Tag: grateful

Enjoying Life in a Slow Lane

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Guess this year is all about slowing down life and de-prioritising.

Chanced upon this quote the other day.

Love your life. Take pictures of everything, tell people you love them, strike up conversations with strangers. Do the things that scare you. Because so many of us leave this world and no one remembers a thing we did. Make your life the best story ever told.

I have been practising this. Taking pictures, strike up convo with strangers at sports interest club, doing things that bring me huge change… life time. Sometimes I still wonder if I made the right decision, but guess there’s no turning back.

Today, I am here writing this journal, spending my time doing nothing at home. This is super duper rare you see. But, I am all good! Okay maybe not entirely (due to menstrual pain). I reckon I don’t need to be highly efficient at all times. Shall keep those energy for Mondays.

Cutting down on overtime with more sports, gatherings and outdoors 🍀 cause I worked too much last year, like too much! So I want to enjoy my life in slower lane, embracing new experiences. Always remind myself that life is a marathon, not a sprint. I could step down to recharge; back in actions when I feel better.

Actually, it’s not too bad to have an unproductive day once in a while. What do you think?

The Best Time Is Always Now

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In a matter of moments, a lifetime of dreams turned to ash.

A brutal reminder, life is terrifyingly fragile.

Everything you build, everything you hope for, everything you love, it all hangs by a thread.

So while you can, live, love, and don’t wait for happiness to start tomorrow.

🍀

Entering the Third Decade

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On 16 Dec morning, I became emotional. Responding to birthday wishes individually led me to reflect on how these individuals have significantly impacted my life. My family, close friends and colleagues — those who provide strength during challenging times.

Turning 30 is surreal, much like celebrating my 25th birthday yesterday. But I am confident that I can move forward with assurance, knowing these compassionate individuals will continue to support me. ❤️

I am grateful for all the treats and cakes (8 cakes in total), feeling exceptionally loved. The celebration unfolds over the week with varied groups, in an intimate setting. Love it!

This year’s marked by numerous accomplishments i.e completing certification, volunteering as alumni, being social committee, traveling to Switzerland, nurturing a 26-year friendship that includes 13 years of LDR, and fostering connections with new team. 🥂

Thank you everyone who has witnessed my growth. Let’s anticipate 2025, with more successes and social events. I can’t wait 😊✨

Journal Prompts for 2025

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1. What are 10 great things that happened or that you accomplished in 2024?

  • 5D4N trip in Penang, Kedah & Perak, on bridesmaid duty
  • Disney On Ice with le housemates
  • Hanbok, live octopus experience
  • Attended University of Manchester Southeast Asia Bicentenary Celebration
  • Family Photoshoot & retake corporate photo (after a decade)
  • USS Family Day/ Sentosa/ Movie by the beach with jies
  • Being a Certified Anti Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS)
  • Tried new sports- tennis & pickleball
  • Kulnari golf & JB outing with colleagues
  • Been to Disneyland for the first time in my life (princess at heart)
  • Travelled to dream country- Switzerland with le bestie, experiencing snow
  • Had awesome connections with my Blackpink girls and SOCCOM folks ❤️

I have more to write actually, but let’s keep it to myself.

2. What do you want to celebrate?

  • Entering the third decade!

3. How do you want to approach 2025?

  • Trust the process, everything happens for a reason.

4. What qualities do you want to cultivate?

  • Emotional maturity, patience and compassion.

5. What good habits do you want to continue adopting?

  • Being assertive, continue thriving & never give up.

6. How will commit to yourself?

  • To remember how hard it gets, I will always trust & choose myself unapologetically.

7. Where will you pour your attention?

  • Myself and connections

8. What habits or practices nourish you?

  • Workouts, read books, writing journals & listening to music

9. What do you want more of in 2025?

  • More sports, more books and more travels (sound like a plan!)

10. One small thing you do everyday to be yourself?

  • I will continue to remain genuine to others, true to myself.

Swiss Memories

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What are your favorite memories of the entire trip?

  • Marking 10th country together with le BFF since high school graduation (HTHT err night)
  • Experiencing snow again in one of the most beautiful countries thus far
  • Being introduced in having Gluhwein during winter
  • Witnessed top of Europe with le BFF, -4 degree was no joke
  • Visited many Christmas markets, le favorite gotta be Montreux (bonus: saw flying Santa)
  • Bought a Swiss watch as 30th birthday present, love it!
  • Had the best ice cream ever: Vittorio Vanini in Interlaken
  • Impromptu one-day trip to Italy, it wasn’t planned I swear
  • Pasta for lunch in Italy near Milan Duomo
  • Visited Lindt Museum in Zurich, free flow of chocolate to taste hehe
  • Bumped into a bunch of Malaysians twice, what a coincident!

Something to look forward after the trip:

  • Paragliding experience during my next visit, spring perhaps?
  • Visit Isetwald, Clash Landing on You *rawr*
  • Look forward to visit Zermatt, this time round was too rush to visit few mountains
  • Inspired to work hard, to be able to make my dream comes true

Some lessons learnt:

  • To overpack than under-packed. Prolly due to lack of winter experience, or fashion > keeping warm. I sorta underdress with lesser layer in keeping myself warm (thank God I did not fall sick, but still combating with jet-lagged)

No regrets at all. Still feeling surreal that I just came back from Swiss few days ago. Shall share photos in next blog, maybe? Only if time permits. En route to plan for my next trip!

Mid Year Review: Bullet Journal

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What I’m Proud Of:

  • Organized 2 IBG Group COO townhalls, conduct site visit for SOCCOM event
  • Witnessed & helped out in South East Asia Bicentenary Reception of UoM
  • Completed 200km cumulatively with fellow alumni for UoM 200th Birthday
  • Being appointed as IBG Group COO Social Committee (out of ~400 people) & Fun Committee
  • Officially Certified Anti-Money Laundering Specialist (CAMS) Nailed it!

Favorite Memories:

  • Went USS for company’s family day
  • Took family portrait photoshoot
  • Bridesmaid duties- 5D4N in Penang + Kedah + Perlis
  • Disney on Ice 100 with le housemates
  • Seoul + Busan trip
  • ILight/ Gastrobeats with Jies (slurp)

Things I Could Improve:

  • Cooking!
  • Catch up with some readings
  • Emotional intelligence & empathy
  • Compliment people in words

Experience to Look Forward:

  • Volunteer with Singapore Red Cross
  • Karaoke with mis copines
  • Paragliding at Interlaken
  • Hong Kong Disneyland
  • JB/ Bintan/ Batam trip with colleagues
  • Fort Canning Walk
  • Playing Tennis
  • Celebrating 30s! Birthday bash maybe?

Bustling January

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Kickstart 2023 with healthy sports activity with le troop, followed by Chinese cuisine buffet at night. Flew back hometown few days later to attend BFF weddings held on weekends.

Finally attended BFF weddings (church wedding & wedding banquet), blame the Covid! First time attending church wedding, I don’t really know what to expect honestly, but it was a meaningful event that’s for sure! I cried seeing her walking down the aisle, looking at how beautiful she was on her wedding day. We took pictures together in front of St Peter’s Church, the oldest functioning Roman Catholic Church in Malaysia. Enjoyed traditional Portuguese dance and got to meet BFF in-laws too. So happy for her seeing so many people adore and shower her with love. I can totally feel it from speeches of the in-laws, parents and husband. *pass me tissue please* They must be so proud of her, me too!

Attended wedding banquet the next day, and saw a few long lost high school friends and their partners. Didn’t really get to speak to a few but I will definitely make it up for that. I was asked to give a 5 min speech, so I scribbled something beforehand. I suck at table topics especially I was emotional. I rehearsed many times to prep myself not to cry when I deliver. But I failed. I cried when I hugged her, after the speech. Oh yeah I got my birthday presents too hehe, a handmade knit top and a bottle of Chardonnay. BFF was still able to squeeze time to knit a top amid havoc wedding planning, she is a superwoman. Not to mention, she did most of the planning for her wedding.

Flew back Singapore for work and also to pack stuff from existing locker, current floor will be under renovation for couple of months, that explains. Went back office to meet fellow colleagues, honestly I enjoy working in office to meet people, to dress up nicely in OL attire etc. Hmm… Attended few meetings, didn’t really get to meet some of the new team members. So Feb would make that up. Was back to Malaysia for Lunar New Year after a little road trip with the family. Had reunion with extended family, received red packets, lo-hei, some ka-ching session with cousins.

Watched CNY movies with family. Popcorns with so much laughter.

Tried out new dishes with le dad and mom, my dad is definitely my savior.

Visited secondary school’s principal and had scrumptious lunch together.

Very satisfied with my CNY #OOTD lol.

Brought parents for some KTV session, now they are obsessed.

Morning dim sum rush, thanks to my not-so-little brother.

Drove car for 900 meter, a little milestone yay! Without any scolding 🙂

Cousins gathering with BBQ + steamboat. Hoping to meet more cousins next time.

House crashing session at my cousin’s place hehe, and his chubby cat.

Holding my grandma’s hand while strolling a walk. It’s not a big deal, but #iykyk

A friend of 23 years is flying off to UK, glad to meet up with him and the fiancée.

Getting really forgetful nowadays, that explains why I like taking pictures or writing journals. I hope when I look back someday, I could recall and feel it all over again. I had a lot in my mind, which also explains my eyebags lately. The more we grow, our life priorities change gradually. I get to slowly understand, not being forceful and respect other’s decisions. But at least for myself, I hope I did my best at the very moment, so that I don’t regret like how I never spend time with my late grandpa last time.

Signing off January’23.

The 5-Minute Journal #6

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I am grateful for:

  • Get to know a lot of alumni, expanding connection
  • CSR by doing beach clean up at East Coast Park
  • Arrived home safe despite raining cat and dog
  • Exploring new yoga postures, trainer is very encouraging
  • Landlady for feeding/ taking good care of me

Today’s affirmation:

  • Humans are limitless
  • It’s free to be kind
  • Things are meant to happen, so just live your moment
  • Spending me time a lot (at times) is fine

Amazing things happened today:

  • Being part of Alumni Association on Linkedin- looking forward for more events!
  • Eye opener to know many successful people- motivation to thrive better
  • Gain more strength in pursuing masters in my thirties
  • Decided to pursue a professional certificate next year

The 5-Minute Journal #4

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I am grateful for:

  • Be able to donate blood 3rd time in my life- I am healthy!
  • Able to return home soon- with my brother this time round
  • Being healthy- I used to have stomach discomfort quite often, just threw all the medicine cause I no longer need them

Today’s affirmation:

  • I am doing better than I thought, God has better plans for me 🙂
  • I have people loving, caring for me more than I thought
  • Self care is not selfish, it’s okay to prioritize myself

Amazing things happened today

  • I managed to do another difficult yoga pose today
  • Managed to eat dim sum today, I have been craving
  • Finally kick start last paper of the year, I can’t wait to get over it!
  • Scribble itinerary for my friend’s visit and Perth trip

Good Friday Indeed

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It’s a long weekend these weekends. Hence, my parents decided to come down for visit. It has been more than 2 years since they came down to Singapore. It was pretty spontaneous. Earlier, I was just casually asking my dad if they planned to visit us since border has been uplifted. And he reverted: yes we will be coming down next week!

He booked accommodation, submitted his pass for approval etc. Fast forward to Thursday, I went out for drinks. Revealed some not-so-secret secrets from my brother. I was not surprised, prolly due to society nowadays, it’s kinda common I guess. I am glad that I am a half glass full person. Somehow I overcome things easier than my friends, and even so, I am able to shower positive energy to the people whom I care.

Me and my brother fully paid for the trip expenses, something I am very proud of. I have been longing to offer this gesture. I brought them to places with legitimate food and services. My mom was happy to see her son after 2 years. I found my brother becoming more mature, he is more chivalry and patience now. Despite being his older sister, sometimes I feel like I am the younger one.

Visited Flower Dome & Cloud Forest. My mom loves flowers, hence it’s a right choice bringing them for the visit. Not to mention, it was pretty sunny and hot. So, it was wise to stay indoors surrounded by flora and fauna. Brought them for dinner in a German bar. Le brother did all the meat cutting which I am glad. I have no idea how to do it to begin with. We then chilled in the hotel for awhile before parents slept in.

Rebellious got us to sneak out for a late night movie. Fortunately, the nearest cinema theatre was just 3 mins away. Parents knocked us on the door at 8am next day when we were still in our bed. Freshen up ourselves, chatted a while while having breakfast before heading out for temple visit. I am glad that dad made such impulsive decision for driving many hours down to Singapore to see us, so that we are able to spend quality time together.

Parents left Singapore after we had Chinese cuisine for lunch in a mall. My dad even bought me some snacks that I casually mentioned before hehe. Went for facial before meeting up le friends at a well known Indian restaurant near Clarke Quay. Met a pretty cool new friend who works in cybersecurity field. He even introduced us a draft beer place for drinks. Though I don’t really fancy beer, I really had fun.

Pretty sum up my Good Friday which is indeed a good Friday. I must say time really flies with a blink of eye. It’s mid April and soon gonna be May. Lately, I found out I am a very bad texter, or rather I prefer face to face conversation. Sometimes I would just ghost people without my knowing, or I feel some texts don’t need my actions? I guess being someone whose love language is quality time, I just want to spend time with those I care.

My heart is full now.