with open arms and a guarded heart

hello 2008! i welcome you with open arms and a resolution to deal with things you throw my way better.

in truth, i have only one resolution which i intend to apply - to everything that i have on my plate so far and everything that will come my way this year. im posting it in the hope that my one true resolution will help you find and achieve the things you seek or desire:

LET GO OR TRY HARDER.

life is short. we are given only so much time here, and i have realized that i need to let go of things or people that are weighing me down and to focus on the people and the goals that truly matter to me. i resolve to enhance the strengths that i already have by constant work and attention, and to enrich and nurture my relationships with important people in my life.

with all the things that i decide to keep in my life, i resolve to try harder in order to meet my goals. i know myself too well - being an expert at failure and backtracking. i resolve to always remind myself that if i fail, there is always tomorrow - and that i don't need to wait for another new year to try to get back on track.

along the same lines, i resolve to let go (for the time being) of my giddyness and excitement at the idea of being with someone. i accept that there are many things that i need to work on alone and i realize that i need to give myself the breathing room to grow into my shell. i resolve to free myself of the pressure to couple up, to not beat myself up for not being with someone yet (or ever), and to make myself realize that i am enough on my own, and when i decide i am ready, i have a lot to offer and to share. so while i enter 2008 with an open mind to new people and new experiences, i do so with a guarded heart.

this is something that i found off of postsecret that ive been keeping for quite some time now. ive always felt the same way...but i choose to let go of this icky feeling.


but this post is getting too serious already!!!

because i want to start the year right, i want to honor some of the people who have made 2007 so memorable (with photos para star!!!):

my sisters - you are the loves of my life. really.


ate dey (thank you for making me part of your family. for giving me a home to go to when i feel like i have none. for all the advice, for sharing in my excitement, for being the sister i never had but always wanted)



trix (thank you for understanding me so well. for putting up with me when i am incoherent, irrational, patay-gutom (hehehe), and pessimistic. you carry my heart. i hope to carry yours.)


my law school barkada (thank you for every moment we have. for making law school bearable. for listening when i am senseless, for helping me try to find my purpose, for laughing with me when i feel like joy is nowhere to be found.)





new-found/rediscovered friends - you've made me laugh more than i ever had in a long, long time :-) i look forward to many more memorable times!

the new happy group?


carrie made us cupcakes!


katha our laughtrip buddy


aidz!


new blockmates




constant companions and confidantes










my brother (for everything you've done and for sharing in both my joys and my pains.)


you are beloved. and truly appreciated. happy new year to us!