On a journey of self-discovery

My sister's graduation (2013)

I still recall vividly sitting down for my sister's graduation ceremony just over a year ago, watching these graduates pile into the auditorium as the lights shone on their confident faces. They were ready -more than ever - to face the world. Fast forward to the present, and it's almost my turn to go for my graduation ceremony. 

In the blink of an eye, all those years spent studying our nights away, frantically penning our essays, rehearsing for presentations - they're gone. Now, we enter the workforce. And the question is, what are we going to do for the rest of our lives?

It's a funny thing. I woke up at 3am last night, my mind racing with thoughts on planning the latest event at work. Fire, drills, police. And I thought, is work really taking over my life? I couldn't fall back to sleep for the next few hours and so I grabbed a book, took my laptop and went downstairs. So many thoughts passed through my mind: Am I doing the right thing? What is the right thing? Am I happy doing this? Why, why not? What should I do?

Stop. Why was I even thinking about it? 

The thing with jobs and careers and mid-life crises is, you never really know what you're going to do. And even when you think you've got your life sorted out, there's a nagging part of you that says, no, you're still not there yet. So take a leap of faith, go on that holiday with your friends you've always wanted, take the entire weekend by yourself and invest your time in things that matter to you, go abroad and study if that's what you've always wanted. Do what makes you happy.

And if projects on the side are an effective way for you to figure out where your interests lie, why not endeavour to finish a book a week or watch a movie a month? Perhaps even spend 100 days speaking to 100 different strangers?

Life is too short to be thinking about the what-ifs, and we might as well do as many things as we can. In the time we've spent thinking about all these things, we could have ticked off one of the tasks on our to-do list. 

And now as I embark on this path myself, I urge you to think about the things that truly matter to you. I recently read an article that asked, 'What would you not believe if I told you what your life would be like in the future?' Find the answer, write it down, and make it happen. Yes, I understand that there are practical limitations and life doesn't always go the way we want it to. But with a bit of faith and an unwavering readiness to take on the world, anything is possible. 

I leave you with a quote that inspired this post:

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs. Ask yourself what makes you come alive, and go do it. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive." 

-Howard Thurman 

And I hope you never stop dreaming.

bright-eyed wonder

wandering flower

This week has been a lot better since we've (finally) wrapped up our last project! So, finally had time to rest up and rejuvenate and look forward to a better, more-rested week. Onto the next project already and I feel like I've got a better grasp over this one - hopefully it turns out good. I've still been thinking about my other options and itching to write haha.. maybe that's just what I was made to do. I've been reading other articles and blogs and magazine features. Doesn't it give you such an amazing feeling when you've read something so beautifully penned? I can't explain it, but it just brings me so much joy and inspiration. And yes, the pen is indeed mightier than the sword ;) Time to pen my own articles like that... ;)

oh yes, and you can now find me on Instagram @quirkypear :)

Hope, dream, sparkle!

It feels good to say I've finally got my plans sorted out. I know where I'm going now! ;)
Have not felt this at peace with myself in a while.
Ah, fun times lie ahead.

#aimhigh

General thoughts from the week

At long last, I've finally finished week 2! #accomplishmentunlocked. haha jokes. general thoughts on how it's going so far? I started week 2 with the worst sore throat and ended it with unstoppable coughs and a very, very hoarse voice. I think that speaks for itself. Incredibly taxing week and hardly enough rest. 

Hey, don't get me wrong, I still love my job. I'm really just dreading the hours. Especially the hours that are spent.. not really getting anywhere? 

Granted, this is a big project and a lot of people are working on it. So I can understand the need to get everyone together in a meeting room to discuss what the next steps for the project are. But there really would be times when I'd be sitting in the meeting room wondering what help I can offer… 

Perhaps this process can be a lot better streamlined. Or maybe it's just because it's a big project. Or maybe I just need to suck it up and get used to working life. I don't know, but it can only get better from here right?

#maintainpositivity

Wanted to start on something exciting this weekend but my throat/voice/cough is refusing to relent. :( 

better luck next semester. 

And I'll trust in God, that he has his reasons for everything.

New year, new plans!

Last month (or, well, last year) I took a trip to Hong Kong in December with a bunch of my close friends and it's definitely one of those trips you'd remember for a lifetime. Now I can finally say

• roadtrip overseas with friends (CHECK!)

And that's such an amazing feeling :')

This year started off on a good note and I'm pleased with how January is shaping up! I'm into my third day of work and it's been one heck of a roller coaster ride. Too many exciting events coming up and lots to do in the upcoming weeks. It's taxing but I'm thoroughly enjoying every moment of it. It has turned out to be exactly what I expected (perhaps even better) and I'm happy with how things are progressing. I'll give my other plans some thought and maybe after the first week is done I can do a little consolidation on what worked well and how I can balance my work/life :p haha. I've also been buying more into the idea that everything's been worked out for us long ago; as if we were meant to make these choices. It's as though you can have a thousand options placed in front of you, but somehow, funnily enough, you'd go back to the very first option you mapped out at the beginning. And these choices shape where we're going. 

Peculiar thoughts aside, I'm certainly looking forward to what's in store for me next ;) 
I'm happy with my choices. Are you?