Eckhart Tolle’s quote speaks to the power of living in the present moment. He emphasises that most people spend their lives lost in thoughts, dwelling on the past or worrying about the future, rather than experiencing the reality of the present.

Tolle, a spiritual teacher and author known for his profound teachings on mindfulness and consciousness, refers to the dream of thought as the constant mental chatter that dominates our minds. We often replay past regrets or anticipate future events, which keeps us disconnected from the present. This mental preoccupation acts like a dream state, where we function on autopilot, unaware of the richness of the moment we are actually in. However, when we bring our full attention to the present, we experience a shift in awareness, a sense of alertness, and awakening. It feels like waking up from a deep sleep, where we suddenly see things with clarity. The worries of yesterday and the uncertainties of tomorrow lose their grip because we realise that life is only ever happening right now.

Many ancient wisdom traditions, including Buddhism and Stoicism, encourage people to focus on the present to achieve peace and fulfillment. When we fully engage with the moment, we become more attuned to our surroundings, emotions, and interactions with others. Instead of merely existing, we begin to truly live. Tolle’s quote invites us to step away from identifying with our thoughts and instead observe them without attachment. By doing this, we experience greater peace, clarity, and a deeper sense of connection with ourselves and the world. The past and future lose their power over us, and we become fully alive in the now.

This week BB finally passed his IPPT, or Individual Physical Proficiency Test. This is a physical fitness test that all those who are going into or are already in their national service have to complete and pass. BB had been unable to pass it all this time. But for this window, he was determined to pass and put in long hours of training, and his result showed. He improved so much that he doubled his previous score, and I can’t be happier for him. GG is busy with school and her upcoming exams.

We are now in the third month of the year, and I have been doing quite well in my walking. This month, I walked more than 430,000 steps and almost 300 km throughout the month. As for my epic walk, I am now in Myanmar, north of Yangon and Bago, about 400 km from Myanmar’s border with Thailand. I am about 2,500 km from home, having completed 80% of my almost 15,000 km trip from my home in Singapore to my home in Mumbai and then a detour to where my parents currently live before walking back home. I started this in the middle of the COVID pandemic when I wanted something to make me want to walk. The end of this journey is near, though this last 20% will probably take this entire year and maybe slightly into 2026!

I’ve also been reading a lot this month and currently am at 25% of my 2025 reading goals. When I was in India in December of last year, I purchased a bunch of non-fiction books and have been diligent about reading at least one a month so far, mixing it with fiction from my local library.

That’s all from me this week. I hope the month of March is one of peace, happiness, and prosperity, and you can do and get everything you’ve planned for this month! Stay blessed!