2023 Recap: Throwback Travels, New Learnings and Self-Discovery

Last Updated on: 29th January 2024, 03:39 pm

Wow, it’s been a long time since I posted a year-ender. The last time was in 2020, which was during the pandemic. After 2020, many changes happened, but mostly it was about my outlook on life.

2023 unexpectedly caused me a lot of drama, despite working at home and not going outside that much. Minus the drama, I can say that 2023 was a great year, and quite fulfilling indeed.

I’ve had 3 throwback travels this year: Coron Palawan, Ilocos Norte, and Baguio. The last time I went to Coron was 10 years ago, and Ilocos and Baguio was 4 years ago. It was nice returning to these places, especially Coron since It’s one of my favorite travel destinations. I’ve always been a nostalgic person, and returning to these places is somehow kind of a therapy for me- it’s nice remembering the old days.

I also turned 30 last May and celebrated it with a #Dirty30s theme. I actually had 2 birthday celebrations, one with my family and one with my friends. It’s nice celebrating your 30 years of life not as a goodbye to your 20s, but as a welcome to something exciting. And I’m here for it!

2023 is also notorious for the year of breakups (blame it on Venus retrograde), and sadly, I didn’t escape from it. However, it led me to many realizations and 2023 slowly removed my rose-colored glasses on my relationships. I’ve begun to uncover real bullshit and called them out for it, and while it was scary, I’m proud that I stood up for myself and stayed firm on my boundaries. Hashtag maturity!

Despite the breakup drama, my current relationship with my loved ones- the ones who stayed, never changed. It was still full of laughter, banter, good times, and bad times- but it was worth it.

Thanks for the rollercoaster memories, 2023, and while it’s not the best year, it has taught me a lot of things that pushed me to discover myself and know my self-worth. And that, to me, is everything.

Here’s to more wonderful travels, opportunities and never settling for less this 2024. Happy New Year Everyone!