On December 31st 2015, I packed up and drove with my friends to Bandung, to spend the new year with old friends from college. We expected to be stuck in the traffic for 6 hours (the traffic could be nasty sometimes), but it turned out we got there in mere 2 hours. The nicest surprise.

We had dinner in the place we used to go to in college to satisfy our cravings. I had grilled ribs (SO good), and everything about that night reminded me of the good old times: the taste of the food, the place, the people.

On the way to the house party, we got caught in the traffic, but for once, I didn’t mind. We made it just in time before midnight, and watched the fireworks from a distance.

In those 2 days, we got to talk a lot. I told them about things that I’d kept to myself, things that I was afraid to tell anybody but them. They’d known me for a long time, everything was transparent with them. My past, my worries, my future plans. It felt really good to let it out, to the right people.

I ended 2015 with a heavy heart, and started 2016 feeling like some of the weight had been lifted.

It felt incredibly relieving, and I could see 2016 with more positive attitudes.

And so, my resolution for this year is to be happy.

As I’m writing this, I’m listening to Belle and Sebastian’s Asleep on a Sunbeam, and the lyrics have nudged me.

Think about a new destination. If you think you need inspiration, roll out the map and mark it with a pin. I’m waiting for you to get out of your situation, with your job and with your life.

I’m going to embrace this year with open arms, and make things better.