I started 2019 with no job and an almost empty bank account. But I made one good decision in the last few days of January, and everything else followed. I have written briefly about this on my birthday post on Insta, but I really am grateful for my job.

Aside from the expected stuff like income and stability that it provides, I’m thankful for the flexibility that my current company offers. We encountered several earthquakes and typhoons this year and time and time again, these are the moments when it’s hard to drag your ass out of the house to get to work. I’m always thankful for these moments because I can be safe in my own bed, but still get to earn that coin. Thankful that I also got to do part-time gigs for that extra #hustle. Thankful for my super kind boss who did my interview and consequently convinced me to choose this job over the other offers. Thankful for the company that encourages REAL work-life balance. I got to look forward to weekends where I can go to museums, watch musicals, have breakfast or dinner with friends, or travel somewhere.

I also realized this year that there really should be a limit on favors you do for other people. I’m the type of person who never says no. Even if I really don’t want to do it, sometimes I’m still compelled to say yes. I should have realized a long time ago that no matter how many favors you do for them, no matter how much time you spend to accommodate them, the moment you say no or call them out, they’ll drop you like a fly. It’s okay to call other people out, but when you do that to them, they’re gone. You get blocked. They disappear from your life. It’s really about time to just let go of these people. Life is too short to waste your time on them. There will be more people who will come into your life. There will also be people who left that will come back.

“People are gonna leave anyway, because those who stay are not people, they are family.” I’m thankful for everyone who’s still in my life. I’m happy to have reconnected with friends who I didn’t speak with for a while. Because that’s what they are – they’re family, they stay or come back.

2019 started out difficult, but today, on the last day of the year, I can say that I’m at full contentment. Sure, everything’s not perfect – nothing is – but I’m content with what I have and who I’m with.

Bye, 2019. Hello, 2020.