Happy New Year

Yep - it's here again, yet another new year. 2006 went by in a zip. Zip. Zip. Zip. Quicker than a blink of an eye.

What resolutions? Frankly, we don't need an arbitrary date to make a resolution, change our behaviour, or just make a change. Want to make a change, then do it now. Bite the bullet, and just do it. Nike was right :) All a matter of discipline and mind over matter.

What is it about the festive season which makes people more depressed or lonelier? What's with the greater incidence of people committing suicide during the festive season? Hello! Taking one's own life must be one of the most selfish acts ever. Have these people ever considered the people they leave behind? All those questions that will never be answered and the wondering that will go on in the minds of friends and family for the rest of their lives.

Well, maybe there are/were just very mentally ill people out there.

Before the close of the year, a friend from Canada who has not been in touch for a while, emailed and mentioned he contemplated the big "S". He never did get over the death of his best friend two years ago and the sudden failure of his health overnight - what happens when you find out one day that your kidneys are only 10% functioning? I could only offer my friendship and support from this neck of the woods, call me anytime, 24 hours a day. Just refrain from doing anything drastic. You have family and friends who love you tremendously. I have not heard back from him. I've prayed for him and prayed that he'd find peace and solace, and prayed for the banishment of despair. And that he'll find faith in the gift of life -- and the incredible amount of blessings inherent in life.

Today, a dear friend's ailing dad passed away. I visited uncle just a few weeks back. Now he's gone. Life - one moment here; one moment gone. I hope my friend doesn't feel too much guilt or regret. Coz she has been putting mad hours at work and has been away from the family.

A lesson in there for us. Last Friday, I had a long chat with her and we chatted about this Catch 22 situation. What do you do if you have a lot of work? Not do it? And risk losing one's job downstream or just not pull one's weight in the team? How does one balance the needs of one's job with the other priorities in life? Conundrum. To each, his own formula for achievement, for happiness. Both she and I worked through the weekend. That's where our priorities lie.

Did not want to start the year with a morbid blog. There are many reasons to be happy. Found out that an industry contact quit her job, uprooted herself from secure, sane Singapore, to live in Cambodia and start a shop selling wares made by Cambodians. How wonderful! Everywhere, there are people making a small but tangible difference in the lives of people who require it more than us :) Cambodia must be one of the poorest places I've travelled to, and it's wonderful to see someone make a difference there.

Today, a little bit of kindness. A colleague offered me a lift home. It was a fun journey, lots of laughter, him trying to pry information from me haha while we spoke with some passion about the children in our lives -- his kids, my little niece. (Suppose children do make life worth living -- it ain't just a tacky tagline from some silly ad by some ministry interested in social engineering ;) Actually, it IS tacky and social engineering is NOT on, but better this kind of engineering compared to the Hitler/Rwanda/Sudan-types).

The nieceling goes to Primary 3 this year. She is my role model of cool, calm and unfazability. What is in her genes which engender such attitude? What's in her food? ;-) We can learn from every single person our life touches, and I can certainly learn from this Princess of Calm.

Contentment. The niece-ling is contented to remain at home and draw, "make art" in her words, read or write in her journal. Give her pen and paper and she'd be contented and kept busy for hours. Zen. So, I am learning as part of this Gregorian Year's resolution, to be like my Zen Master ;)

Contentment: Happiness with one's situation in life. A lifelong search.

Other resolutions for Gregorian 2007 -- and will continue for many more Gregorians (hopefully):
~ Get healthier, ie more exercise, less food. No exercise, than no food! ;)
~ Laugh a lot more.
~ Read at least 2 books a month. (Must voraciously consume the 100 odd books which are lying idle in Borders and Kinokuniya bags).
~ Give some time to Mercy Relief.
~ Spend more time with family and cats.
~ Transform into a Nana-Bear: cool, calm, collected.
~ Save aggressively (Else I can't go on any more travels - I've already decided to forgo Libya. Sigh. Nevermind, short term pain, long term gain :)
~ Avoid disastrous relationships (haha)
~ Don't work weekends!
~ Find contentment in everything.

2006 has been an interesting, wonderful, challenging year. The year of growing up, significant lessons, adventures, some pain, and some wonderful moments.

Some significant highlights came with significant low-lights. Two sides of a single coin. Such is the paradox of life. But I realise that some of the best and most transformative experiences come with a good measure of challenge.

"Victory is sweetest when you have known defeat." Malcolm Forbes.

Tomorrow will be an exciting day. A new chapter.

Happy New Year. May there be much happiness, peace, fulfilment and loveliness for you and yours. Keep safe and enjoy the wonderful journey!