End of 2014.

It has been a long while since my last introspective.

Feels a little weird doing it now, similar to that wobbly feeling one gets riding a bicycle after a very long while of not doing so.

Work is better now, with the team that we have here. Going from strength to strength. Increased our guests satisfaction index from below average of 3.5/5 to 4.1/5 (Highest ever for the team) and another jump to 4.8/5 in 2013. We retained that 4.8 again this year. Pats on our backs for everyone.

There is much to be done here, too much sometimes. There was a time when I was seriously unhappy with work a few years ago that ultimately led to my leaving it. Now I realize, thankfully not too late, that the lesson was a very important one for me. I needed to realise and feel what it was like to be unappreciated and seen as only a number instead of a person. Grace be to God that I survived that test, and now being given a bigger test.

Managing a resort is very much an exciting thing for me. Everything is new, everything presents an opportunity for learning and experience. 2013 and 2014 has been very kind to me indeed. There were plenty of difficult moments, make no mistake, but I have now a clear acceptance that being a leader is noble burden.

All that I hated from my own leaders I must not repeat so that the negative energy is not spread. It must be changed and merged with all that was good from them. I am fortunate to have had more good leaders than bad (oh there were quite a few bad ones, I tell you, but that too is an education).

I need to build upon my experience and support my team as best as I can. Being middle management brings its own set of rules and therefore solid factual data must be collected and presented to help support my cause. Better pay and benefits for the team here.

I am rather positive that the resort management contract will be renewed for healthy 2+2 year period. Word has it that we will retain mantle of resort management and service provider for a few more years. The conditions have changed, a lot more demands has been placed upon us, but that is to be expected. I am keen to see the changes we as a team can bring on top of the list of demands.

On a more personal side, I am beginning to feel that wanderlust again, like there is something more for me out there. Approaching another birthday soon, and so it is only natural to want bigger and better things for myself. Maybe buying (or building) my first home, decorating it and furnishing it to my own taste (which is mainly functional and minimalist). Make new friends, having more of a social life, outside of work. Take up new hobbies and take better care of my health. But I have made a few promises to myself and my team that I must honour first before I can safely leave.

Signed up for medical insurance. And a private retirement scheme too. Finally beginning to be a wee bit more responsible about my own future. I still have no savings, which is a huge problem, but I intend to create one soon, for emergencies.

Signs of maturity I guess, realising that so many things are not in place.