𝑻𝒉𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 2024 𝒐𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝒍𝒐𝒕𝒔 𝒐𝒇 𝒔𝒖𝒓𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒔𝒆𝒔. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒊𝒔 𝒕𝒉𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓 𝒐𝒇 𝒎𝒂𝒌𝒊𝒏𝒈 𝒕𝒉𝒊𝒏𝒈𝒔 𝒉𝒂𝒑𝒑𝒆𝒏 𝒐𝒏 𝒂 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒐𝒑𝒕𝒊𝒎𝒊𝒔𝒕𝒊𝒄 𝒍𝒆𝒗𝒆𝒍. 𝑻𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓, 𝑰 𝒈𝒂𝒊𝒏𝒆𝒅 𝒎𝒐𝒓𝒆 𝒄𝒐𝒏𝒇𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒄𝒆 𝒕𝒐 𝒇𝒂𝒄𝒆 𝒎𝒚 𝒅𝒐𝒖𝒃𝒕𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝒇𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔.
Reflecting on my year is a ritual I hold dear. It's a time to rewind, assess my life, and measure my personal growth and achievements. Did I reach my goals and dreams? Did I grow and succeed? These questions I ponder guide me in making the necessary changes in myself.
Year of the Dragon
On the Chinese New Year, we joyfully welcomed the Year of the Dragon in Vancouver's Chinatown, filled with hope for the year ahead. Even the rain on the day of the Grand Parade couldn't dampen our spirits as we reveled in the colorful and joyful festivity.
It was the 50th Annual Lunar New Year celebration, the year of the Dragon among the Chinese. That was my second time celebrating it in Vancouver, and it was a great time to celebrate as it's the Animal sign of my Father and eldest sister. Our family has a double dragon; their energy brings luck and prosperity, which they share with their loved ones.
Historical Family Day
One of Canada's most significant holidays is the Family Day celebration. On February 19, 2024, we traveled to Fort Langley to visit and explore its historical site.
It's a time to relax and enjoy each other's company, reinforcing our family values and creating cherished memories we will always hold dear.
We spent a day strolling around and going to shops to look for local products. In one of the shops we visited, I encountered a lady who was into helping people find the right gemstone for them. It's a store where you can find different stones. There are rough stones and polished ones ready to be cleansed by putting them in a singing bowl.
I wish my family the best and share my good life with them. I share my happiness, joy, and prosperity with them. That's what truly matters as I ponder on a Family Day, a time to cherish and be grateful for the love and support of our family.
Harrison Tulip Festival
The Spring of 2024 was an opportunity to travel and see a vast field of colorful and beautiful tulips set against a snow-capped mountain as a backdrop.
Our first tulip festival was in Chilliwack, but in 2024, they relocated to Harrison for a more considerable flower festival experience. It's about an hour's travel from home, and we get enchanted by nature's bloom.
The Harrison Tulip Festival in Aggasiz is breathtaking, among the largest in British Columbia and Canada. The millions of Tulips planted on 35-acre farmland create a romantic and awe-inspiring destination for springtime, leaving us with a day worth reminiscing about.
Lovely Canada Day
The start of summer 2024 was fantastic, as we celebrated Canada Day on July 1. It's the anniversary of the establishment of the Dominion of Canada, which consisted of four original provinces.
It was a happy moment to be with Canadians of different colors, celebrating with joy and pride the country's roots and diversity. We enjoyed listening to Indigenous music, musical presentations, and people's lively self-expression.
It's good to know the history of Canada, the land I've chosen to live in, and the country that welcomed me with a higher degree of freedom, peace, and quality of life.
Birthday at Manning Park
Before summer 2024 ended, we drove about three hours to celebrate my birthday at Manning Park in the Cascade Mountains south of British Columbia. It's a vast park with more than 83 thousand hectares of wilderness.
We stayed at the Cold Spring Campground, where we enjoyed the serenity of nature away from the noise and chaos of city life. Just a few steps from our tent, we bathed in the clear and cold waters of the Similkameen River, and it was refreshing.
We climbed up the hill on Cascade Lookout, which overlooks the surrounding mountains and lake from its peak. Feeding the birds and squirrels was fun as they got close when the hand was extended with some nuts.
Our visit to nearby Lightning Lake was enjoyable. We saw people having a good time on the waters as they enjoyed swimming and paddle-boarding. We set up a beach tent and sat on a chair while enjoying a snack and sightseeing. It is pure joy to be in the lake while watching the waves and enjoying the warm summer breeze.
I love celebrating my birthday in a natural environment as it gives me time to introspect and reminisce about life's happy moments. It's also a good time to be grateful for a meaningful life while looking forward to a better future.
Holidays in Whistler
One of the best holidays of 2024 was a winter holiday in Whistler, a mountain village resort that's a world-renowned ski resort and holiday destination.
We had a snowshoeing experience at Callaghan Valley. It snowed heavily while we trekked a 1.9 km trail for about an hour and a half. It was a great forest bathing experience that healed the body, mind, and Spirit.
