To my dearest:
Happy New Year everybody! Thank you for sticking by this year! 2017 has treated me well and was definitely a year full of challenges and changes. So today, I just wanted to take the time to get personal and share with you all a little about my 2017 and my goals for 2018!
Let’s back track a little and let me tell my background story. The summer of 2016, I relocated to Hong Kong to start my career in the entertainment history and after roughly a half a year of hustling there, I was offered a ten year contract to sign with a record label and YES become a C-Pop Star! (Imagine K-Pop star, but in Hong Kong…) It was a dream come true for me, who yearned for performance and spotlight – someone who worked her butt off her whole life learning music and spending four years in college getting a degree in Music!
I was given a grace period to come home to make my final decision, and this was during the latter half of 2016, which rolled into 2017. My biggest dilemma was leaving my home, friends, and family for ten full years and having no private life of my own. I always thought I was a career driven woman. I spent the first half of my life running non-stop towards one goal. However, when I reached the top, there was actually more of a hurdle than before. I became depressed and torn. I felt like I didn’t have an option. It was either happiness in my career or happiness in my private life and that the two could not co-exist.
I found out the hard way that I was actually more relationship oriented than career driven. I couldn’t be worry free and just leave my family behind. They were supportive yes, but if I just left, I would’ve been too selfish. The decision was not easy and I had a time of depression and eating disorder because I felt no motivation in life. I always had a goal and something to work towards and suddenly, life became idle and nothing mattered anymore.
Thankfully, God is good and 2017 was a brand new year for a brand new me. I knew I couldn’t sink any deeper. In February, I decided to find a new outlet for my creativity, new passions, new goals for myself. I decided to start a blog, where I could share all of me and help others. That’s when I relaunched my blog and started blogging as a profession.
I am so happy to have started this for myself. When I first started, I didn’t know anything. I took a month to learn the logistics on how to build my blog from scratch, SEO, content creation, editing and more. It was a new field for me, so I made sure to do my research before jumping in. After, I took another month to create content that would last two months, so that when I launch, I could focus on growing it, instead of just creating content. And so, I successfully launched on Monday April 3, 2017!
During this year, I kept trying to improve myself and my content. I tried to make new connections with my readers and followers. Although, slowly, I’m proud to say, I have reached an estimated following of roughly 50,000 by the end of 2017! And all this could not have been done without you! Thank you so so much for supporting me all this time!
For 2018, I’m looking to bring more and more improvements to my blog as well as myself. 2017 created a new path for me, and I’m hoping 2018 will as well! This February, I will be doing my last pageant in San Francisco as a farewell to my pageant life. This November, I will be heading back to Hong Kong to negotiate on a new music contract, for online music publication. This is something still pending so fingers crossed it will work out, so that I can still keep my passion for creating music on the side!
For 2018, I am hoping to commit to a job other than blogging. I’m currently a full time blogger, while teaching private piano lessons on the side and my family has indeed been supportive of me. However, to lighten the financial loads of my family, I think it’s time for me to find a job (be it full time or part time). This is all to aid for a better future for myself, my family, and the blog. I always put back a good chunk of my earnings, back to making the blog a better place for all of us. Because of this change, blog posts will be weekly at one new post per week and will be posted by Wednesdays of every week! #HappyHumpDay!
In 2018, I also have the goal of launching my own Youtube Channel. But, again. That’s a whole different field. I will have to take time to learn video editing and also balance my schedule to create content and the process of doing the editing! Though this is tentative, and I hope you will all support me in this future endeavor.
Aside from these, for 2018, I want to travel more and open my eyes to many worlds unseen. I want to love more, criticize less. I want to mend broken relationships. I want to be fearless. I want to grow stronger. I want to become a better version of myself.
I don’t believe in New Years resolutions, as I believe each new day is a brand new beginning for you to keep striving on. But on this day, this is my sharing for the blueprint of what I’ll be hustling for every day. I believe people need goals to flourish. Without improvement, all that’s left is regression. How about you? I’d love to hear what goals you’re working for! And I’d love to hear any comments! Write back and let me know. Thanks again for reading this long sharing of mine and supporting me this year and in the future!
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For reference, I am 5 feet 2 inches. I typically wear XS/S or 0-4 for apparel and 6.5-7.5 for shoes.
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Oh so true. Its about a new begining not resolutions. Happiest of New Year’s to you lovely lady!
xoxo Christie
http://www.icanstyleu.com/blog/
Best wishes in all your future endeavours! You’ve got this babe!!
Author
Thanks dear! You’ve been a true trooper! You’ve been with me since the beginning of beginnings!!!
It’s good to hear that you are going to update the blog each Wednesday with a new post.Hope to read more posts.Happy New Year 2018!
Good luck with your new beginnings! You will make it!
sounds like such a great year for you! Happy New YEAR!!
This is all amazing news! Your growth is an inspiration. I wish you the best!
Reading about your year was great! It’s so great how much you grew your blog in the (less than) one year. Best of luck in your new endeavors in 2018! I will be excited to see if you launch a Youtube channel!
Narhee | Made in Mauve
Wishing you lots of luck this 2018 and may you get an awesome job!
happy new year dear…
http://sepatuholig.blogspot.com/
IG @grace_njio
What a great list of goals for 2018! I also love all of your photos in this post, they’re so lovely! 🙂
You are so pretty! And, these pictures are so stunning! Happy New Year 🙂
It is interesting reading about the various change in careers during the year 2016 and 2017. Congrats on starting the blog and doing well. Wish you a happy new year and to see more posts on your blog
I wonder how you are a full- time blogger and make money, I do the same so I would love to hear your insights. As far as the k-pop life, if it wasn’t for you and family was more important, don’t you ever wonder “what if?”
I had a similar situation when I was younger and it wasn’t until years later that I realized trying new things out of your comfort zone is exactly how to find your true passions. I’m glad you found a passion for blogging and can’t wait to see more.
Thanks for sharing!
Ohh great goals! Youtube channels can be so much fun- good luck!
Gosh beautiful photos!
She Walks Blog
These photos are amazing Ophelia!! I think these are my favorite ones I’ve seen! I love the city background and the coffee shop 🙂
I wish I had time to do one blog post a week! I so admire you for committing to this. Can’t wait to read!
xoxo,
Berniedette | PetiteAndToned.com
I wish you all the luck and success for your new endeavors. Go get them babe! Happy New Year!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
Such a great post! I’m so glad you found your passion. It’s a wonderful journey!
Love,
Amber | http://www.loveambervictoria.com
You are doing so well and you should continue to follow your dreams! Wishing you all the very best.
Sounds like all of your hard work has truly paid off! Wishing you lots of luck in your successful career. Love your page!
I love this post! Sometimes you have to sit and think about what truly makes you happy. I struggle with the saem thing at the moment, leaving friends and family for a better job opportunity or stay and make things work with what I have. Still deciding. All the best in 2018!
Great posts. I love the insight and the creativity you have put in your blog. Good luck in finding a job that is a good fit for you while also continuing to blog!
I don’t believe in resolutions, either, but I really should aspire to post a blog post once a week like you are planning to do!
I also don’t believe in resolution! Its a New Year, new hope and new beginning. Same as yoi , I would like to travel more this year.
Hope to read make of your travel stories.
Happy New Year
That’s a great and realist goal to have … I too aim to post once a week. Love the pictures.
❥ tanvii.com
I too believe everyday is a new day and I did the same as you. I researched for a while before jumping in and now I’m on to 2 blogs. Best of luck.
Good luck with your goals this year!
Love your commitment to a new blog post every Wednesday.
You had a great 2017. Best wishes to you this 2018 and success on your blog. Cheers to great 2018.
That’s great that you’ve grown so much in 2017! Here’s to an even more successful 2018!
Marriah Tarango
TarangoVisualStudio.com
im here full support! im excited to see your youtube channel! i know that u put a lot of hard work on your blog and u r doing well! keep it up!
wow you have done so well and in such a short space of time i hope I can follow in your footsteps and do the same, your youtube channel will be fab!
So true! I think if you continue doing what you love, everything falls into place. So there really is no need for new years resolutions. Happy New Year! Hope 2018 is all you want it to be
This is an amazing list. I wish you all the best this 2018 dear. Cheers for more adventures!
Jessica | notjessfashion.com
I m sure with this being your last pagent that is bitter sweet. Good luck to you. A new chapter with a job may take you in who knows what direction. I’m glad you have a supportive family and you are going to help back. Good luck on your move and music.
Hi Ophelia, many of the things you wrote resonates with me. I am working full time as a journalist, and have recently started a blog, writing little stories which gives me great delight. I post once a week and it works great for me. All the best for your job hunt.
Good luck and congrats to your pageant on February! May you achieve all your 2018 goals and get a new job. Cheers to a new adventure this 2018!
Wishing you a very happy new year! I hope that this year is filled with lovem laughter & success! Heres to a year of breaking down doors!! Something tells me that this is the year to chase your dreams so girl so you go for everything with every force in your bones!
http://www.nmdiaries.com
Such an inspiration for a new blogger justbstartong my blog this year!! Also, LOVE your pictures! I can’t wait to follow along more!
Leaving for a career can always be a hard move but I understand why you were unhappy. You have some pretty awesome goals and I hope to one day have a following like yours. Good luck on your journey and pageant.
Cheers to a New Year! I hope 2018 is absolutely amazing for you.
First of all, I love your blog layout. It’s so clean. Happy new year and let’s all leave behind 2017, and live for 2018!
Congratulations on a fantastic year in 2017. I’m so happy to hear how much you have grown and connected and increased your following.
I’m also starting a youtube channel this year. I wish you the best of luck. Happy new year!
Happy new year!
http://www.femmeontrend.com
That’s a very beautiful post loved reading your read.. Happy new year to you
Happy 2018 Ophelia, hope you have an incredible start to the year!
x Rubi
Pose & Repeat
Loved this post. Everyday is about new opportunities. Go and make all your dreams come true this new year.
That was a tough decision. But look at you, successful and gorgeous! More adventures this year for you!
StyleSprinter Blog by Katya Bychkova
Happy new year!
Sheena
http://afashionstudentsdiary.blogspot.co.uk/
Great post.
xx
https://theonethattravels.wordpress.com/
Well done on an amazing 2017. I don’t do resolutions but I do themes for each month! Makes my goals more realistic and give me time to really focus on them! Here’s to a great 2018!
http://www.liveloveblu.com