Lessons Learned in 2009

Around this time, I usually do a recap of the entire year and how it went. Seeing as though I'll be out of the country until January and I won't have any time to blog personally in the near future, I figured it would be best to do it now. The horoscopes said it wasn't going to be a good year for Capricorns, and judging by the looks of how things are going for Tiger Woods... you get the drift. Unfortunately, I happen to fall into that category as well. 2009 started off with the loss of a dear friend.

For months, this moment would come back to haunt me because of all the times I would lie in bed and wonder to myself why he did what he did. This was the first time I ever had to deal with such an abrupt death that could have easily been prevented. Whether or not I could have done something to stop this is beyond my control, but it took me months to realize it was nobody's fault. I paid my last respects at his funeral to his family and offered my deepest condolences.

The release of my independent films "Slick" and "The Making of a Memoir" gained some attention through the Asian American and independent stream, which actually boosted my producing career. Through this, I got more involved with media and communications, collaborated with other independent filmmakers, and started to meet more influential Asian American movers and shakers. In terms of networking, this has definitely been my most productive year.

As a byproduct of capturing Lac through film, I created an outlet for artists through YouTube which has garnered a lot of media attention over the last few months. Keep in mind that the first season was purely experimental and I was very lazy with the production value. Over time, you can see that the concept has developed... and now I can only imagine the full potential that this channel will reach! All I have to say this... you're in for a treat next year. I joined ChannelAPA in hopes that I would be able to do the improve the image of these Asian American artists and give them a chance to express themselves. I never imagined that I could turn my favorite hobby into something that could potentially inspire other people to help their communities and affect the people around them.

My health hasn't been great this year. I somehow managed to catch swine flu while covering the San Diego Asian Film Festival, (which at the time the pandemic occurred, I thought was complete bullshit), I've encountered injuries that people shouldn't be experiencing until their 50s, and I've developed an inner ear infection that has accounted for 30% of the loss of hearing in my right ear. I can't even count how many times I've been sick this year, but on the plus side... I lost 30 pounds of all the fat I needed to work off.

Although there has been so much going on with work in the past year and getting back into school at UCLA, I still managed to stay true to the causes that I value so dearly. I am and will always be a Mason at heart, and I have given back to many of the cancer charities that I've been working with since I graduated.

I've learned a lot of important lessons in 2009. I learned that you can't escape destiny. Although there are several paths in life that you'll want to take, if that path isn't necessarily right for you... something will ultimately find a way to navigate you back in the right direction. I also learned if you have made mistakes in the past, there will always be opportunities to correct them in the future. The most important lesson that I've learned is that whenever you're feeling incredibly down and something is troubling you emotionally, open up your scope and realize that there are people out there who have way more difficult problems than you'll ever experience.

This could possibly be my last blog post for 2009 (note the word "possibly"). Until I get back from Singapore and Malaysia, I will leave you on this note... I've only given you a taste of what I'm fully capable of. 2010, heed my warning.