I’ve decided that I’m going to stop feeling sorry for myself from now on. Where did this come from? Earlier this week, I got a notification that a position I was interested in was something I could easily do was not interested in me because they wanted someone trainable! Which I interpreted as wanting someone younger. I was upset about this and stewed for a couple of days before my revelation of wanting to stop feeling sorry for myself. 

And that segues beautifully into today’s quote. This quote from Barbara Corcoran, a poster child for overcoming adversity through determination, resilience, and a positive mindset and a prominent American businesswoman, investor, speaker, and television personality, best known as one of the original “sharks” on the ABC reality television show “Shark Tank” emphasises the importance of resilience and a proactive attitude in achieving success. The quote suggests that successful people do not dwell on their misfortunes or setbacks for long. Instead, they quickly move past self-pity and focus on finding solutions and taking action. It highlights the role of a positive mindset and proactive behaviour in overcoming challenges and achieving goals. Successful individuals are characterised by their ability to bounce back from difficulties and maintain forward momentum. The quote implies that the key difference between those who succeed and those who don’t lies in their mental approach to adversity. By minimising time spent feeling sorry for themselves, successful people can use their energy and time more effectively.

And that sums up my week. I spent a good part of the week feeling sorry for myself and then decided to stop and look at the positive side of things. Maybe the position I felt sorry about was not the right fit for me. So I will let go of all those negative feelings and trust the universe to have my back!

How was your week?

The English Romantic poet, John Keats’ quote today reflects his courageous attitude towards ambition and excellence. Keats emphasises the importance of not fearing failure when striving for greatness. This fearlessness allows one to pursue one’s highest potential without hesitation. He expresses a preference for attempting greatness and risking failure over not trying at all. The desire to be among the greatest is worth the possibility of not succeeding. The quote underscores the value of ambition and effort. Even if one fails, the attempt to achieve something significant is itself a worthy pursuit.

This week will mark the end of the second month of unemployment and about four months of my job search. To date, I have applied to almost 150 jobs, each with a targeted resume and cover letter, but have not even scored an initial interview. I am getting disillusioned with this whole process, but only the knowledge that it’s not just me, but a whole bunch of other people who are in the same boat as me is keeping me going.

On another note, an ex-colleague turned friend reached out last week asking if I was open to writing for his new employer. Of course, I said yes immediately and since then have written two short articles for him. A, if you are reading this, thank you very much for the opportunity!

Nothing else happened this week, but I soldier on and try to maintain a positive outlook with a side of gratitude. See you all next week with hopefully something more positive!

Earlier this week, BB got an award during his national service on SAF day. He was awarded the Commander’s Coin for his distinguished commitment to safety. The commander’s coin is a recognition by the unit for something outstanding an individual does. I am not sure what relevance this has in the real world, but it’s nice to have a beautifully framed certificate.

Today’s quote comes to us from Henry David Thoreau, an American essayist, poet, and philosopher, best known for his book “Walden,” a reflection upon simple living in natural surroundings, and his essay “Civil Disobedience,” an argument for disobedience to an unjust state. Thoreau’s quote emphasises the importance of turning dreams and aspirations into reality through practical steps.  Thoreau acknowledges that having grand dreams and lofty ambitions or castles in the air is valuable and natural. These dreams represent our highest goals and aspirations. He encourages taking concrete actions to support and realize these dreams. This involves planning, effort, and perseverance to make dreams achievable. The quote highlights the balance between dreaming big and grounding those dreams in reality through practical efforts and hard work.

As for me, my days are filled with applying for jobs and writing. Some days I am overwhelmed with not getting a single interview, despite applying to over 100 jobs in the last three months. I don’t have any specialised skills and so wonder if it is because of my age? But I am not giving up. I am applying with targeted resumes and cover letters and also working with a wonderful career coach so remain optimistic that something good will turn up soon.

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

Where did the first half of 2024 go? It seemed like the year just began and in the blink of an eye, we were staring at the second half of the year. I hope the second half of the year is better than the first half for all of us.

Today’s quote emphasises the importance of finding joy and fulfilment in the process rather than just focusing on the end goal. The quote suggests that the experiences, efforts, and moments along the way are as important as the outcome. Enjoying the journey means appreciating the learning, growth, and small successes that occur along the path to your destination. It implies that if one is unhappy or dissatisfied during the process of achieving a goal, simply reaching the goal may not bring the happiness or satisfaction one expects. True fulfilment comes from finding joy in the everyday actions and challenges that lead one to their ultimate aim. The quote encourages living in the moment and being present, finding pleasure and meaning in the current steps one is taking rather than postponing happiness until one reaches a specific milestone. By emphasising the importance of enjoying the journey, this quote encourages a more holistic and fulfilling approach to pursuing goals and dreams.

After a long time, I attended a wedding of some extended family in Singapore and it was nice to dress up and meet family and friends whom we had not seen in a while. It was nice, but my social battery was depleted by the time I was back home!

That’s all this week. Stay positive and keep smiling 😊

I have been leading a very fascinating life these days – in my dreams! Because I am not able to shake off this cold and cough, I have been taking some form of medication almost every night. I am not sure if this is because of the medication, but I get vivid dreams that I forget almost as soon as I wake up. In the dreams, I am in a variety of situations and if I could remember them well, they’d make such good story plots. Like yesterday, I was part of a murder mystery and another day, it was a family drama. I wish I remembered the dreams, they would be so interesting.

The author of today’s quote is F. Scott Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald is an American novelist and short-story writer, widely regarded as one of the greatest American writers of the 20^th century. He is best known for his novel, The Great Gatsby, a quintessential depiction of the Jazz Age and the American Dream. The quote reflects a sense of optimism and determination to improve and achieve more in the future. Fitzgerald suggests that despite any challenges faced today, there is always hope for a better tomorrow. The quote embodies a spirit of perseverance and the belief that continued effort will lead to greater accomplishments. The imagery of running faster and stretching out arms farther symbolizes the idea of pushing beyond current limits, aiming for progress, and striving to reach new heights in the future. The quote encourages a forward-looking attitude, focusing on resilience and the ongoing pursuit of goals, regardless of setbacks or difficulties.

This week, I did something I normally would not do. I paid more than SGD 100 for the pro version of a resume website. I bought three months’ worth of it and hope this will help me with my job search. I hope it’s not money down the drain.

Anyway, that’s all from me this week. Stay positive and keep smiling!