This week, I am in LA for the YouTube Partner Conference & VidCon 2010- so expect fun interviews with YouTubers about dating topics!
In the meanwhile, below is a post that I wrote and intended to post this past January, as a reflection of the whole year 2009 and what I’ve learned.
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It was such an incredible year for me with lot of BIG changes and life-altering experiences, so I thought I’d share them with you. Lessons and gifts that 2009 offered me:
1. It’s easier to run away from things (thinking that you’re escaping), but running blindly gets you no where and often times you realize, you’ve just been running in circles.
2. Complacency: We can be complacent in:
o Relationships
o In how we act in social settings (wallpaper, sticking to our own circle)
o Expectations of ourselves, to avoid failure
3. Intense or strong reactions or walls, stems from EGO.
4. Lost IS an opportunity in disguise. This is when evaluation really kicks in. Is this what I really want to do? What is my purpose? Am I living the best life? Doing my most potential? Am I happy? When a door closes, another door opens. Recession, job change, lost of job, has made so many young people evaluate how they are spending their time, if they are really doing what they want: because you can lose your job in a heartbeat. Do what you love so you don’t feel like you’re just floating by.
5. My biggest fear: Being oblivious to how things really are or how people feel. Who’s reality really matters?
6. Most importantly, I’m appreciative of how fortunate I am. From the great opportunities that come my way to the fantastic people I have in my life- I must be the luckiest person on Earth.
Being able to focus on a path of coaching & self-awareness- what I’m deeply passionate about. I have a mum who’s supportive of me, by expecting my unexpected decisions (doesn’t mean she stopped worrying about me). Luckily, I get spend most my time helping people and helping with transformations. And lastly, I feel extremely lucky to have good quality friends, especially my classmates who have been unconditionally supportive and loving.
In 2009 was such a year of invigorating experiences:
o Fantastic friends that went on a memorable RV roadtrip to Disneyland for my 28th birthday
o Spending time with my Boston family in May. My aunt made fried chicken and I love me some fried chicken!
o I met Robin Thicke- a gentle and charismatic person
o Incredible 4th of July, celebrating one of my closest friend’s bday filled with baby farm animals, funnel cake, the best fireworks show and Sunday neighborhood family parade.
o Living and working remotely for a month in the mountains of Costa Rica- rain forest, volcano, horseback riding, getting to know my friendly Rican neighbors
o Roadtripping around the country & discovering the South giving out Free Hugs near Christmas time: Nashville, New Orleans, Austin, Grand Canyon, great new friends
o Life-changing spiritual coaching program with the most incredible and supportive fellow classmates, deep personal development
And of course, what would I do without my v’stars?! I’m very thankful for you and the joy you bring to me, yourself and the world. What lessons are you grateful for?
A strange phenomenon. We all feared that it would rain on this Saturday, but…it did not. Instead of rain (like the weatherman predicted), a special new whiteness was upon us. We were welcomed with massive goose-down magic a.k.a PILLOW FIGHT snow.
People have been asking me “So, how did you spend your valentine’s day?”. My instant reaction is to flash a big smirk. (…SF pillow fight)
There’s nothing more sensational than being surrounded by hundreds, if not thousands, young people armed with pillows and off for pillow battle. It was a release of euphoria and unity, as I emerged from the center mosh with swinging arms and bonking people with my bright blue pillow. It was fun. Almost too much fun.
People were giving FREE HUGS and I was interviewed by a group of students on ‘What is LOVE?”.
Surrounded by strangers and bonding on one youthful activity.
Sharing special moments with friends.
Community.
Laughing and losing your breath because of how much fun you’re having.
YES! this is what SF is all about..THIS IS WHAT LOVE IS ALL ABOUT.
You don’t need to be in a relationship, or have a significant other. You don’t even have to have a crush. You just need to be happy, laughing and connecting with others (hopefully, with a soft pillow of two) to feel LOVE on V’day. Let’s have this feeling every-day.
DO GOOD.
Here’s a peak into this awesomeness:
Ha, no, that’s not me in the video but I wanted to share what the experience was like being part of it.
So:
BART
chatting to strangers with pillows
pillow fight
snow
free hugs
what is love?
hot pink tulips bouquet
walking in SF
yummy thai food
laughing in conversation
great company
BSG
What more could a gal ask for on V’day?!
How was yours?
Vanae’s tip of the dae: Be part of the next pillow fight in your area! It will be memorable!
So Daily Blog Tips, put out a fun group writing assignment for bloggers to post their 2009 internet goals. This got me thinking about not only my goals on the web, but also my personal goals. Goals are awesome! I work really, really well with goals and deadlines because I can see it in the horizon and punch it out. Yes, I’m an ultra nerd like that. I thought this group assignment is fun to share with you. So here’s my list for internet goals and personal goals:
1. To get 1 of my videos featured on YouTube
2. To reach 2,000 RSS subscribers
3. Triple my youTube subscribers to 15,000
4. Publish a fun ‘Vanae’s Tips of the Dae’ desktop calendar
5. Launch my ‘Hugs Around the World’ campaign
6. Write a 2nd V’book
7. Complete another marathon
Vanae’s tip of the dae: List out your 2009 goals and post it up on your wall so that you can see them every morning when you wake up! It’ll motivate you to get closer to your goal and be able to cross it off the list.
