Archive for the ‘Motivation & values’ Category

“This is HOME. Truly, where I know I must be. Where my dreams wait for me, where the rivers always flow…….This is where I won’t be alone. For this is where I know it’s HOME.”

This is the lyrics of a locally produced song by Dick Lee, sang by Kit Chan, that is remembered by many Singaporeans and I recall fondly these recent years when our boys sang this song, together with me, during National Days.

The song successfully reminds us of how fortunate we are being Singaporeans and how we have progressed together as a nation to achieve our dreams and it triggers that sense of belongings and pride in our hearts.

Indeed, HOME is not just a roof over our heads.

To me, HOME is a place which holds so much meanings and memories; a place where my heart belongs. 

Singapore has been the country of my birth and my HOME for more than 3 decades.  Even when some of  our close relatives are not residing in Singapore, nothing sets our hearts more at ease and at peace than settling with our children in a country which gives us a sense of security, stability, many beautiful memories and where my parents and friends are.

I had a personal encounter of struggling a few years ago deciding whether to relocate our whole family overseas when Papa Ed was under overseas employment.

At last, we made a decision then that nowhere is a safer and more suitable place than HOME to raise our young children. It was a difficult few years for me and kids but today I am glad that I made the decision to stay where HOME is.

So. The song bears so much more sentiments for me. 

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A “re-make” of the “Home”music video

If you also love the song “HOME” as much as we do, have you heard of the  Total Defence 2011 campaign themed “Home - Keeping It Together” organised by Nexus?

Under the campaign, a new arrangement of “Home” music video is launched and this time it is delivered not only by the original singer Kit Chan but also by another 38 local artistes ( like Jacintha Abishenagaden, Stefanie Sun, JJ Lin).

Click for Charity

Now, if you would like to “click for charity” and also enjoy the new arrangement of the “HOME” music video, simply :

* Click here on .

* Download the music video on ”HOME” from the “This Is Home” website.

* Download the music video as many times as you wish.

BECAUSE….

Each download will be matched by a pledged donation of S$1 to Community Chest by a few private corporations.

Help raise S$200,000 for Charity!

Nexus aims to raise S$200,000 for two Community Chest causes (”Dignifying the Lives of the Elderly” & “Keeping Families Together”) through this campaign.

Join us, in support of Nexus, to spread word of the charity drive, by also promoting this “click for charity campaign” to your social circle and blog readers!

The charity drive ends on 31 Mar 2011.

Take the opportunity now to enjoy a beautiful and meaningful song and also do a good deed :)

Welcome to a brand new year! 

This is going to be a tougher and more challenging year for us at home, with Brendan taking his Primary School Leaving Examinations, more critical targets at work, hopefully less travelling by Papa Ed and…. MORE. 

The first thing I actually aspire to do is more exercises for everyone at home to stay healthy and it is so important to stay positive and confident to make things happen.  Hope I do not slack along the way (as I always do when it comes to that exercise routines). 

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This year, I thought it would be interesting to hear what our kids at home have to say about what they value in the old year and what they wish for in the new year. It would also be a valuable record to maintain as they grow.  Treasure while I can, when they are willing to share with me their versions…..

Darren proves to be the fun-loving kind (natural of a little boy who craves for toys and enjoyment more than anything else) and I am glad that he is actually happy to go to school to learn *smile*. Hear him out:

“I am happy that I can buy more toys in 2010 and there is peace. In new year, I want to go to school to learn more things, buy more toys and play with family more.”

[Hmm....a well-balanced wish, for a peaceful world and living, with fun but not forgetting his studies. It also shows how important our kids value our quality time to be involved in their play and fun moments.]

As for Brendan, he has not forgotten about the people who take care of him and is contented being happy. Happiness to him means:

“I am thankful for the good results, the meals cooked by grandpa and grandma, a fun vacation trip with the family, and papa and mommy are quarrelling less.  In 2011, I want everybody in the family to be safe and healthy, do well for my PSLE and happy family.”

[A very family-oriented wish, paying attention to his studies as usual and it shows how important it is to be careful in the management of couples' arguments/differences because our kids actually observe us.]

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We know it takes efforts by ourselves and our loved ones to achieve our wishes and sometimes, things are just beyond our control.  

However, I hope these resolutions help to keep our kids guided and at least it helps us parents understand what is the key to their happiness and what truly makes them happy. 

It will be interesting to hear their definition of  happiness as they grow *smile*.

Time is making a quick step towards the end of the year.

Many of us have been working so hard to keep pace with the flying time and find it hard to be complacent. Then, we tend not to remind ourselves to be THANKFUL regularly for whatever we have.

I confess.

I tend to look for the flaws in life and cannot fully let go of the once dark shadow of my life.   I once felt battered by those storms in life. I will never stop struggling for what I feel is good for the well-beings of the family. To make my life more difficult,  I overburden myself with high expectations and I expect others to keep up with me.  For the last decade, I thought I am so exhausted having to take care of everyone else whether at home or at work, except myself.  

When accumulated, these have deterred me from appreciating that there are many overlooked moments and small happiness in life which I missed being thankful for.  Moreover,  I am not one who is good in expressing my gratitude for my loved ones in words except through gestures.

 Looking back at the last 12 months…… 

 I admit. 

I am truly happier than before. 

Happiness means being Thankful for these glittering stuff  “a late X’mas gift” that I have received today.  Better that it is late than never give *haha*. Thanks to Papa Ed *wink wink*.

 Actually, I am just kidding. My family would know by now that these material stuff  could never bring me happiness BUT I would rather go for meaningful intangibles that are left to be valued pricelessly in my heart.

Seriously, if I have not been expressing my gratitude obviously to my family or have been grumbling instead of showing gratefulness, I must knock my head for not reminding myself that  I should be Thankful for these many things that I tend to take for granted……

• Family togetherness - After years of living apart due to Papa Ed’s work commitment, I am glad that he is beginning to travel less and is here for us. I am trully thankful for the presence of a hubby and dad.
• Quality time spent with the family - Ed and boys, I really treasure the many more moments of quality time that the four of us have started spending together in the last two years.  The moments will never be the same without everyone’s efforts.

• Home-cooked meals prepared by my parents - I did not understand why my parents tend to feel so excited whether we were home for meals in the past. Now, finally I am starting to appreciate that excitement as a parent myself.
• Good Health - despite little “health hiccups” now and then
• Being taken care of - Thanks Ed for making me that hot cup of milo every night and daily breakfast. Also, thanks for never complaining about this lazy wife who is so tired to step into the kitchen to even prepare herself a cup of hot drinks. Much more thanks for doing most of the housework and bearing with my nonsensical complaints about the standard
• Friendship - To my dear friends who have been there for me in my difficult moments: ”My life will never be any easier without you” 

These are the reasons for me to be thankful for everyday…their happiness, their good health, their well-beings :)

Despite several unresolved life obstacles. Despite some difficult life choices that I still need to make. Who don’t have them anyway?  So, let’s just remember to count our blessings for the moment and take life as it comes.

Haha! After reflecting on my Thankful list, I realised that I am much happier than before.

Try this out! What are you thankful for this year?  Start thinking and I am sure you will find the reasons to smile deeply from your heart :)

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If we start counting our gratitudes, I believe we will be happier than ever! Here’s wishing all of us a HAPPIER NEW YEAR!