linklogbook

welcome back to linklogbook! today i will be writing a reflection of the year 2024 and oh god its been a absolute disaster. I am not kidding when i say i experienced near-death every month. I reckon this might be the second worst year of my life (nothing can top 2018 unless i get stabbed again). But we live and we learn, so here we goooo. Also im moving out and its stressful so this blog post may not be up to quality.

Update: I didn’t want to post this after writing but I’ve made my peace with it a month later

you can have 9 lives and still die

everything dies eventually, and that’s what makes life so precious in the first place. But if you had 9 lives, you might take death less seriously. I used to think i could get anyway with my recklessness and that the universe would protect me but this year, i had too many close calls. Ranging from bedridden illness to nearly getting kidnapped, i was starting to wonder how many “lives” i had left.

My most pivotal moment was after my trip to Berlin where i went through a highly traumatic event (i will not be sharing due to privacy). After, i went through a bender where i was drinking (and other things) non-stop. I think I just felt i had given up on life. I wanted to forget everything and let everything numb the pain.

It went on for some time and it was so hard to shake off, but i hated feeling so disoriented everyday. I would show up to class hungover and was mostly miserable (but my thoughts on alcohol and vices will be on another blogpost). Finally, I thought about the life i wanted to have, and realized that this bender HAD to stop.

I started to take a more serious look into my health and reckless behaviour. I slowed down on alcohol (but i still take out party link once in a while) and focused on building mindful habits. It wasn’t just physical but also mental improvements. I started this year in flux. I was unsure of what exactly i wanted to do in my life (at the point of writing, this author STILL has no specific idea) but i focused on this:

“what can i build now that i can look back on five years later?”

I reflected so much on this, that i was very clear on what i wanted to do. I wanted to be healthy, I wanted to keep up my fitness. I wanted to continue growing my current friendships and maybe add or two more. I wanted to have a dynamic career, with one main job and a side hustle. I wanted to have a new hobby. I wanted to be in love. Not just with a person, but with the world. This is the headspace i am in entering the new year. I want to do things i love, and just that. Maybe i’ll fall flat on my face. But I’ve made my peace with that too.

A Year of Dating ???

I spent this entire year dating people. From Singapore to India to Spain, there wasn’t a stone I left unturned. I was open to different types of people, but this entire year has taught me so much about what i look for in a partner, what values i consider to be important.

I definitely tried and failed many times. I realise I need a spark of attraction to fan the flames towards a relationship. Sometimes this spark is physical, but mostly its a mental alignment. If someone had the right values and headspace, it is likely that i will fall for them.

The most important lesson (which seems to be a constant lesson when it comes to dating for me) is that i will never settle for less. I will find my person, or i will continue to love myself so loudly you will hear my heart singing in every action i take. Next year, link is not looking for love. He already found it. 😉

My Final Year as an Academic Weapon

I did it!! i nearly quit school over what happened in Berlin. Thankfully i was surrounded by loved ones who encouraged me to push through. I wanted to write a university reflection, but i don’t have the time. So here is three important points.

• Everyone says its difficult to make friends in university. This is partially true because our generation would rather scroll on phones than talk to people. My secret: don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and start a connection. I feel like everyone expects everything to be handed to them. So go out there and get chatting.
• Learn to let go. Several times I felt wronged by university. I did well academically, but also there were times some grades were unjustified or did not make any sense. Try not to get caught up in it and move on.
• Make opportunities and have fun! My biggest takeaway from university is that it is not about the education you get. It is so much more than that. University is about making connections, gaining preliminary work experience, fostering interests and growing. So try to say yes to more opportunities.

I am so happy to graduate because it was such an amazing journey, but also it was time for me to move on to the next chapter of my life. I can say i had the best and worst times, but i am grateful that i had this opportunity at all. I do want to thank my parents publicly for that, allowing me to pursue my dreams and goals without judgement. It is hard to watch your child take the difficult route, but i promise i’ll make use of the chances i get in life.

A Year of ….. Change

I started my year worried about my housing. I was thinking about heading home after uni. I wondered about my goals in life. I’m ending my year moving out to a new place. I decided to stay in Australia for another year. I’ve set some new goals for myself that i can’t wait to share next year.

Change is the true constant law in this world. We make plans and life can change them in an instant. Only those who have the resilience and adaptability to navigate change can truly shine in this world. A friend of mine once told me that I am “unafraid of change,” but the truth is, I’m deathly scared. I’m so terrified of losing everything. Still, I refuse to live my life in fear.

I will not be afraid to be seen trying or failing.

That is the one thing ringing in my mind. I refuse to give up. Even if i work on it at a snail’s pace. I will make it work.

Thoughts on 2025

I believe 2025 is a pivotal year for me. I have many personal and professional goals to overcome and I’m so excited to finish them. I am going through a huge transformative process and I’m excited to come out the other side a better, evolved me. The next few posts are going to be a little random but bear with me. I hope and wish everyone the best for the year ahead!

Lots of love,