I already wrote a few paragraphs about how terrible the past few months were. I couldn’t find it in me to publish it. It came out as a lethal rant. A burning ball of negativity.

So here’s a better way to look at 2016,

I’m ending the year in the presence of my family. All fresh from visiting me this past christmas in Singapore. I also got to see our newly-renovated bathroom (with rain shower!) and a new kubo. It’s our new place to eat together as a family.

My teammates gave me an award I did not expect to receive. I was already up in front and holding my camera up ready to take photos of the awardees. Ako pala yung i-aawardan. Salamat. Working on the team’s branding was a sweet distraction from some of the rough waters I’ve had to navigate this past year.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BN2LL6PgPJs

Of course, happiness = dragon boating.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BNjUdn2AHkG

Bridging my personal advocacy, my company’s diversity and inclusion initiatives, and Singapore’s LGBT rights movement with participation (and observance) at this year’s Pink Dot. I tend to overlook this because I don’t seek attention (I am more comfortable working in the background). But it is what it is. And it’s what we have done together.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BGO4O7RKGXD

Hong Kong with Toni and Ryan!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BG0R4-wqGe8

Boracay with my teammates!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BEkvhg5qGRj

KL for a Standard Chartered 10km!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIzdoeignIL

Penang for food tripping!

https://www.instagram.com/p/BKsy_LMANRt

Attending gym regularly and keeping fit. Next to regular trainings with my dragon boat team, I attended gym where and when I could.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BE-hFJ2qGQ8

Finding the right place to stay. It wasn’t easy because for the first 49 weeks of the year I was living in the wrong places. But I am ending it with the greatest company. A house full of love and potential. Yes, this is what I’m most excited about in 2017. Creating a space for myself and my flatmates on the top floor of an HDB flat… sitting on the fringes of one of safest and cleanest cities on this planet.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BOUhj2-Auv2

And a PS4. Yes. A video game console. And personal entertainment like Netflix.

https://www.instagram.com/p/BIsep-pgYAQ

The biggest event of this year was ending my relationship and moving on from someone. It meant at times I had to walk alone. Eat alone. It meant doubting myself in times my friends were too busy.

But what’s the better way to look at it?

• I appreciate and value my personal time MORE.
• I don’t depend on others to do my laundry.
• I allow myself to make mistakes. I learn from them.

The year was a nightmare. But come to think of it, I gained MORE EXPERIENCE from this past year. From living alone to being wiser in my choice of friends.

I didn’t lose!

With love,

George