MR.SMITH'S 2017

Time of the year to look back at 2017 and blog about how crazy my year was. I kept telling myself the same thing every year, "man, that's some crazy year.. there's no way you are going to top that" but some how I just manage to do it year after year. So many milestones unlocked this 2017 and I'm glad you are all still with me. 

It has now became a tradition for me to do such a post. For those who like history, you can check out 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012 , 2011 and 2010. To be honest I really love these posts to see how far I've come. It is also like an easy to-stalk content for those who just met me and wish to know a little more about me. (It is also a progress check for my own English. LOL)

Just a quick overview for 2017: total number of posts - 61. Which is actually 69 less than 2016 and a lot less than the previous years. I wouldn't say I got too busy or lost the passion for writing but I guess a lot more of my thoughts went onto Unscrambled.sg and also me being more active on Instagram, I've been neglecting this space a lot more. If you are a fan of my longer rant, I'm sorry. ORRRR, it's just me slacking because I'm fat and lazy. (if you notice I practically copied the 1st paragraph from last year which I copied from the year before which was copied from the year before that. So this shows how lazy I really am? HAHA!)

I mentioned I would work hard on my IG and I guess I pretty much achieved that. Not just the number of posts but I would choose to believe that the quality of my images are getting better given how much more I've been shooting for both my own IG as well as for my clients. 

I digress, HERE ARE SOME OF THE HIGHLIGHTS OF 2017! LET'S GO!

PROJECT 24!

Enough of wine and beer, (and whiskey, gin, and you get the idea) it’s the final lap of 2017 so let’s go! Back in Singapore but I will continue to share images from our Taiwan trip with #chanbrotherstravel because the scenes were so great that I took over 1000 pictures. (That Includes those pictures that we threw out cause I looked too fat from all the good Taiwan food which I will NEVER upload! lol.) #secrettolookinggoodonIG #smithankyoutravels #project24sg

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Dec 25, 2017 at 5:19pm PST

After collaborating with #Girlboss @floraisabelle for almost 2 years, we finally decided to make things official. (No proposal video, no proposal ring, and she didn't even get down on her knees. I know, I'm easy like this. LOL.) We started our own content creation agency Project 24 to get into the business in full force. You know the saying that goes "Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life." Guess what? They lied. LOL. Although our Instagram always show the glamorous side of our job where we get paid to eat, travel, have fun, most of you don't see the part where we slog our life away in the office because we choose not to show it. 

I still remember what Darryl (my new crew) said to me when I was passing him some corporate videos to edited, "OMG BRO, THIS IS THE PART OF YOUR JOB THAT SUCKS. I FEEL YOU." It's okay Darryl, now I've you to do those things. HAHAHA. 

Anyway, just a little about Flora. In fact just 3 words – SHE IS CRAZY. She got pregnant, gave birth, and she didn't even take much of a maternity break. I took over her work for less than 1 week and she bounced back from the dead bed and starting working again. (I hope I do not get into trouble with MOM cause it was her choice you know? :x) 

It has been a great year so far thanks to a lot of our ad-hoc clients coming onboard on retainer $_$. Is this the time I get to use one of the most annoying hashtag ever? #blessed. And also please continue to send more clients over. I will love you long time.


I'M A PUBLISHED AUTHOR

My published author moment from #buysinglit the other day. With me is my buddy/co-author Dan, his son Ben Ben and my baby @sethankyou . Thanks everyone who came down to support us! @chris_goh @melpig @euniqeun @behindthebasics @floraisabelle @luffyhenn P.S. The book is still on sale so do grab a copy at the nearest bookstore!

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Mar 9, 2017 at 4:33pm PST

After blogging and writing for the longest time, I finally got my first book published. Strangely it's not really a book. It's more like a parenting comic. It's all made possible thanks to my buddy Dan! 


I GOT MY ANKLE BACK! (Not really)

Fly High . Burn Bright

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Jul 2, 2017 at 9:12pm PDT

You guys remember how I broke my ankle last year? Well, the doctor said that I would probably be able to function this December but I actually started walking around and even played a little basketball since April. I would like to think that I'm wolverine but sadly I'm not. Pain is secondary. The worst thing is that I'm still suffering from major PTSD. Sometimes so bad that I even avoid taking too big a leap as I can see it in my head how my ankle can snap if I slip and fall. There are still a lot of tasks that I can't do. I can no longer do yoga, do my Asian squads, and worst of all - jogging. I can't jog properly and this is annoying me so much. Which brings us to the next point. 

I PUT ON SO MUCH WEIGHT


Of course, not being able to do cardio is a big part of the problem but mainly also because I just can't say no. I've no idea what happened. I got distracted, I lost focus. I just can't seem to have that determination I once had to say no to negative things in my life. Like you know, fried chicken, soft drinks, rice, which I once not eat for months and didn't feel a thing. 
Good thing is I started hitting the gym with another one of my crew - JJ. He helps me a lot at the gym and I'm loving the compliments when people say that I've a nice big chest. #AttentionWhore

TATTOO SLEEVE 

Who needs t-shirt when the designs are printed on your skin. #happylabourday #getout #tattoo

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Apr 30, 2017 at 7:29pm PDT

Now this is something off my bucket list. I've always wanted a sleeve so I could look like Beckham or Justin Bieber. I always feel like I look a bit too clean and weird without my tatts. Yeah, I know I wanted to do a post that feature every tattoo I have but I've yet to get around to do it. Next year I guess. shrug* 

MY NEW NOSE

👀

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Nov 22, 2017 at 7:59pm PST

Never have I imagined that I would be saying this. I know there are like 194608123 female beauty bloggers out there who have done things like this but coming from a big, married man who looks more like your not-so-friendly-neighbourhood debt collector, this is the 1st I believe. Anyway, live life with no ragrets, I'm loving this nose. 

I ATE 100 NUGGETS

Not over a year but over a night. Okay I lied. We didn't managed to finish all 100. We attempted. Well, this is also something on the mini bucket-list, let's call it the erm.. cup list. Basically they are things I want to do that are kinda achievable but also a bit dumb to complete. This is 1st off the list I guess. I am not sure why I put it on my highlights but I guess I'm sad like this. LOL. 

TRAVELS

It has been a good year I guess. Didn't travel as much as I wish due to starting of the new company but I guess it's not too shabby. Not in any specific order 

Taipei with Shangri-La 

Feeling the blues. #smithankyoutravels

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Mar 6, 2017 at 12:50am PST

Taipei with Family/Site Recce  

This sums up the trip. IG life vs Real life. lol. Swipe left for more #smithankyoutravels #taiwan #expectationvsreality

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Dec 9, 2017 at 7:17pm PST

Taipei with Chan Brothers 

I feel it in my fingers, I feel it in my toes Christmas is all around me and so the feeling grows It's written in the wind, it's everywhere I go So if you really love Christmas c'mon and let it snow #loveactually #christmas #smithankyoutravels #travel #taiwan #shifen

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Dec 24, 2017 at 6:39am PST

Bangkok - Retreat 

Always something new for me no matter how many times I'm back here in Bangkok #smithankyoutravels #neonmarket

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Mar 23, 2017 at 4:41am PDT

Bangkok with AirAsia 

Back in Thailand again for a crazy 72 hours with an even crazier bunch of people. Been travelling so much lately cause of my new venture @project24sg and awesome client @airasia. Can't wait for more 🙌🏻✈️ #worktimefun #smithankyoutravels #moreclientsmoreluck #AirAsiaTopShopper #AmazingThailand #ThailandShoppingDining

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Jun 20, 2017 at 5:49pm PDT

Kuching/Sarawak with AirAsia 

Monday, JUST BRING IT! #smithankyoutravels #sarawak #travel

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Jun 4, 2017 at 6:02pm PDT

Munich with Munich Tourism Board 

You thought it was squad goals but they look at you as their father. LOL

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Aug 11, 2017 at 7:18pm PDT

Hong Kong for Love Off The Cuff Movie Preview 

One night in Hong Kong. #smithankyoutravels . . @discoverhongkong

A post shared by Smith Leong 🏀 (@smithankyou) on Apr 18, 2017 at 7:17am PDT

2017 Thoughts 

We win some, we lose some. This happens all the time but I guess 2017 is the year that I feel it the most. Not because we lost Gong Cha and got Liho, nor losing Llao Llao and getting Yole (which I've yet to try) but I guess it's the fact that I was placed in a situation that I need to make certain decisions and the main takeaway behind it is that "We are only human. We can't win it all." There are times that we need to make certain tough decisions. We need to give up sometimes in order to get something else. I got something I wanted for a long time but I lost something along the way. shrug. oh well. Resentment can't change things so I guess I can only move on. 

I've been spending a lot more time with my son who is turning 2 soon. He is growing up well and healthy. Picking up things and becoming a big kid that can interact and play. I've made a whole new group of friends from playing basketball and now some of them are working with me and we hang out all the time. They are like my new crew/entourage/or what people call it these days #squad. (Or is that outdated as well?) Happy Holidays everyone, see you on the other side.

- Smith