The Random Bibliophile

by Renee Alexis

Renee Alexis
20-something Filipina, an introvert who loves young adult fiction, brush pens, Taylor Swift, and BTS. Coffee runs in my bloodstream.

Follow

Buy Me a Coffee at ko-fi.com

2023 Reading Challenge

2023 Reading Challenge
Renee Alexis has read 0 books toward her goal of 30 books.
hide

2022 | A Year in Review

2022 | A Year in Review - Renee Alexis

Another year is coming to an end and with that, a new one is coming. As I have said in my previous blog post, 2022 came with the impression of 2020 2.0. But then, as the year unfolded, it got better and better and just kept on giving and giving. This was a year of receiving blessings, of following the heart's desire, and of grabbing opportunities. 2022 was the year when I was proven that what you give unto the universe, you earn back twice more. 2022 has given me so much more than I could have asked for and I am so thankful for all of it.

As the year ends, I have come again to do this tradition of reflecting back on what the whole year has meant for me. Can you believe that this is the seventh year-ending post that I'm going to write on this blog? Seventh! This blog has seen 7 eventful years of my life and it amazes me how much I've grown since 2016. And this is exactly the thing, the feeling, why I loved blogging. I like documenting memories. It gives me a record of my thoughts when I was younger. It gives me perspectives from different versions of myself. It's amazing what 3-years-ago me can write compared to present me. It never fails to make me feel in awe.

Anyhoo, let's start with the heart of this blog post, shall we?

Highlights & Accomplishments

This year was a mishmash of several things. I've achieved a few goals and I'm just really proud of myself for all the things that I've accomplished so far. Here are some of my 2022 highlights in bullets:

  • Landed a new and more stable job earlier this year
  • Achieved my savings goals
  • Bought my dream laptop and upgraded my workspace
  • Learned how to make scented candles
  • Went to TXT's concert in Manila
  • Met up and bonded with online friends
  • Bleached and dyed my hair
  • Another great fangirling year
  • Did yoga this year (just the first half of the year but whatever :P)
  • Got to see college friends again after years
  • Celebrated the holidays with friends and family 💖

Wins & Successes

As for wins and successes, here are a few that I could think of:

  • I got myself life insurance at age 28 :>
  • I read so much and got to finish my 2022 Goodreads Reading Challenge!
  • Setup my Etsy shop and started selling digital products last October, and so far I've already had 12 sales, woohoo!
  • Traveled alone to Manila for the first time
  • Got to save more this year!

Mistakes & Failures

2022 has given me a lot of challenges along the way, and I have fought a few battles to stay afloat and keep moving forward. As much as I was blessed, I also had my share of hardships that I'd rather not talk about here because I'd want to keep this post on a lighter note. But to share a few of the things that I didn't have any success on and felt like a failure, here are a few of them:

  • not being consistent and abandoning my podcast
  • totally abandoning my booktube channel
  • confiding in the wrong people
  • being too impulsive at times
  • failing to be consistent with working out and doing yoga

Learnings

This year, a lot of things and people contributed to my growth as a person. I've learned so much and I guess it wouldn't hurt to share some of those learnings here to remind myself that these were the reasons why I am the way I am today.

  • Learning about your trigger warnings and learning how to deal with them as you go through the downs.
  • Family may not always mean blood. 
  • There will always be people who are willing to compromise with you and stick with you no matter what.
  • One has to think through her actions first before actually doing them.
  • You always have room for learning and improvement, no matter how old you get.
  • You don't always have to cut off people, you just have to learn how to create boundaries to protect your sanity.
  • At some point in your life, you'll see how some things aren't just meant for you. And that's okay. 
  • Some things are meant for you. Some aren't. If it's not meant for you, don't chase for it.

How did my life evolve in 2022?

A lot of things changed in my life this year, especially when I accepted my new job. For one, it entails having to work at night. My body clock has shifted and it took some time for me to adjust. That's one thing that has evolved in my life this year. I've also got to know more about how to deal with the people around me. Getting used to their small habits and reactions to some things made me more mindful on how I react to them when things get rough. It's a never-ending adjustment and because it's not my place to put them in place, I choose to just shut up and wait for them to realize things (if they do realize things) and just go to my safe space for my peace of mind. I'm choosing my peace of mind now, rather than speaking out my mind because some people just don't know how to listen, so why make the effort to speak up if all just ends up to deaf ears. Lastly, I've become more responsible when it comes to finances this year. I'm more mindful of my purchases and even though there are certain times when I act on impulse, I do reflect on those circumstances and strive to not make the same thing happen again. I'm definitely proud of myself for all the work and effort I've put into this year to earn my living. I am so so thankful for every blessing I've received. Really. my heart is just overflowing with gratitude.

What about 2022 am I most grateful for?

I am most grateful for being provided. This has been the year of abundance for me. The blessings were flowing and I am receiving them with a grateful heart, always. I am thankful for my family, for my friends, for my job, for my clients, for my inspirations, for the motivation, and most of all, for myself who do not give up amidst the setbacks that were thrown to me. Truly, I am just so thankful this year. I hope next year will be just as great if not more.

In 2023, what area of my life do I want to focus on?

In the new year, I'd want to focus more on taking care of my health, both physical and mental. This year, I neglected my physical health a lot by not working out as much as I have in the beginning of the year because of my job. I also would like to focus on working on my personal project and I hope it will be successful.

What do I want this area to look like a year from now?

Of course I'd want to succeed in it. I want to do more yoga. I want to learn how to jump rope. And I want my personal project to flourish. I'm going to give my best again next year. 😊

And that ends my last entry for this year. Happy New Year, everyone! xx


Follow

Comments

Contact Form