How I Spent My Year 2013

Ten years. That's how long I've been doing this annual survey thing. Ten f'ing years. I don't write much original content on this blog but if there's one blog post I can count on making each year, it's this one.

I am going do this annual blog post every year for the rest of my life.

I try really hard to give answers that'll still mean something over time. Maybe one day, a loved one or a child of mine will find a lot of value in all this, maybe even years after I've passed.

Or if nobody ever reads this, that'd be fine too. I've been keeping up with this tradition because I love taking the time to reflect on how I've grown.

In 2011, my life was in shambles. In 2012, my focus was getting my career back on track. In 2013, things finally started falling into place. It feels good.

Here's how my year 2013 went.

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A Letter to Myself from Mel '08

This is a little tradition I started four years ago. The idea is to email myself using http://www.futureme.org, and have that email sent to me in exactly two years.

Sure, I could easily just write in my journal or blog...but writing an email to myself seems a little more intimate and lets me paint a more descriptive snapshot of what's going on in my life at that very moment.

Here is the last thing I wrote to myself, a little over two years ago (with a few things censored out). Mind you, this is just a few short weeks before I found myself in the newest chapter of my life -- btvfam.

Friday, August 1, 2008:

Hey Future Mel, how's life treatin' ya??

Life is pretty good for me right now. Work is cool...a little stressful cuz of the growing pains, but it's a fun learning experience. [The company] is now 28ish employees with the newest hire being Erin. [...] I still feel like I haven't quite made my mark. I'll be patient though...I believe in [our new CEO].

I spent a big chunk of the morning talking to my co-workers about VIKING QUEST (http://www.cat69.com). Ryan is all, "dude, you wouldn't even have to pack. Just bring a toothbrush and be naked for one whole week." Hahahahahahh.

So Mel, are you still running? I weigh 238ish nowadays, which is 10lbs less since I started little Nike+ SportBand thing. [...] I'm running half as much as I did before the Oregon Reunion, but my progress has been awesome. [...]

So this weekend was a really awesome one. I drove down to SD to kick it with Meliss...and it was such a blast. [...] I think my favorite part of the weekend was chillin' at La Jolla Cove with Meliss, overlooking the ocean. It was so chill and so peaceful. It's one of those moments where you can put life on pause and just appreciate the stillness. It felt like home.

So what's the deal with you and [that one business idea]? Right now the lawyers are doing the paperwork for forming the company. I feel like anything can happen. It might be huge; might be a flop; it might be modest like [my old site that had 12,000+ members]. But regardless, it should be a fun learning experience.

So anyways, how's your love life now? You still crushing on [some cute girl]? You still spend your lunch breaks chatting with Tracie? Late nights with Meliss? You talk to April at all anymore? Have you found it in your heart to completely let go of the whole [backstabbing friend] & [heartbreaker girl] thing? I'm just about over it but there's still a bit of anger there.

Anyways, hope all is well with you. Don't forget to write Mel 2012!!!

Much love,

Mel '08

It's crazy reading this cuz the first Time Capsule email I wrote in 2006, it was just a couple months after graduation and a little before I got my first real job. My future was just up in the air at that point.

Fast forward to now, where I just recently had to quit that very job. Once again, I find my future is up in the air.

I'm definitely gonna keep this tradition alive and write to my 2012 future me. There are a ton of possibilities/questions/worries for me right now and I'm just eager to see how it will all unfold.

We'll see how things are in two years. In the meantime...love, laugh and learn.

My Tattoo

Ladies and Gentlemen"¦my tattoo.

The idea behind it is simple: all the places I hold close to my heart have palm trees — Philippines, Saudi Arabia and In-N-Out California.

It just seems so personal having something of meaning on the wrist; it's always visible to me.

In psychology they say that visibly exposing your wrist to someone is body language for saying, "I trust you." I figure that if anyone ever notices my wrist tattoo, they're already someone that I trust and I'd want to share the meaning of it with them.

Otherwise it's discrete to the rest of the world. =]

(Oh, and it hurt like a biatch. hahah)

Thank you, everyone!!

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

-Mel

How I Spent My Year 2009

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.

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Thank you, everyone!

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.

Love you guys. <3