Reflections of Time

It's December & the very last month of the year 2023.

Christmas is just over – Mr Santa has gone back to North Pole

How’s everyone doing?

I hope all of you are doing more than just fine, navigating everything that’s on your plate.

I get super excited when it comes to December not only because of the Christmas celebration mood but it’s also my birthday month.

December is also month, I feel when everything seems to slow down a little, everyone’s chillaxing and takes things a little easy.

With December, it's also almost natural that people just get into the holiday mode, taking a little breather, one that most of us do not feel we are either lazy or guilty of taking a long break or being unpurposeful.

For me, December is a time I do a little more reflections and give thanks for all the events that have taken place in the year.

Learnings

2023 has been a year I learnt to accept the ugly side of things in a deeper level, in particular where my plan did not go as planned. My realisation deepened in the sense that there are some things that perhaps, are not meant to go on – such as some projects, some partnerships, some connections. It’s disappointed but on the flip side, there are some other things that I did not plan went surprisingly well such as building new community on mental health space & reconnection with some old friends. I guess, this is what we call life surprises or perhaps, in my definition - the way of life.

When things do not go as planned, it’s a struggle, it’s a challenge, it’s the reason we keep asking the question ‘why’? Why this deal did not materialise? Why haven’t I gotten that client? What is it I am not doing enough? Etcetera.

It is so easy to get in the rut of this challenge that we forget our purpose. Sometimes, it is in this struggle of questioning everything, that we forget to see all the things that happened right for us, for our reality with our circumstances & situations.

Through the struggle to understand things & life, surrendering to the flow of my destiny and striving to shape my destiny, my gratitude deepens.

Gratitude

Nightingale Podcast

I am grateful for the warm welcome as I return to the Nightingale podcast.

With all of your support, Nightingale had over 1k listening times, (I never would have thought it could come to this number).

‘Today, let’s make space …’ was the top episode on Nightingale and ‘Anger in Us’ was the most shared episode.

Mexico was the top streamed country for Nightingale and Malaysia was the country Nightingale had the most new listeners.

When I first started doing up my content through my writing, I started with Hope under the wings of selfcare.

Writing upon writing, adventure upon adventure that expanded my experience whether spiritually or intellectually, they have helped extend my perspectives on people, things and circumstances. I have also given a different meaning on the same word as I revisited some of my older writings. Hope is one of them. Each writing has given me strength in navigating moments in my walking life. 

This was what started my podcasting platform and made a comeback after taking a hiatus. Hence, a podcast for everyday people, because I share my stories from the viewpoint of an everyday person, not rigidly from my profession. The reflection of someone living an ordinary everyday life, seeing things from her eye-level with the various roles she plays with the hope it resonates with some of you.

That said, I have a new Trailer on my Nightingale podcast – so have a listen when you have some time to spare.

ClubHouse

This year also saw my participation in the Clubhouse in the Mental Health Strategy room which I am grateful for. A trusted space to share personal stories that are so relatable, reminding us the true meaning of the phrase “We are (really) not alone”. Through this participation, my circle of community has further expanded. There are many great people out there and the meaning of diversity is further extended, at least in my own dictionary. At the end of each session, I share the takeaway from the topic of discussion on my IG handle, to share notes we can take reference of.

The Now Project channel

I am also grateful for the launch of The Now Project channel – a life contemplation of living in the Now. Something we have worked on for several years in terms of the content. As we learned to appreciate the moment together with the impact of Covid on humanity, sharing different reality of the present, we hope to instil and make good use of this very living moment. Through every suffering and with every obstacles, we learn to ask the question “What can we do Now?” – and became somewhat the mantra of our team. Every contemplation we share on this channel carries hope that we are able to self reflect through our self awareness. We also believe that changing the world is only possible when we are able to change ourselves -; and we be in the game of change ourselves. With everyone’s support since the launch this year, we have had a humble views of over 500 views with more than 50 likes. We are delighted.

But most of all, I am grateful for the people who has been by my side in this year, my dad who has been able to better look after himself – dad, I’m proud of you & to my brother, thank you for standing in how-ever you are able to. To my best friend and coach, I could not have done things differently without your guidance. And to my friends, thank you for the space for us to just vent, laugh, talk nonsense & most of all BE. Oh and last but not least, I am thankful for the possible travels I have done this year which allowed me to collect some zen-ness through my observations and towards life itself.

As I continue to learn about life in managing self expectations, navigating through challenges and appreciating the joyous moments in between,

Here I share some of my self-created favourite quotes through all these events in 2023,

1. Selfcare isn’t selfishness & isn’t just spa, champagne, shopping, travel and everything exterior & loud. It is the quiet work involved in the nourishment of our mental and emotional fitness as well as elevating our physical fitness so we can do more meaningful activities that serve us & others.

2. Patience is the virtue to all self care journey, whether for healing, recuperating, growth, development, reskilling or any spiritual work for the soul.

3. Consistency is a test of our resilience. Consistency can sometimes show indication if our purpose and value is aligned to a scale that can call on more even when we think we have exhausted all our resources.

4. Our reality may be different but surprised not that the end goal all of us are chasing is the Peace & Harmony in our daily endeavours and interactions.

5. No matter which phase of life we are at, the intention to start over to make things more ease for us worth more than being in a zone that make us look good for others.

6. There are moments in our life when our conduct contradicts our mind & heart. Return home to self and renavigate mindfully to lessen the friction.

So, For 2023, to all of you who have presented yourself, either as listeners to Nightingale podcast, viewers of the Now Project channel, clients to GrandLaw, supporters of my writings across all my social media platforms, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. You have all played a part in my content creation.

This holiday and for 2024, my wish for everyone out there is,

That a ray of lights will shine through so you can believe in your hopes and continue to carry your dreams wherever you are.

Some magical words of the heart to share with you,

“December jingles always excite me.

Pine trees and fir trees are fully decorated with shiny ornaments.

Reindeers bear their red nose & brightly litted.  

An Angel & Star tree topper make their way to the top of the Christmas tree with blinkers light.

How Enchanting!

I hope you see and feel the jingles of the tall Christmas trees you walked past these past weeks, the bells the reindeer have on its sleigh, and the love that presented itself in each gifts. May you keep nourishment as your ongoing compass to jump off each hurdle that may come by, peacefully & with grace. I hope you receive these words with an open heart.”

Bye bye 2023!

Happy New Year 2024!