2021 has been a productive, struggling yet meaningful year for me. For 2021, my main goal is to finish my thesis. I should have aimed for graduating instead haha. Anyway, this meme sums up my year.
This meme is so accurate. On the contrary, I am aiming for graduation in 2022. God’s willing.
In my recent Facebook status, I have posted a gratitude list. This list includes the ‘accomplishments’ I have for this year. This post is not to brag but for me to look back to the struggles I faced in order to reach for my dreams.
My 2021 Gratitude List, everyone! 🙂
#1 I am thankful for the 15+ webinars I facilitated this year. Topics include teaching strategies, creativity, creative writing, and self-love. Grateful for the wisdom, Lord. This won’t happen without the presence of my friends who first believed in me.
#2 I am thankful for God’s providence for our house renovation. The renovation lasted for three months. Huhu. Biggest investment for 2021. This took so much of my savings yet I thank God that He provided what we needed.
#3 I am thankful that I was able to defend my thesis proposal! I am hoping to defend the manuscript next semester.
#4 Self-published my book Paghilom. This includes some merch like tote bag and stickers. I was able to open a Shopee account to sell my other books, too. I received 150+ orders on Shopee and I was able to sell 250 Paghilom books. 
#5 I am also thankful for the outreach we conducted for my birthday. Instead of having a celebration, I decided to distribute packs of groceries to the needy.
#6 I am grateful to be sharing tithes to three different organizations. Thankful for all the side hustles that God has given me because through these blessings, I was able to share.
#7 Soft-launched a reading class with a number of students last summer. I also tutored a student from California. (This required me to wake up at 4:00 AM) Happy experience indeed!
#8 I was a part of Write Things Summer Writing Workshops. Blessed to share my inputs to the creative writing outputs of kids and teens. Looking forward to Summer 2022!
#9 Thankful for the first draft of my thesis manuscript!!! I am blessed with supportive thesis adviser and critic readers. Mabuti ang Diyos. I remember Wattpad days (throwback 2012) when I only write just for fun. But look at yourself, Kim, you are already writing a serious manuscript.
#10 Survived two quarters for the school year in SPCP 2021-2022. Five months to go before the SY ends! 
#11 Lastly, I was able to read more than 30+ books this year despite of procrastination and full schedule. Hoping to read more than this next year.
I am so shy to post these things but then, my friends told me that it is important to be grateful to the little and big accomplishments in life.
Sa totoo lang, bago ko lahat nagawa ito, andami ko ring sleepless nights, pag-aalinlangan, at gastos. Hahe. Mas marami rin akong struggles lalo na sa tuwing nagkakasakit si Lola pero syempre hindi siya nakikita ng tao sa social media. Hehe. Hindi rin posted yung 100x kaba ko before the proposal defense. Hindi rin halata yung 100x na doubts bago ako magpa-print ng sariling libro.
I am blessed because God gives me the strength to carry on. Hindi biro ang year na ito. Mentally and physically exhausting pero my family and I were able to manage in God’s grace.
Looking forward to Sablay next semester with no delays please. Manifesting!
How was your year? May you have a meaningful 2022, friends. Know that somebody out there is rooting for you and your success! Laban! Padayon!
Congratulations! 😀