The December Questions 2018
The third annual post where I ask myself questions about the year gone by.
This is my third annual December Questions, inspired by Abby Norman’s own yearly questionnaire. You can read 2017’s post here.
The December Questions is a set of 20 questions aimed at helping me be as open and as honest with myself about what I’m doing and where I’m going. Almost like a sort of publicly available self-reflection.
moment /ˈməʊm(ə)nt/
noun
- a very brief period of time.
Since moving to Hong Kong, life has been compressed in to a series of moments, occurring rapidly, without much time to take a step back and breathe.
Finally, after months of waiting, I’ve had chance to reflect on a whirlwind nine months in the Pearl of the Orient.
From Christmas Eve until 30th December, I was in my hometown of Barrow-in-Furness - where Jen and I travelled to surprise the family and friends - regularly coming back to answer these third annual December questions.
And now I’m ready to press publish while 37,000 feet in the air.
We’re in the future, I tell you.
1. How do you currently feel?
2016: Mentally exhausted and physically unfit. But excited for what 2017 could bring.
2017: Very anxious for my flight to San Diego tomorrow. Which is odd, because I’ve been to enough places not to feel anxious about flying.
2018: I’ve never felt healthier or happier. I hope it continues.
2. What is your idea of perfect happiness?
2016: Jen and I both working for ourselves and living comfortably. In a decent sized house. Somewhere warm. With a dog.
2017: Those hours after getting up early on a Sunday morning, when there’s plenty of time to sit and drink a coffee without a care in the world.
2018: Living somewhere warm in Western Europe – Madrid, probably – and having a favourite café that Jen and I spend the mornings of our days off at.
3. What has pissed you off the most this year?
2016: The lack of loyalty and trustworthiness some people close to me have shown.
2017: The Manchester Arena bombing in May.
2018: Realising just how much most people over-consume in relation to their actual needs without showing any awareness of it. Hong Kong, overall, is more guilty of this than anywhere else I’ve seen.
4. What has made you the happiest this year?
2016: Getting back behind the camera (even if it was only an iPhone 6S) and creating a film of my Amsterdam trip.
2017: Deciding not to eat meat ever again. The Manchester One Love concert. And also discovering how goddamn tasty Oatly oat milk is.
2018: Seeing the surprise on my Mum’s face when Jen and I walked in to the living room on Christmas Eve. Managed to keep our trip back to the UK a secret for nearly two months.
5. How do you let go of stress?
2016: Playing football. Running. Getting outside with Jen.
2017: Getting away from usual routines and familiar environments for a few days.
2018: Grabbing a beer, walking down to the promenade and taking in this view:
6. Where do you most want to be right now?
2016: In the gym. I’m not fit.
2017: Watching Netflix in bed with Jen after dragging the mattress from the bedroom to the living room.
2018: Watching Netflix in bed with Jen and our dog Eden after dragging the mattress from the bedroom to the living room. Unfortunately, not really possible in our current flat.
7. Where do you think you’ll be in a year’s time?
2016: I’m not sure exactly where I’ll be, but I have a feeling it won’t be Manchester.
2017: If 2017 has taught me anything, it’s that I should leave this question unanswered and just see where life takes me (and Jen).
2018: Hong Kong, at least as a resident. Maybe I’ll finally find myself on a beach in Thailand during the Christmas holiday. Maybe I won’t.
8. What is your number one goal for next year?
2016: To concentrate my attention on the people that matter, and to avoid giving time and energy to those who don’t.
2017: To invest my money wisely.
2018: To keep saving as much money as possible and then invest it in property.
9. What is currently standing in the way of that goal?
2016: Giving too many chances to those who don’t deserve my time and energy.
2017: Not having enough money to invest wisely.
2018: Time and patience.
10. What is your proudest accomplishment from this year?
2016: How much I smashed it in July. Graduation, a job and a flat all in the space of a month. My year kind of peaked there though.
#HumbleBrag
2017: Having the courage to cut negative people out of my life.
2018: Managing to move my ass to another country on the other side of the world to dive in to a new career and experience a different culture.
11. What was your biggest mistake this year?
2016: This is a toss-up between breaking up with Jen and not figuring out a way to get enough freelance clients to stay self-employed. But I’m going to go with the former because Jen will read this.
2017: Not agreeing to go and watch Linkin Park with Jen in Birmingham after the Manchester show had to be cancelled. Biggest mistake I’ve made in a looooong time.
2018: I’ve thought about this question for weeks and I can’t think of an answer. Everything has just been one massive learning experience this year.
12. What lesson will you carry forward in to next year?
2016: Try to rely less on others. If I can do something myself, I should do it, even if it takes more time or energy. Relying on someone else takes everything out of your control and only gives that person an opportunity to let you down.
Simple lesson:
Do things yourself.
2017: Seize the moment. Once it’s gone you ain’t ever getting it back.
2018: Care only about what you can control; dismiss what you can’t.
13. What is your greatest fear right now?
2016: Working for someone else for the rest of my life.
2017: That hate and fear wins over love and courage.
2018: Failing to get a job at a school starting next September and being rejected by HKU for the PDGE programme. Pure worst case scenario for mine and Jen’s life plans right now.
14. What do you most want to change about yourself?
2016: To be able to relax without feeling guilty. Pretty sure feeling guilty gives me headaches.
2017: To stop feeling the need to offer advice people (probably) don’t want.
2018: To find more time for others, especially friends and family in the UK. Hong Kong’s ridiculous pace makes it too easy to forget to drop someone a call.
15. Who are you thankful for this year?
2016: Jen for keeping me from going back to how I was a year ago. My parents for always being there. And my sister for getting me some — much needed — fresh new creps for Christmas.
2017: Jen (again) for giving me more than enough reasons to continuously improve myself. And then all of the marketing team at NCC Group, for genuinely being the nicest set of people I think I’ll ever work with.
2018: My Grandma Mary, Mum, Dad and sister (and everyone else) for taking such good care of my Grandad as he’s entered the late stages of Alzheimers.
16. What is your word of the year?
2016: Tragic.
2017: Responsibility.
2018: Patience.
17. What is your phrase/quote of the year?
2016: Utterly tragic.
2017: Fail as an individual; succeed as a team.
2018: “Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain
18. What skill would you most like to learn?
2016: This is going to be the most boring answer I could’ve possibly given, but I want to learn how to colour grade video. My colourblindness might cause an issue there, though.
2017: Web development.
2018: Still web development. I’ve been dragging my feet.
19. What do you want to experience most next year?
2016: Spending at least a month in a country I’ve never been to before.
2017: The challenge of adapting to a different way of life.
2018: Going to university in Hong Kong, even if it is only part-time.
20. How do you want to be feeling exactly a year from now? (Discontinued)
2016: Free.
2017: Warmer than I am right now. Our ‘nice’ flat is an igloo in the winter.
21. What was your favourite book this year?
2018: Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Thanks for reading, you wonderful people.
Here’s to 2019
