Inner Resolve

Being optimistic is something I was having a chat about with a friend last week. I'd like to think that I am an optimist by nature, and for the most part, having a positive outlook is a trait that I very much nurture.

 

The ability to stay upbeat, assured and affirmative is a good thing. As life throws us challenges and obstacles every now and then, the inner resolve to continue moving forward instead of letting apathy set in is essential. Hope and faith are allies that we ought to count on to help us through trying times.

 

And whenever I sense a hint of negativity creeping into my psyche, I always remind myself that the best is yet to come. Indeed.

 

 

The London Eye by the Thames, United Kingdom.

The Road Ahead

Sometimes one can get disillu-sioned when the road ahead seems unclear and one's positive outlook begins to dim. It is during such times that wise words from a good friend are much appreciated.

 

Apart from comfort and encouragement, such words reverberate with what we have known all along, that we must stand by our principles, our somewhat high expectations and remain hopeful despite the current absence of light at the end of the tunnel. To put oneself in a position of compromise whilst may work in some situations, it is best avoided if it affects one's mental well-being.

So I came away from a supposed business meeting yesterday with something much more personal. Thank you my friend for the wise words.


Drottningholm Palace in Sweden.

Mooncake Festival At The Wongs

During the recent Mooncake Festival celebra-tion with the extended Wong family, my aunts and uncles invited their former neighbour during their time living at Eberwein Road in Kuala Lumpur in the 1950s, over to dinner. I believe they used to hang out as teenagers and now decades later, it is good to see the rekindling of such a friendship.

As time passes and as we age, we tend to value relationships much more. Be it with loved ones or good friends, we tend to make more of an effort to keep in touch and spend time together.

Perhaps it is because we reminisce more often as we grow older.


Family and friends during dinner in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Weekend Catch Up

My cousins Siew Yoong and Kiat Ken were in town last weekend for the mooncake festival. Despite it being a whirlwind visit, we did manage to spend time together, much of it catching up over meals.

 

Having grown up together in PJ as kids, there isn't a need to do any sightseeing when they visit. The plan is always to indulge in as much food as we can. Case in point, having arrived from the airport close to 11pm, we headed straight to Kepong for a midnight Bak Kut Teh supper.

 

Here's a photo of the 3 of us, happy to be together, happier to be sharing a wonderful meal.

 

 

Photo shot at Restoran Ka Ka in Kepong, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Friendship Rekindled

Tom, a friend from my days at boarding school at Immanuel College in Adelaide, was in town with his family recently for a holiday. I believe the last time he visited was more than two decades ago. Time flies.

 

Having kept in touch on Facebook and having caught up last year when I headed back to Adelaide, a continuous effort to keep the friendship intact despite the distance has enabled us to keep abreast of developments in our lives from time to time. And the opportunity of a get together as such always acts as a catalyst for rekindling friendships.

 

As in most things in life, effort results in returns. The apathetic will see relationships fade. In fact, they often fall off the invite list to such gatherings, not by intention of the organisers, but by lack of top-of-mind recall. Essentially, those who make the effort will reap the rewards of long-lasting friendships.

 

 

Dinner with the Browns in Petaling Jaya, Malaysia.

Keeping The Faith

'A meaningful and heartfelt party that celebrates a milestone reaffirms one's faith that the best is indeed yet to come. Grateful to have been on the guest list'.

 

That was my post on Facebook yesterday. Sometimes we, or rather I, need a reminder that there are better days to look forward to. Although we are oftentimes advised to be content with all the good that we already have in our lives, there are certainly areas that can be improved upon.

 

This year has been a contemplative one, and whilst thinking things through can be a good thing, overthinking can put a damper on one's outlook. So, I shall continue to embrace the optimist in me, reaffirm my commitment to keeping an open mind, and always be willing to take a leap of faith.

 

 

Sunrise on Cua Dai Beach at Palm Garden Beach Resort & Spa in Hoi An, Vietnam.

Colourful Experiences

A reminder to self, to lead a colourful life. Having as many experiences as possible in life is something that I always remind myself to do. Despite work commitments, it is necessary to make the time to partake in other experiences.

 

Exercise. A good magazine in hand by the pool. Tea with friends. Dinner with family. Alumni functions. Travel. Reading. The list goes on, and in many permutations.

Doing so enhances one's appreciation of the good that life has to offer. It piques our curiosity, it stimulates our senses. It reminds us to set goals, have aspirations, and to work towards fulfilling them. Most importantly, it gives us the opportunity to meet people along the way, some of whom will contribute to the wonderful lives that we lead.


Lanterns of Hoi An in Vietnam.