WITHIN A YEAR

It's scarily amazing how much things can change within a year - short though it may seem.
 

What more 2.

2 years ago, Feb 2009, I was counting eagerly towards the fulfillment of the bond. Can't wait to jet around countries and do all the traveling and meeting new people in new places and having fun adventures. It was with tangible regrets to give it up against my will after being offered a placement after all the effort and relentless series of interviews. I made a mental note to myself to try again once freedom is regained; something that has been lost for 7 years. 7 LONG YEARS.

2012. What mattered no longer do. Alright, maybe they still do, but significantly not as much. I still like to travel and chill. To visit countries and places of interest. To meet people, try untried food, experience new cultures. The only difference now is, there's something else that matters more than self-centered fun. And I'm not complaining one bit!

A couple of significant things have happened for the past 2 years (all of which are good!), and the thought of it makes me shudder a little. Should there be any take-home lesson to learn from, it can only be this : what seemed eagerly important might no longer be so 1 or 2 years down the road. Priorities. Similarly, whatever plans or direction we have right now for the next 1 or 2 years into the future may not turn out the way we had envisioned, though well-intented it may be. Priorities. Because priorities DO change.

I guess that's why it's important to get things right from the start.  Not to take things for granted. To decide on what is important; what are the things you will not let go of or compromise on. The rest of what remains are 'the mutables'; things that decidedly can be done with. Or without.

It is akin to an anchored ship against the wavering winds. Anchors hold us to the base ground, reminding us what we had decided on, rather than drifting along directionless according to the flippant calls of the winds. Because like winds, priorities do change.