Year in review 2022: 6 experiences and lessons
Here’s me closing 2022 journal with a heartfelt gratitude, so much has happened in a year.
I think the proudest achievement for 2022 has gotta be being an independent illustrator/artist. Besides career, I have also solo travelled to Bali and also travelled locally with my family. I also got out of my comfort zone to try joining art markets and also worked with amazing clients. I got featured in local press and slowly build a community that adore my work. However, I also have a fair share of lowlights and insecurities that mould me a better person. I feel like 2021 was the year to heal from my wounds, while 2022 was the year I learn how to anchor myself to my core beliefs.
Here are my 6 significant events that happened in my life.
Independent Illustrator
Start a little merchandise line
Solo Trip to Bali
Got pickpocketed
Embracing uncertainty
Believe in love
1. Independent Illustrator
My proudest work: Adobe CoCreate MAX gif design and also Cadbury PR Kit box
I remember vividly, the day I signed up as sole prosperity for my illustration business in December 2021, I was wondering can this freelance career work out. And in October 2022, I worked with brands like Adobe, Fresh Beauty, Moonlit Skincare, Cadbury, T3, and more! No words can describe how thankful I am that I have brands who trust my expertise. I find out I am really good at offering illustration services for brands who want to elevate their campaign through illustration. By helping brands to illustrate, I get to create strong visual language with quirky characters and heartfelt stories. The feedback I received from most of my clients and customers is that my art is like a mood booster to them!
This year, I have also slowly learned how to make better content by being more camera confident. I feel that being camera confident is an essential skill to have in 2022 especially how people love watching and learning from videos nowadays.
Many times people ask me if my illustration career is able to pay the bills, what I always answer them is to focus on what’s within your control. I can offer through my illustration services, and what I can do better in my next illustration, to post beautiful work on social media consistently, and engage with my audience.
2. Start a little merchandise line
First time boothing at KEDAI KL vs My proud boothing experience with Ilham Gallery and Comic Fiesta 2022
In 2022, one of my accomplished to-do-lists is to participate in art markets. I have launched 4 collections and joined 5 art markets in total, and no words could describe how joyful I am when my little business receives support from you! I also found a little stationery community that supports my stickers and washi tapes from Stickerrific. Your support means a lot to me and this keeps me going!
If I have to be transparent, my merchandise business journey was pretty wonky in the beginning. Sometimes there are slow seasons that make me doubt my ability and make me wonder if this is worth it. The truth is, business has its ups and downs. Whenever we face a slow season, we need to take some steps back and reflect on what we can do better in our next launch.
There are a few interpersonal skills I learn from selling my own merchandise such as customizing my brand with cohesive brand elements, interacting with customers, networking with new friends and even potential clients! Whenever a particular product doesn't sell well, that doesn’t mean your work is bad, it means there is room for improvement!
On the side news, I have launched another little page called QuirkyQing for an upcoming merchandise journey! This is a passion project for me to express my creative process and I aspire to create better merchandise!
I invested a camera with Sigma lens and shot these photos by myself!
3. Solo Trip to Bali
The moment I landed at Denpasar Airport on 2nd August 2022, I felt really empowered and happy that this is the first country I visited after the borders reopened! I have been to places like Canggu, Seminyak, and Uluwatu! Through this trip, I fed myself with delicious food, pampered myself with massages, explored new places, and also made new friends. I recalled vividly, when I was in La Brisa Beach Club, I shed tears of joy because I forgot how it felt to be present, alone, and in love with myself.
I cannot deny that anxiety did take a toll on me before the trip especially during this pandemic period, but I am glad that I averted my fear and chose to try something different! This trip has boosted my self-confidence and this also transpired to my daily creative practice!
Solo traveling is one of the most liberating things I have done for myself and I hope I get to try again! I’d love to write another article about the beautiful lessons I have learnt from this trip! Stay tuned for more!
4. Got pickpocketed
This has to be one of my biggest unfortunate event in 2022. And you know what’s extra shitty? this incident happened before a major event which is Animangaki. For extra context, I lost my phone in Sunway Pyramid. I recalled I was really traumatised with the whole incident and felt very dejected.
However I was really thankful that day there was a kind stranger is willing to help me out by accompanying me to go Apple Store to lock my stolen phone and also got in touch with my parents and close friends. It was indeed a horrifying week to me and I felt really afraid. It took me a few weeks to grieve over this incident and slowly make peace with it. I have learnt how to be extra vigilant and cautious with my surroundings.
5. Embracing Uncertainty
I think every freelancer/business owner can relate to this, our income is very uncertain because we cannot predict the future. Eventually, I learn that we need to be kind to ourselves. The moment we are anxious, that’s when we are living in the future. Which is why it is crucial to learn how to be present with mindfulness. I actually talk about how I learn to embrace uncertainty as an illustrator with The Sun Daily, you can read it here!
Uncertainty is something that is out of your control, when business gets really slow, this could be another season to slow down and learn new skills, or even exercise! Instead of calling it the slow season, I call it a self-care season and also a season where I can explore my passion project. In my honest opinion, it's quite normal to have 1-2 months of slow season, I will just take it slow and go for vacation. In terms of money, I learned that it's important to track your expenses consistently, this will really give you inner peace to be more secure with your spending. I still have a lot to learn. How can I be more mindful? Over the months, I’ve learned to accept what’s within and not within our control.
6. Believe in love
This year, I have also learn how to let go an unhealthy belief that I’m unlovable. I have also unlearn some codependency habits and some attachment style. I gotta admit that I’m quite an anxious-avoidant person, but I have slowly learn how to be more secure by learning how to trust myself and work on my unresolved baggage.
To me, love isn’t just about affection, sweet words, and gifts, it is all about reciprocation, trust, respect, and acceptance. When I mentioned love, its not really about romantic love, it is also platonic, family, and self love. I also learn how to love myself unconditionally which also means that I have to love my imperfect self, I have to accept who I am wholeheartedly without giving myself unrealistic expectations.
I have also met someone really kind this year and I think I will only open up a bit more as time goes! What I can say is, the moment I choose to learn how to open my heart, life really feels much more endearing.
Heading to 2023 with 2 priorities
The 2 keywords for 2022 was nourish and embrace to me. And I did it! I nourished myself with an abundant of knowledge and also learn how to embrace my fear. Now moving forward to 2023, my 2 prioritising keywords would be trust and balance.
Trust: The reason being because sometimes I still don’t trust my capabilities which eventually lead to imposter syndrome time to time. However, by end of the year, I have learn to trust my intuition and also I want to learn how to be more trusting in most relationships! With trust, I also believe I can be more of myself and not afraid of what other think of me! I also want to trust myself for having less scarcity thoughts and replace it with more abundant and loving beliefs.
Balance: I understand that I can get overwhelmed easily so 2023 I need to learn how to set my priorities better, I want to set a better morning routine so I can have a productive day ahead. Its easy to say but I want to be consistent too! I wish I can balance my well-being and career better in 2023 too.
2022 has been such a beautiful year and I look forward to 2023 for achieving inner peace and radical self love.
