Happy birthday Singapore! Today is Singapore’s 61st National Day. Today, as I think back on my journey on becoming a Singaporean, I realise that every National Day is a reminder that a nation’s story is written not only through landmark moments, but through the everyday lives of the people who call it home. It’s found in neighbours looking out for one another, in hawker centres filled with conversations, in the many cultures that coexist so naturally, and in the quiet confidence that tomorrow can be better than today. Wishing Singapore many more years of peace, progress, and unity.

Today’s quote is from acclaimed American minister and author best known for his influential book, The Power of Positive Thinking, Norman Vincent Peale. His quote reminds us that while we cannot always control our circumstances, we do have influence over how we perceive and respond to them. Our thoughts shape our attitudes, our attitudes influence our actions, and our actions ultimately determine the direction our lives take. The quote is not suggesting that simply thinking positively will make problems disappear. Challenges, disappointments, and setbacks are an inevitable part of life. Rather, it highlights the power of perspective. Two people can face the same situation and experience it very differently because of the way they interpret it. One may see only obstacles, while the other sees possibilities for learning, adaptation, or growth.

Our thoughts also influence our behaviour. If we constantly tell ourselves that we are incapable, we are less likely to take risks or embrace opportunities. Conversely, when we cultivate thoughts of hope, resilience, and possibility, we are more willing to persevere, solve problems, and keep moving forward. Over time, these choices create meaningful changes in our lives. The quote also encourages mindfulness. Many of our thoughts are automatic, shaped by habit and past experiences. By becoming aware of them, we gain the ability to question unhelpful patterns and replace them with more constructive ones. This isn’t about denying reality; it’s about choosing a mindset that helps us respond to reality more effectively. Ultimately, changing our thoughts doesn’t alter the external world overnight, but it does change the way we engage with it. And that shift in perspective can transform our relationships, our decisions, and our sense of purpose.

This week also marked a quiet but meaningful milestone in our family as BB completed his first week at his very first full-time job. It was a week of introductions, orientation, learning new systems, and beginning to understand the rhythm of a completely new environment. There wasn’t much “real work” yet, but perhaps that’s exactly what first weeks are for — learning names, finding your footing, and slowly building confidence. Watching someone step into adulthood is a curious mix of emotions. There’s pride in seeing them begin a new chapter, nostalgia for the years that passed so quickly, and hope for everything that lies ahead. Every career begins with a first day, and every experienced professional was once the new person trying to remember where everything was. Here’s to the many lessons, friendships, and opportunities that will grow from this humble beginning.

This week, verse 4.42 talks about doubt having a way of appearing wise. It disguises itself as caution, preparation, or careful thinking. Yet there comes a point when endless questioning prevents us from moving forward. During the Kurukshetra war between the Pandavas and the Kauravas, as Arjuna stands paralysed by uncertainty, Krishna does not tell him to wait until every answer appears. Instead, he urges him to cut through doubt and act.

Many opportunities in life require us to move before certainty arrives. We apply for the role before knowing the outcome. We begin the project before knowing if it will succeed. We take the first step before seeing the entire path. The opposite of doubt is not blind confidence. It is trust. Trust that we can learn, adapt, and continue moving even when the future remains unclear. Sometimes courage is simply taking the next step despite not having all the answers.

This week, I also learned that detachment means making complete peace with the truth that life unfolds as it’s meant to. It allows you to move through life without getting caught in the web of fear. Instead of resisting the flow of events or trying to force outcomes, you release the need for control. You give your best to whatever comes your way, and then allow the rest to take shape on its own. When you’re in a state of true detachment, you align yourself with the natural harmony of life. All things change. We can’t make circumstances unfold exactly as we want. Once you internalize this, you achieve calmness and inner stability, and you become free to experience every beautiful moment without clinging or attachment.

And with this, here’s to a wonderful rest