Best known as the COO of Facebook and the author of the best-selling book “Lean In”, which encourages women to pursue leadership roles and challenge workplace gender barriers, Sheryl Sandberg is widely recognised for her advocacy on women’s empowerment, resilience, and compassionate leadership, making her an influential voice in both business and personal growth.

Sandberg’s quote sheds light on the true nature of empathy. She reminds us that empathy isn’t about offering quick reassurances or trying to “fix” someone’s pain. Often, the most compassionate response is simply to acknowledge the reality of someone’s suffering without minimising it. Telling someone “it will be okay” may unintentionally dismiss their feelings, while recognising that things are not okay validates their experience and makes them feel truly seen and supported. Real empathy is about presence, understanding, and acceptance, walking with someone in their pain rather than rushing them out of it.

It’s been more than three weeks since BB went to Australia, and we are really missing him. He will be back sometime next week, and then it’s the countdown to the end of his national service. GG has been very busy last week and on into this coming week with back-to-back tests, so I barely see her when she is home.

This week’s motivation is about opportunities. When things don’t work out as you expected and your desired opportunity doesn’t come to fruition, it’s easy to fall into a downward spiral of questioning your choices. Don’t be too hard on yourself. Remember, there’s always another opportunity. The more you dwell on what could have been, the more oblivious you become to the wonderful opportunities that are unfolding right in front of you. If that particular opportunity didn’t work out, it could mean that something about it wasn’t right for you. The right opportunity will come, and it will be way better than you imagined. It will be worth the wait. This one really resonated with me, as this is exactly what I tend to do.

My long walk is finally coming to an end, and I am so excited! I am just about 50 km from home, which means that sometime next week I should finish it. Currently, I am on the outskirts of Johor Bahru, the capital of the state of Johor, just off the causeway separating Singapore and Malaysia. When I complete the walk, I will share more about it, including the whys and wheres.

And that’s all from me this week. Stay positive, keep smiling, and remember, don’t be hard on yourself; there’s a new opportunity just waiting for you to notice it!