Namaskara from Bengaluru! I arrived in India’s Silicon Valley earlier this week to spend a few days with my parents. Because my father is ill with Parkinson’s Disease, not allowing him to move around, I am here to help them with bank work and taking them to the doctor and any other small jobs I can do to make their life slightly easier. It’s a lot easier for me to fly down from Singapore, as I am currently only working part-time from home than my sister, because it’s a lot easier and cheaper to fly from Singapore, and I also don’t have to apply for leave. So I decided to fly down to meet them since it has been almost a year since I last saw them.

American essayist, poet, and philosopher, and one of the central figures of the Transcendentalist movement, Ralph Waldo Emerson, highlights the dual nature of passion. On one hand, passion can be an unreliable regulator; it may lead to impulsive choices or unchecked emotions if not balanced with reason. On the other hand, passion is also a powerful driving force, like a spring that propels us into action, energising and inspiring us to pursue our goals and dreams. Emerson’s point is that while passion alone should not govern our lives, it needs balance with wisdom and discipline; it remains an essential source of vitality and creativity. Passion fuels ambition, innovation, and courage, giving life momentum and meaning.

I finished my epic walk this week! I started in January 2021 in the midst of the pandemic, when I was looking for motivation to get my steps in. Staying at home meant that I had to walk inside, and in 2020, I realised without any solid motivation, I could not find it in myself to walk. I started by deciding to walk to my home in Mumbai. I put the start and end destinations on Google Maps and started plotting my steps daily, weekly, and monthly. By the end of the year, I had reached India’s northeastern border in Manipur, where it borders Myanmar. By this time, my parents had decided to move to Bengaluru to a retirement community, so I adjusted my goals accordingly. The entire year of 2022, I was walking across India and reached my home state of Maharashtra in January 2023. From there to my home in Mumbai took me to about mid-February, and once I hit my home, I started walking to Bengaluru, which I reached sometime in August 2023. After that, it was time to head back to Singapore. Coming back, I took the east coast route, meeting the chicken neck and exiting India the same place where I entered it around the end of 2023 to early 2024. Then I spent time walking across Myanmar, Thailand, and peninsular Malaysia before reaching home sometime this week. To give some data, in almost five years, I walked about 14,500 km and more than 22 million steps! This was a good motivation for me, and I think I will do something similar but different to continue my momentum. 

Today’s motivation is about focusing attention in a difficult situation. When you’re in the thick of a difficult situation, you only have to focus all your attention on one thing. That is, releasing attachment to all types of dark thoughts. Do not believe anything your mind comes up with during this time. You don’t have to worry about finding the next course of action or coming up with an explanation for why things are happening this way. Simply let your thoughts go. Reset your mind. Leave no space for damaging stories or beliefs. These stories can limit what you believe is possible for you. Remind yourself that your circumstances will shift. You won’t always feel this way.

That’s all from me this week. Take care, stay safe, remain positive, and remind yourself that things won’t always remain this way; they will change and for the better!

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!

This week, I was very productive, working on my blog posts, so that’s a big win for me. But on the other hand, because I was walking more than usual, halfway through the week, my legs decided to give up on me. I had excruciating pain in both my legs, one by one, so much that I had to stop walking for the rest of the week so I could recover. I guess my age is catching up, and I need to scale back on my daily walks. But I also want to finish my walk back home, and since I am in the last few hundred kilometres, it’s a catch-22 situation. But I think my health concerns should come above this walk, so I plan to scale down for a few days before I start walking, but at a slower pace.

Today’s quote from Corrie ten Boom highlights the futility of worry. Corrie ten Boom reminds us that worrying doesn’t prevent future problems; it doesn’t solve or lessen them. Instead, it drains our energy, focus, and peace in the present moment. By dwelling on what might happen tomorrow, we weaken ourselves today, making it harder to face challenges with clarity and resilience. Her message is simple yet powerful: rather than wasting strength on imagined fears, we should conserve our energy for living fully today. Trust, faith, and presence are far more effective than worry in preparing us for the future.

Corrie ten Boom was a Dutch Christian watchmaker who, along with her family, helped many Jews escape the Nazis during World War II by hiding them in their home. She was eventually arrested and sent to a concentration camp, where she survived and later shared her story in her memoir The Hiding Place. After the war, Corrie travelled the world as a speaker and writer, teaching about forgiveness, faith, and resilience. Her life and words continue to inspire people to trust in hope and courage even in the darkest times.

Today’s motivation is about going through tough times. When you’re going through a tough time, be gentle with yourself. Give yourself the space to notice your self-critical thoughts. It’s not like you’re doing it on purpose. These unpleasant thoughts are not your fault. It’s part of the human experience. There is nothing productive about obsessing over something that can’t be changed. Refrain from forming conclusions about your situation based on these unhelpful thoughts. Embrace the transformative power of pause. Tap into your inner knowing and trust in your own resilience.

GG is, as usual, busy with school. She also scored, not one, but all three internships she had applied to for next year. She already had accepted one offer before she got the other two, so she will have to turn the others down, but hopefully will be able to intern with them before she graduates. I am so proud of her!

BB’s flight back home has been changed and he will come almost two days later than he was supposed to. This means his offboarding leave will be reduced by at least one day. He sent some amazing photos from his trip and these photos have made me add Australia to my bucket list.

That’s all from me this week. Stay positive and keep smiling!

It’s been a week since BB has been in Australia. Though we speak over the phone almost daily, it’s not the same. I’ve been counting down the days when he will come back home. But he is enjoying himself and the scenery is just amazing from the few photos he shared with us. And that’s what is important. This week, I barely saw GG also as she was super busy with school work, tests and project submissions. But she has been very hard at work, especially after her priority offer, so I am happy for her.

Today’s quote is from Chinese general, military strategist, and philosopher best known as the author of The Art of War, an influential text on military strategy, leadership, and tactics, Sun Tzu. His philosophy emphasises discipline, foresight, adaptability, and the intelligent use of opportunities and his teachings remind us that success often comes from strategy and decisiveness rather than sheer force.

The quote emphasises the idea that taking action creates momentum. Sun Tzu suggests that opportunities don’t just appear randomly; they grow out of the ones we act upon. When we seize a chance, it often opens the door to new possibilities, connections, and paths that wouldn’t have existed had we hesitated.

For example, saying yes to one project may lead to new partnerships, recognition, or further opportunities down the line. In contrast, failing to act can cause opportunities to vanish. The message is clear: initiative breeds abundance, while inaction breeds stagnation. This insight applies not only to warfare, Sun Tzu’s primary subject, but also to everyday life: careers, relationships, and personal growth. The more proactive and courageous we are, the more doors open before us.

Another thing I read this week is also similar and spoke to me. What it said was that little tweaks in the way we speak to ourself can transform the narratives that shape our life experiences. For example, instead of saying “I let go of control”, we can say “I let go of the illusion of control”. This little distinction can help us remember that we don’t have to worry about figuring it all out by ourselves. Things work better when we surrender control, open up to trusting more. So by reframing “This day is ruined” into “This is only a difficult moment. It will pass soon”, we take control of how we perceive and shape our view. The key is being aware of the way we perceive our experiences, it makes all the difference.

That’s all from me this week. Stay positive and keep smiling!

American author, editor, and journalist Will Schwalbe’s quote emphasises that mindfulness is simple presence, not a complicated practice or performance. He explains that mindfulness doesn’t require elaborate techniques; it’s about giving your full attention to the current moment and to the person or activity in front of you.

By saying “When I’m with you, I’m with you,” he highlights the importance of genuine presence in relationships. Too often, we divide our attention: thinking about the past, worrying about the future, or being distracted by devices. True mindfulness is about dropping distractions and fully engaging with what’s happening now. The quote reminds us that mindfulness is not about adding something extra to life; it’s about stripping away the noise so that we can experience connection, clarity, and peace as they naturally are in the present moment.

BB left for Australia yesterday early morning, and I am already missing him. He will be gone until the end of the month, and my only hope for him during this trip is that he is safe, enjoys himself, and learns something that will serve him for the rest of his life. GG is busy with school and is giving interviews for her six-month internship, which is a graduation requirement.

This week, I read something interesting about reclaiming your power. What it said was that your peace and happiness should never depend on someone else’s actions. Don’t sacrifice your calm over a missed call or a message left unanswered. You don’t need anyone’s validation to recognise your worth. Stand firm in who you are and honour your values. Stop investing energy in those who don’t give it back. Let people enhance your joy, but don’t make them the source of it. Root your happiness and peace within yourself, and stay aligned with your truest, most authentic self. Does it make sense?

At the end of August, I am almost done with my epic walk of more than 14,000 km from Singapore to my home in Mumbai, then a detour to Bengaluru and back to Singapore. By my estimation, sometime in the third week of September, I should finally reach home. Now, where should I walk next?

That’s all from me this week. Here’s to a fantastic September (albeit a week late)…