I've spent a lot of my time this year focusing on myself. Taking a step back, looking at the good times I cherish, and the hard times that humbled me. I've been putting it together to see how all of that has affected who I am today.
I'm gaining a much better understanding of myself now. I really starting to understand what makes me tick, what inspires me to take bold steps, and what kind people/things hold me back.
I think know the right formula for me to move on (at least I think I do). I just have to put it all together.
A big part of that formula is getting my career back on track. Because when I have financial freedom, I can go out and spend more time with people that inspire me.
That's why my career has been my top priority for the past year.
Anyways, without any further ado, for my 9th straight year, here is my annual survey.
I don't expect you guys to read all of this...but I hope you take the time to answer this survey yourselves just to reflect on the past year. If you do this, answer truthfully and with meaningful answers that you can look back on several years from now; it's amazing to look back on how you've grown.
This is my 8th straight year of doing this, and it's an absolute TRIP looking back and my old posts. Anyways, here it is.
Thank you, everyone, for all the birthday wishes! I feel so young turning 21 again for the 7th straight year! My phone would NOT stop buzzing all day cuz of all the @replies, facebook notifications, tumblr posts and text messages...birthdays like yesterday remind me how blessed I am.
_melistar
9natran
adrian
adrieee
ajiiizzzle
akachrisTOPS
akbdc
alexjohn
aline-m
and0n
andykim84
anita-jose
anthong
ari
arielmariee
ashish patel
auroraempire
b0otayx3
babytoes81
bing87
bm-photography
bored44
briceorbryce
bkeeeezy
cathy-nguyen
cedricjoshua
chaaaany
charlenedang
chrisanne
christina-b
christina-luna
christinieweenie
cindyboo
confidential
cookiemunstarr
cristie suzukawa
cristina-dg
da1flipguy
dad
dailo
dajark
danielszetho
danitokyo
darweeenie
david-choi
dee-celera
dessiegirl
devinxrenee
djblinks
djmajik202
DoctorRico
donnaaa
dreamingoutloud
droidoid
eddieparas
eddymyla
eelyajekim
elisa
erniesbudolab
ey_mikz
farsid3pin0y
fizzi
flipgal77
francisrochino
FTWSammie
FUNK_CHINK
gabeezy
genix
goldylox
goshNicole
gotkatzy
h20ballz
halfsensed
hayleigh
hayley watson
hazeldb
henry-s
heyitsthatgirl
heylisajue
hollisterloser
hollykins
hsustyle
huskyboydrew
hypnoticasia
iiamjelly
iknowrenato
imjenni
ImVeryActive
ira-dg
itsCHELLAbaby
itsjonsense
itstoofragile
j0anne
jackielyn
jacraig34
janicexp
janiise
janne
janNYC
jaypwnsyou
Jdiep08
jenny-suk
jer0meskee
jgibs
jimb0
jimmychenpiano
JJANGNAH
joeescobar
jonchaniscool
jonjcp
joseph-diaz
josephvincent
JSQUARED
jtam7992603
julianna_amerie
juliannemariee
kabannaboyroy
kame88
karolangcaco
kat-blanco
kathleen-santiago
kaydeex3
kevinbognot
kim-o
kirsten-p
kishan
konradthompson
kris-cunanan
krismark
krystalderosas
krystovalina
kulayberde
Kuya
KuyaDeejay
ladykitay
lifeisfilm08
lilbearpeachie
linhmonster
LionGali
loval
lpina
marichris1
marinakamel
markque
marlo_t
marnz
maykimagination
meganfromTC
meggggan
melissa-v
melvinsings
micahmarie
michael-tajon
michellepark
mirtheous
misschanto
mizzamanda
mom
mquerol
mrfuijikicker
msclumsiee
mynameisroth
nadsmustafa
nannerzz
natlielatunay
neegahson
neenerslambchop
neil_84
neosubz
NeroRamos
nessarica
noa-martinsen
not_june
nykko_x3
olee
omgitsrobb
ooobbyitsloveooo
paka79
patflynn
peachesudh
peteeee
phatts
philchao
pinktea6
r0ckingreen
rachel-s
racheljasmin
raelynnerosales
ram_ree
randolph-permejo
raineezy
raycel98
reggiesee
reii
renC
rhezamae
rina-dakanay
rjay23
rock-star
ron_palustre
rosemary bales
rosmel-ramos
rowdysaudi1
rtran
ryan-shin
ryanhurley
safaricat
samchy
scarlett
scikotik
scottyoshimoto
sean-doyle
shazadsk
shireen-h
shraddha
sinxjae
slackerSC
slimbeats
sogooey
spideyudh
stefansinging
stephanie-chiang
stephbaloy
sun_tzu
thatsajudy
theapradioshow
thisGIRLis_
tiffany-o
tl2eesa
toekneekay
tpm_music
udh7
uhmberr
uhohitsari
ulysses
usarmymich
vankho
vinimack
vjayyy
vobot
whattheda
xxflipxpryd3xx
youlikepoo
zeephunk
Hopefully I got everyone in here that gave me a shoutout (over 240!?!). Love you all! <33
I don't expect you guys to read all of this...but I hope you take the time to answer this survey yourselves just to reflect on the past year. If you do this, answer truthfully and with meaningful answers that you can look back on several years from now; it's amazing to look back on how you've grown.
This is my 7th straight year of doing this, and it's an absolute TRIP looking back and my old posts. Anyways, here it is.
It's been just about a week since my NYC trip. I wish I had more time to write a big post about it...but for now I'll have to settle with this awesome vid by Phil (and photos on my Flickr, coming soon):
Holy crap! Thank you guys so much for all the birthday wishes. My facebook, twitter and cell phone were going crazy the whole freakin' day!
Not gonna lie, I've had some miserable birthdays in the past...so I've learned to appreciate the simplest birthdays of facebook/myspace comments, twitters, text messages and just being around people that I love. Yesterday was all about that and I loved it.
A few days ago, I was thinking of doing something like, "for every person that wishes me happy birthday, I'll do a body roll for one second." Damn, if I actually did that, it'd be a video of me doing body rolls for over 2.5 minute!! :laugh: Maybe next year. Maybe.
Anyways, lotsa love to the people that wished me happy birthday (in chronological order):
Wush
Michael
Hazel
Melissa G
Michelle T
Hammy
Kris Mark
Joanne
Paolo L
Mom & Dad
Sheena
Ernie
Sierra
Phatts
Tracie
Tops
Chany
Roth
BM-Mike
Loval
Loris
RJ
Raelynne
Crissy
Mquerol
Nessa
Naythen
Jackielyn
Jae -- omg pole dancing video??! :rofl:
Nikki
Kina Grannis -- :biggrin:
Drew -- loved the body roll video :bangin:
Roy
Van
Marlo
Confi
Cristina Blake
Tillmann
Stefan
Hollykinns
Slimbeats
Courtney
Nicole P
Japstaboi
DesoMatt
Fred
Nam
Stephanie C
Michelle
Meliss
Dru
Jimbo
Amanda H
Ulysses
Jon G
Tam
Abel
Dee
Rochi
Julie
Lorraine
Kulay Mike -- awww yehhh :hehe:
Adriee
Melissa V
Ashley
Angel
Justine
Renabette
Sara
Renato
Mike E
Vicki
Pete
Erin
Amy T
Samir
Paolo
Ariana
Jasper
Justin H
Kim T
April
Nadin
Rachel
Pat
Jason C
Deland
Ernie
Phil
Kishan
Richard J
Mary
Dae
Noa
Wing
James
Chris P
Dimples
Preston
Jennie
Allie
Erleen
Chain
Erin
Lisa J
JR
Joanne
Ashley S
Norm
NJ
Stephanie R
Elisa
Bobby Lee, I mean, Cathy Nguyen -- :chill:
Thomas Yu
Gayle
Devin
Jon Chan
Katzy -- <3 video mail
Alex John -- all the way from Chicago?!! :noway:
Jec -- zomg, awesome drawing skillz!! :coold:
Josh S
Darwin
Daniel
Chris P
Brianne
Goldy
Nirav
AJ -- thanks for dedicating a song to me with Cathy. :cheers:
Janice
Jessica M
Kathleen B
random people at AJ's show that apparently recognized me from blogtv (whoa!?!)
Ronan
Bryan Keith
Angel
Rex
Amy
Megan
Ray
Mark M
Kim
Tiff
Dana
Heather
Stan
Adoboy
Laila
Sara T
Elwood
Khaing
Ron P
Audrey P
Cynthia
And on a random note...
This Ralph Emerson quote popped into my head yesterday. I've posted this before but I just love this quote so much I wanted to share it with you guys again:
Ralph Waldo Emerson:
To laugh often and much.
To win the respect of intelligent people,
and the affection of children.
To earn the appreciation of honest critics,
and endure the betrayal of false friends.
To appreciate beauty.
To find the best in others.
To leave the world a bit better,
whether by a healthy child, a garden patch,
or a redeemed social condition.
To know even one life has breathed easier,
because you have lived.
That is to have succeeded.
// Due to my crappy internet, I'm gonna have to keep this blog post very, very short...
Thanks for your patience, everyone. It took me a few days longer than expected but 300 photos are up on my Flickr! (There's actually a total of 853 photos and videos which I'll make available for download soon)
What can I say? It was a very chill reunion, filled with a lot of nostalgia and laughter; it was a nice change of pace for once, compared to our past wild reunions. Once again we find ourselves as a group of people in the middle of no where, doing what we do best -- chilling, drinking and finding ways to amuse ourselves.
The highlights of the reunion are all in the photos.
Randoms:
Loren: you'd think it was only us kids that were drinking and partying but really it's just the adults were a lot better at dodging us than we were at them.
Mel:petting the dogs Alan: hey Loren, do you have any peanut butter? (Reference to the movie Road Trip)
Mel:quick, deep, hollow fart Samir: what? Loren: dude, was that your ass?? Samir: oh shit! I thought he said "yo"
Re-Created Picture of the Moment:
In Closing...
In the movie Garden State, a wise Zach Braff one said:
Home is so much more than just a house to put your shit in.
The more I think about that quote, the more I realize how true it is. Home isn't just a house. It's not just a town. It's a time. A moment. It's the people around you in a certain phase of your life. It's the world in the eyes of someone before all that real world stuff.
Home is an experience when you're there, and a state of mind when you're not.
Let's face it, none of us will ever truly be able to "go back." Even if we decide to go to that Ar@mco sponsored reunion in Saudi next year, it wouldn't be the same. It's not that same time and it's not the same place.
But the people -- us -- we'll always have. And that will never change.
Maybe that's what 'family' really is: a group of people that miss the same imaginary place.