I’ve never been much of a Facebook girl but reading cheesy Facebook statuses has prompted a strong urge to convey my own message on my favorite medium – this blog.

2013 has been…quick. I remember drafting a similar post last year and being able to pinpoint significant milestones in my life. Somehow, thinking about this blog post weeks before it was written brought about some sense of panic – a feeling that this year has slipped or that I floated through it.

The truth is I’ve been dreading 2014. Plotted for this year are big plans and scary, uncertain steps to be taken that could well bring about multiple and potentially scarring falls. I viscerally feel my comfort zone slipping out of my fingers and I’m terrified –

But also excited. I think it all boils down to following dreams and pursuing passions no matter the risk. Or at the very least – trying.

Been recently gifted with a beautiful blessing – being able to step out of the bubble that is Manila as I know it. I am, admittedly, an escapist and while I sort of expect every trip I take to magically reveal answers to questions, they never really come. I flew back today from Israel – surprisingly one of the most magical places in the world for me – and finally got to iron some kinks out. (I should probably mention it was a pilgrimage and that I guess when the Universe seems to be preoccupied with something else, the best way to get its attention is to go to its homeland and parade your ass and petitions there yourself. Which I did, half-frozen.)  Israel, in between the long walks and my sneezes (I was sick), served as a limestone-laden reminder of blessings received and decisions made. And I guess that sums up 2013 for me – a series of decisions, big and small, of what to keep and what to let go of.

I never liked not being able to hold onto things, memories and people. But maybe important things are sometimes meant to feel like they’re slipping away from you – like they could be lost at any point – to tighten your grip on the present and on life.

I guess not a lot of points were ticked off my bucket list this year (which reminds me to actually write one). But at the same time, I know that the baby steps taken – both easy (like choosing jobs) and hard (like leaving them) – were steps in the right direction. And if there’s one thing I believe in, it’s that the only worthwhile pursuit is that of happiness.

My wish for all of you is for you to have a constant stream of opportunities to choose happiness (and a follow up wish for you to actually choose it).

My wish for myself is more shoes, I am a fashion blogger after all. I’m kidding. (Or am I? Just in case you get confused, Santa, I really don’t mind new pairs. #JustSaying.)

And while I may not have a long list of “highlights”, you, dear readers, will always be part of the blessings I’m thankful for. So happy to have been given opportunities to meet you and I hope to see you guys more often this coming year. Thank you for a beautiful and meaningful 2013 and I’m looking forward to an even better 2014 with all of you – future missteps and all.

p.s. back to regular fashion programming soon. Have a happy, meaningful and fashionable 2014 everyone!