You. Are. Home.

Almost home.

Travel safe my little Pinocchio. I'll see you in the morning... x

In Time

It was my typical morning routine... waking up too early and finding it difficult to go back to sleep. If it were any other day, I would’ve gone online, read a book or popped something into the DVD player. But instead, I got up and decided to go for a walk with Little Miss Cute Cam. I ended up at Mrs Macquarie’s Point just in time for the sunrise. I had never been there at that time of the day and it was breathtaking. I soaked up the sun and took all the beauty in with a feeling of inexplicable contentment. And once again, I was reminded of how lucky I am to be living in this beautiful city.

Folklore has it that Mrs Macquarie sat in that carved ledge as she watched ships dock and waited for the Governor to come home. What a beautiful waiting spot it would have been. But I suppose waiting is never easy for anyone, at any time and in any given circumstance. It is in our nature to want to have an answer to every question and not only that... We also mostly want those answers NOW. I have always been one to overanalyse. And whilst I see it as a good thing in the sense that it helps me be in touch with my thoughts and my feelings, I am also aware that it can become a hindrance to just letting aspects of my life flourish at their own time. I think the thing that keeps me in check is my strong belief that everything happens for a reason and that things will unfold when they are meant to unfold. This has never been as imminent in my life as it has been in the last year. It’s no easy feat to accept that we cannot always be in control. And there are some challenges that throw us off and we have no other choice but to work around them. But once we start letting go and trusting that things will be alright, we also reap the benefits of winning and learning. We may not have all the solutions and the answers from the get go but life is kind and it gives us enough positivity to pull through until we finally reach that moment of truth. The present is a good place to be in if we allow it to be and there are so many parts of it that would be a pity to miss out on. Whilst it is important to keep the uncertainties within the horizon, it is also equally important to carry on with what’s currently on our plate as there is so much to be lived out of the present. I’d like to think of it as patiently but proactively waiting for time... time that will reveal answers, time that will challenge us to change, time that will present opportunities. And in time, we will realise that everything does work out fine.

You’ve seen so much in your travels. I hope you find just as much from home. And whilst your waiting game is far from over, keep trusting that all will be well and that you will be well.

Viva la vida!

I will remember tonight as the night when I fell in love with Coldplay all over again. I turned up at Acer Arena half dead from back to back meetings and the usual Wednesday beating at work. The opening acts weren't exactly uplifting either and standing on our feet for two hours just added to the turmoil. All of this was about to change and as soon as Coldplay went on stage, my energy levels shot up with the thousands of people at Acer Arena. What an amazing concert experience! I was mesmerised by the passion and creativity that brought the band, the music and the crowd together. Their profound words and melodies were matched by the bands movements across various parts of the stadium, powerful images being splashed on different forms of screens, massive yellow balls making their way amongst the crowd and even a confetti of butterflies. There was no moment of disconnect and true to the essence of their song Viva La Vida, the evening was indeed a celebration of life. And it was definitely a celebration that was out of the ordinary.

The song Viva La Vida takes the celebration of life a notch higher as it gives emphasis on overcoming structures and barriers that hinder us from going for what really matters to us. It speaks of a king who has lost his kingdom... and that was when he really became king. It's no easy feat to figure out what's really important to us. There are too many things to factor in and often times, too many opinions to take into consideration. It then becomes a challenge to listen to ourselves because we end up with too much noise around us. I often fall into this trap of letting what other people think get to me and I have to remind myself to not get too affected. It takes a certain amount of boldness to go against the norm in order to focus on what really matters to us. We live in a world where parameters of what's right and wrong are so strictly defined and it is too easy to get judged when we decide to rock the boat and challenge the system. I do believe it's worth it to muster up the courage and dare to be different. You may go through some tough obstacles but at the end of the day, every experience adds value to our life when it comes full circle.

It's been almost a year since you dropped everything and dared to go on your journey of self-discovery. I wouldn't say it's the norm as you have taken huge risks which I believe have paid off through the vastness of rich experiences, friendships and stories that you have accumulated. I have been living vicariously through your journey and every part of it that you have shared with me. And with respect, pride and admiration, I can say that it has been a wonderful ride. I feel like it's all coming full circle now and that you are ready to come home. You are almost home. And we shall continue celebrating. :)

One minute I held the key
Next the walls were closed on me
And I discovered that my castles stand
Upon pillars of salt and pillars of sand

I hear Jerusalem bells a ringing
Roman Cavalry choirs are singing
Be my mirror, my sword and shield
My missionaries in a foreign field

For some reason I can't explain
Once you go there was never
Never an honest word
And that was when I ruled the world

It was the wicked and wild wind
Blew down the doors to let me in
Shattered windows and the sound of drums
People couldn't believe what I'd become

Comfort Food

I had a long day and needed a pick me upper to save what's left of it. It's a Tuesday after all so I knew that things could only get better as soon as I step out of the office. Bachata was waiting but I thought I'd take an extra step and fill the 2 hour gap with a nice long walk and some comfort food. I ventured out to Chinatown with not much planned. I was open to any distraction that would keep thoughts of work away. After taking photos and poking my head into obscure Asian shops, I ended my mini adventure in this Vietnamese restaurant that Liz and I used to go to all the time. I got my pho which not only filled the void in my stomach but that in my bruised soul as well. Already the day was better... and bachata hasn't even started.

We all get down days and some can be enough to throw us off balance. And all of a sudden we find ourselves in unfamiliar ground. It can be a range of things that overwhelm us or lack of them to inspire us. They make us weary either way and there arises the need to recharge before the situation gets the better of us. We all have our own little things that guarantee a positive twist to the story. And sometimes, that's all that we really need... something comforting and familiar to keep the energy going. Nothing fancy but instead, a no frills way to lift the spirit up and make a little bit of difference. It's somewhat like comfort food. It can be a homemade meal from Mum's kitchen. Or that same item on the menu that you keep ordering from your favourite restaurant. Or your favourite flavour of ice cream. Or Asian food that you so miss. It can be anything that brings with it a piece of something that you have always loved and turned to for contentment. Food is an obvious choice, I suppose. But comfort food can also come in other forms - people, places and other favourite things. When your world starts to spin too fast and you just want it to stop so you can get off, just remember that there are solutions within your reach and they don't always have to be grand ones. Sometimes, it is more than enough to have something that makes you smile and look forward to a new day. Allow yourself the little treats that soothe the soul. And then hopefully you'll want to get on the ride again.

Of Winding Staircases and Dizzying Heights

I've never been afraid of heights but have had my share of occasional episodes of vertigo. This time was no different from the rest. Loss of balance and nausea were quick to move into my personal space. I looked down from where I was and held on to the railings for my dear life. I knew that I wanted to get down there but a miscalculated step and a slip there can lead to an obvious disaster. And obviously not my means of choice. I could see everything before me and yet there was hesitation to take the long way down. In my mind, I was thinking that the long and winding staircases would've just aggravated my dizzy spells. And so I stayed put and allowed myself to be stagnant for a while. But not for too long as I knew that I had to make a move to actually make something of my day.

A wise man said that the fear of suffering is always worse than the suffering itself. The world can be overwhelming at times and whilst there are endless opportunities for our taking, I tend to think that each chance at a good thing comes with the temptation to let our fears in. How many times have you wanted something but hesitated because you were scared? Scared to fail, scared to get hurt, scared to lose control... But what does it matter if you fail? Or get hurt? Or lose control? There will always be opportunities to rise above the ashes. And you will be a stronger and better person when you do.

Dealing with fear can be tricky in that we either hold on too tight or frantically let go and hit the panic button. Neither is ideal for any situation. Your analogy with the brake pedal will forever remain with me now. Pressing the brakes will keep you safe but it won't take you anywhere. On the other hand, letting go and hitting it too hard when push comes to shove can result in a crash. But hey, there is point of balance that is achievable. And cruising along smoothly is possible. Fear doesn't always have to be the enemy. Acknowledging fears make it easier to rectify them. It also keeps us grounded and pushes us to cope the best way we know how. Life isn't always easy but it helps to be aware of the things that hinder us from stepping forward.

You can detach yourself and observe what's going on before you for ages. But you can only look at the big picture for so long. You can let your fears consume you but why not let it humble you instead? Wouldn't it be wonderful to actually be part of that big picture? The world is at your feet. Believe it and make it yours.