This is a slide I made in 2024. It was an activity where I wrote down my ideal 5-year future in the present tense.
Just two years later, I have ticked off more than half of the list. When I wrote this, I did not think I would be able to make even one of them happen.
I lived in Australia for a year, and now I am living in Germany.
I traveled to the Philippines and Singapore from Australia last year, and I visited Switzerland and Austria from Germany this year.
I feel that I am surrounded by amazing people who are rooting for me now.
In Germany, I am living with one my best friends, and we enjoy talking and going out together.
I started a new job as an English coach for Japanese people. I feel very passionate about supporting them in studying English to achieve their goals, and I love seeing them take on new challenges that they wanted to try but were scared of.
I work from 11am to 5pm because I love spending slow mornings.
Outside of my working hours, I enjoy doing my hobby such as Japanese calligraphy, baking, cooking, and walking by the river.
I am still on a journey to love and take care of myself, but I can say I am doing better by accepting my authentic self. I also have a list of things that help me relax and calm down when I feel uneasy.
I finally understand that self-love is not just a feeling, but a practice.
The other day, I had a chance to take a job interview, and one of the questions was, “What was something you felt proud of yourself for recently?”.
I answered about my experience of taking a program to understand myself, trying new challenges I was scared of, and now supporting others to do the same.
After going back home, I thought about the question again. My answer was definitely one of the biggest things I am proud of, but I also realized that the very moment of taking a full-time job interview in English, in a foreign country, was something to be incredibly proud of, too.
Two years ago, it was very hard for me to feel proud of myself, and I had no confidence. However, I am able to find small moments of happiness and success, and feel content with myself now.
Now, I am making new lists for 3 years and 5 years down the road, and I am very excited to see what will happen next.
