Reflections of 2012

It sounds so cliché to quote 'time flies', so I'll coin a brand new phrase of my own...
   Time wooshes!

I know; it sounds ridiculous. That's also the same thing people said against believers of a spherical earth... bah =P

It is December and the clock is ticking closer and closer to 2013. I cannot help but ponder and reflect upon 2012 thus far. Too soon? Nonsense! It is never too soon to reflect, especially on a year that has been nothing but amazing. It is not all sugar and honey, though that only reinforces that reality is always a balance of the ups and downs, tightly coupled with how we get back up after either spikes.


The most prominent and crucial highlights of the year are none other than the marriages of TWO of my closest friends! In both weddings, I was graced with the honor of being in the leading groom's entourage... and that is a feeling of pride I will never forget. It is not so much about BEING chosen as opposed to the affirmation that you are genuinely relied and trusted upon. It can be a tiring responsibility, and in several occasions have called upon stretching beyond my comfort zones, but opting out of the opportunity is unthinkable and should the same situation were relived... I would embrace it just as I did now. Would I do some additional things? Yes! Would I change some things? Yes, if it meant making it that much more memorable. Do I regret doing anything? No. I acknowledge I could have done some things better, but acknowledging is not regret. I could have done worse... and that sets the tone for practically everything else this year.

Travel was written all over my timeline. I had two amazing business trips to Belgium. A magical trip to Bali added a much needed zing and a refreshing trip to Redang, a weekend roadtrip to Penang and a casual in-between-job trip to Singapore earlier in the year all add up to a remarkably varied and fulfilling year of miles! Trips don't just mean sight seeing... it also implies meeting people. I've made new friends, rekindled with old friends, made connections with friends' family members, established new professional contacts and discovered new sides to people I thought I knew... and it has been a great moment of exploration to see how diverse the people around me are... how they can still surprise you when you think you have them all figured out.

Of course, not all is rosy and honey-coated... I've had my share of blunders. Met a few interesting people along the way, but my Hopeless Shy Guy™ mode (as usual) led me nowhere =P I still amaze myself how big a contrast my professional side can be from my personal side. It's no wonder most people who know me find it hard to believe that I am shy... most of 'em just know my professional, guarded side.

Mentioning professionalism inevitably leads to talk about work, and I started the year with a new endeavor. I'm proud to proclaim (in this blog that I consciously avoid mentioning specifics) I am affiliated to Materialise Malaysia, a place I call my professional home. Best part is, I genuinely enjoy my work this moment... more than I have in years! The people are great, the environment sincere, and the motivation that what we do is intended to make a difference. Best part is, they MEAN it! It implants a sense of pride that I can relate to, and that absolutely amazes me. I won't lie that I can't predict how long my career here will be or where it will lead me... but I can say without hesitation that my respect for this company will not waver whether I am in their employment or otherwise.

Work has been an interesting challenge. Brand new domain with a company that is so different in many ways to my previous, yet somewhat relatable if I combine characteristics of each and every company I've worked in thus far. Combine that with a genuine mentality of wanting to make a difference, sprinkled with management gung-ho who trust you enough to throw you more challenges day after day... it is enough to make me dizzy from the pile of expectations everyone has. Daunting, I'll admit, but I actually appreciate the challenge. Maybe my immediate past job was that boring, or maybe their ideals resonate well with my own. Whatever it is, it does not change the fact that the road ahead is still an uphill battle, but one that I know I need not fight alone. People expect me to lead, but I'm accompanied by other leaders who are not driven by ego or self gain.

That's quite a bit and I'm already skipping details. I do look forward to what 2013 has to offer, and the immediate months ahead promise some experiences that may prove to be memorable... I can only hope :)