2024 Year in Review: The Courage of Living My Rich Life

Sunset in Labuan Bajo, Indonesia

I set a somewhat ‘cringy’ theme for 2024: Rich Life. But if you know my life story, you’d understand that I hadn’t allowed myself to truly live a rich life — until recently. Of course, I wanted and needed money, but in many ways, I had always found a way to sabotage myself from receiving it. I decided that in 2024, that would change.

Moving to Australia has given me a unique opportunity to rediscover myself again. I literally can be anything, from a Librarian, a Carer, a Counselor (I took a Counceling Skills certification!), a Coach, an Entrepreneur, a VC, a Writer, a 9–5 Tech Employee, etc. I just need to DECIDE what I want to pursue. Being 41 with many skills and interests, again, it’s uniquely me that I have this bunch of options in front of me. I was confused.

I dove into a journey of self-discovery. Reading pages of readings of my Human Design and Gene Keys chart, talk to a lot of people including my favorite Medium writer John Gorman who taught me about VMAS and that I need to be underthinking and act 😆. I also accidentally bumped into a video by Ali Abdaal. I don’t even remember which video 😅

But I get an aha moment.

If I want to live a rich life: I have to know what is my rich life and how much it costs, then I’ll pursue the profession that make the most sense to bring me there. Mind. Blown.

I immediately list down what I want to do if I have a rich life, calculate, and find a number that defines my rich life. When I see that number, it’s clear: I need to get a 9–5 job in Australia!

My version of rich life

Working in Australia

The biggest block I had, was not about what people say, “It’s hard to find a job if you’re from Indonesia and doesn’t have Australian qualification” but rather comes from myself.

The last time I work 9–5 as an Employee was when I was 23 years old. I either become my own boss, or work in fractional/part-time arrangement. That way, I thought I have gained some sort of illusion of freedom.

Now, my value of freedom is my biggest block. For months, I’m unable to get even a single interview because of this block. I’m afraid I’ll lose my freedom if I get a job.

One night, I saw a job vacancy of an AI company. Everything fits perfectly with me. Remote job, education, community building, new technology, all checked. I watched myself making excuses like, “I don’t have any experience in AI”, “I never created an AI Agent”, “I don’t have AI qualification.”

I caught myself in my thoughts and storm out of the room to talk to my husband. He become my sounding board of my silly thoughts. After reframing the meaning of freedom helped by my husband, I came back to the room, apply for the job, get 2x interviews and get a job within a week. I’m officially become the Chief Community Officer of Magicblocks.ai. (I need to mention that I get a Macbook Pro from office as well, which I accidentally manifested a new laptop!)

I absolutely thank my husband for this achievement, as he’s opening my mind of what’s possible (having a 9–5 job and very happy in it, is possible), he also make me feel safe and secure as my emotional and material provider so I don’t feel pressured in my job search. I’m super lucky to find a life partner like him.

I recently created a class on Manifesting Your Life Partner and sharing my personal experience of breaking negative relationship patterns and manifested my husband into my life. If you’re single and curious, please do check it out!

Remote Skills Academy (RSA)

It was sad leaving RSA, but they’re an amazingly stable organization with strong system, culture and talented team members. I didn’t worry at all. And it’s proven that the transition process was smooth. Finia has continued to be the CMO of RSA as I transition to be the Advisor. We’ve done amazing projects througout 2024 including our successful program Super VA Bootcamp with paid internship and our international program in Rwanda and Belgium. The highlight? Finally after working together for years, we meet in-person at the beautiful Labuan Bajo.

We’re all in our 20s :D

My Tribe

I’m lucky to have met people, seemingly in random occassions, but they have opened doors to me. I’ve met Sayan, the Co-Founder & COO of Desygner, a tech startup from Gold Coast, who has since become a good friend. He’s widely connected in Brisbane and he was the one who pointed a way for me to enter the Brisbane startup community through River City Labs (RCL).

I attended RCL event as a guest, and I’m informed that it will be a good idea for me to apply as a Mentor for the Founders they accelerated. So I applied, chat with Laura Ashmole and got accepted! I officially become one of the Mentors of RCL and conduct a workshop on ‘Building Thought Leadership in 90 Days’ for the startups.

Women in Technology

Girls in Tech officially ceased in 2024. Suddenly, an organization that we’ve built for over a decade is no more. It was a bittersweet moment, but it’s always hide the seed of a new beginning. Girls in Tech Indonesia rebrand to be Ladies in Tech Network, with me, Finia and Anan as Co-Founders. We have done several programs this year including Girls in Tech Scholarship sponsored by CSG and a Mentoring program sponsored by AWS.

I connected with Kris, Renece and Karen Katz through Girls in Tech Australia, then they rebranded amazingly fast and strongly as Her Tech Circle. After several chats, they’ve mentioned that they want to have more activities in Brisbane. I’m officially has become Her Tech Circle Brisbane Ambassador (Volunteer), and we’ve done our first #PowerSkillsPanel event this year supported by ACS. I feel incredibly lucky to be involved in such important movement with kind-hearted, passionate, driven and successful women in tech in Australia. 2025 is going to be exciting for Her Tech Circle Brisbane!

Trip to Japan

In 2024, we went to several different trips from Melbourne, Byron Bay, couple of time to Bali, Labuan Bajo for my team building, Jakarta for our Indonesian wedding, one day transit in Cairns, but the most memorable must be our first wedding anniversary trip to Japan.

Getting ready to go to our first Onsen in Kyoto

We spent 10 days in Tokyo, Kyoto and Osaka. Japan is unlike anything I’ve ever seen before (and I’ve been to 20+ countries). It was truly magical to experience the long walks, the red autumn leaves, the FOOD (and more food), the shopping, the Konbinis, the onsen, the ‘Arigatou Gozaimasuuu…’ in melody. I’m telling you, Japan is an expensive country! And this is where the rich life come in handy.

Partner Visa

I conquered my fear of paperwork this year by tackling our Partner Visa application. We submitted nearly 50 documents and paid close to $9,000 for the visa. It’s definitely not for the faint of heart!

I’ve started the process of collecting documents from Indonesia, especially translating them, months before. Being overthinking and overprepared like myself can be useful in these situations lol.

In the beginning, it was difficult because I have traumatized with the complicated and unreliable nature of paperworks in Indonesia in the past. After doing it in Australia, even when it’s a lot of documents, the process is pretty clear and efficient.

After waiting for 6 months, just before our first wedding anniversary, our partner visa is granted! Alhamdulillah! Now we just need to wait 2 more years for PR (and doing this all over again lol).

Health is Wealth

My close friends know that I had health anxiety. That’s why I always ‘avoid’ getting checkups/bloodtests in Indonesia. I was afraid of what I’m going to find, and at the root of it, feeling worried that I can’t afford to cure it. I can get away with this for 40 years of my life.

And of course, when I’m 41, I have to catch up with all the tests, my husband said: it’s an exposure therapy lol.

I got 3 health scares this year, that turned out to be one of my culture shocks living in Australia. In here, if you’re sick, you go see a GP (doctor), who’s going to send you to do bloodtests/scans etc before giving you any medicine. I wasn’t get used to this! In Indonesia, the medicine was prescribed in the first visit. You only do bloodtests and scans when you’re suspected that you’re seriously ill. This has sent my anxiety through the roof! In one year I’ve experienced a dozen of bloodtests, ultrasound, x-ray, CT-scan, etc. Thankfully, all good. I’m happy to report that I’m healthy. Plus, living in Australia and a holder of Medicare card, 90% of the tests and Dr visits are fully covered by the government.

I do have a bit of concern with my sugar level. Lifestyle change plus medicine from the dr has been helping me to avoid the worse. If I don’t check my bloodtest at all, I wouldn’t found out about this until it’s too late!

So my conclusion so far, when you’re not healthy, money is nothing! Health indeed is wealth.

Prokopton Project

This year I joined Brisbane Stoics Monthly Meetup. We discussed Stoicism principles together with 30–40 people, lead by Courtney Shipley. So when Courtney said he wanted to invited a few people to his private calls to combine Stoicism and CBT therapy, I jumped to join.

Brisbane Stoics Monthly Meetup at New Farm Library

Every 2 weeks on Monday, I joined the “Prokopton Project.” We discussed a lot about the meaning of ‘doing well.’

Turns out, doing well, doesn’t necessarily mean having a good fortune, but by using things and using them rightly. Since knowledge was the source of rightness and good fortune, it seems to be necessary that every man prepare himself to be wise. In essence: see things in positive light and what can you learn from the situations.

We’ve also dive deep into Courtney’s unique framework, it started by noticing when we feel disturbed.

I’ve known the concept of ataraxia or undisturbed for a long time but only after joining Prokopton Project that I am truly aware ofwhat that means. Undisturbed is the state of calm, usually after we wake up or even during the day. Our objective is thus to stay in this state as long as possible.

Thanks to the group, I have learned to observe and be aware when my undisturbed state become disturbed. And if disturbed, to be mindful of what seem/the impression of what happens with the “good object” or us. And how we label the other person. Then to embrace some stoic principle(s) to see what really happens. To make good use of what really happens. Choosing the better perspective to see situations.

With Monica on one of our Stoic picnic

Coming into the ‘stoic therapy’ class, I thought I won’t have anything to say as ‘I don’t have any problem.’ Boy, I was wrong. Stoicism practice has helped me a lot to soothe my health anxiety. I normally can’t function for a week if the stress came up, but with this practice, I can recover in one day, which a big win!

Epictetus’ The Golden Sayings

Courtney with my book

This is my 33rd book. I’m offered to be the translator and write contemplation of Epictetus’ The Golden Sayings. It was an honor for me to be able to spend hours reading Epictetus’ (and get paid for it!) then contemplate it in my own words. This is also big as this is the first book with ‘Lia Golledge’ as my pen name!

I’ve learned a lot about how Epictetus view Freedom. He’s an amazing no non-sense, high sense of humor teachers. In essence, this is what I captured from him:

HOW TO BE FREE

Desire what I can control (myself)

• Doing my best at work instead of wanting to prove myself/impress

Align what I want to happen with what happens!

• Someone bailed on a meeting, good! Now I have time to go to the library.

Of course, you have to read it for yourself. Go get my book at the nearest bookstore in Indonesia!

Open Focus & Open Heart

I’ve read more than 50 books on wealth, abundance, etc this year. I will list down my favorites here, so you can see for yourself why I like those books:

The Open-Focus Brain: Harnessing the Power of Attention
The Trick to Money is Having Some : Wilde, Stuart
Prosperity Consciousness : Dodson, Frederick
Inner Vegas: Creating Miracles, Abundance, and Health
Right Riches for You : Heer, Dr. Dain, Douglas, Gary M.
I Will Teach You to Be Rich: The Journal

My favorite money mantra (Indonesian)

And of course, tons of scripting of my wish fulfilled. I have discussed more of manifesting techniques in my class: Manifesting Your Best Life 2024.

Financial, etc

I’ve listened to Ramit Sethi’s I Will Tech You to be Rich podcasts religiously, filing out Conscious Spending Plan spreadsheet, and filing out I Will Teach You to be Rich Journal. Be in control and in charge of your own money is empowering.

What’s the verdict of living a rich life? Money does give a lot of freedom.

I don’t feel guilty when buying food or paying for Uber for more than $25. When I want something, I can just pay. I can afford to buy generous gifts to my friends all around the world who definitely deserve it as they’ve inspired me. I also allow myself to get a branded item, a bag that I’ve been wanting for a decade (influenced by Angelina Jolie, lol).

I’m able to save 60% of my income and also invest (hello ETF & crypto bull run *not a financial advice*). I finally… after 41 years of my life, have started a retirement fund (contributed by my office).

I’m grateful at the peaceful, demure, rich life that I’ve experienced this year.

What’s Next: 2025, My Glow-Up Year

Journaling & Reflecting

I have felt a bit bloated, I gain weight, I noticed some new soft wrinkles in my forehead, and I felt ugly! I have decided that my theme for 2025 is GLOW UP.

And just like every year, I will laser focus on the theme of the year. I will go down into the rabbit hole and at the end of the journey, will stick my head above the ground to tell you the story.

I’m planning to glow up in several departments:

Personal Glow:

• Become lean and toned (lose healthy weights)
• Glowing face
• Long lashes
• Healthy long shiny hair
• Be interested in trying different ways to exercise and eating clean

Professional Glow:

• Expanding MagicBlocks and hosting more events for women in tech.
• Please please please to finally finishing and launching my book, Creative Waiting.

Family and Adventure Glow:

• Opening our hearts to have a baby and growing our family.
• Traveling to new destinations nearby like Fiji, Vanuatu, and New Zealand.

Financial Glow:

• Growing my investments and my retirement fund.
• Looking into buying a second home.

In 2025, I’m ready to glow up. To become the healthiest, happiest version of myself. To create, love, and inspire with an open heart.

Thanks for reading and happy New Year!