January 1st, 2010
2009: The Year That Was
I spent the last few minutes of 2009 in front of the balcony in my dad’s house in Abu Dhabi. My hands were tightly gripped around the book I was currently engrossed in, my eyes fixated on the city skyline ahead of me. 10 more minutes. I went back to reading A Thousand Splendid Suns, savoring every bit of this moving tale of the struggles of women in Afghanistan.
I like this feeling of being in two worlds; the reality in which you can feel yourself breathe, feel the air on your skin and the voices looming ahead of you, and the fictional world of strong-willed women trying to survive in a war-torn world, of exciting forbidden love and the unfolding of endless drama. I like the feeling of being so engrossed that it seems more and more difficult to discern which is real and which is not anymore.
I looked at my watch again and realized that it was already 12.01 am. I ran outside to the balcony where my family was, climbed the ladder up the rooftop and sat with my siblings. The fireworks erupted, the screaming started, so did the clickings of cameras and the new year wishes. Happy 2010.
I went back to my book even before the fireworks ended and continued reading away. It seemed hard to believe that I was in year 2010 and not 1987. I was in Abu Dhabi holidaying with my family, and not in Kabul with an enraged husband beating the shit out of me.
The first thought that came upon me this year was how blessed I am. How blessed I am to be born into a loving family, in a peaceful country and to be able to do so many things many in the world could only dream of doing. I have the most amazing people in my life and I’m constantly showered with love. With my own money, I’ve traveled to 8 countries this year. And most important of all I’m alive and well and happy.
2009 had been a turbulent year for a lot of people I’m sure, especially for me. I started the year feeling a strong sense of longingness, only to feel neglected and disappointed in the end. I changed from the bubbly girl that I was to a skeptical and moody person, only to realize that I wasn’t happy at all. The last part of 2009 was life-changing in both good and bad ways. My perspectives changed and I went back to my former cheerful self, forever etched with memories I will never forget. 2009 brought about both extremes of me and although I’m still finding it hard to reconcile both ends, I’m trying my very best.
I started my 2010 feeling blessed, loved and happy. I have no new year resolutions this time because I don’t think anything will ever be more important than all of the above. I wish everyone a very happy new year and may this year be as good as your last, if not better! For those who did not have a good 2009, try looking at things differently this year and perhaps that will help.
To all my dear readers, thank you for going through this journey of constant soul-searching and self-improving with me. Thank you for being loyal audience to my life adventures and my inner thoughts of self-doubts and aspirations. Thank you for not bailing out on me when I was lost and confused, and for the constant encouragement to hold on and to stand back up when I fall. Having amazing readers like all of you is another thing I’m truly blessed and thankful for 
Happy 2010 everyone! How strange that word sounds when it rolls off my tongue..Strange, but comforting. Daunting, but exciting. It will be a good year, that I’m sure of. It just keeps getting better every year
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it IS strange. i don’t believe 2010 is here, at least that’s what i try to convince myself.
eh i thought you said A Thousand Splendid Suns not as nice as The Kite Runner?
happy new year
hope 2010 will bring you MORE joy and happiness!
happy new year to you!!
happy happy happy 2010!!!!!!!!
Wish 2010 will be superbbbbbb for you!!!!!
May all your dreams come true!!!!
eh there isn’t any “wtf” word leh wtfwtf HAHAHAHA:P
happy new 2010 babe :3
xoxo
SHOW LA YOUR NEW HAIR PIC!
happy new year to you too! i had a ough 2009 but now everything seems to be fine and i am glad 2010 starts off great! Wish you eternal happiness in 2010 too. =D
happy 2010! hoep that 2010 will be a smooth sailing year for you =)
Happy 2010 to u too, Suet Li.
I feel equally blessed cos there’s a blogger like you. Your blog also have the same effect on me. it helps me reflect on my own life.. like say, there was this one time u’re talking about the changes in you n etc and i somehow relate it back to myself. i realised I changed a lot too and i don seem to want to stop changing. more grown up or sth, i’m not sure. hehe. still figuring out the changes in me. >_< Your words sometimes help me understand why am I changing.. I’ve come to a temporary conclusion abt the changes in me, that is im perhaps in the growing up phase, just like you..
So with that, thanks for being such a wonderful blogger and tho i don know u in real life, i want you to know how much reading your blog can help me too. love ya Suet Li! *hugs*
Happy new year Suet Li! We’re blessed to have a blogger like you too! Keep on writing…
Happy New Year Suet Li! ^^
I’m still gonna love your blog for the years to come wtf. Hahaha…but it’s true tho
May all of us have a blessed year ahead! ^^
Cheers!!
happy new year suet li!
hugs.
happy 2010 suet!!
i think i’m gonna get tt book to read too
happy new year!!! really enjoy reading your posts and keep it up
u damn cute; got plan ‘the right book’ to suit where u go – *jenggg!* hahaha
happy new year to you too
hope u’ll have a year that starts right and ends Happy! 
happy new year!!
Happy new year Suet Li! i’ve read the book too. it’s super good and when u start reading it u don’t feel like putting it down anymore. have a great year ahead and treasure all the experience that you encounter because ur now much more open and mature.
seeing 2010.01.01 on my phone screen gives me a funnyy feeling lets hope 2010.10.10 will be even better, for no particular reason
oh yar, greatest pic ever <3
Hi Suet Happy New Year to you too!
happy new year suet!
I really liked this post! Happy New Year Suet!
happy new year suet! i like the serious suet..nice post btw. i wanna see more happy suet posts in the year ahead. have a blast everyone!
It was a pleasure suet, you have an amzing life and we are all blessed to be part of it too. =) even if its onlu in your blog. haha.
why your blog so many readers?!
mine still stuck with 530 for 3months already..
nuffnag account : RM 00.00 for 6months already
T__T
too many “i”s in your blog but overall i like it
keep it up!
suet, this post made me smile and ponder upon the many blessings in my own life too. i’m sure in one way or another you have also become such a blessing to others
please continue writing and blogging! and have a great, great 2010.
Happy New Year Suet!
Love this particular post of yours. Makes me ponder too.
On the other side note, how did u manage to save money (travel 8 countries somemore) and yet can shop for clothes etc!
Sigh. I tried to be stingy a lil bit with money shop at cotton on buy their 50% clothes. At the end of the day still pokai wtf. Tell me how u save!!!
happy new year to you too sweat lee
HI suet…….Do you write chinese?i mean if you can write blogs in chinese which is equally as good as your current blog?It should be nice if you manage two different blogs HAhaha…(just a suggestion)
Happy new year suet!
happy new year suet! u look younger with ur new hair!!!! well that’s only judging from one photo.. faster post more photos laa!!!
u’re still in abu dhabi??!!! lolz…what have u been doing here??!! Marina Mall every day??!! Or the corniche??!! let me know if there’s anything interesting coz im finally having to days off from flying =p
I’ve read A Thousand Splendid Suns too. How good a book was it? Really makes us feel lucky that we live in the parts of the world that we do, and that as women we are not as oppressed as they once were.
Happy 2010, hope this year turns out better than the last for you. As humans, we are always searching and reaching for greater things
suetli from sweatlee.com can only write her name in chinese.