2012 is Going to be Legendary and Full of Breakthroughs!

The ancient Mayans have foretold it.

Nostradamus has predicted it.

The Carpenters sang and asked, "Don't they know it's the end of the world... it ended when you said good bye?"

Jay Sean and Nicki Minaj told us to party like it's going to happen.

Not intending to sound apocalyptic, if you knew that this is going to be your last year, how would you live differently? What would you change?

Whether or not you believe that 2012 will be end of the world, I believe it's time to live it as if it were your last. You have to make everything you do count. Be more authentic and more deliberate about how you spend your time. There's no turning back.

Here's my own prediction or declaration for 2012. It is going to be legendary. Unless you believe in those doomsday theories, everyone else I know have that glimmer of hope and anticipation that the coming year is going to be more awesome and full of BREAKTHROUGHS. I believe it and I claim it so too, in each area of my life.

Below is how I've envisioned my 2012 would be. I'm saying it in pictures that I'm going to experience life to the full this year. :)

Dreamboard: Legendary 2012 by Libby Malibiran :)

I believe only God knows when the world will end. For our part, let's live a no-regrets life and make the most out of every moment this 2012... Cheers!!! :)

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"Live Passionately... living each day as if it were your last.
Love Completely... showing others love that transcends and transforms.
Learn Humbly... growing through your problems and pain.
Leave Boldly... creating a legacy that will impact generations."
--From One Month to Live book
by Kerry and Chris Shook

In The Process of "Dreamboarding" for 2012...

Spring cleaning in my desk in the office--check! "Boxing day" of my old stuff from my closet and my room--check! Deleting my hundreds of emails in my inbox--check! Planning my financial budget and opening additional bank and trading accounts for the new year--check! "Dreamboarding" for 2012--that's next!

It's the last week of the last month of the year... Hurrah!!! :) Above were just some of the things that's been keeping me busy this last week. Year-end season has always been exciting for me. I've made this annual tradition for myself of making that list of "accomplishments" for the past year as well as "faith goals" for the coming year. I just learned that the term for the latter is called "dreamboarding" -- a creative way to visualize what you want to happen in your life by crafting a collage of images that resonate with you, to symbolize your goals, priorities, and motivations.

How I Dreamed This Year Would Be

Here's what I did last December 2010, my dreamboard for 2011. My theme was: UNCONTAINABLE 2011.

This has become my wallpaper in my PC at home and posted in desk. And it did inspire to take charge of my 2011. As you can see, most of the images portray travel, places, and photography. Others are about the most essential: having a closer relationship with God and true friends; while there are two images that also show my desire of getting a condo in Newport and a car.

I've declared back in the beginning of the year that 2011 is going to be uncontainable. And boy, I was in for a ride! It took me to new heights, to places I've never been before, and to things I've never done before. This blog is just one of the testimonies to it. I may not have obtained those material things yet (they're just MATERIAL things anyway), but I must say I've definitely become rich with new insights and experiences. :)

But wait, there's more!


Wait 'til you see 2012. Though I'm still in the process of creating my dreamboard for 2012 (I'll post it as soon as it's done), I believe it's going to be more awesome! Watch out, 2012, I've been waiting for ya!

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Just a plug: Writer's Block Philippines is having a Dreamboarding workshop on January 10, 2012 (Tuesday), 6:00-9:00pm in Quantum Café, Makati City. Instead of making the typical list of new year's resolutions, why don't you do you own dreamboard instead? More details of the session here.

TRAVEL... while we're young, wild, and free... :)

A number of my friends in Facebook recently shared a link to this article about reasons to travel while you're young. We couldn't agree more with what Jeff says:

1. Traveling teaches you to live an adventure
2. Traveling helps you encounter compassion
3. Traveling allows you to get some culture

True, true, and true!

"Yeah, but..."
The writer says that these words never were more fatal words spoken:

Yeah, but… what about debt? Yeah, but… what about my job? Yeah, but… what about my boyfriend (or dog or car or whatever)?

“Yeah, but…” is pernicious. Because it makes it sound like we have the best of intentions when really we are just too scared to do what we should.

It allows us to be cowards, while sounding noble.

Most people I know who waited to travel the world never did. 

I have always marveled at people who were courageous enough to quit their jobs and travel. They are definitely past that "yeah, but..." stage. I've been reading about their fascinating stories in a Couchsurfing forum. I met someone in my travels who actually did. I've also encountered several people who were on their "gap year." (A gap year, according to Wikipedia, means taking time out to travel in between life stages. It is also known as sabbatical, time off and time out that refers to a period of time. They take this time to travel, engage in volunteer work overseas or undertake a working holiday abroad.) I think such a thing hardly exist in the Philippines.


Here are my own "buts"...
I envy those who can take a sabbatical or gap year with reckless abandon. Most of them have let go of their excuses. "If not now, when?" someone told me. Good for them! For my part, I still can't get over my concerns:

But what about my budget...? Taking a time off to travel for long period means you need a lot of cash. LOTS OF IT. (How does one break a bank?!) It's not easy saving up for the big haul given my current Philippine monthly income (I learned from a backpacking talk before that a Round-the-World (RTW) trip costs around US$ 25,000!) and if I were able to gather already, I'd probably be not-so-young anymore.

But what about the bills I have to pay and other personal matters? Monthly bills are always there and I also have personal family obligations that would be hard to leave for a long time. I'm not sure if I would understood. You see in the Philippines, young ones stick with their family up until before they get married. I know that's odd for other cultures, but that's how we honor our parents and family relations.

But what about my next job...? So let's say I did it, who would take me in once I get back? I'm in a good company now, would I be able to get the same kind of job in a prestigious company when I return? It would be a huge risk for me.

In the meantime...
Though I have these what you may call "excuses," my dream to travel the world hasn't been buried in the deepest of my heart; it still remains afloat. But I figured I'll only remain dreaming if I don't do something about it.

Meanwhile, I'm still going to travel. Occasionally take a vacation leave. (Maybe not for a year yet or RTW). Do travel photography and blogging. I'll continue to save up. Start looking for other things where I can invest in and grow my income. Research. Talk to people who have done so. Prepare like it's really going to be done.

There is no “I can’t” anymore. I'm in charge. The only thing holding me back is me.

"A journey to a thousand miles starts with a single step." 

--Lao-tzu, The Way of Lao-tzu, 

Chinese philosopher (604 BC - 531 BC)