not certain. I applaud those who can sustain such motivation. For me, I need an external source that will direct me to reach that goal. Wanting something is not enough anymore. Sometimes, I must be pushed to that direction to actually work on it. Newton’s first law.

So now that I’m having inner demons related to self-confidence, I am once again faced with the dilemma on what and how to improve myself. That’s a 2012 project I suppose and will definitely be part of any 2012 goals I want to achieve. Talking about goals, I need to go back to 2010 form of doing a data-based goal setting activity. How does this work? I just need to identify the goal that I want to achieve, and put in key measurable indicators that I am actually heading towards that goal. If the velocity is not as expected, or there is an issue, corrective actions can be applied. Yes, I manage my life as a project. It’s the best way to ensure that I achieve it.

Let’s see. Do I need to CMMI my life though??? (Rhetorical question, people!)