This morning I sat down on my laptop and listing the highlights of this year in every month. I’ve been having a daily logbook for two months on my Google drive, Color-coded spreadsheet, so that I can see how I actually spend my days. Now I started making a yearly one with monthly highlights, I still could remember some things that happened in 2017-2018 (thanks to my blog). And I’m just amazed by how these last 3 years were spent, especially this year. So many things happened and I’ve changed, gained more skills, income etc. I want to share some highlights that happened in my life this year:

1. My brother came to Indo for 1.5 months

My brother had not been home for 2.5 years since he left for his study in Australia. This year he came for 1.5 months and at that time I was still at my parents’ home in West Sumatra, one month before moving to Bali. So it’s nice to be together again with him and my parents, felt like we’re back to our school time. We don’t know when we will have an opportunity like this again in the future.

2. I moved to Bali permanently

Moving to Bali is definitely the biggest highlight of this year for me and it affected it me a LOT; financially and emotionally. Bali is where my soul feels free in Indonesia, it’s so different than the rest of this country. I went to so many networking events, and I can be who I am. I also already have my car shipped to Bali this year, so yeah my family already know that I’m gonna be here for good. I think they’ve seen the difference how I am when I am in Bali than in Sumatra. In Bali people have interesting stories what brought them to the island, we don’t feel judged for being who we are and they have interesting skills. Many people make money online so I can learn a lot from them.

3. My online work career has grown rapidly since I focused on graphic design

I’d been working online for a while before I finally decided to just focus on graphic design, I started with being general VA because I was not ready for graphic design. It turned out that this decision has resulted to triple my income in one month and now I have a consistent income without even trying too much to get clients. Right now I am still doing mediocre graphic design projects in order to keep money coming, but I already know which field of graphic design that I want to niche in. Hopefully next year I can start with the projects.

4. Found my way to work as a freelance technical fashion designer

I still can’t choose between fashion design and graphic design. Though I already know which field in fashion design that I want to specialise in. A Technical fashion designer makes the blueprint of a design for production, commonly in mass production which involves bigger manufacturer. Bali is one of the garment manufacturing cities in Indonesia, so when I just arrived in Bali, I applied for that position to manufacturers that supplies to big international brands. I was confident because I know that the skill is rare, and I was accepted for most of the jobs I applied to. Unfortunately the salary is too low for me to support my life and lifestyle in Bali, so I decided to find clients by myself. And I found them! I was hired by brands to assist with their productions by making tech-packs, dreams came true!

5. New skills: web design, pdf design and basic animation

Many skills that I’ve gained this year; web design, pdf design and basic animation. Not only that, I think I’ve gained another crucial skill; the pitching skills and how to managing client process and my business.

6. I completed Yoga Teacher Training 200hrs

My YTT was the first big investment I made this year. I haven’t tried teaching yet but I already know and have some knowledge about yoga teaching and it also helps me in my own practice.

7. Youtube subs hit 10k!

If I’m not mistaken, I started this year with 5k youtube subs, and by the time I’m writing this post, I have over 11k followers and I’ve been getting more loyal and engaging subscribers that they followed me on other social media and messaged me. I also started a mailing list and have had more than 250 lists in just three months. My content also starts to grow to not only sewing tutorials but also my journey of being a self-taught fashion designer. I plan to also make content about my journey, tips, and tricks in working online because I want to help people, especially Indonesian women to stronger financially.

8. Big purchases!

2019 has been the year of big spending for me, because now I have been able to afford that. Two years ago I was in my rock bottom and earning peanuts. This year I bought an iPad Pro 10.5’ and a MacBook Pro. I’d been dreaming about having a new MacBook and iPad Pro for so long, they’ve been in my lists since last year. I’m very happy that I finally have them.

9. Spent a LOT on education

Beside big electronic purchases, I also spent a lot on online courses this year. I’ve spent about USD 1.200 on online courses this year only (in total, since last year I’ve spent USD 2.000 for education—online courses and textbooks—and that doesn’t include my Yoga Teacher Training, which was USD 900), specific to design (fashion and graphic design). They’re much more expensive than my formal education indeed but have helped me a lot in accelerating the learning process. Every time I paid for course, my income increases. So far I haven’t made a bad decision in choosing the online courses, each that I bought are very good in its own field!

10. Getting more serious with our relationship

My boyfriend—now fiancé—and I have taken some steps ahead in our relationship and getting more serious. We recently just got engaged and I was the one who bent on my knee! He met my parents and family to ask for their permission to marry me but I proposed to him before he could because he was still looking for the ring and I just couldn’t wait!

11. My fiancé’s health issue

It’s not always rainbow, we’ve been challenged very hard with my fiancé’s health issue. But we’ve tackled it once and we’ll kick its ass out once again, his family also has been very supportive and actually after going through it, it’s not as hard as we thought it would be.

12. Went to South Africa twice!

This year I’ve been in SA twice and actually I am writing this post in SA. Although I came for the same unfortunate reason but it doesn’t reduce the enjoyment I’ve had here, it’s always nice to spend some times with his family and we celebrated some big events which added to the memory in our journey.

13. Made two freebies for my website!

I started an email list and have designed two cute workbooks with my branding. Check them out here!

I’m excited of how it’s gonna be and can’t wait for next year to come!