Home Sweet Home? My 2007 Year in Review.

at 6:28AM yesterday, i touched back down in Toronto, a city already stirring amidst the cold, dark, dreary winter morning that is part of life in Eastern Canada.. as the plane moved towards the tarmac, you could see numerous highways already congested with commuters heading into the city from Toronto's various suburbs - definitely a strange sight/notion for me, as i enjoy evenings far more than afternoons, and afternoons far more than mornings. a couple of things were stirring in my head as i mentally prepared for what i had lined up for the rest of the day, and having been away from Toronto for nearly a month, i was glad to be back, but i almost didn't know what to expect.

this might seem strange to everyone except for myself, but there's not a day that passes without me thinking about my age. as in, wow - time really flies. it seemed like yesterday when i figured i'd be happily married by 21, but having gone through two highly-committed (and ultimately highly unsuccessful, to me at least) relationships of over a year apiece, back-to-back, i now don't really see another relationship in my near future. going by what i've seen, both from my own life where i have the chance to meet people from all walks of life, as well as from the lives of those close to me (older friends, relatives), the only constant when it comes to relationships (and, to a lesser extent, life) is that nothing is really certain.

at this point, i'm not even that disappointed over that fact, whereas i probably used to be more idealistic. as we all age though, i guess its simply part of life/reality to factor in our own experiences, whether encouraging OR disappointing. towards the end of last year, i took some time off to myself, and i looked at my life through every lens imaginable, being as critical as i could possibly be, coz thats just the kind of perfectionist i am.

though i exceeded my own expectations with both of my businesses, i saw 2007 as a series of disappointments. i learned from each one of those disappointments, but many of these lessons were lessons i had hoped not to learn from people i had once trusted and cared about. that being said, there were a ton of positives from the past year as well. and so while i try not to dwell unnecessarily on the negative, the expectations i have of myself are more like requisites to me.

going forward, i'm glad to say i have an extremely clear vision of what i want to do this year, what i need to do to make it possible, and how i am going to approach all of it. i've built a new team around me, and i'm no longer waiting for others to reciprocate the time/effort/care that i invest in them - its an unfair expectation to begin with (much like the debate on what "love" should be).

i will simply be working together with motivated individuals who bring dedication and talent to the table - i'm not even angry at the handful of useless flakes who i counted on to produce last year, you're just going to have to watch the world pass you by this year.

after all, character speaks to me, and loyalty is required. if you aren't on my team, don't expect to reap the rewards of associated with my team. if you want to be on my team, you better know what you want and what you are really about before you even try to figure out what i'm about and try to get down with what we are building.

if you knowingly try to cross me or anyone on my team, don't cry about how i'm an asshole after the fact. you already know what i bring to the table, so when in doubt just ask yourself this question: would you bet your LIFE against mine in anything i do? didn't think so.

i'm happy again, i'm focused again, and i'm always looking for someone who works harder than me so i have even more to gun for. 2008 - shhhh, just wait for it.

as a final thought in lieu of everything i've dabbled on, i'll bring it back to the original theme - my home sweet home, ?? ... i was born in Taiwan during the peak of its industrial development and economic growth, and i grew up witnessing the extreme division of rich and poor in Vancouver. at 18 i moved out to Toronto to get out on my own and to create/pursue opportunities that interested me. now i'm 21, and as most of my childhood friends graduate (a lot have already graduated) and move into their first professional jobs, i'm beginning to wonder where i will be in a couple years.

some of my friends swear that its only a matter of time before i shift all that i do down to sunny California, the state seemingly created to match my lifestyle (cept i don't like traffic). i used to think i would create my first "base" in Toronto before i expanded, therefore staying in Toronto til at least 24-25.. but as i've learned on my past trip, in Taiwan there are boundless opportunities waiting for me, and as an educated/informed Canadian with both strong ties as well as a broad understanding of Asian culture still, i'd be the ideal "new-age" candidate for just about every business/entertainment venture in Taiwan/China/HK. then throw in the fact that i really enjoyed my last stay in Vancouver, where the people just seem a bit more real to me and that's where i currently stand: unsure of where i'll be in 3-5 years.

i'm thinking i want a condo in both Vancouver & Toronto, which means i'd really need to get on that corporate sponsorship with an airline to make it work.. or maybe someone will buy me a private plane, that'd work too coz if i could fly the way that i drive, i'd be in Vancouver in 2.5 hrs each time ;)

happy 2008 boys and girls, (lovers and sluts), wish me luck, and all the best in each and every one of your endeavours - the world becomes a (slight) better place as you become a more complete individual.