Gratitude for 2021
I can’t believe 2021 is nearly over. Where did the year go? Here in Cambodia, we spent 8 months on Covid hold. This explains why it now seems like things are ramping up for me as I close out the year.
Each year, I reflect on the whirlwind months gone by. Even with Covid, this time is no different. Here are some of my many gratitudes for 2021:
I paid for a 12 month business online group course. And I didn’t start it. I thought I had time but now the course is ending. It was a small price to pay for bigger lessons. I don’t like groups that are too big. I lost motivation and accountability because 12 months was too long and it wasn’t “that expensive”.
I’m an ex corporate lawyer turned heart-led coach. I officially launched as a Transformation Coach, Business Consultant and Soul Healer. But I’ve been doing this all my life. I’m thankful that I realised this is my purpose.
I worked with some inspiring and amazing 1:1 coaching clients internationally and locally who trusted me and themselves in embarking on their self discovery journeys. It brought me such joy to witness their growth and I’m so proud of each of them.
All the free discovery calls I did with people who weren’t self aware, wasted my time or were not a match for me. I’m always grateful for a Hell No because it allows me to meet a Hell Yes.
I launched a women’s talk show in Cambodia with a friend and co-host of mine, aiming to inspire Khmer women. Although Covid stopped our plans, I’m grateful that in a few months we were able to turn an inspired idea into a production. Just because we wanted to.
I presented a webinar on mental health awareness in Cambodia and the stigma surrounding this. I joined Cambodia’s leading psychiatrist, himself a survivor of the Khmer Rouge regime, and cemented my role as a mental health and wellness advocate.
I bought a folding bike for convenience. And only folded it once. But she is beautiful and red and called Sreypom (Sreymom is a common female Khmer name. Srey also means girl / female and Pom means apple).
I continued to learn Khmer with some amazing tutors. Each lesson helped me understand my culture better and allowed me to connect with my mother more. I’m grateful for the dedication, patience and talent my teachers have. And for the bridge Khmer provides to heal part of my mother’s trauma as a survivor of the Khmer Rouge.
Speaking of my mother, I taught her how to hold the camera away from her nose when we do video calls.
I’m grateful for the health and safety of my family. I haven’t seen them in nearly 2 years and I miss them. I even miss the awkwardness in person because we can’t say “I love you” so we eat together and tease each other instead.
I was interviewed twice as part of a growing community of Cambodian leaders and seeing the diaspora create these podcasts and platforms to allow us to connect is a privilege and exciting to be a part of.
I progressed to jumping on my rollerskates. That means I got 2 inches off the ground, but progress is progress!
Friend break ups are real and part of life. That doesn’t make it any easier to experience. Some call it “drifted away” but for me, the drifts are permanent. Values that no longer align, taking different directions, tired of putting in all the effort or finally realising that I was just being used. But that created space for new friendships. Deep ones. Across the world.
The incredible people that I’ve met here (whether they make ice cream, engrave things, design clothes, teach others, are my ex-neighbours, help those with mental health conditions or speech problems, work for NGOs, are pioneers in their field, are Khmer creatives or have chosen to make Cambodia their home and love this country as their own). You know who you are.
All my friends and connections around the world. Especially the ones that I have never met in person. I look forward to the day when we can change that.
I found my love of writing and storytelling again. Allowing me to write posts - just like this one.
So, how about you? What are you grateful for this year?
