Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016!

2016 is finally here! Everything feels the same, yet different somehow. It's like the whole world turn their pages to a fresh, clean slate.

I spent the last couple days of the year with Luke, who took time off work just to spend the day with me because it was one of the very rare times I get to celebrate something in Singapore. I think it's amazing how he'd always try to match our schedules, using his annual leave not for himself but to ensure we spend quality time together instead. I'm very blessed indeed. I can't be more thankful to have Luke in my life. I know I give him my 100%, but he'd always find ways to give me back a 100% more.

Talking about being blessed, there are so many great moments to be thankful for in 2015.I've mentioned that I'd write a post about the highlights of the year, so here goes.

1. Getting into better shape

Since September 2014, I started watching my health. It's a great change, I feel, to feel in charge of your body and how you want it to look. I've never cared about what I consume, I don't exercise before this. But when I saw that my weight was going up and my confidence was going down, I made the decision to take care of myself, I started my weight loss journey.

The weight loss started getting noticeable as 2015 came in, and since then, it's been about maintaining the weight loss- which I have to admit was more challenging than losing the weight itself. I know it looks effortless to people how I lost all these weight, but truthfully, it's a never-ending effort to keep it that way. I work out hard, and took total control of what I consume and when I know that I went overboard with food, I would have to resume to a strict healthy diet and work out twice as much to lose the excess weight.

Despite the hard work, I'm thankful that I've adopted a healthy lifestyle. Exercising and working out have been a part of me that I love and enjoy. It feels nice knowing you're doing something good for yourself and your health. I've been contemplating on writing about my weight loss because I feel like I'm still working towards getting my ideal body, and till then, I feel like it isn't right for me to talk about it because I'm not "there yet". Haha, but we'll see.

2. Being a Singapore Girl

I was still working at SPH when I decided to go for SIA's mass interview. However, it wasn't a full time job and i can't stay there for long. I had the biggest worry of what to do once my contract ends, and I'm sure my peers can relate to this- it isn't easy finding a job these days, whaut more finding a job that you like. Then my brother gave me the idea of joining SIA, first as a joke. I took it lightly at first because, I mean, have you seen the girls they hire? They're beautiful. I wouldn't think I'd ever muster enough courage to bring myself into that interview hall- but I did.

I didn't know what they were looking for, but i hoped for the best through all the stages of the interview. And thankfully, after the 2-day interview and lots of nerve-wrecking moments, I made it. Two months later, training started for me and that's where it all started. Whenever I think of quitting or having a bad day at work, I'd always think about how much I wanted it at the start and how much I've been through to get to where I am now. Nothing in life is easy, and not everyone we meet is a saint, but this job has given me more than I deserve and the experiences I've gone through had played a major role on my growth as a person. These are what made it worthwhile.

3. The love and support of my parents

My parents have been the biggest pillar of support for me, and more so ever since I joined the company. During my training days, they would send and pick me up from training school whenever I had to be in uniform. They were always there whenever I needed to complain, because truthfully, training was gruelling. You have to be somewhere from 8.30am to 5.30pm every weekday, cannot take MC because you'd miss a module, the tests and exams are endless and it's just physically and mentally taxing due to all the information we have to digest in such a short amount of time. My parents were patient and understanding through all my mood swings and temper and did what they could to make it easier for me.

Once I graduated and started flying, they didn't stop doing what they do. Till now, it's something I'm eternally grateful for. I know this makes me look like such a pampered child, but how could I reject the sincere offer of my parents when they choose to do something for me so that they can have peace in their minds knowing that their daughter is safely in the airport and is safely escorted back? I never once had to worry about whether the cab will be late or if we'd hit the free transport timing because my parents will always be there for me, waiting outside the gate when I'm out. And that's a truly comforting feeling. I'm not even home most days, but whenever I am, it's so nice to know that the first faces I'll be seeing are of my parents.

They say you'll never stop being a baby in your parents' eyes, and I guess the folks are right. I love my parents for everything that they've done for me. It's not easy letting their daughter go, especially when I grew up in such a protected environment. Flying all over the world, being open to risks in a foreign place, I'm sure it gets scary for them too, not being able to watch over me in an arm's length anymore. That's why it means so much to me, to have their support. My parents' love is the reason why I would never let myself do anything against my conscience, I would never want to disappoint them or abuse their trust. I love them enough to never hurt them that way.

4. Still being in love with Luke

Besides my parents, another person who has always been there for me through thick and thin is Luke.  I can't emphasise how amazing he has been towards me, and I see it even more clearly that he's The One as time passes by. We're going towards our 5th year together, that is a long time to be in love with someone but I don't know how he does it, but he still knows how to move my heart in a way no one else can.

When I told Luke that I wanted to join the airline, he was so against it at first, afraid that distance might affect us. However, I told them that I have to do this for me, for me to have something that I will be proud of in my life, for me to tell our kids that "hey,  mummy did all these exciting things when she was younger". I wanted to do this for myself before I commit myself into being someone's wife and the mother of my children. I want to do this before my life is all about my family, which I know it will be because I grew up by the example of my mother who gave her all for us. Hence, I will do the same for my family. But before that time comes, I wanted to do something for me. Hearing that, Luke agreed and he slowly started to understand and gave in. I know deep down all he wants is for me to be happy.

I knew it wasn't easy for him, but I will never give him a reason to be afraid of losing me. This job may open many rooms for temptation, but I know it won't make me stray. Sometimes he gets afraid, but I find it silly because how could I ever stray when the whole world knows how much I love Luke. He's always on my mind. When I'm overseas, I'll always think of what can I bring back for him and where can I find the things he like. When I was in London, I went all the way to the Emirates Stadium by train just to get the authentic Arsenal jersey for him. And when I was in Ahmedabad, I brought all my scrapbook materials in my cargo bag so that I could finish up his birthday scrapbook in my hotel room. He's the only person in the entire world I would do these things for.

But Luke will always outdo me when it comes to being a sweetheart.

During training, all my batchmates (and maybe even the security guards) know him because he'd always come to pick me up after school. We'd have dinner together and he'll send me home and I'd fall asleep on my couch due to fatigue while he'd sit and stay there till I wake up. Training days are exhausting for me, and Luke's been so patient through it all. I can't even talk to him during training hours because we never, ever had time to use the phone but still, this sweetheart right here will always find other ways to ensure we have enough time together, even if it's doing the boring stuff like watching me sleep. (He could make a gallery of my ugly sleeping photos)

Ever since I started flying, I think it's amazing how he still manages to make time for me despite his own busy schedule at work. We'd have conflicting schedules sometimes because Luke works shift hours, but somehow he'll always make it work. Most of my off days are spent with Luke, and I could never be more thankful for that. When I was away for my long sector flights, I know it must be excruciating to be waiting for me, especially the 12 days Moscow-Houston flight, but he never complains. Distance actually made us appreciate the time we spend together instead of making us drift apart. I think love truly conquers all.

5. Travelling the world

My job has given me the opportunity to see places I never dreamt of going and experiencing things I never would have thought I'd be able to. I was blessed to go to the outskirts of Amsterdam to see the windmills, eat awesome lobster in London, shop like crazy in Houston and San Francisco, horseride and play with lion cubs in Johannesburg.

People are different at different parts of the world. This job has made me learn to handle all of that. Please come and date me out if you'd like to hear all about it, I have so many stories.... People can be so funny sometimes? Haha, yes, you really do meet all kinds of people onboard. Be it the crew or the passengers.

I do feel blessed to be experiencing all these. I love looking back on my pictures and recall all the memories. I've tried so much good food all over the world! Now guys, this is why I work out. It's like an endless international food adventure, if I don't work out confirm fat. Haha. I can't wait for more adventures and may I be blessed with great rosters every month.

So there goes! The highlights of my year. It's been such an eventful one, and I'm so thankful for the good times and the not-so-good ones as well. 2015 has been a ride, a ride I wouldn't trade for anything else. 2016 is another year, and I truly hope that it's filled with lots of exciting stories and happenings as how the previous year has been for me. It's the first day of the year and I'll be flying to Christchurch this evening! #prayforashhy 

And to all of you, have a great holiday! May your first day of the year be an exciting one! 

Love, 

Ashhy