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.
