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!

One of the most prominent literary figures of the 20^th century, American novelist, short story writer, journalist, and Pulitzer and Nobel Prize winner, Ernest Hemingway’s quote emphasises the importance of personal growth and self-improvement over competing with others. Hemingway suggests that true nobility and worth are found in striving to improve oneself rather than in trying to be better than others. It encourages focusing on one’s development and progress. The quote underscores the value of self-reflection and continuous improvement. It implies that real success and honour come from overcoming one’s past limitations and becoming a better person than one was before. Hemingway’s words highlight the importance of intrinsic values and personal achievements, promoting the idea that self-betterment is a more virtuous goal than external recognition or superiority over others.

BB has been coming home daily this week and we have enjoyed having him in the evenings. It reminds me just how much we missed him while he was in basic military training and this current training. He will move to his unit next week and then it will be back to coming home over the weekends.

This week we got some respite from the heat with rains in the afternoon. I did not feel so hot, but the heat has not been kind to many across Asia. In India, temperatures have soared to nearly 50°C, marking it as the longest heat wave in the country’s history. Singapore experienced its fourth warmest year on record, with May’s scorching temperatures reaching 37°C. Meanwhile, South and Southeast Asia have been grappling with intense heat, with temperatures climbing up to 45°C in some regions. This extreme weather has been attributed to a combination of factors, including climate change and urban heat island effects, raising serious concerns about public health, labour productivity, and the environment. Well, as for me, I look forward to the daily downpour so it can ease the heat a little bit.

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

Dale Carnegie is an American writer, lecturer and developer of famous courses in self-improvement, salesmanship, corporate training, public speaking and interpersonal skills. He is best known for his groundbreaking book “How to Win Friends and Influence People,” first published in 1936, which has become one of the best-selling self-help books of all time. Carnegie’s quote emphasises the power of perseverance and determination to achieve significant accomplishments. The quote highlights that many of the world’s greatest achievements have been made by individuals who persisted despite facing seemingly insurmountable challenges and hopeless situations. It underscores that success often comes from a relentless commitment to one’s goals and a refusal to give up, even when the odds are against them. Carnegie’s words serve as an inspiration to keep striving and maintaining hope, suggesting that unwavering determination can lead to remarkable outcomes, regardless of the difficulties encountered.

India finally finished its dance with democracy with the results declared earlier this week. Like many Indians or people of Indian origin both within the country and abroad, I too was hooked to the results coming in. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its coalition, the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), retained power, albeit with reduced numbers. The BJP won 240 seats, down from 303 in 2019, losing its singular majority but maintaining control through coalition support. The Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance or INDIA, a coalition led by the Indian National Congress (INC), significantly increased its representation, securing 234 seats, with the Congress alone winning 99 seats. This marked a substantial improvement for the opposition, which will now hold the status of the Official Opposition in the Lok Sabha.

Voter turnout was remarkable, with over 642 million people casting their votes, including record participation by women voters. The election process was the largest in history, surpassing previous records and involving extensive phases across the country. Despite BJP’s victory, the elections were marred by controversies, including allegations of Electronic Voting Machine (EVM) malfunctions and suppression of political opponents. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, having completed two terms, will now lead a coalition government for his third term, supported by key allies such as the Telugu Desam Party and Janata Dal (United). Simultaneous state legislative assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Odisha, and Sikkim, along with by-elections for 25 legislative assembly constituencies, also took place.

BB is at the tail end of his current course before he joins his unit for on-the-job training later this month. This means that for the next 10 days, his course will be stay-out, meaning that he comes home each night. BB is thrilled with this, as according to him, he sleeps best in his bed! GG is enjoying her holidays, as she didn’t manage to secure any internships. She is doing one course in summer school and she is busy with that in addition to crocheting and going out with friends. As for me, I am still where I was last week, with no change in status.

And that’s all from me this week. Keep smiling!