2016 is Year of the Monkey! My year! Whoo hoo! The New Year starts a bit earlier, so I am excited about that. Us Monkey's we can't wait to get the party started!

The Monkeys own year begins on the 8th February 2016 and has the ability to a fantastic year for the Monkey. This year is looking especially promising for any Monkeys who have been feeling dissatisfied with the progress they have been making in recent years as things can soon turn around for them. In order to make this year as prosperous as it can be, the Monkey should begin the year considering all of their aspirations and visualise what they wish to achieve this year.

Goals. Yep, listing them as we write. I didn't realize what a tough year I had in 2015. As soon as things began to take off for me in 2015 after sloughing off all the bad juju I could not wait for things to leap for me. The reality set in and figured I was not quite sure how I would go about leaping. I needed strategy, guidance and experience. I guess I also need opportunity. I need to revisit my goals. I really do need to reflect and realize what it is that I want for myself. It's so much easier to put things off when things are already so great for you. The lesson that I've learned so far is not to be complacent. Complacency is a disease. 

Once the Monkey has goals to reach, things can soon come together. The Monkey can receive a great deal of support and should be open to the criticism and advice of others as this can work in their favour. The Monkey is going to need to practice good communicational skills with others this year as to go at something alone could cause the Monkey to feel isolated and will not turn out to be productive. The Monkeys work life this year can see a lot of opportunities and there will be many Monkeys who have been long overdue a promotion which will come for some this year. Some Monkeys may be given the offer to move to another branch this year and if they feel this is of interest to them, they should consider it as a new location could help them advance quickly in the work place. There may be many opportunities for the Monkey to develop their skills and advance in their career if they are motivated. Those who feel that this is a year for change in the workplace and feel their talents would be put to better use and also those who are looking for work in general should be able to secure a good job this year. The Monkey will need to consider alternative areas that they can put their skills to use as this will greatly increase their chances; the end result should see the Monkey in a position they are happy with or can advance from quickly. There will also be some Monkeys who decide to start their own business this year and they would be wise to take professional advice as this should help things happen a lot quicker. The Monkey will also have to take care and spend time reading over paperwork and contracts before signing anything. The progress that the Monkey makes at work can help financially and there will be some who find a way to put their personal skills to use and bring additional income in.

According to this I should expect big career changes. Unsure what there could be. It's possible that there might be an opportunity for me to move locations/jobs should the perfect situation arise. As far as a promotion, unsure if there is even an opportunity out there. There are so many possibilities unsure what exactly is meant out of this. Growth is the key indicator here. I do plan to keep my head down and think of strategies of growth. 

With additional income, it may be tempting for the Monkey to make some new purchases, that they have been putting off for a while now and with research, they can accumulate some good purchases at a good price. This is a good year for the Monkey to set some money aside for the future as this will help in future years and the years influence can help them get the ball rolling. Personal interests and hobbies that the Monkey enjoys can develop at a satisfying rate and they should try to dedicate some free time to this when possible. The Monkey should consider taking up an exercise programme alongside a healthier diet if they do not already do so as this will prove to be a good investment for their future. Travel is also looking promising for the Monkey and any Monkeys who have been looking to take a trip somewhere in particular should try to achieve this if possible. Early planning can help the Monkey achieve a lot. The Monkeys social life is looking to be an area of considerable activity with great demand for their time from others.

So much in store for me this year. I do plan on travel soon. I am setting aside money for a large purchase soon. I do plan to spend more time on my hobbies. Lots of plans indeed!

The Monkey may have a close friend approach them for advice and will be able to offer their wisdom with good help due to their understanding nature. The Monkey should also seek help and advice from others when unsure of something as this will help solve a lot of problems this year.

So far I decided that I do not want to be one to give advice. Lesson learned. Those who seek advice do not take it. HAH. And it can be very frustrating for a controlling person like me. It's hard to give the advice, see it not taken and then watch the person crash and burn. Only to have that person turn around and say, "You were right." It does nothing to my ego that they tell me I'm right. It hurts more that they didn't take the advice to sought after. One of my resolutions this year is to listen. Listen and ask them questions that reflect their situation. Simply that. Listen. 

The Monkeys home life will also see a great deal of activity with many Monkeys looking to achieve some ambitious plans around the household although they will need to practise good communicational skills with others in the home to make sure everyone is happy to go ahead with their plans. The Monkey can suggest some good activities for their family and will delight in the times they spend with family members. Overall, the Monkey can do very well in their own year and will have a lot to look forward to. Have a fantastic year of the Monkey. 

Hoping that all this activity at home will go smoothly. Hoping my skills in event and trip planning will help me in this department. Here is to an awesome and prosperous Year of the Monkey!

A few more weeks left in 2015. I can't believe we've gotten here so quickly. The years seem to flash by. In the last few blog posts I've only been able to update annually and it's always in reflection of the year. Let's keep with tradition and look back on the 2015 horoscope: 

The year of the Goat starts on 19th February 2015 and is looking to be a mixed year for the Monkey. Certain areas of the Monkeys life will be very good where certain areas will require so care and attention so please do read on for more. Luckily, the Monkey is very smart and intuitive and with a bit of care and planning, they should be able to avoid a lot of problems in the year of the Goat and make the best out of a bad situation.

I'd like to think I did dodge a few bullets this year. I did notice that every time I was near people with negative energy it seemed to suck the life out of me. I learned a new term, "emotional vampire". They are these people who like to suck the emotions out of you and sadly I came across a few of them in 2015. Funny thing is, as soon as the year of the Goat started I immediately let a so-called "friend" go. It surprised me because I was very close to this person in a short period of time and even at one point felt as though they were my best friend. Some of my old friends questioned my friendship with this person and I knew that this person needed some work but I thought they would outgrow it. In any case, the person was draining my energy, my emotions and my sanity. I didn't want to keep this person as a friend because I felt like all this negativity was weighing me down and I didn't want to be brought down because so many other aspects of my life were doing so well. 

The Monkeys career prospects are looking very good this year and there will be opportunities for the Monkey to showcase their talents during the year of the Goat and gain the respect of their peers through tasks and projects being given to them so do not shy away from extra responsibilities this year. For Monkeys looking for a different position or those looking for work in general, the year of the Goat can bring some fantastic opportunities and by making inquiries and taking on a positive attitude to finding work could bring some great opportunities in to the Monkeys career life this year which could turn out to be long standing and very rewarding.

The key phrase in the previous paragraph is "positive attitude". In hindsight, if I hadn't let go of some of the negative people in my life I wouldn't have been able to maintain my positive attitude. Despite the many challenges I did face, many things did work in my favor. I remained professional. I maintained my composure. I assured I spoke to people about my feelings and my concerns. I made sure that I focused on the good of the business not on what I go out of it. I learned a lot about others and myself. In terms of my expectations of others, that's another story. This was by far one of the most challenging years in my life albeit successful. 

Finances are going to need quite a lot of care and attention in 2015. Care and strict control will need to be applied to finances this year so please be sure to keep a close eye on spending and avoid any major outgoings without speaking to a professional first and always check the Tong Shu Almanac for the best dates for big purchases. When signing documents or paperwork, please always remember to read through thoroughly and always read the small print as missing out on fine print may lead to later problems. Although finances are not looking great for the Monkey in the year of the Goat, travel can be a very rewarding aspect of the Monkeys life and some money should be set aside for this if possible; the Monkey can benefit from researching deals and offers before committing their money to a holiday. A good way to make the most of travel is with friends or loved ones; the journey does not have to be across the world as a trip in the same country can still greatly benefit the Monkey this year. The Monkeys talents and hobbies can serve them well this year as they can enjoy spending time on what makes them happy which will also provide time out to relax and enjoy time on their own or with others. The year of the Goat favours creativity and by making the most of talents, the Monkey could find a way to use this to bring in extra funding. 

I am probably considered a fanatic about finances and budgeting. This paragraph sort of surprised me because I thought that was a common trait of Monkeys or is it a Capricorn thing? Unsure. What I will say is that I've been blessed and fortunate to have been able to travel internationally this year. And a second time in a few weeks! 

Another area that will require care in 2015 is health and the Monkey would benefit from dedicating time to keep a relatively healthy diet and get some exercise to stay active; while this may not be the best year for financial investments, the Monkey should invest in their health and wellbeing. The Monkey will have a busy social calendar throughout the year of the Goat but they will need to be careful to avoid arguments and disagreements this year as a small disagreement could soon turn in to something much bigger; this goes for all aspects of the Monkeys life including work, love life and more. The Monkey will have many good times with friends, family and loved ones throughout the year so it’s not all bad news. The Monkeys home life should be busy this year and as I said above, they will need to take care not to upset others and try to avoid arguments and disagreements and the best solution is to talk through them so try to take a deep breath in moments of anger and try to resolve problems before they become serious. Travel can be very beneficial for the Monkey this year and especially so with family. Overall, the year of the Goat will require some care in certain areas of the Monkeys life although there will also be some particularly good parts of the Monkeys life that will counterbalance this. The Monkey should be able to overcome a lot of problems this year although please be careful with finances this year as this will require some care and attention. Have a fantastic year of the Goat. 

This final paragraph scares me a bit and I think I will spend less than I intend on this trip. Having a hefty buffer is always good practice. As far as disagreements and arguments. I did have a colleague that I did not get on well with. This person was very nice but not always agreeable. They were very stubborn and set in their ways. It did not seem to me that they were willing to work hard in their role. They seemed to be the type of person that was complacent and did not want to work harder than they though they needed to. I feel that when you're new to a company you should work hard to gain your colleagues trust and respect. This person did not seem to agree with that work ethic. They demanded respect from the start and they never proved themselves during their tenure. I tried my best to avoid conflict with this person. I kept my judgements to myself and allowed others to figure it out on their own. In the end the person saw themselves out. I did not think much in terms of their skills. They were very basic and did not seem to care about anything aside themselves. I'm glad having survived that experience because it was difficult for a Monkey like me to keep my mouth shut. Glad things worked out for the best. 

After reading this fortune I realize that it was definitely a tough year. Out of all the negative rubble so much good came out of it. I always try to see the positive and smile at having survived through so much negative. 

Good bye 2015. Happy to look forward to 2016.

So, we are halfway into the new year. But according to the Chinese calendar our year is just starting. Last year, I posted The Year of the Snake prediction so it's only fitting to post The Year of the Horse from tarot.com:

In general, "you snooze, you lose" could be the action-oriented Horse's motto. Furthermore, dishonesty and injustice may backfire spectacularly this Chinese New Year. The forthright Horse does not reward those who achieve their goals through underhanded methods.

The Wood element is ambitious, assertive and heroic. By aiming high this Chinese New Year, you can achieve much more than you ever dreamed. Settling for second best and sitting on the sidelines may result in terrible disappointment.

In a Wood year, you'll fare better by working to improve your life, rather than trying to maintain the status quo. Apply for jobs that pay more, afford greater satisfaction and offer more leisure time. Demand more from your romantic partner, and don't tolerate shoddy behavior.

Horse years are wonderful times to expand horizons, explore unfamiliar territory and get plenty of mental stimulation. If you've been thinking about taking or teaching a class, this would be a wonderful time to do so. Learning a foreign language and mastering a musical instrument are also favored activities in 2014. Beware of biting off more than you can chew, however, because Horse years can prompt people to overestimate their abilities. 

Since we are half-way into this year, I think it is safe to say that most of this has come to fruition. I aimed high and achieved. I had a dream job in mind for months and this was it. This is what I always wanted in a company, this is always what I wanted in a group of people to work with, this is always what I wanted in the my role in a company. I couldn't ask for anything more. I'm absolutely thrilled with working for my new company. I can't wait to continue growing in this role and what my future holds with this company. Hater can go ahead and hate, but I have everything that I wanted in this job and all the good that comes with it.

My last blog post was in February 2013. At that point, the Year of the Snake was slithering its way into our lives. I read a prediction for the New Year, which can be so vague and general:

Just recently visited my dentist this weekend and he told me started the Fast Feast Diet a month ago. I told me I looked skinnier. I definitely don't feel as though I do. Maybe from months ago, which would make sense but I haven't tried to keep off the pounds. His approach to the diet is different from what I was doing, which was the 3/5 rule. He instead was fasting on a daily basis. When you fast on a daily basis you can decide on any time of the day to "feast", for him he decided to feast at the end of the day by 4PM. He said that he lost lots of weight, his belly has shrunken and he feels less bloated. I would say, that yes this IS the effects of fasting. You do feel less bloated and after the first week, possibly first few days, you feel more energetic. It's an unusual and surprising effect. 

2013 is starting off to be a happy year. Unfortunately, we didn't do anything fantastic for NYE. Just a very ho-hum type of evening. We almost fell asleep during the ball drop. It was pitiful in my opinion. But I had a wonderful lunch with a good girlfriend that afternoon, so not completely lost. 

The 2013 Snake of year has ability to read complicated situation quickly in a controlled manner which is good for business. Signing documents of any kind requires very thorough attention. 2013 horoscope predict it is a good year to begin important detail work. Research and investigation are supported. The Snake has sneaky energy that can be to your advantage. Look for the holes in the loop. A new-found ambition to greatness will inspire you to be all you can be, and provide you with the follow through to actually achieve your goals, And, 2013 year of the Snake also supports added responsibility,
But 2013 Snake need to watch for fanatical commitments since Snakes inclination to spend money quickly than earn them may produce tensions in personal relationships. Create a safe space to work from this 2013 year. The Snake likes protection, needs to feel safe and secure to utilize its special analytical skills. This is the year to make headway in slow and methodical ways. Things will definitely be accomplished as you focus forward.

It looks like to me that 2013 is a good year to put things into gear for 2014. It also seems like the year that people are spendthrift. So be careful about how you spend your money. I already see myself doing this. After my birthday, I already purchased a brand new 3D telly and a brand new pair of designer sunglasses. As much as I'm spending, I'm taking advantage of every opportunity to get some extra money. So bring it on universe! 

As for everything else, things could use some changing in my life. I need new opportunities to catapult me. The economy is slowly coming back up here in California. We are hiring people left and right over here. I hope to carry on to new and better things soon. I hope the same for all of you too!

Week 2 is closing in and I've got the results: