Teamliquid Blog Post:

Here’s a recap of how the year 2009 has been for me so far…

I ended 2008 with a trip to London for work (EMA 2008) and a trip to Germany for World Cyber Games 2008.   After four years of serving the StarCraft community, I decided to take a break from it all and just be a regular gamer.

I thought I was done by 2007 but during my family vacation in Denmark, MYM ended up snatching me up and sending me to BlizzCon.  How could I say no?  And after I realized I was going to be in Europe already when WCG was going to be there, I decided to hop on over and go for the sake of going, this time representing nobody else but myself.  I realized it might be my last hurrah so instead of just documenting the event from an outside perspective, I wanted to be part of the event, taking pictures among people and talking to people more so I could at least say that I was there and I met some good people.

Taking a break from the community meant being able to take a step back and looking at the bigger picture, having more time to focus on other goals and progressing in other aspects of life.  According to Stephen R. Covey’s “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” it’s called “taking time to sharpen the saw”.  That is exactly what I did:

• Physical – Exercise, Nutrition, Stress Management
  • I went snowboarding in Colorado.
  • I was part of a group dance/skit performance that took four months to prepare for.
  • I took  Breakdancing Classes from Ms. Vee and Lyrical Classes from Derek Mitchell at Broadway Dance Center.   This is where I get most of my flexibility training.
  • I’ve been going to the gym before work three times a week.  This is where I get my strength training.
  • I’ve been playing Ultimate as part of an organized group once or twice  every week.  This is where I get my cardio.
  • I’ve managed to stay pretty consistent with my physical training.  Because of my regular routine, I would say I am in the best shape I’ve ever been in my life.
• Spiritual – Value Clarification & Commitment, Study & Meditation
  • I’ve been learning from Tim Keller’s sermons at Redeemer every Sunday morning.
  • I discuss the messages with Henry and note applications of what we learn.
• Mental – Reading, Visualizing, Planning, Writing
  • I’ve opened up recently to opportunities to learn how to be more successful in life through reading books/magazines and going to work sponsored workshops.
  • I took a month long Advanced Flash Programming class at work.
  • I’ve been learning web development techniques and enterprise solutions through self-teaching and exposure to the tech team and I’ve been getting a lot of practice programming.
  • I’ve also been writing a lot more blog entries.  I’m trying to expand outside of just writing about the daily grind to writing more thought provoked entries.
  • Planning is just something I do on an almost daily basis.  It’s a part of me.  I can’t help but plan and organize or else I will feel overwhelmed by chaos.
  • Taking Chinese classes not only helps me communicate and understand Henry and his family more but it also trains my memory.
• Social/Emotional – Service, Empathy, Synergy, Intrinsic Security.
  • Back in 2005, I struggled to break out of the shy/quiet shell I had built around myself. I have since learned so much about interacting with others.  I open myself up to opportunities to meet people once in a while through work, through sports, through friends.  I see people as interesting beings that have a lot to share about their lives, their interests and their knowledge now.  Although I am still introverted by nature, I am no longer bound by that nature.
  • Even though I am half a world away from my family, they are still a big part of my life.  I went back to Asia at the beginning of the year and intend to go back early next year.
  • I have expanded way beyond my team at work.  I work very closely with other teams, so much so that they can consider me to be part of their groups as well.  I put a lot more effort in talking to people and to be quite honest, it has become something I enjoy now rather than dread.
  • Watching TV and Movies isn’t exactly a social activity but just this very act gives me a lot to choose from in terms of topics to talk about with others.  I’ve gotten sucked into Battle Star Galactica, How I Met Your Mother, Lost, Dancing With The Stars, America’s Best Dance Crew, So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Got Talent, Deadliest Warrior, Two and a Half Men and WSOP.  I also got hooked on a few games on the Xbox 360 – Fable 2, Gears of War 2, Call of Duty 4/5, Guitar Hero World Tour – but this is less of a topic to discuss among people I encounter.

StarCraft doesn’t exactly fit into the above categories but I do still play.  I did take a break for a few months (unfortunately, this also deleted my account and my record and my friends list on USWest) but I’m back to my old 3v3 BGHing ways.  I do miss playing 1v1 though.  I don’t have enough time to dedicate myself to training my 1v1 game.  I wonder if I would be able to find anyone my level anymore out there.  That may just be a goal for another time.

For now, my sights are set upon pushing myself further in life, going to the next level at work while keeping everything else in life balanced.    I want to improve.  I want to achieve.  I want to succeed.  As I mentioned in my blog before, I just want to level up.