I am getting forgetful. I don't know whether it is because I am aging or simply because my brain is so awash with information that it has absolutely no space for the seemingly not really important messages.

I am definitely not kidding about this. When I recall what the major incidents be they political or societal that have happened in this soon-to-end year, I can only remember the kindergarten scandals and the trial of Jiang Ge’s murder case in Japan. Of course, I remember the gunshot at Mandela Bay and the terrorist attack in Manchester in England. But these are pretty much all the significant cases I am able to recall immediately. Nothing more.

Things are all quite blurry to me when I try to remember what have happened in the past three years. I know there have been a few tragic air crashes with two of them which involved the Malaysian Airline. But I seem to have forgot when, where and how they have happened. I do know there have been quite a few terrorist attacks. But I don't know the number of casualty nor the time that they happened. I bet there are many forgotten people or topics which once were exceptionally heated.

It may be too demanding to require an ordinary person to exactly remember all the important world incidents that have happened this year. But what surprises me is that I don't clearly remember what I have done or achieved this year. This really scares the hell out of me. Think about this: when approaching the end of a year, you don't remember what you have done this whole year. It's like you haven't even existed this whole year. This is the very reason why I am writing this down: I want to keep a record of my life as I know when my memory fails to serve its purpose, I at least have these words to rely on to find some answers.

Honestly, I seem to have stopped walking further this year no matter whether it is regarding my job nor my personal life. In other words, no change has happened with regard to both of them. But, have I really wasted this year?

To some extent, I think the answer to that question is no.

I have read quite a few books this year, probably the most within the past three years, ranging from psychology to economics to literature. (I would like to write a short lists of books that I find really good later).

This bit reading has opened an entirely new window for me to gain a better understanding of this world. Psychology serves a wonderful tool in helping me understand myself and in understanding the great significance of acknowledging my shortcomings and then accepting them. Thanks to the relatively limited knowledge I have acquired, I was able to survive my minor mental crisis that had haunted me for a few months. As for this, I have to thank my beloved as well supportive family and friends too.

The very basic knowledge I have gained has helped me understand many human behaviors and social phenomena too. The greatest power that economic theories possess is not only in facilitating us to see this world more objectively but also in pointing out the not-so-visible connections to us. Learning the connections between the superficially-not-related things is both enlightening and mind-opening, like the connection between the crime rate and the implementation of the policy :legal abortion (this is an example from the book “Freakonomics” (for further information, please refer to this book. You may be surprised.)

The other books I have read this year like “The Gold Finch” and “When Breath Becomes Air” have made me realize that life can be very unpredictable, very random and very screwed up. So it is probably pointless for me to keep dwelling on or lingering on the trivialities.

Basically, what I have read this year to some extent has changed how I view this world and myself. In the meantime, it has altered my expectation for my future life.

I also have the readings to thank to for what I have done in helping one of cousins to go through her depression which has virtually dragged her whole family down (She is still receiving professional treatment now and is slowly recovering.) What has happened with her and her family has rendered me this revelation that it is of great significance to arm myself with some scientific knowledge and meanwhile to always bear in mind what I truly value in life. Don't go blindfold in life.

Another memorable thing was that I finally went back to Wollongong to visit my friends Gerald and Carol. I had planned to go back to Australia to visit them around a year after my return to China. However, things just got very uncontrollable. Still, I was more than glad to be able to keep my promise and more importantly was very delighted to see their familiar faces and to talk with them about smalls things over wine. They were the people who helped me secure a position in Wollongong University even when my writing score at that time didn't meet the university demand. They were the people who provided me a physical and psychological shelter during my time in Australia. They were also the people who drove me around Australian cities to help me get a bite of Australian culture. I have been and will always be grateful to them for what they have done for me.

Another factor that has made this trip unforgettable is that it was my mother’s first international trip. Even though I was a bit anxious about the preparation and the actual trip, I was glad I came to Australia with my mom. We had some disagreements during the trip. But we are getting to know each other better, which is of enormous importance to me as I haven't had many opportunities to listen to my mom’s history and to get to know her my whole life.

I kept a Corgi and he had stayed with me for half a year and is now living my sister’s parents-in-law in the countryside. I have to admit that I didn't fully understand how enormous the responsibility was when I decided to keep it. I made the decision purely based on my love for puppy. I had truly enjoyed it's accompany and it assisted me to undergo the emotional downhill. It was extremely difficult for me to say goodbye to him. But now I know he is quite carefree in the countryside and is cared very well. This gives me some comfort and being able to see him again doesn't just cut him entirely out of my life.

The last minor thing I want to mention is that I passed an exam that I had thought I was doomed to fail, which was a nice surprise.

These are pretty much all I want to record for this whole year. While reading it for another time, I realize how ordinary and uneventful my life is in 2017. But I don't think there is need to wonder what else my life can be. As long as I am content with my life, I don't mind being plain or ordinary at all.

This passing year has made many people realize how tough life can get sometimes. I just hope when it gets a bit unbearable, you have someone to turn to; you have a shoulder to cry on; you have a hug to warm you up and you don't forget that there are always people who love you and your very existence enlightens their world.