I have a 10 year old!
Not a kid, but this blog.
Other people throw birthday parties for 10 year old kids and celebrate 10 year anniversaries of relationships, but me, I do it for this blog. That may seem a bit sad, but it’s not as bad as it sounds, really!
Yes, really.
Can you believe that there’s been a decade of A Deecoded Life?
Well technically, there wasn’t, because this blog wasn’t always named that. It started out as My Side Comments, then Purple Ink, then Confessions of a Writeaholic, then Deecoded, before I finally settled on this name.
If this blog were a kid, it would have a lot of identity issues.
I actually wanted to change the name again a few times, but my friends would always convince me that it’s fine as it is. So okay, I’ll believe in them.
For now.
Anyway, I thought I’d share 10 of my most memorable blog posts, one for each year this blog existed.
1. Independence Day (2005)
This was the best year of my life because this was when I first started to really “live.” And by “live” I mean I finally got a decent job and decent earnings that gave me the means to be be able to do things that I only ever dreamed of before. Dream. Now there’s the word I’m looking for. Dream. This was the year of dreams coming true. The best blog I wrote this year was my last entry for the year which highlighted my happiest accomplishment that year, also one of my biggest dreams – independence.
2. Sojourn in Seoul (2006)
A lot of things happened this year, but the biggest milestone would have to be my first time to set foot outside my home country, and I can’t believe I did it all by myself. It was for a work-related trip to Seoul, South Korea. Once again, another dream come true.
3. A Title is not Necessary for Success (2007)
This was the year I turned 25 and received my best birthday surprise ever (it involved 25 roses given by 25 guys). I thought of choosing that blog as the most memorable for this year, but after some thought, I realized that writing-wise, this one is better. This was the year that I got completely healed from the pain of being a failure. I realized then that success has many definitions.
4. Bye Bye Boots (2008)
This was the year I took a huge risk and left my home country to work in Singapore. It was a very difficult and heartbreaking decision to do, but the risk paid off.
5. Recession Victim (2009)
This was the worst year of my life. I was a recession victim and lost my job twice, and I got so depressed. Still, I’m grateful for this year because if not for that, I wouldn’t learn to appreciate what I have now. It also proved to me that I am resilient, that, as my friend Chi put it, I am a cockroach. 😀
6. I Believe in Dreams (2010)
After a depressing 2009, I managed to get back on my feet at the beginning of the year. I found two jobs and met lots of new friends and had loads of happy moments, but the most memorable thing that happened to me this year was when a childhood dream came true – I finally got paid to do what I really love to do – writing. It was just a part time job, but still.
7. I’d Like to Buy a Husband, Please (2011)
There were a few highlights this year. I lost 7 kg from counting calories, I went to the movie gala premiere of a movie I was an extra in, I went on a trip to Bali with my college best friends, and I fell for a French guy. But I guess writing-wise, this short story I wrote based on a prompt is my best accomplishment for this year.
8. Turning Thirty (2012)
2012 was the year the world was supposed to end, and for me, it did feel that way, because that was also the year my twenties ended. I got depressed about it, to the point that I almost stopped blogging. Luckily I came to my senses eventually, and wrote a sequel explaining my realizations the following year.
9. 30 Before 30: a Reverse Bucket List (2013)
2013 was what I call the year of the blog, or the year I first started joining blog hops and made blog friends, or found readers. Yeah, I know, after so long, only then. Can you believe it? The sudden influx of readers made me step up my game and churn out a lot of better quality posts than I had been producing in the previous years when I had less than a handful of readers. So it was tough to find the best post, but I finally chose this one because it showcases not just my year, but my entire life.
10. Everything’s Coming Up Roses (2014)
I happily danced into the year, only to fall flat on my face sometime in April when I wrote a post about how pain is a necessary evil. I got so depressed that I cut my hair short for the first time since I moved to Singapore. But a surprise came my way just before my birthday, turning the year around into one of my favourite ones ever.
As for 2015? Well the best posts are still to come. I think I know what will be the highlight of this year… it’s another lifelong dream that has a chance of coming true – a trip to Europe! I hope it does, because I am so excited for it!
And now on to your favourite part! I am rewarding one reader with an autographed picture of me. Just kidding. LOL. I was going to give a personalized mystery gift like last year, but who am I kidding? ♫ It’s all about the money. It’s all about the dum dum da di dum dum. ♫ So I’m taking the money I would have spent on said gift and just giving it as cold hard (paypal) cash so you can spend it on whatever you like. This giveaway is open worldwide to anyone with a Paypal account, so enter below!
P.S. In case you’re wondering, I bought the gold number balloons and stiletto-and-cosmopolitan garland from a shop called Party Stuff in Changi City Point. I wasn’t intending to buy them at all, but they were just so pretty that I couldn’t resist! I intend to reuse the garland in 3 upcoming bachelorette parties I’m planning this year. Ha.
Congrats on 10 years, and here’s to 10 (or 20) years more! I love those balloons, they’re super adorable 🙂
Thank you! Yes, they are adorable indeed!
Grats dee!!! You are my inspiration in creative writing! Hope this goes a long way in making me win the $30 voucher!
Thanks, Nantz! I’m touched.
Congratulations on the anniversary I love reading your blog as I love the look into a life so fun and different than mine!
Thanks Bailie! xx
Ten years already! Where has the time go? It’s not sad at all to be celebrating, in fact you could’ve celebrated with that bunch of close friends of yours who appears on the blog as well. I mean, who doesn’t love an excuse to have cake right? 😉 Maybe you will be able to meet 11 fellow bloggers before this space turns eleven! Happy Blogoversary!
Ha, those are good ideas! Thanks!
Happy Blogversary Dee… Wishing A Deecoded Life lots more bloggy birthdays 🙂
Thanks, Crystal! 😀
10 years? this is awesome! So many congratulations for you, girl. I remember I followed your blog because of your travelling posts 🙂
Thanks Noor! I really need to post more of those again!
Wow. Congratulations on ten years of blogging ! That is such an amazing accomplishment. I follow your blog because I like reading your unique outlook and perspective on life.
Thank you so much! xx
Hi! Congratulations on your ten years of blogging! This is another milestone for you. I like reading your blog related to beauty tips and travel as these are my fave topics.
Keep writing Dee!
Thanks a lot! 🙂
You’re welcome 🙂
Congratulations on making it to ten years! I’m hoping that one day my blog will last for a year, let alone 10! Xx
Thank you! I hope it will, too! 🙂
Congratulations! What a huge milestone! Happy Blogiversary! I have always loved your blog due to the fact you keep it interesting and have a huge variety of topics.. love you long time! 🙂 <3
Hi! Congratulations on your ten years of blogging! This is another milestone for you. I like reading your blog related to beauty tips and travel as these are my fave topics.
Keep writing Dee!
Thanks a lot! 🙂
You’re welcome 🙂
Congratulations on making it to ten years! I’m hoping that one day my blog will last for a year, let alone 10! Xx
Thank you! I hope it will, too! 🙂
Ten years already! Where has the time go? It’s not sad at all to be celebrating, in fact you could’ve celebrated with that bunch of close friends of yours who appears on the blog as well. I mean, who doesn’t love an excuse to have cake right? 😉 Maybe you will be able to meet 11 fellow bloggers before this space turns eleven! Happy Blogoversary!
Ha, those are good ideas! Thanks!
Congratulations! What a huge milestone! Happy Blogiversary! I have always loved your blog due to the fact you keep it interesting and have a huge variety of topics.. love you long time! 🙂 <3
Happy Blogversary Dee… Wishing A Deecoded Life lots more bloggy birthdays 🙂
Thanks, Crystal! 😀
10 years? this is awesome! So many congratulations for you, girl. I remember I followed your blog because of your travelling posts 🙂
Thanks Noor! I really need to post more of those again!
Congrats on 10 years, and here’s to 10 (or 20) years more! I love those balloons, they’re super adorable 🙂
Thank you! Yes, they are adorable indeed!
Wow. Congratulations on ten years of blogging ! That is such an amazing accomplishment. I follow your blog because I like reading your unique outlook and perspective on life.
Thank you so much! xx
Grats dee!!! You are my inspiration in creative writing! Hope this goes a long way in making me win the $30 voucher!
Thanks, Nantz! I’m touched.
Congratulations on the anniversary I love reading your blog as I love the look into a life so fun and different than mine!
Thanks Bailie! xx