I am in two minds about reflecting 2022. In the end, I gave up indecisiveness and decided to reflect anyway. Besides, how many chances do we have to write something meaningful in the first week of 2023? First week of 2023 is not here to stay.
2023 is a new beginning just as every other new year. Many of us lost two years to pandemic and spent 2021 recovering and 2022 rejuvenating life. As for me, it is still beyond believe that I created a human in 2021. Thereafter, I spent 2022 restarting and adjusting to new working and motherhood life.
I went back to work in March post one-year maternity break. In restarting my career post maternity, I thank these three qualities: courage, agility, and persistence. No doubt an article from Forbes said “organisations are continually reinventing their business at a complex and faster pace due to technology, market conditions and competition…post-Covid.” To stay competitive, I set myself out to unlearn old way of doing things and adopt new approaches to problem solving. Easier said than done as I occasionally fell into emotional roller coaster rides, disturbed and felt paranoid by self-create negative thoughts. Many colleagues have advanced and progressed ahead of me during my absence. The fear of losing out and not catching up fast enough haunted me throughout my pursuit.
Having said that, I reflected my previous achievements from time to time. During low moments, I regained confidence by revisiting old humble beginnings. Stories which I captured on this blog, fortunately. These stories made me reflect how I started and got to where I am today. They unravelled my fear, made me believe in my strengths, and ignited my motivation and willpower to succeed once again. Taking on new role and responsibility in an organisation post maternity is not a bad idea after all. Indeed, we are our own worst enemy and best friend.
Lifestyle has changed tremendously where spending extra hours at work is no longer possible as a working mother. Efficiency and effectiveness are key. Punctual drop-off and pick-up have become part of life. People of my age seems to understand this parenting rule, something which I never really understood before. Always on standby in case of emergency, my phone is no longer on silent mode like it used-to-be. Weekends are no longer personal, they are all about being a full time mother with back to back family agenda. In fact, weekdays have become my sit-down opportunity. Adjusting to new motherhood life took some time. It is now a routine which I accustomed to. I treasure and respect my personal space even more than ever.
2022 was all about restarting and adjusting to new motherhood life. Restarting takes courage and adjusting requires agility. Persistence is pivotal in weathering through storms. I fell and stood back up repeatedly. I learned from mistakes by correcting them and I refined skills by practising them, both relentlessly. Planting positive thoughts made me achieved the impossibles. Great mind achieves great things. I am proud with my work achievements despite not perfect. Most of all, I am a proud mother despite not the best.
2023 is here and now. Bringing forward my learnings from 2022 reflection, I aim to continue refining my skills and knowledge as a business professional and as a loving mother. 2023 to me is all about accelerating to the top and achieving the highest and truest potential of myself. Bring it on!
