Reflecting on 2017 – A Year-end Review

Over the past 12 months, yours truly has been into a whirlwind journey of employment & unemployment. I’ve been a bystander of change, immobility and of hopes and dreams.

In this year-end review allow me to divide it into 4 major life aspects; Personal, Relationship, Work Life & Community Life. In each aspect – I will share both the pros & cons.

View past reviews: 2016 | 2015 | 2014 | 2013 | 2012 | 2011

PERSONAL – What is #InMyHeart STATUS :

Cons: Where am I? What’s happening?

In between a few episodes of self pity and self awareness. I tend to ask these questions. It is more of the work-related issue than just the personal part… will explain it later.

Pro: Happy, Loved, on a sabbatical leave?!? 😜 I am happy. Yes I really am! This is a year that made me realize that no matter how low I (maybe be) in the other aspects of life, I’m 💯% sure that God hasn’t forsaken me. Happy because I’m in good health.

RELATIONSHIPS – What is #InMyHeart STATUS :

Cons: “Steady, no major changes.”

Yes, I belong to a community and yes I met a few but it didn’t really progress more than being in an acquaintance level, probably bcoz we’re in the Area Household. While work related connections is not really a thing for me this year.

Pro: Met 2 new fellas although only for a short while. Maintained and kept the regulars

Childhood friends, BES, High school, CNU, UC-ESL and GEOS groups remained minimal yet always connected. Meanwhile my whirlwind Abu Dhabi school stints created 2 new friends on the list; Juna a fellow UC-ESL Teacher in UCLM campus and Gina from Manila. These two happens to be my buddies during our teaching applications, demo, a week seminar and the 3 days school class preparation. Ended short yet sweets as we are still friends in FB.

My active status in a few Facebook blogging groups/communities have created FB Friends add and a few exchange of convos, share and commenting on each other’s blogs.

WORK LIFE – What is #InMyHeart STATUS :

Cons: Unemployed for 326 days. A month leave & 8 days at TPGS

You are reading it correctly. Almost a whole year of stand by, I was and still am.

Pros : Great BlogLife

Away from office life is a busy net life for me and for this #PassionProject of mine – this blog, www.iamjmkayne.com #InMyHeartJMKaynesBlog. Over the past 12 months I have curated a total of 34 blog posts and what makes me so proud of it, is the facts that my “target” sponsored blogposts/ collaborations have been met and even surpassed. I’ve shared a mini review of those brands on this blogpost: 5 Gift Ideas and a Collaboration Review for 2017.

The truth is, my salary with my last employer will never be covered with these 8 sponsored blog posts, nevertheless these works of mine have brought me joy and confidence in the blogging world. There is fulfillment thereof.

COMMUNITY LIFE – What is #InMyHeart Status:

Cons: Limited, tested and challenged.

Limited because as I mentioned earlier we’re in the AreaHH (a CFFL/CFC-FFL member can relate or understand why). Tested – because of only 1 HH Spiritual growth has started to come dry. Challenged – because Kokobear has to step overboard to awaken situations and drive pathway in a different road.

Pros: Opened, Active and Challeged for 2018

Opened – because Kokobear spilled the beans, somehow a reconstruction has been made. I have to say though that a few people remain the same no matter what correction or openness you have been. It’s just “them”. … Active – for the whole year we both are active Area PFO and have delivered some talks to different ministries yet SFL has the quota. I guess it is because we’re coming from that group and the familiarity of field is easy for us. Personally I’d say it’s been a challenges. Often times when you deliver a talk it must or maybe somehow represents who you are… the downside for me is that – being jobless – at times makes me wonder how do I convey His greatness if I for one is not blessed with a job?!? Yet it has been so clear to me, I AM BLESSED! No matter what circumstances I am for this season, I am being carried by the King 👑 and that He will never forsaken me. So therefore I am giving all back to Him all the success and “touched by the holy spirit” 🕊 moment I and other CLS participants had during my talks. I am nothing but an instrument used by the Almighty. You rock Jesus!! 👆🏻

These are the four major aspects. Allow me then to do some shorties:

• Health – Praise God I’ve been doing well. My insurance has expired since last year and glory to God for never making me sick all these time.
• Exercise & Diet – Still gaining. 😔 It’s a shortcoming I have since last year… Don’t wanna make some promises that I may fail again. Crossing fingers I could break this!
• Beauty – Hmmmmp not really sure if I did anything, but face has been attacked with all these pimples, I guess it’s also related to health. I learned that hormonal imbalances is one of the causes of this outbreak. Also, because I don’t have a day job, I tend to sleep very late. In fact, I sleep very early between 2 – 4 am.
• Family – Lil bro is not little anymore! He’s tying the knot and will soon become a dad! Mamo and Dado are doing well too.
• Byahe Ng Kokobears – because if what happened this year, we missed our yearly travel. Hope to cover it next year!
• Kusina Ni Kayne – made new blog posts and a couple of videos too! Recently have my own kitchen (sharing no more) so hopefully I will get to do more cooking 🥘 and baking! 🥖 🎂

Reflecting on 2017 with the above sharing accumulated the facts that Jeremiah 29:11 (one of my fave life verses) is been passed. It says:

  “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”

My prayer of having a new job for 2017 was not answered, yet I fret no more. God has answered me “wait, I have a plan” Indeed He has! This year is not for me, but for my husband. This year His mighty hands led us north. We bid goodbye to Abu Dhabi this December and will embark a new journey as couples and as servants of God as we move to Dubai. In fact, our home 🏡 is now ready. 😄 What will Dubai and/or 2018 bring? Only He can tell. What’s #InMyHeart? Is peace and assurance that we are in the palm of His hands.

May God always bless all of us especially to you reading this and of those – a handful of friends/followers who read my blogs.

This has been JM Kayne signing off for this year, Adios 2017!

God bless,