High Five Yourself!

by: Icie

Namaste wonderful souls and dear readers, New year, new reflections, but some things are pretty much the same. 2024 was rife with all kinds of gruelling and enjoyable things that happened in my life. I created this blog with my best friend Somaly to talk about our personal lifestyle choices and the shit that the two of us do in Australia, whether together or with other people.

I've seen things on stage last year: Chicago, Beauty and the Beast, Cirque Du Soleil Luzia, Wicked (for the 2nd time since 2014. This time with my other best friend Danielle.) The Chicago stage play wasn't what I expected (because I saw the movie first) and the Beauty and the Beast Musical wasn't what I expected either (it was updated to look more like the 2017 version instead of the 1991 but with a better dress than Emma Watson's.) Luzia was, for me, Cirque du Soleil's comeback after a bad one (Crystal).

I have been on several museum dates with my loved ones to see things about fairy tales, Lego dinosaurs, Alphonse Mucha, Iris van Herpen, and Ancient Egypt. Though Australia's museums aren't as world renowned as others, we try our best and a trip to the museum is always educational and awe-inspiring.

I also coloured a goddess for the artist Jash Lee. Not just in a Facebook group of sorts, but he approached me to do one for him personally. I wish I could have done better, but I'm an amateur!

I have been to festivals about cats, dogs and the annual Matsuri Brisbane. It's the 3rd time I went to the festival and I enjoy it every year.

My grief happened when I experienced the loss of my beloved dog Mallows. The sad thing about this was that I didn't see him in his last moments as I was in Australia while he was with my family in the Philippines.

I reconnected with my friends and family after 4 years of separation due to Covid. I finally met my nephew and was so excited when they visited me this time. We explored Brisbane and we took them to our favourite spots.

Then Gio and I explored Sydney and fell in love with Australia even more.

Other things I did was grinded coffee beans with an antique,

did a low cost cosplay of Anya Forger for Halloween,

created art with literal babies (8 months to 19 months) for Christmas which reconnected me to art,

and wasted a lot of time on Infinity Nikki (my game of the year). Did some Dreamlight Valley on the side too. I found out that I am getting too old for stressful games as my work is already too stressful, so I sauntered on to cozy games and never went back.

But what I really want to high five myself about was that I quit my good job for a better paying one. I was happy where I was and the people in the work place were amazing and fun. The work ethic was chill and I have made friends. But I wasn't progressing and I am full of ambition and I know my worth. Also, it was far from where I live.

I looked for a different job were I was placed in a leadership role with better pay as well, only to realise that it was a terrible one. It reminded me of the time I worked in companies that valued profit over the people and we were treated like numbers. I missed my old job and wished I could go back to my old one even if there was an invitation to go back from my previous owner. I cried from the stress every day. So I quit again and found a new one after staying there for just 4 months. Again, I know my worth.

And the new one is amazing! (even if it had lower pay.)

It may sound like I'm anti-work but I have never been prouder or happier that I moved on from them. I was proud that I didn't have to be a martyr to jobs that made me feel stagnant or jobs that are so toxic to its employees. I am proud and giving myself a high five for learning how to move on and treat myself to something better. I have learned not to just say yes to any company that offers me a lot of money because they are traps. Hopefully this new year and new endeavor will be good to me and the people around me but for now, I am giving myself a high five for everything that I've done in 2024. It was a good year, and I hope it's better this year.

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