11 out of 17 challenges and things to do in 2017, done and what really happened

 

Before saying bye to 2016, I wrote down 17 things I would like to do and challenge myself in 2017. I know it is not easy to fulfill all of them no matter how workable some tasks are.  I warm up having the same habit every morning — exercise, pray, take a shower, read a book, 2 cups of espresso and bread, writing down notes on my journal on what to do and accomplish during the day, and start the engine to go to the office or to a morning meeting with a client.

We have many plans, a thousand ideas, an accountable desire, a wish list, a bucket list, and goals. How we all wish that we have enough time, money and energy to get and bring those in our plates.

I was expecting to finish 50% or 8 out of 17 things in my list. I was able to make 11. I am keeping the 6 unfulfilled and include them in my 2018 #Ron18in18.

Here are the 11…

1. Renew my California DMV driver license.

Done and What Really Happened: I went to Milpitas, California and had my DMV driver license renewed on January 9, 2017. During my stay, I drove alone for the first time from Milpitas to Los Angeles and Orange County to visit my friends in Torrance and Yorba Linda.

2. Watch Coldplay in Singapore.

Done and What Really Happened: My Singapore-based cousin Janice purchased the VIP tickets online. My brother Jay and I went to Singapore and stayed in our cousin’s place. On March 31, we took the bus and train going to the venue. I have never done falling in line and waiting for 4 hours to watch a concert but in Coldplay. The concert is one of the best I have seen. Story here.

3. Fully settle a car loan.

Done and What Really Happened: My final post-dated check was cleared on March 25, 2017. I bought my Toyota FJ Cruiser 3 years ago. Trailing in Mount Pinatubo, driving from Manila to Pagudpud to Manila, drive to chill and relax in San Juan, La Union, and going to Subic with the family are some of the best things that happened in the last 3 years of owning it.

4. Fully settle the last condo investment.

Done and What Really Happened: Investing in real estate is the toughest decision anybody can do to save his/her cash and translate it into a major physical asset. It may temporarily cut down or compromise your lifestyle in the present to benefit you in the future. When I bought my first house in 2005, my reason was “time”. I was hoping that at a certain age I must already own a piece of property. After 6 years, I invested again in real estate. This time in pre-selling condos in Makati and BGC. Aside from various reasons like the horrendous traffic going from my house to the office, fuel price hike, stress, and other unpleasant factors, I decided to save and put them into where I will be more financially disciplined. On May 15, 2017, I finally paid off my property in BGC. Now I am ready to sell it for my next plan.

5. Launch a tech project or startup.

Done and What Really Happened: My plan was to launch a tech start up. It did not start the way I wanted because of the delay in the processing of documents and it is not easy to find the right business partners (since it is going to be a corporation) who will believe in your idea and vision. Instead, I accidentally invested in professional HD video cameras which are the very urgent requirements of my priority client for its mall tour activations and launches where I also supply the audio, lights and LED walls.

6. Complete the worship hall project

Done and What Really Happened: Finally finished the installation on October 17, 2017…finally! Thank you, Lord! We supplied and installed the audio, lights, and LED wall for the worship hall of a building in the south of Metro Manila. All the equipment arrived in April 2017. The installation of the equipment was delayed for more than 6 months due to several factors including the construction of the building and the delay in the issuance of the electrical and power supply permit by the local government. Emotionally challenging yet God was still in control. Completely settled including the payment in December 2017.

7. Spring holiday in Japan

Done and What Really Happened: Swamped with events, activation and other projects in the second quarter of the year, I found no time for the spring holiday in Japan. Instead, I snatched a holiday break in the fourth week of December in Jeju. It is my second winter experience in South Korea. The short hiking experience on the snow of The Mount Halla is what I expected. Snow, caves, parks, buffet meals are a fusion of adventure and perks. I was surprised by the “town beyond the ocean”. It is not just about the mountains and the ocean which we first thought of when we hear the word “island”, like Jeju Island (Jeju-do). With few people, it is a beautifully planned city with lots of fashion and beauty shops, cafes, bars, restaurants, good roads, safe side walks, free outdoor gym facilities, and others.

8. Visit relatives in the U.K.

Done and What Really Happened: I thought of it but I did not seriously plan about it until I was able to get a chance to fly to Germany. I had a 4-day break from driving in Nurburgring, Germany and took a cheap flight from Dusseldorf to Manchester. It was a warm welcome by my cousin Edwin and his children Angel and Kacey at the Manchester airport in the evening of September 6. My first time in the United Kingdom. I stayed in their beautiful house in Baguley, Manchester. I finally saw the actual garden in his backyard that I could only see on his Facebook posts. Edwin and I took the train from Manchester to London. We had lunch in one of the recognized Thai restaurants outside the London Victoria Station. He treated me to a hop-on hop-off open top bus in the city of London, walked into places and familiar places like Buckingham Palace,  churches, schools, buildings, and souvenir shops. Walked down the road after the sunset and on to the Tube heading back to Manchester. On my last days, we went to Liverpool and checked out The Beatles Story Museum and Paul Berrif’s hidden gallery. Back to Manchester, my cousin brought me to the second largest shopping center in United Kingdom where many tourists have not heard of, the Trafford Centre. I will definitely go back to Manchester and London, and other cities in the U.K. to explore more.

9. Road trip from Toronto to any city.

Done and What Really Happened: A MINI treat to Germany! Thank you MINI Philippines! When I visit my cousin in Toronto, I take the GoTrain and GoBus to go to Toronto downtown from their house in Brampton (they now live in Georgetown). A couple of years ago, I joined my cousin Len and her family on a vacation. Her husband Tony drove from T-dot to Quebec, Montreal and Ottawa and back to Brampton. Last year, I thought of doing the same thing. It did not happen. One time, I was approached by MINI Philippines to fly to Germany and to drive in the most dangerous race track in the world called “The Green Hell” in Nurburgring. It was a spectacular Nurburgring experience. From the stopover in Abu Dhabi with the gentlemen in the automotive industry and the president of our car club MCCP to Dusseldorf where we enjoyed the walk and breakfast on Altstadt. Afterwards, we drove to Cologne where we stayed overnight in Holiday Inn. The next day, we visited Cologne Cathedral or Cathedral Church of St. Peter in the morning and had lunch in a Chinese restaurant. In the afternoon, a fun sightseeing of European cars while on the Autobahn heading to Nurburg. When we arrived, we checked-in at Lindner Congress and Motorsport Hotel. It is right at the site of Nurburgring Driving Academy where the MINI we used were parked. We attended the driving orientation before we hit the track the following day.

It is a once in a lifetime driving experience at the legendary Nurburgring race track where I personally met and mixed the theories in Physics with its actual gravity, acceleration, projectile motion and feelings of excitement with moments of fun, fear, fiery and focus.

Hit The Cone, Niki Lauder, Carousel, Hit and Miss, Open The Steering Wheel, and a lot of intense and dangerous driving. More importantly, “I’ve done it!”

10. Increase the value of stock portfolio.

Done and What Really Happened: I have not been active in monitoring and trading online lately. The best performers are the blue chips, as usual. At the end of the year, my portfolio is dominated by the gains of greens with 43.75% bottom line. Not a bad year for a seasonal online trader like me.

11. Personal Social Responsibility no. 1.

Done and What Really Happened: I allocate time, money and resources to help or support somebody or an organization. In 2017, I financially supported my niece on her school tuition fees and other little requirements. I also continually support the church missionaries with a small pledge. Others include the contribution to some sports programs and clubs.

The purpose is to witness and share how God works in my life and to seek what He wants me to do. What is important is how and what I learned about His will, provision and consequences in the past 365 days. The year 2017 may not be as lenient as the previous years. With the mix of joy and frustrations, regardless of the situation, thanking the people and yourself will change your ability to understand and gain the sense of having a positive perspective in life.  At the end of the year, it is still His plan that pursues, prospers, and gives us hope for the future (Jeremiah 29:11).