A new year

It's been a year of highs and lows. 2009 has come and gone.

Jan
Bruno turns 3 yrs old!

April
Murray turns 3 yrs old!

Climbed the great wall for the first time. (me, not Murray)

Acquired new boss

May
Celebrated Mum's bday in her fuss free manner.
Realised she is probably the healthiest 75 yr old around. And I pray and thank that she remains healthy.

July
Opened 3 stores simultaneously in Ion
Did not have a life for a while

Aug
Opened a new brand in Spore

Sept
Celebrated Dad's bday and had EVERYONE together and enough food to boot (!)
Realised my dad is a year away from 80.
Realised my dad has survived his op for almost 2 years.
Realised my dad has lots of white hair.
Realised I still think he is 55 yrs old.
Realised he trips quite a bit nowadays.

Saw Xian's terracotta warriors and was in awe for a long time.
Ate duck blood in spicy sichuan soup.
Gallery Hotel has the nicest bed and bathroom. Esp when shared with a dear dear friend.
Found out Zhoulibo is a really funny man.

Oct
Visited Philippines for the first time.

Mum had a fall and fracture - the 2nd fall in 30 yrs.
Realised Mum is not superwoman, mum's now a 75 yr old grandma with brittle bones.
My sis moved to her new house. Gave Sassy to new home far far far away. Almost gave Samson away.

Nov
Gave a talk in a local tertiary institution for the first time
Lost a dear aunt to colon cancer. I didn't know how to comfort my cousins except to be there physically.
Attended the wake of a dear friend who lost her father suddenly, all too suddenly

Dec
Opened a new store in a new mall

Celebrated Christmas in 2 new homes - yay!

Had photos secretly taken and posted on FB. And I found out.

Missed Christmas log cake tradition cos some idiot had no brain.

Realised Samson can sing doggy songs in howling voices when I sing with him.

Finally my HG friend is back from London to take a much needed break from Life and All Its Demands.

Met with Uni mates from XX years ago, it felt so like yesterday when we were in school again. Growing old with peers makes one feel young forever.

A dear friend lost her peer who suddenly passed on in life.

New boss departed. Back to old boss.

And a very dear friend sent me a very dear note on the last day of 2009, rendering me stunned for quite a moment in the midst of rushing a report and preparing for sales. It was a surreal moment that forced me to take a deep breath when all around me everyone was gasping for air.

This year, too many people have lost loved ones, some in a more sudden way than others.

Life is fragile, handle with care. Speak gently, listen carefully, and love kindly. Be generous with encouragement, patience and most of all, time. Take time to be, be there, be available, be patient. Too often we take time for granted, that we never have enough time when we need it, and time is too long for those who wait.

In the new year, I just want to be. Be in the moment, to enjoy the time I have, to appreciate the people I am with, and savour the experience the life has to offer.

I will spend more time with my dogs, my family and make more effort to catch up with more friends. Life is, after all, about the journey, not so much the destination.

Journey and Destination

One probably has heard that Life is really about the journey, not the destination. And I completely agree, on the premise that one continuously makes the journey as enjoyable and fruitful as possible.

However, the company one enjoys along the journey makes up for a large part of Life. True that one may choose to be alone than to be in bad company. But apart from this extreme, I think that the companions we have to journey together, experience and discover life together make this journey more meaningful.

2 people I know about have chosen to embark on a new phase of their life together by investing in an MBA in a foreign institution of higher learning. There was anxiety of whether they'd both be chosen for entry into this prestigious school, what'll happen if one gets in and the other does not. Do they choose separate schools in this case , what'll happen to their shared apartment and pets? etc etc

At one point they had considered leaving the family pet in Singapore while they were away. The quarantine period did not justify for the short amount of time they'd spend.

What touched me was that it all broiled down to the fact that they went back to first principles : They decided to embark on this journey TOGETHER in the first place. This put the answer into their heads and hearts, and the rest of what they needed to do with their choice of schools and what to do with their pets just fell into place.

Life really can be quite simple after all isn't it. As long as we have our thoughts sorted out.

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My little god daughter is about to embark on her journey into school later today.

I remember the anxiety I felt in my first day at kindergarten, and again at P1. I don't know why, but these feelings and images have stuck with me for so many years.

Maybe that explains why I value the journey more than the destination , and the people more than the place. That's just my postulation of course.

I do remember how I wondered why everyone seemed preoccupied with play during my first day in kindergarten.

I also remember my anxiety attacks during my first day in P1, how I hung on closely to my teacher even though I'd never met her. I thought her skirt reminded me of my mum.

Things that panic attacks do to a kid.

My little god daughter, may you have a wonderful journey filled with love and joy, and some panic attacks. And hopefully you'll enjoy the journey as much as the destination, and the people as much as the place. Remember once your experiences are shared, the memories are doubled.

Have a lovely day at school.

Journey of the mind

When times get tough, I am often the most optimistic of the lot, at times seemingly brinking on being overly naive even as chided by my close friends.

What is the point in looking for darkness in the world of gloom? We are all surrounded by gloom. Or at least the human perception veers us towards the point of gloom whenever we are down. Why look for it when we feel burdened by it already?

Must we still rub salt in our own wounds?

It takes strength to look beyond what appears before us to envision what we hope to achieve. The more we hope for, the greater our risk of disappointment.

Therefore it takes more courage to dare to dream than to wallow in gloom.

No I am not being naive or superficial as I may seem. I dare to hope because I know what may be my cost of disappointment. I want to dream because that is how far I will go.

And it is because I have been into the valley of doom, that steers me clear from the path of self destruction. The human mind is a mighty machine. Tune it so that it steers you towards where you want to go. Master it so that your mind does not control your fears.

I so fear to drown, that I swim furiously to keep myself afloat. Look for the glimmer of hope that keeps the spirit alive. And have the courage to accept what we have been endowed with.

And in the midst of it all, remember that above all, there is Love. Which warms the heart and nourishes the soul, that we may rest to journey the rest of the way.

Sitting on the fence

I sat on the line on this one for a long time. Wavered to and fro, relooking at the possibilities from all possible angles.

When I made my choice, it chewed me up, and spat me out. And I shifted my decision to the other side.

Whatever it might me, a choice was made and I'll have to move forward from here.

Some part of me is afraid, some part of me is excited. Right now, there is more fear than excitement.

Untitled

The journey of life is a long and winding path. At times we tire and need to rest. At times we quicken our pace and chase after last rays of the setting sun.

There is always a time and place for everything. Let's enjoy the moment when we have arrived; taking time to take in the sights and sounds of our destination, for we may never cross this path again.

Sit with me as we journey this path together with you. Walk with me as we uncover new destinations. Drink with me as we celebrate the miracle of love, life and happiness.

Cheers, yum seng, kanpai, tah!

Zen

Had a conversation with my very good old friend. Like vintage wine. We spoke about men and money.

Why are people obsessed with making money or getting anxious over how more others made? Or seemingly make.

Why are people concerned over leaving their men alone for some time? Do all men stray? Why do some people kick up a fuss over an affair, while others choose escapism, while a further subset choose to accept the fact that all men will have their flings and mistresses.

Do we forgive our partners for a one time fling? For an affair that lasted over a period of time? Or for keeping a mistress? Is there a difference - in affairs that are brief or long lasting? Do we handle them differently?

Can we really forgive and accept affairs our partners have had / may have ? Do we accept affairs that our friends may have? Do our views change depending on the geographical location we are in and the social norms?

有谁人是一张白纸 － 只有将来没有过去？

My friend stressed over money and lamented that people are owning more properties, getting more well to do. This had been an on going topic we have been msn-ing over.

And finally she commented that I am like a monk. Very zen.

I guess I am, after all we are all transient on earth. Our time on earth will come to an end one day. When I leave, I will go with no regrets, at peace, in tranquility. And each day I am alive, I endeavour to make this happen.

Wealth is a relative term. We are all wealthy in our own ways. God provides for all. Lets not compare or be envious. For each richer person there is, there will be one that is poorer than oneself.

Let's be grateful for all that we have been endowed with, and not be envious of what we do not have.

Stealing time

I am happy that I will be back in spore for a few hours this weekend!!!!

Time to see cheyanne mummy will be short, but i am so looking forward! Woo hoo!!
I hope that eyelicious will be free too so we can all meet up. O how i miss everyone!

Quote ¨¨ Every morning I wake up and dedicate myself to making you happy. Can you feel my love?¨¨

While Spain is wonderful and memorable, there are the people and places that have been with me which formed my perception of Spain the way it is today. I dedicate this post to these people who have been with me along the way. No cobblestones or gothic churches. No Gaudi or Dali. No Jamon iberica or seafood paella.

Got Zion Rd Char Kway Teow, Bt Timah Chai Tow Kway, Joo Chiat Kim Choo Bak Chang, Zion Rd Tang Yuan, Wala wala wings and Hoegaarden. Sometimes Heineken also can. You want? Come eat and drink with me la :)

ps Just so you appreciate these numerous posts, spanish keyboard is not the same as english keyboards. Me is brain-fried.