2020 Reflections: The unprecedented year
By: Samuel Tay
Tags: Life Journey, Reflections

I make it a custom to pen down my reflections every year around this time and I usually use FB notes but after doing a simple Google Search, it seems that they have removed the feature :( In any case, this year was literally like a roller-coaster ride — there were times I was so down and believed my life had no purpose anymore, and yet there were also times when things were going so well and I approached each day full of life and excitement. Nobody knew that covid was gonna happen, and I guess we just had to adapt when it did. Our way of living as we knew it had to change, whether we liked it or not. Things had to be done differently in order to keep things moving. The way we communicate has also changed drastically. Honestly, there were days where I didn’t know if I would make it to the end of the year, but by the grace of God, here I am, approaching the end of 2020 with a sense of awe and thankfulness. Are there still challenges that I currently face? Definitely. But looking back I can only say that there has been more good than bad that happened for me this year. It was an amazing year of meeting new people, exploring new career paths, picking up investing as a lifeskill, and many more. So what are some of my biggest lessons this year? Here is what I think:

Stepping out of your comfort zone is worth it

After being a civil servant for the past 6 plus years, it was not easy to step out and explore something different. Initially I had many ideas on what I could do with the time that I had. I went to learn coding, picked up investing, ran some FB ads to see how the algorithm works, started a travel blog, and even explored the idea of writing a book. Through it all, I found out there were some things that I tried because I thought it would be fun and cool to try out, and there were others where I developed a passion I never knew I had. Investing is an example of the latter. There were times when I felt like I was going around in circles, and when I eventually “abandoned” some of these newfound hobbies I felt lousy about myself. Why am I so fickle-minded? These cost me time, effort, and in some cases money as well. However, if there is one thing I learnt, it’s that while stepping out of your comfort zone to try different things can be scary because you never know where exactly you are going to end up at, there are also moments to celebrate. I actually had fun teaching coding classes to Primary School kids online, and the parents gave me great feedback too! I had time to reconnect with different friends and many great conversations happened as a result. I picked up investing on my own and am currently planted in a great and awesome community, getting to know many awesome new friends through the process! These are experiences that I would never have the chance to go through had I stayed on, and while not every experience may be good, I am thankful that the ones that are worthwhile actually materialised. In short, stepping out of our comfort zone brings uncertainty, which we generally don’t like, but there will always be good that comes out of it, as long as we approach every experience with a humble heart, possess a growth mindset, and stay curious to learn :) Be proactive in adding value to others

Diving into the world of insurance and investments was not easy. I took time out to understand what policies I bought into, and explored different investing styles and methodologies. Looking back now, I can understand why people are confused and as a result many don’t want to take charge of their finances. But I felt like there has to be a better way and it is achievable by everyone, hence I consolidated some basic knowledge that I had and started sharing with friends who were keen. The journey so far has been humbling and I’m amazed at what I got to do and share. For someone with totally no finance background, I was happy to add value to those around me, and seeing them understand something or taking action to better manage their finances brought me great joy and satisfaction. The feeling that you get when you help others is priceless, and I encourage everyone to do the same. It can be in an area that you are familiar and passionate about. At the end of the day, the world is not just about me and myself. We need to live a life larger than ourselves, and one of the best ways to do that is simply by being yourself and helping others whenever you can. It sounds simple but it adds a profound effect to your life :) Supply and provision comes from the Lord

Trust me. Leaving your job with no job secured is scary. It may sound obvious but when I actually did it I was terrified. Granted, I had some financial resources to tap on and it could sustain me for a few months, but how the income was going to come in after that was a big question mark. God probably knew my needs and insecurities. He was present every step of the way, even when I didn’t felt like He was. I started out with one tuition kid, then one school engaged me to do some contract teaching for 1.5 weeks. Just when I thought my income was going to dwindle again, 2 ex-colleagues referred tutees to me. One I taught until the circuit breaker started, the other I saw him all the way through his O Levels. In between, I made some side income from teaching coding as well, and another school also engaged me to teach for a few months. The amazing thing is that there were days when I literally did not know how next month’s income was going to come in, but then something would just happen and I either got an opportunity for a side hustle or managed to secure short term contracts. Through the most part of this year, I did not have what most would term as a “stable” job but I did not in any way feel any lack. Of course, there were times when my feelings overwhelmed me and I questioned my decision to step away from something so stable and so predictable, but He has been faithful to see me through. Right now, I still have not decided on what to embark on (Yes I am just slow that way in figuring out my life purpose; don’t judge me haha) but I know that He will lead me step by step, and the same God who has provided for me in 2020 can and will continue to supply all my needs according to His riches in glory in 2021 :) Make time for family and friends

Someone once said that true wealth is not measured by how much you have in the bank (or your investment account), but rather by the richness of the relationships in your life. In this challenging and unprecedented year, this piece of wisdom could not have been more sound. The quality of our life is largely measured by the relationships we choose to keep and grow in our lives. Developing the right friendships will continually sharpen us, encourage us, and allow us to grow into better versions of ourselves. I am grateful to have maintained friendships close to my heart, and even though I have not done much this year to water those friendships as I was trying to find my identity and purpose in life, I do hope to be able to do better next year. To connect a little more, to care a little more and to be present a little more :) Choose to run your own race

Perhaps one of the biggest lessons I have learnt is that we have a choice to determine how we want to live our lives. This applies in many areas, in our careers, personal values, relationships. Oftentimes we take the status quo because it seems to be what everyone else is doing, or we are simply afraid of what happens when we choose to take an unconventional route. Maybe we have heard people telling us that this simply cannot be done. Over time this becomes part of our limiting beliefs. This year I had the privilege to meet some amazing entrepreneurs and people who set their minds on achieving a single goal, and I saw how they overcame the odds stacked against them to create something that they believe in, something that was worth their time and effort. I am nowhere near them, but maybe, just maybe, if we learn to live simply, to laugh freely, and to love fiercely, perhaps we can all live the life that we envision. It would be amazing if we can live a life free of social media comparison, or a life where we can choose to do the things that we love with no worry of financial implications, or how others view us. I am not saying it is easy, but I believe we can all inch one step closer to that life. The choices and decisions we make today will impact the life we live in the future. With this one life given to you, how will you choose to live it? :)

If you stayed with me till this far, give yourself one awesome clap! 2020 has brought us to places we never imagined we would be, whether we liked it or not. But take heart. You made it this far, and you are going to make it to 2021 :) I hope the above reflections have blessed you as much as I enjoyed typing it out. Have a most blessed Christmas and cheers to a better and greater 2021!!