2017 has been a year of changes and adjustments for me. I returned from a long overseas trip in New Zealand in January, got diagnosed with hyperthyroidism in April and started a new job in May. I think these are big life moments, having to cope with a chronic illness while adjusting to a new work environment. I’ve got to confess that I struggled a lot and I do still struggle sometimes. I’ve gotten much better but I do still have my bad days. Hence, this post is a reminder to myself for the new year.

View of Seoul from the 118th floor of Lotte Tower. Sunset was definitely different from way up high.
So let’s start 2018 on a more positive note.
I want to focus on being healthier, mentally and physically. I haven’t been prioritising my health because there were difficult days adjusting to a new work environment. I need to learn to focus, de-stress and adjust to my new normal instead. Being on medication for the long term is a process of adjustment so I am currently working on improving my expectations.
I have also decided to slow down my travel this year. I’ve travelled 3 times since I was diagnosed. Unfortunately, I didn’t manage my expectations with my condition so my travel experience could have been better. This year, I will be a little bit more cautious with my travel planning instead. At least I get to save the money instead, yay!

Hoping to be a bit more courageous like this, being 118 floors up high.
I also want to be more consistent with my writing this year. My writing is usually affected by my mood so my lack of posts are sometimes (not always) because I couldn’t get myself out of my rut, to put it simply. I shall try to work this out on my own because there are a lot of travel that I have yet to write about. I’ll probably mix up my travel stories for a bit of variety. More importantly, I shall try to stop overthinking and just keep posting instead.
Honestly, medication has improved my condition a lot at the moment but it’s still a long road for me. As hyperthyroidism affects hormones, I do have good and bad days. Like I said, I will have to learn to cope with the new normal instead because it may never be the normal that I’m used to before. That will be my goal for 2018.
On that note, I’m grateful and really thankful to everyone who have been reading my posts all this while. I really enjoy and appreciate your comments on my posts so I’m sorry if I may be late replying sometimes.
Hope that you had a good start to 2018! :)
Cheers Sha! Happy New Year!
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Happy new year to you too! 😊
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happy new year, Sha and I hope 2018 is great for you.
and also hope you manage the health stuff – sounds like it is going okay – but I know how that can trickle into every area – and like you said – impact your travel.
oh and I love your photos – the looking down with your shoes and then the first one – Seoul at night – really cool
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Yeah, I have to start focusing on health even if I can’t travel much yet…the photo was very unnerving to take but I was distracted by the sunset so I could focus on taking photos of that instead of thinking of the glass below my feet…hope you have been well and the new year have been good to you! 😄😄
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those sunsets can be SO distracting – hah
and new year is off to a good start – 🙂
thx and ttys
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Happy New Year! All the Very best for you.
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Thank you! Hope you had a great start to the new year! 😊
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omg 118th floor… it looks so high, i never do it
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Yeah it was pretty scary when I went on it…didn’t help that there were kids literally jumping up and down next to me! It was sunset tho so I just tried to forget what was under me to focus on taking the photos I wanted so it was a good distraction…haha 😁
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maybe several people that have phobia wont go there haha
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So sorry to hear about your condition! Sounds like you managed it well through your travels, and maybe it will get better this year. I also write depending on my mood. If I don’t feel it, I don’t force it…and maybe it explains why I’m taking forever to write my book 😂
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Oh if only you know what happened during my travels…haha but thanks for the kind words 😊 it’s hard to feel disassociated from a lot of things even my beloved travel but it is what it is…and I wish I can just take my time with my posts but I have to push myself sometimes.. otherwise, I tend to overthink too much and it ends up not getting posted…this post, for example, took me a week to hit publish despite writing it early…haha…oh a book sounds interesting! hopefully there will be something to inspire you, I find that that’s the best trigger for me to start writing and sometimes when you are in the zone, words just somehow get written…hopefully words will appear by magic for you…hehehe 😁
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Lol, you can certainly take your time to post 😀 I take about 2, 3 weeks to actually write and schedule one post. So you are doing way much better than me. I’m sure in time you might feel inspired to share with us the challenges of your travels and I am sure looking back at it, you will realise how strong you were, and still are 😀
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Hahaha, I guess that’s one way of seeing it, thanks for the kind words too, I’m getting so much positive vibes here that I’m feeling pretty good nowadays so really appreciate your comments! 🙂
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Best wishes for 2018, Sha! You are a strong lady and I am sure the year of 2018 will be a positive one! Stay strong and hugs from cold Minneapolis ❤
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Hopefully! One day at a time! Thanks for the positive vibes! ❤❤
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❤
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here’s hoping 2018 is a better year all round! Glad to hear things are on the up!
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Thanks! Hope you had a good start to 2018 too! 🙂
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Sounds like a great attitude to start the new year. I know you were feeling frustrated and tired when we met in Seoul, but I hope you left the city on a good note. Until we meet again!! 🙂
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New Year, New Me…hehehe….yeah, I was having a pity party when I was there but I hope that my travels would be better managed next time I get moving…haha…I’m taking it one day at a time at the moment. And yes! Hopefully we will meet again still, was awesome to chat in person again. I still think back to that time and wish I could eat more of the dakgalbi…hehe
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Heh heh we all need a pity party from time to time. At least yours was over delicious dakgalbi. 😉 I want more too! 🙂
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Hahaha, next time we’ll just have a dakgalbi party instead then…;)
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Stay strong! I’m sure you’re going to get through this.
I haven’t visited Lotte Tower, yet! lol! It’s on my list. So looks like you and Shells met! 🙂
Here’s to 2018 and countless new travels.
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Haha, thanks for the kind words! I’m taking it one day at a time for now… 🙂
And yes! We did meet..and she convinced me to visit the tower because I wasn’t keen on paying that much to go up initially…but since we were in the area and the weather was great on that day, it turned out to be perfect to watch the sunset. Seoul definitely looked very fascinating that high up…:)
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Trust Shells to convince you to do something you don’t want to! lol…I’ve lost count of the things she’s made me try. haha…
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Hahahaha, well…I was not doing anything really and I was just minutes away so she just kinda nudged me in the right direction but I was still glad to have listened to her…this time…hahaha 🙂
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Considering how good your writing and post are, please be more consistent this year, Sha! I wish you a wonderful 2018! 😉
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Oh thanks for thinking so! Always lovely to know someone enjoyed reading them. 🙂 I’m having so much positive vibes now that I will try to keep to it…one day at a time! Hope you had a great start to 2018! 🙂
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