Reflecting where the Time Goes as we conclude the Year 2022

Josephine 'Josie' Guico Villanueva served as President of the Association of Government Accountants (AGA) Guam Chapter for the 2022-2023 program year. This article is adapted from her President's Message, published in AGA's Guahan Gaseta.

Just a few months ago, we started the “ber” months which signals the holiday season and now it is December. Time flies so fast for those that have so much on their plate and wish that there were more hours in each day. On occasions when we feel lazy working on a mundane task or anxiously waiting for someone or something such as test scores or projects, it feels like time is an eternity.

As we conclude the Year 2022, let us take the time to inventory what has transpired and what we hope to see in the coming new year. Can we say to ourselves that the year 2022 is well spent? Were we productive to say we make the most out of it? They say all of us are given 24 hours each day, it is a common commodity, and no one is rich, and no one is poor and what we do about it is what makes the difference.

The Throwback:

As I attend the AGA Professional Development Training (PDT2022) in Anaheim California last July, I was moved by Pandit Dasa’s plenary session on Mindful Leadership: Walking the Talk and Developing Self-Awareness. Pandit Dasa went from a millionaire to a monk. He lived in a monastery for 15 years and became a mindful leadership expert, motivational keynote speaker, and author of the most recent book Closing the Apps (How to be mindful at work and at home). During the PDT event, there were a few minutes in which he incorporated a basic meditation which was very effective for me in slowing down what is running through my head, and I am sure it goes the same way with others in attendance. Those minutes of disconnect were followed by last month’s thanksgiving retreat with my mastermind ladies where I learned simple meditation techniques and a much-needed mental break. Longing for more alone time to find solace, I did a Google search and find the Lotus Lantern International Meditation Center in South Korea. The Temple stay program was open to international visitors and is respectful of different religions and focuses on teaching the practice and power of meditation. The package also includes vegetarian meals which most research attests that the food we eat generates brain chemicals that play a role in our mood, motivation, and concentration.

Knowing that it will be in the mountains away from the city and looking at the weather forecast, I must adjust my travel packing to just one hand-carry and a backpack. That was a big traveling shift for me and thanks to my good friend Professor Jason Katigbak who happens to be an expert in backpack traveling and gave me some good and useful tips. I landed at Incheon Airport, and it was a feeling of nostalgia to come back after almost 3 years. It was on January 1, 2020, when my whole family went there and spend the new year and my husband and children experience their first snowfall. Months after that is when the COVID-19 pandemic hits and shutdown many airports around the world.

Getting out of the airport, I just prayed in my head and uttered what if there will be a snowfall again, but I did not pack my winter gear. I took a taxi and traveled for an hour to the location. The taxi driver asked me if he should take me back to the city as he was so worried about my safety, as I was being dropped out of nowhere. I said I would be ok, and just made sure it was the right place. The office lady at the temple was very welcoming even if I checked in early and she handed me my uniform and my blanket and showed me my assigned room. There is no bed, no cabinet, just a roll-up cot, and a bathroom. I think I failed to do my due diligence and did not account for my sleeping on the hard floor. It was indeed a humble experience, and it was one of the best nights of sleep I ever had, where I found peace and was present in the moment.

The following day we had several programs lined up. The wake-up time was at 4:00 am and the sleep time is at 9:00 pm. There are rules to follow and discipline to be instilled in a temple stay. I wake up at 3:45 am and prepare myself to go to the scheduled program. As I headed out to the venue, I was wondering why the ground was white all over and something was falling. It was a goosebump for me, and the monks out there said that it was the first snowfall in their place, and it was unexpected.

I just smiled and said to myself, I am just joking God since I am not prepared for winter. I chuckled and said to myself be careful about what I wish for. The experience of immersing with other people from around the world and learning to live a simple life like monks makes me want to go back. I feel reconnected with myself and magnify that self-love to take care of my physical and mental health first so I can better extend to others. It is just like what the flight attendants usually say on flights in the event of an emergency to put your oxygen mask on first before helping others.

With Pandit Dasa during his book signing after the AGA PDT 2022 plenary session.

In the Now:

Special thanks to our last-minute guest speaker last month, Director Dafne MansapitShimizu, Director of Revenue & Taxation. Her presentation was loaded with information. What made her presentation significant for over 70+ virtual attendees of which the majority are from finance and accounting backgrounds is her statement of her appreciation and recognition for the work that the attendees do as background crew and the backbone of an organization which is often less recognized. As she takes pride to be an AGA Guam Chapter member advancing good government initiatives, and growing expertise, she thrilled the audience when she shares applications of data efficiency measures as she applies her technical expertise in the profession with a background in the same field and as a licensed CPA. As she candidly shared her lessons learned during the pandemic her care for the health and safety of her people was paramount and as she continues to lead the agency, her desire is to pivot the system to allow telework and lay the foundation to continue to serve the community and succeed in any kind of emergency and shutdowns. This is through modernization, automation, upskilling, and retooling her team through various IRS training.

The Christmas spirit is felt everywhere with all the decorations and colorful lights everywhere you go. Thanks to our Christmas Party committee led by our Young Professional Chair – Rachel Cubacub with Mariah Castro and Katrina Mae Tahimik from UOG whom both have put together exciting games, prizes, and surprises for the guest. This was the first in-person Christmas party after two years of celebration virtually in front of the computer screen. We sincerely thank them for successfully organizing and hosting the event and how our AGA members feel more of a level of normalcy. Please check our Christmas party photo on the following page of our newsletter.

Recently, I also attended and watched online Christmas Around the World concerts at several schools. It was just overwhelming to see the excitement of after two years of standstill, the students were able to come out, dress up and perform on stage.

Incorporating accounting into this topic “in the now”, is my talk with my daughter about gift wrapping at the mall as part of their fundraising initiatives for their graduating class. Co-relating it with how we spend our time, it will be indeed cheaper to get our gifts wrapped there rather than doing it ourselves to save time for other adding value tasks and at the same time and help the fundraising, but we will miss the fun of having to do it ourselves. It probably all depends on whatever works for each one of us.

While everyone is busy preparing for the Christmas and New Year in a few days, our Guam Professional Development Committee (GPDC) Conference chaired by Dr. Ricky Hernandez and Professor Jason Katigbak is currently finalizing the details of the GPDC on February 8,9 and 10, 2023. We hope to see you register for this event early and take advantage of networking opportunities and training events to stay current on a professional level. Heads up we will be graced by the presence of the AGA National President – Melinda Miguel.

Take Aways:

The year 2022 brought recovery and reformation and while everyone welcomes the new norms it changes many of us and shifted our lifestyles. Have we achieved our to-do list and if we are to specify three highlights of our year what will that be? Taking a deeper dive into what transpired this year will give us a better appreciation of what we accomplished. For some of us, we may have gone through some life upheavals which remind us that we are human, and as the saying goes “A smooth sea never made a skillful sailor.” The only constant is change and time is like an accounting cycle. We wake up the following morning, take up a to-do list and rest in the evening and repeat the cycle.

For each of us, life is like a gift in a box. It comes in different sizes, forms, and values. Knowing the clarity of our purpose, finding inner peace, and acknowledging the privilege to be of service to others while using the gifts and talents we are given helps us decipher the meaning and purpose of life.

As there is so much to do with such little time, let us find this holiday season to reflect, make some shifts in our routines and pursue some bucket lists. In the book that I recently re-read after 10 years, Believe You Can -The Power of Positive Attitude by John Mason, Time flies so fast, so grab it. He said, “Life is made up of constant calls to action.” He quoted William Ward in his book which goes “Study while others are sleeping; work while others are loafing; prepare while others are playing, and dream while others are wishing.”

Remember, as Michael Altshuler said “The bad news is time flies. The good news is you’re the pilot.”

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas and Blessed New Year!

AGAPresidentsMessageDecember2022.pdf

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