@StarletShay

December 30 – Gift.

This month, gifts and gift-giving can seem inescapable. What’s the most memorable gift, tangible or emotional, you received this year?

A certain someone hooked me up technically so that I could have WiFi on the go without having the battery die on me AND a new iPod Touch because my old one was giving me white hairs. I'm planning on paying back this person somehow...I just don't know how yet. >_< I'm really thankful because without the internet-on-the-go, I'd be lost....literally and mentally. I highly doubt this person even reads these posts, but...thank you!!! 

December 29 – Defining Moment.

Describe a defining moment or series of events that has affected your life this year.

Is it just me, or do all these prompt just seem to lead to the same thing? ...getting bored. Good thing it's only a few more days. 

Coming to Japan. Nuff said. 

December 28 – Achieve.

What’s the thing you most want to achieve next year? How do you imagine you’ll feel when you get it? Free? Happy? Complete? Blissful? Write that feeling down. Then, brainstorm 10 things you can do, or 10 new thoughts you can think, in order to experience that feeling today.

What the? I read the first part of the prompt and thought, hey...easy...then I have to think of 10 things/thoughts more?!? *rawr* Well, the thing I want to achieve most next year is graduate. It is technically possible with great focus and intention. Graduating would be such a great feeling. Ya, I'd be called Dr. Shay...but other than that...the feeling of FINALLY finishing school would be awesome. Now 10 things I can do?

1. Write
2. Read
3. Write
4. Read
5. Write
6. Read
7. Write
8. Read
9. Write
10. Read

Ok...that was cheating...but I really can't think of anything else. >_< Man, I better get to reading and writing. Ciao! 

December 25 – Photo – A present to yourself

Sift through all the photos of you from the past year. Choose one that best captures you; either who you are, or who you strive to be. Find the shot of you that is worth a thousand words. Share the image, who shot it, where, and what it best reveals about you.

I was going to go through a zillion pictures and comment on it, but I ran out of time. So I really have to only choose one. *rawr* How about this one?

Oh, I took this in Honolulu, Hawaii in my friend's studio. 

Ok, now you go have a Merry Christmas! ^__^ 

December 24 – Everything’s OK.

What was the best moment that could serve as proof that everything is going to be alright? And how will you incorporate that discovery into the year ahead?

My friends. I'd list them here, but then I'd feel really bad if I left someone out...so I'll just say my friends, both old and new. It is because of them, I know that everything will be ok. I've been blessed to always have someone to talk to...even if it was TMI. LoL. (You know who you are.) My friends have offered their helping hand and heart. I especially want to thank Yoshiko for spending Christmas Eve with me and Aya for allowing me to join in on the fun on Christmas Day and New Years Eve. Of course, I can't forget about Courtney...who accepts me for who I am...even though I'm drunk. LoL. And to those that talk to me on a daily basis from a million miles away...thank you for that...it's kinda like you're checking to make sure if I'm still alive. LoL. Oops, I said I wasn't going to list them out....oh well. I'll stop here. 

Simply stated...YOU, yes YOU...the person reading this...YOU! You are proof that everything will be alright. I mean c'mon now...you're reading THIS! LoL. 

So next year...I'm keeping those friends close. Yup...you're special to me. 

December 22 – Travel.

How did you travel in 2010? How and/or where would you like to travel next year?

I went to Colorado in February for NABE's annual convention...and in August I came to Japan. In September, I traveled around west Japan with my dad. In 2011, I'd like to go to an asian country other than Japan. I've always wanted to go to Italy, Greece, and England, too. Ooooooo, or go see the aurora borealis in Alaska! 

December 20 – Beyond Avoidance.

What should you have done this year but didn’t because you were too scared, worried, unsure, busy or otherwise deterred from doing?

Tracking my expenses and income...or lack thereof. Every year I start tracking my expenses and income and then...somewhere down the line I stop. This is my excuse year after year....it gets complicated. What do I do if I spend yen instead of dollars? Or dollars instead of yen? What do I do if I'm suppose to pay for something but someone pays if for me instead? Do I even write down the $1 I spent on water? Oh...the many excuses I can come up with. 

2011 will be the year that I actually track my expense and income. I WILL! *rawr* No more excuses! 

２０１１年こそ家計簿つけます！

December 19 – Healing.

What healed you this year? Was it sudden, or a drip-by-drip evolution? How would you like to be healed in 2011?

Japan. Coming to Japan has healed me from all the bad that was going on this year. I regret I only choose 1 year, but too late now to be regretting my choices. I'm in Japan, and I'm going to make the best of my time here. I knew that coming to Japan would heal me so I was very antsy.

I submitted my visa application on Monday and they said the turn around time would be 3 to 4 days.
I said, I need it earlier.
They said how about in 2 days.
I said, how about tomorrow? 
And tomorrow it was.

I grabbed my student visa on Tuesday (8AM) and hopped straight on the plane THAT day!

I'm in a very happy place...Millions of miles away from everything that I allowed to bring me down this year. I hope being in Japan will continue to "heal" me. And yes, I must return to Hawaii in 2011, but I'll deal with that when the time comes. Til then...party on! ^__^ v

December 18 – Try

What do you want to try next year? Is there something you wanted to try in 2010? What happened when you did / didn’t go for it?

I personally HATE the word TRY. It's either you do it or you don't...well, most of the time. Is there something that I wanted to do in 2010 and didn't? Hm...acquire a third language? I'm taking classes and have a language exchange partner, but I'm still learning. Hopefully in 2011, I'll be able to hold conversations in Korean! 

周りに三カ国語話す人が多くって、私も頑張らないとな〜って思うようになりました。来年こそ韓国語を喋れるようになりたいです。

December 17 – Lesson Learned

What was the best thing you learned about yourself this past year? And how will you apply that lesson going forward?

I'mma keep this one light since the last one was so heavy. The thing I learned about myself is that I get 100x more things done at Starbucks than at home. So if I really need to get something done, I need to pack up my things and head to Starbucks. 

hm...I wonder if it's safe to leave my stuff on the table (laptop included) if I need to pee. I haven't done that yet...always end up coming home to use the bathroom. LoL.