We’re in the last month of the year and I don’t know about you all, but I have started reflecting on how the year was for me and what I want for 2025. What about you? Do you reflect on your life in the last days of the year?

Today’s quote by Roshi Joan Halifax, an American Zen Buddhist teacher, anthropologist, author, and pioneer in end-of-life care speaks of the true, revitalising power of compassion. Often, people perceive compassion as an exhausting emotion, especially in the face of life’s myriad challenges, suffering, and demands. However, Halifax offers a different perspective, one that sees compassion as a wellspring of energy and fulfilment. When we engage compassionately, we step out of the confines of our limited perspectives and connect deeply with others, creating bonds that can inspire, uplift, and renew our sense of purpose. Halifax reminds us that compassion is not about depleting ourselves; rather, it is about opening ourselves up to the boundless energy that arises from genuine connection. Practising compassion allows us to transcend the narrow focus on our individual concerns and challenges. By understanding and empathising with others, we experience a profound sense of unity, belonging, and purpose. Compassion fosters empathy and helps cultivate a broader view of the world, often easing personal burdens as it places our own lives within a larger context.

Life is going on as usual, there’s nothing much to update. Nothing much has changed since last week. I have started planning and shopping for my trip to India and am super excited. GG is on leave and has been meeting up with friends before she goes on holiday and BB is busy with his camp. He will be using up his leave to go to India and visit his grandparents.

And with that, I leave you this week. Stay positive and keep smiling!

Today’s quote from modern-day poet and writer whose work focuses on themes of self-exploration, resilience, and the journey toward inner peace, James Conleevv captures the essence of resilience, self-discovery, and the journey toward personal freedom. Mountains are symbols of stability, patience, and enduring power, whereas storms often signify life’s hardships, obstacles, and moments of chaos. The sea represents the vastness of existence, with its endless waves symbolising the ups and downs of life, the challenges we encounter, and the emotions that can sometimes feel overwhelming. By comparing an individual to a mountain in such a setting,

Conleevv encourages fortitude, urging one to remain grounded and firm regardless of external circumstances. Conleevv suggests a lifelong pursuit of self-knowledge, wisdom, and understanding. It is through facing the storms, and standing firm in our values and beliefs, that one finds clarity and insight. This process leads to an inner freedom that empowers us to live authentically and fully, unburdened by fear or hesitation. Conleevv’s use of natural imagery—a mountain, a storm, and the sea—evokes the fundamental elements of the earth and our place within it, reminding us of both the enormity of the world and our capability to withstand its challenges. To be free, in this context, means to live aligned with one’s true self, no matter how fierce the storm or how unpredictable the sea. Conleevv’s words inspire strength and perseverance, reinforcing the belief that peace and freedom come not from avoiding life’s difficulties but from facing them with courage and an open heart.

After over two weeks of pain in my ankles, I finally have some relief. While I can’t claim to be completely cured, at least I don’t walk with a limp and can do my daily walking for some time. I still cannot do extended walking, but I am grateful for small wins. I also have an appointment to see a specialist, but this will only happen in the new year because I am taking the public healthcare route. Till then, I guess I have to be careful and not put too much pressure on my ankle.

GG’s exams are over and she is enjoying her holidays. I think she has plans to meet friends and go out before we head to India for our holidays. BB is busy in camp and we look forward to meeting him over the weekend.

That’s all from me this week. See you next week! And in the meantime, keep smiling and stay positive.

Today’s quote from author and artist Doe Zantamata highlights the toll that hesitation and fear can take on one’s life. When faced with major decisions or opportunities, it’s easy to get stuck in a cycle of “what ifs,” allowing fear to prevent us from taking meaningful steps forward. While seemingly protective, this hesitation can hold people back, causing years to slip by filled with missed experiences and unrealised potential. Zantamata’s message is ultimately about courage: leaping, even if uncertain, can lead to personal growth, discovery, and fulfilment—outcomes that indecision can never provide. By encouraging people to act, she highlights that it’s better to move forward with some uncertainty than to let the fear of failure or imperfection paralyse them. The quote reminds us that growth and change often require stepping out of our comfort zones and embracing a bit of the unknown to lead a fuller, richer life.

This week was all about me trying to manage my ankle pain. I finally caved in and saw a doctor who told me that it was most likely tendonitis. She gave me some medication and I have till tomorrow to decide if it has healed or not. If not, she will send me to have looked over by a specialist. As of this morning, it seems healed, but let me give it the rest of the day and I will make a call tomorrow morning.

GG has been very busy with exams, but the end is near. She has her last exam early next week and then is free for the next two months. She wanted to go for an internship, but because we are going to India later in the year, she decided to forego an internship this semester break. 

BB finished his driving course sometime last week and is back with his unit. We miss him during the week, as during this part of the course, he could come home each night. Now that he is back with his unit, we will only see him for 48 hours each week. But c’est la vie, and I am now counting down to next October when he will be done with his national service.

That’s all from me this week. Take care and stay positive!

According to Jamaican singer, songwriter, and cultural icon, Bob Marley’s quote reflects a deep insight into the nature of contentment and fulfillment. Marley is saying that true success isn’t measured by competing with others or chasing society’s version of success. Often, we’re so focused on “winning” externally—whether that’s in career, wealth, or status—that we lose touch with what actually brings us peace and happiness. When we let go of the relentless drive to outdo others or to meet external expectations, we can finally achieve a sense of inner victory. Winning, in Marley’s perspective, is about finding joy, acceptance, and meaning in life without needing to constantly race toward an ever-shifting finish line. This perspective invites us to shift our focus inward and consider what truly makes us feel fulfilled and happy, rather than only striving to meet external standards or goals.

And this quote is very timely for me this week. I have been plagued by many aches and pains this week in multiple parts of my body. One of the pain points is one of my ankles which is very painful especially when I walk. So this week, I have decided to take it slow and not walk as much as I do so that I can heal from it.

GG is extremely busy with school as she has exams starting next week and that will be end of her third semester. The difficulty level is ramping up and during term time, I can hear her muttering and grumbling about the course! BB is enjoying his driving course which should end sometime this month. We are also enjoying BB’s time with us as this portion of his course is stay-out which means he stays at home and goes to camp in the morning and returns home in the evening.

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

Today my stomach finally got respite from gorging Diwali sweets and savouries. Now that the festivities are over, it’s time to return to the real world.

Today’s quote by American writer and activist Rita Mae Brown illustrates language’s subtle yet profound influence over our thoughts, actions, and emotions. Just as the moon’s gravitational pull subtly but powerfully affects the tides, language shapes our perceptions and interactions in ways we might not immediately notice. It subtly impacts how we view ourselves, others, and the world. Language can evoke emotions, shape beliefs, and guide behaviour. It holds the ability to inspire, hurt, or heal, showing that words are not simply a means of communication but powerful tools that can alter human experience. Words can empower or limit us, shaping our sense of reality and what we believe is possible. The comparison to the moon suggests that, although the effect might not be immediately visible, language wields significant control over our inner and outer worlds.

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking the past few weeks, mainly where I want to go in my life. I will share more once I have crystalised my thoughts. My idea is to do all my thinking before the start of the new year and put my plans into action when 2025 January begins. I love starting on a clean slate in the new year, so let me see where 2025 will take me.

The last few days of October saw me not walking much, what with Diwali prepwork on my mind and a slight pain in my ankles. But when I computed my steps, I realised I am now at India’s border with Myanmar, on my way back home. I still have about a year’s worth of walking before I reach home, but now it’s time to renavigate Myanmar, Thailand and Malaysia, before I set foot back in the little red dot.

I hope everyone has had a great festive season, and here’s to looking forward to more as 2024 starts its winddown. Keep smiling and stay positive!