A German Lutheran pastor, theologian, and anti-Nazi dissident, Dietrich Bonhoeffer was known for his deep moral courage and spiritual insight. He was a vocal critic of Hitler’s regime and actively involved in resistance efforts, which led to his imprisonment and execution at the age of 39. Bonhoeffer’s quote reflects on the often-overlooked abundance present in everyday life. It reminds us that we are constantly receiving: be it through the kindness of others, the gifts of nature, or the unseen efforts that sustain our daily lives. Yet, in the busyness of routine, we tend to focus on what we lack or give, rather than acknowledging the quiet generosity that surrounds us.

He points out that gratitude is the key to true richness, not material wealth. When we become aware of all we receive: love, time, opportunities, even lessons, we begin to live more deeply and meaningfully. Gratitude shifts our perspective from scarcity to abundance, from complaint to appreciation. It enriches our emotional life, strengthens our relationships, and grounds us in humility. Ultimately, Bonhoeffer teaches that to live with awareness and thankfulness is to discover a richness that transcends possessions, one that fills the soul.

This week was a bit busy. I got my first freelance work, even though it was a very small amount, it gave me some hope that maybe I will be able to earn an income from here. Other than that, the week was spent writing, both for this space and for commissions, and I am happy because it means my creativity is back. BB & GG are busy with their work. GG’s internship will come to an end at the end of this month, and then she will start a new semester in August.

Life goes on, unbroken and constant, which can be simultaneously a blessing and a curse. While its a good thing that our lives are not in a constant state of uncertianty, but at the same time, it can get boring. So I don’t know if I should be happy or sad. I think I will choose happiness over sadness and look forward positively. That’s all from me this week, stay positive and keep smiling!

Today’s motivational quote is from William Arthur Ward, one of America’s most quoted inspirational writers. Ward is known for his uplifting essays, poems, and meditations, focusing on themes of faith, motivation, gratitude, and personal growth. He encourages readers to lead meaningful and purpose-driven lives. This motivational quote emphasises the power of imagination and belief in shaping your future. He suggests that the first step toward achieving any goal is the ability to visualise it, to see it in your mind and believe in its possibility. Dreaming is not a passive act; it is the foundation of action, creativity, and transformation.

Ward’s message is that our thoughts shape our reality. When we dare to dream, we set into motion the energy, motivation, and ideas needed to turn those dreams into tangible outcomes. By believing in our vision and working toward it, we embody the potential to become the person capable of fulfilling it. In short, the ability to imagine is the seed, and achievement is the fruit. This quote reminds us that greatness begins with belief, and with consistent effort, dreams can become real.

This week, I struggled a lot with writer’s block and a lack of creativity. I would spend hours in front of my laptop, struggling to write a single sentence. Or I would write a paragraph, only to read it and delete it because it made no sense. Luckily, toward the end of the week, I regained some creativity and was able to write a bit. It’s not my best work, but at this point in the week, I was not going to say no to any form of creativity!

Other than this, the week was fine. I read, watched shows, and tried my best to get the creative juices flowing. Here’s hoping that next week will be better in terms of my ability to write and be creative! 

Contemporary American poet Nayyirah Waheed is known for her minimalist, emotionally resonant style. Her evocative quote captures the profound strength found in self-love, not as a loud declaration, but as a quiet and transformative act of inner revolution. In a world that often teaches us to seek validation externally, to conform, or to be self-critical, truly loving oneself becomes a radical, healing, and empowering act. 

Calling it a revolution suggests that self-love defies the norms and systems that profit from our self-doubt. When someone embraces their worth unapologetically, they shift their entire relationship with the world, from how they speak to themselves to how they set boundaries and pursue joy. And what makes it even more powerful is its simplicity and stillness: it doesn’t shout; it transforms from within.

Waheed’s intentional use of lowercase letters and fragmented structure reflects the quiet, poetic rhythm of introspection. The quote is a reminder that the most profound changes often begin in the most intimate and internal spaces. Loving yourself is not ego, it is a revolution of acceptance, healing, and truth.

At the end of June, I am about 1000 km away from home, somewhere in the Surat Thani province of Thailand. It should take me the rest of this year to finish this long journey of about 15,000 km which I started walking and documenting in January 2021. Now that the end is near, I am wondering where next should I set my sights on? If you have any ideas, let me know? I have some initial thoughts, but will take the rest of the time it takes me to reach home in Singapore. 

The children are doing well at work and GG’s internship will end by early August after which she will start her third year of school. BB will end national service in October and be ORD or Operationally Ready and then he has to figure out what he wants to do – work or apply to school. 

As for me, I have made a decision on what I want to do. I have decided that while I will still apply for open positions, I will make an effort to reach out and do more freelance work, be it writing or the other skills I have. I have this niggling feeling that maybe this is the way to move forward and that it is the universe giving me a nudge by not making me successful in any interviews all this time. So if a fantastic opportunity comes my way, I will give it a shot, otherwise, i will work on my freelance business and see where that takes me.

That’s all from me this week. Stay positive and please send positive vibes my way. I feel i am at the cusp of something, whether that is jumping off a cliff to the unknown or having a gust of wind to send me soaring, I don’t know, but I have hope and positivity, and that the most important thing of all!

This was a tranquil week as I had done a major chunk of this week’s ‘to-do’ list before the week began. This meant I had time to do a lot of reflection this week. So I spent time in mindful contemplation, read a bit, spent time on social media, and had some (not all) answers. Maybe I will do the same next week too, and then, hopefully, I will have a clearer picture of what I want and need to do in the next six months of the year.

Today’s profound quote by Joseph Goldstein, a co-founder of the Insight Meditation Society who has studied and taught Buddhist meditation for over 50 years, reframes humility not as a behaviour we adopt but as a natural state that arises when the ego dissolves. Often, humility is misunderstood as modesty or self-deprecation, something we consciously perform. But Goldstein, drawing from Buddhist insight, suggests that true humility isn’t about downplaying oneself; it’s about the absence of fixation on the self altogether.

When the sense of “I, me, mine” fades, what remains is not arrogance or pride, but a quiet openness and presence. In that state, we’re no longer comparing, competing, or needing validation. We act with compassion and clarity, not from a place of ego but from connection and awareness. Thus, humility isn’t a deliberate “stance” we take; it arises naturally when we stop centring everything around the self. In spiritual practice, this is often the essence of awakening: freedom from the illusion of a separate, fixed identity.

Other than my quiet solitude this week, life went on as usual. The children were busy with their work, as was S. So that’s my update for this week. Stay positive and keep smiling!