Happy Diwali to everyone who celebrates this beautiful festival of light, laughter, family, food, and celebrations!

It’s been a week since I returned to Singapore, and this week was an extension of that week, during which I took a break from work. And add the preparations for the festival; I was rushed off my feet, yet I didn’t work or walk as much as I usually do.

Today’s beautiful quote is by W.B. Yeats, an Irish poet, playwright, and one of the foremost figures of 20th-century literature. A key leader of the Irish Literary Revival, he co-founded Dublin’s Abbey Theatre and won the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1923. His poetry often explored the tension between the material and the spiritual, the seen and the unseen, a reflection of his deep fascination with symbolism, myth, and the hidden “magic” of existence. The quote speaks to the idea that wonder, beauty, and mystery already exist all around us. It suggests that magic isn’t something rare or external; rather, it’s woven into everyday life: in nature, art, human connection, and quiet moments. What we often lack is not magic itself, but the awareness to perceive it. As our perception deepens through mindfulness, curiosity, or emotional growth, we begin to notice the extraordinary in what once seemed ordinary.

Today’s motivation is about challenging negative thinking. Each time you feel like negative thoughts are starting to take root in your mind, take a pause, and come up with at least three things you’re grateful for. Try to feel the sense of abundance in your heart. This gratitude practice will reduce the feelings of heaviness that come with negative thoughts. Gratitude enables you to look beyond the disturbing picture that your thoughts paint at the moment and appreciate the things that you often take for granted. You don’t have to remain at the mercy of your negative thoughts. A simple shift in your perception of that moment can open your mind to new possibilities.

BB’s national service stint is coming to an end, and we are having serious conversations at home about what he will do/wants to do in the future. GG is busy with school and projects and has started prepping for her semester exams, which will start next month.

That’s all from me this week. As the world celebrates the festival of light, may the festival bring light, love, laughter, and prosperity to all, and may all your wishes come to fruition.

And just like that, my ten-odd days in Bangalore ended, and I landed in Singapore early this morning. The week I spent with my parents, one-on-one, was very fulfilling. I took them to doctor appointments, went to the bank on their behalf, and tried to make their life a little easier. With my father’s Parkinson’s disease progressing fast, it’s hard for him to do all that he used to do, so I spent time not only with him but also with my mom trying to teach her some tech so she is not as incapacitated as she might be when he declines further. I am also seriously considering visiting them at least a couple of times a year, with or without my family, and spending a week to try to close up loose ends.

In today’s quote, American researcher, author, and professor at the University of Houston, known for her pioneering work on vulnerability, courage, shame, and empathy, Brené Brown describes perfectionism as a heavy burden disguised as protection. Many people believe that striving for flawlessness will keep them safe from criticism, judgment, or failure. However, perfectionism doesn’t protect; it restricts. Instead of allowing us to grow, take risks, and embrace authenticity, it weighs us down with fear and unrealistic expectations. Brown likens perfectionism to a massive shield: it seems like it offers safety, but in reality, it prevents us from moving forward freely. True progress and fulfilment come not from perfection, but from vulnerability, courage, and self-acceptance.

BB and I crossed paths with each other; he returned to Singapore, almost when I was leaving. So I didn’t get to spend time with him after being apart for almost a month. So this week, I will spend some time with him. And his national service is also coming to an end, which is a huge relief for him, I guess. GG is super busy with school, so there’s no real update from her side.

That’s all from me. I am super exhausted because for a 4-hour flight, I need to leave for the airport about 6 hours ahead of time so that I can navigate the horrible Bangalore traffic!

Take care, stay safe, keep smiling, and remain positive!

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!