As I watched him lay there with a neck brace moaning in pain from multiple rib fractures, all I could do was cry. It was an uncontrollable sob governed by pure emotions of shock, fear, and ultimately despodence. My mind was blank, incapable of thought. Less than an hour ago, my sister walked into my room and said, " Ma, don't get a shock. " By then, I had jumped wide awake. " Your son got involved in a car accident. " My heart sank like all the other times it did when we were rudely awakened at 530AM in the morning. It seemed like the most appropriate hour for misfortune to happen - my aunt's passing, my grandpa's admittance. That morning felt all too familiar but the only words I was capable of " Never mind, let's get changed first. " ~~~~~~~~~~ The last two weeks have been nothing short of tumultuous, belligerent even. Hard as I try, I found myself breaking down one too many times. Sleep was rare and far between and whatever ...

And hello there, 2017. Traditionally, I would have this post done and up on the last day of the year but I obviously underestimated my ability to procrastinate. I am drafting this post on the plane back home to Singapore after spending some really cold 5 days in South Korea. Being 40,000 feet above ground with Adele playing in my ears sure gives me ample time to reflect back on the last year. To put it simply, 2016 was definitely a year of self-discoveries and milestones. The Milestones Final Year Project Oh, you have no idea how relieved I was when we finally submitted the project. Looking mighty fine, if I may say myself Our final piece was a publication on the literary scene in Singapore. I wish I could say I was satisfied with the end product but truth is, it was lacking in many areas and we definitely could have done better.  My friends know just how much I complained about it being a pain. But  all that is water under the bridge now and I'm j...

December is always somewhat bittersweet. It is probably one of my favourite months in the year because there is always so much to celebrate and look forward to that I actually start counting from the start of the year. Now that it's finally here, I don't want it to end so soon. (I mean, we're already the third  day into December!) On the bright side, there is a good deal to look forward to this December. I met up with my former colleagues from my very first workplace last night It has been 5 years since I joined the company, and I am still with the organisation as a tutor. Amazing how time flew by just like that. Next week onwards, I have two dinner dates planned for each week. (Trying not to exhaust myself so that I can have time with my family as well.) And before we know it, it'll be the end of 2016. It would also mean the end of my contract and onto new adventures. No doubt still clouded with uncertainty but we really never know how life is ...

It's been a rough week. It'll be Monday all over again when I wake up in the morning and I truly hope I'll be looking forward to a good week. I don't have very much planned but I'll be meeting the cousins tomorrow and we're going on a very important mission to town. Other than that, I sure hope I'll emerge against all odds from the previous week. I took my first steps into the corporate world in August. Although I had been working endlessly since the end of my 'A' levels, I was in a different position. Like many others, I was a fresh graduate hoping to land myself a full-time job despite the worsening economy and job market. Fortunately, I was offered a temporary position at a statutory board. I had applied for a temporary position as a manager at the publications unit. The job opening stated 9 months so I did some quick calculations and realised it would coincide nicely with my upcoming Canada trip in April. So I was beyond thrilled ...

Last night, as I had my daily conversation with Papa, I told him I've come a long way. Indeed, I am no longer the traumatised 7-year-old struggling living in the shadows of overprotective adults and memories of an unfamiliar father figure. I am now this brave, independent 23-year-old taking the world head on. I often wonder how differently I would turn out to be if Papa was around. Pretty sure he'd still be holding my hand when we cross the roads, he'd still be cooking fried rice in the middle of the night and leaving the unwashed dishes in the sink till morning, he'd still be falling asleep on the sofa while watching soccer (I'm not even sure he actually watches ); above all, he would be the man to lead the family. In retrospect, Papa never failed his duties as a father. If we had spent more time together, I believe he would be the father I asked for and more. This household would be different. We would be different. I  would be different. Here ...

" If I had known Papa was going to pass away so early, I would've documented his life on paper and shared his stories in words. But I didn't. I was seven when he passed away and the unfortunate regretful fact is I will never know him the way others did because I was only seven. " For the longest time, I avoided talking about Papa. The truth is, even hearing people talk about him stirs an unfamiliar feeling in me and I'm not sure I know how to deal with that. Recently, though, after numerous interviews with writers, I set down my determination to start on a new project of letters addressed to Papa. I titled the new collection Letters to my Papa  and this comes years after I unintentionally put away my paper and pen and left my passion for writing behind. I used to write short stories when I was in Secondary School. I would marvel at the way words moved me the way my first essay dedicated to Mama moved her to tears. I was awed by the power of words a...

Stealing a sticker from Dayre  because it is an apt reflection of how I'm feeling right now.  If you've been following, or if you're a friend of mine, you'd know I've been practicing the Law of Attraction ever since reading about it. (I've also gone on to finish the entire The Secret series by Rhonda Byrne and a couple of other books advocating the same message.) I've probably also mentioned how practicing gratitude has changed my life slowly but surely. Practicing gratitude is something I try to do as many times in a day, whenever I have time. I could be commuting between home to my next destination and I'd be giving thanks for the smooth ride and readily available public transport. I could be in the shower singing to Beast's latest single and I'd be giving thanks for the clean water system we have. In fact, I can be lying on the floor with Shelty and I'd be giving thanks for the unpolluted air we breathe every day. I try to f...

This weekend must have been one of the craziest I've had since a long time. Although internship takes up half my day from Mondays to Fridays, I make it a point to never  work overtime and to meet my friends once a week (at least). I don't know about others but I, for one, cannot stand facing the computer 8-9 hours a day. Not only do my eyes get tired, I  get tired too. Oh, and not to mention how stiff my back becomes that no amount of stretching will make that feeling go away. I know I'm most productive in the morning and maybe  2 hours after lunch but to say I'm diligently working throughout that 8 and a half hours is a stretch. Sometimes I just have so much work to do that I'm doing everything at one time but accomplishing nothing. Yet, I continue to feel uselessly stress and even dreamt about work twice (or thrice) last week. I'm just so thankful I'm done with my first snippet and while I still have 2-3 other assignments on hand, everything is g...

Some nights ago, as I was walking home, I suddenly thought about Shelty and how he's not going to be with me forever. And that made me kind of sad. That night, I came home and found him on my brother's bed. He was in his shirt, all cuddled up underneath my brother's comforter. I went up to him as quietly as I could but he still woke up in the midst of his sleep and looked at me with his eyes half-open. I almost cried. I kissed him and whispered: " Thank you, baby, for being part of my life. " I was still about to cry. I stuffed my head into him and gave him tummy rubs (much against his will I imagine) but I still did it anyway because if I didn't, I felt as if I'd be missing out on something so precious. A couple of nights ago, we came home from an event and it was almost midnight. I was dead-tired and kept complaining about how I had to work the following morning. After showering, I heard my brother mention how he didn't have enough s...

With 2014 coming to a close, my final post for the year will be the traditional reflection. The past year has been pretty amazing for me. It was mostly filled with pleasant surprises although there, too, were some downers. The first couple of months weren't particularly exciting but life felt like it truly began after I turned 21 in March. Like I said, " It was a magical feeling. " Taking the opportunity to, once again, thank every one who took time off to come celebrate the special occasion with me in my humble home. And to every one else who wished me, thank you! Not forgetting my family who put together the entire celebration despite the high damage. I really appreciate it! :') April must have been one of months I looked forward to because I officially completed Y2! Y2 was somewhat mind-blowing. I actually enjoyed  the semester, probably because most of the cohort went on exchange and only a handful of us were left in school. I got to know and work with n...

" At times our own light goes out and is rekindled by a spark from another person. Each one of us has cause to think with deep gratitude of those who have lighted the flame within us. " - Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965)   Today's magic practice began with a very powerful quote and it put me in an extremely good mood filled with nothing but gratitude for the people who have helped me in some way or another. As part of the practice, I chose 3 people to focus on and spoke out the reasons why I'm grateful for them. True enough, at the end of it, I was overwhelmed with emotions and almost on the brink of tears not because I was sad of any sort but because I felt so much at ease after giving my thanks. This might become one of my favourite magic practice. This magic practice  I speak of comes from Rhonda Byrne's the MAGIC , which I've religiously followed in the last 12 days. The book begins with one of the most sensible quotes ever and it has become of...