Aftermath of a meal

What your table looks like after your meal reflects your upbringing...

Agree?

Maturing

“When you mature, you don’t always insist you are right... even if you are”...

Why bother

Sometimes I wonder why I bothered to put in the efforts to text people and ask how they are, wish them happy birthday or for that matter just to say hi... when they don’t even bother to put in the efforts to keep in touch.

Lessons I Learned

Aimless rants of a couple of my learnings over the years:

• “When life throws you lemon, make lemonade” a quote on a little card on my ex-CHRO’s desk. Useful practical advice. Reminds us to be positive.

• “The teacher will appear when the student is ready” a simple quote read in a book by Robin Sharma (about a monk selling his Ferrari). Another useful quote that reminded me that there are lessons to be learned in most life’s situations. We just need to detach ourselves from the emotions that blind us, and the lesson will appear.

• “Be grateful, always give thanks” a simple reminder that one of my ex-boss and a friend lives by. It keeps her grounded and made her a really sweet and endearing person whom everyone can talk to and learn from, all the time.

• “Be happy” simple two words but not easy to achieve. It requires one to be very real and to acknowledge his strength and limitations wholeheartedly. This realization will make one humble and be able to manage one’s own expectations.

Over time, I learned that the four phrases are intertwined. They kept me grounded, humble and real. And they helped me be as authentic as I possibly can - as a worker, a peer, a leader and as a person.

Just another reflection on a Sunday evening.

Have a great start to the new week!

Chingay Parade 2020

Have the opportunity to attend the Chingay Parade 2020, much thanks to my friend’s offer of 2 tickets. Was indeed wowed by the kaleidoscope of colours that splashed in front of us. And of cos, was glad the classic Chinese traditional giant flags, lion dance, dragons etc were included in the parade. It was after all a celebration of the Chinese culture. There were also quite a few other performances that I felt didn’t really fit in. These include the performances showcasing international culture such as those from Thailand, Japan as well as from Russia. Including these performance really watered down the whole Chineseness of the parade (which was supposed to be for Lunar New Year).

Don’t get me wrong, these performances were really great except that I felt it didn’t really fit in into the context. I’ve had this huge debate with a friend a couple of years back and she defended Peoples’ Association (PA) (the organiser) approach. After all, she was from PA. So... anyway, I do understand PA’s agenda to need to bring people of different cultures together. Perhaps if organised this way, it should be better done as part of the National Day celebrations. As for Chingay, they should then let some Chinese-based organisation organise it to celebrate the Chinese culture in its whole glory. But let’s leave this to the organizers, I’m sure they have their reasons. I’m just here to enjoy the parade.

Here’s some photos to share.