You know it's been a bad year when we spent the last 3 months of the year reading about it in past tense.

You know it's been a bad year when TIME Magazine dedicates a 16-page memoir to the passing of the world's greats in 2009 alone.

You know it's been a bad year when our celebratory countdown to New Year's fireworks display lasted no more than 12 minutes.

My 2009 hasn't been the best. I did decide that it would be the year for learning, and learn I did. Lessons are difficult things to digest so, in a way, I did achieve my goals though I hardly planned for it to be such choppy waters. With 2009 in the rearview mirror, 2010 is off to a bleak start.

Bombings/attempted bombings everywhere, Malaysia paves the way for terrorism, musical divas accept awards drunk, lunches at desolate, badly decorated cafes cost RM18, I have classes scheduled on my birthday, Malaysians have more things to be discriminated for, and the much anticipated The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus turned out be a self-indulgent Terry Gilliam spin that regular people might not appreciate.

At least, for now, with every New Year comes something new to work towards. I dread a time when that too will come to an end; when all a New Year holds is a reminder of a better time.