Flying Without Wings

A friend commented, after joining my siblings and I for a late night chillout, "It's like a group of friends who happened to be brothers and sisters!"

And you know what? I agree.

Not all the stress in the world can withstand the balm of FAMILY.

It doesn't matter what we're doing, as long as we're all there together.

It's the comfort and security of knowing that whatever may happen or come our way, we would face it together.

We would be there for each other, through thick or thin.

The happiness of good things are multiplied, and the bad things are helped to be borne.

"Love" doesn't have to be said, it is almost tangible through the actions.

We love being together.

Whether it's on big wheels...

...Or small wheels.

Because when we're together, it's really like FLYING WITHOUT WINGS.

And times like these, I know I'm the luckiest gal in the world.

**Tonight was back to the classroom for her. Or rather, in the classroom for the FIRST time, for her**

Forecasted with Grace

January jump-started in third gear.

As it turns out, all my hopes of having a more relaxed work schedule flew out the window within the first 3 days of 2011.... together with my hopes of not having to do any performances after our BOP Christmas party win! Apparently, the bosses think we have enough time and energy to spare after a full exhausting day of work and decided to pinpoint my group in front of the entire sales force to perform at the Company dinner in front of more than 600 pairs of eyes, in a week's time.

Which leaves my team of 11 young people with exactly 7 days to learn two whole sets of dances moves and choreograph the third set!

In the meantime, work targets remain and the fight for more orders continue...

Oh, and as a passing mention, the much-dreaded word "REVIEW" popped up this last week. I will not stress on the details, but all of us sales people know what that means.

And school starts in 3 days. Ya know, those night lectures that'll take place twice a week? And I haven't even had a chance to see my time table or tidy my desk or look through my books yet. I'm excited and scared and thinking, "Oh my God, I'm so not ready for this!" all at the same time.

And then, just when I thought that the stress and pressures of work and school and everything else in between would engulf me, another unexpected bomb dropped on my desk - Janet, one of my closest colleagues and team mates, announced that she had submitted her resignation and left the company, all within the same week. Just last week, to be exact. And so, early into the year, I had to go through one of the things I hate the most - Saying Goodbye. The thought that sliced through my mind? "Well, I didn't see that one coming..."

Somehow I feel that these first few weeks of 2011 are just a forecast of what is to come... It is going to be a Year of new Challenges, bigger Stresses, of questioning whether I will actually be able to succeed in what I am putting myself to, of staring up bigger mountains and needing to find the will somewhere inside me to take the first step up.

Truth is...I'm scared.

I feel so small, so inadequate.

A "perfectionist", I am afraid of the mistakes I will have to make.
A realist, I know there will be more goodbyes that I will have to make by the way, to the people that come and go in my life.
There are so many things I do not know, so many questions I do not have answers to or am scared to know the answers to.
I am nervous about taking on so many things onto my plate at the same time, worried that I might be stretching myself too thinly till I am unable to excel in the areas that I want to.
I see ahead of me goals and targets...targets set not only by myself for myself, but by others for me. And the heights of some are daunting - so daunting that realistically speaking, I might not be able to meet.
I am scared that the days ahead will be so busy, so hectic, that they pass in a blur and I miss out and forget to appreciate the little things in life.
The core values which I cling to, my principles, the things I live for... they will be challenged over and again by those around me.
There will be days that I will be discouraged, disheartened, that I will break down and cry.

I am afraid I won't be positive enough, strong enough, brave enough.

Stressed. Tired. Overwhelmed.

And then I read the words of dear girls laying bare their own daily struggles, honestly acknowledging their weaknesses, humbly sharing their lessons learnt.

And my weary heart is encouraged. And finding courage to carry on.

"He giveth more grace," I was promised.

I don't need to focus on the huge mountains ahead of me, I just need to take it one step at a time. I don't have guarantees that I'll succeed in everything I set out to do. In fact, the path ahead will neither be smooth-sailing nor a bed of roses. But I also know that His grace will be sufficient for me, as and when I need it.

And that, for me, is enough.



**She loves her new blue dress**

I Hope You Dance

So it's late at night...

And I'm tired and weary from a long work day...

And it's a long drive home...

And then the strains of the most beautiful song I've heard in a longggg time fills my car and surrounds me..

And it feels like someone just reached out to give me a big warm HUG.

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder
You get your fill to eat
But always keep that hunger
May you never take one single breath for granted
God forbid love ever leave you empty handed
I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Living might mean taking chances
But they're worth taking
Lovin' might be a mistake
But it's worth making
Don't let some hell bent heart
Leave you bitter
When you come close to selling out
Reconsider
Give the heavens above
More than just a passing glance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

I hope you still feel small
When you stand by the ocean
Whenever one door closes, I hope one more opens
Promise me you'll give faith a fighting chance

And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance
Dance
I hope you dance
I hope you dance
(Time is a real and constant motion always)
I hope you dance
(Rolling us along)
I hope you dance
(Tell me who)
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
I hope you dance
(Where those years have gone)

(Tell me who)
I hope you dance
(Wants to look back on their youth and wonder)
(Where those years have gone)

Thank you, my Angel.

I WILL dance, whether in sunshine or in rain.

**She is working hard for a good January**

Goodbye, 2010 ~ Haylow, 2011!

If there was one word to describe 2010, it would be DYNAMIC.

Change was a constant...

Adaptability was a must...

and Growth was the result.

It was a year of milestones. Here are some highlights of 2010, in a nutshell:

I flew and landed a small 4-seater Aeroplane in Malaysia,

I ran my first 21KM during the Addidas Sundown Marathon, under 2.45 h9urs,

I became Aunt to a SECOND darling little niece,

I went for four diving trips...

Two of them with my colleague Lloyd Chia,

I chilled out with diving buddies...

work friends,

and childhood lovaduckies,

I got an internal transfer in Fuji Xerox from an Admin Support department to the Sales Force...

And successfully hit more than 100% of my personal target within my first 3 months...surrounded by supportive colleagues,

I went to Desaru with the family...twice,

Bintan with Kim and Ben,

Pontian with my colleagues and buddies,

and Port Dickson with the family,

I celebrated my 21st birthday with my family and closest friends and colleagues,

I got my first car,

and I performed as a rockstar guitarist at our FX Christmas party, with our team of Gen-Y Rockers winning 2nd place!

Yes, 2010 has been a crazy year, a year of extremes and of balances.

I met some of the most incredible people from all walks of life: Mediacorpe artistes Pamelyn Chee, Devarajan, Carl Ng, Bernard Tan, and Randall Tan; lawyers; entrepreneurs; insurance agents; students; and some of them joined my circle of closest friends. I went up into the sky, and down below sea level. I left a desk-bound job for a door-to-door career. I turned 21 and held an awesome birthday bash at Mount Emily. I became owner of my very own Coach bag. I learned to handle people and manage the stresses and ups and downs of the sales line. I met with disappointments, setbacks, and heartaches. I had my moments of triumphs, and likewise my moments of tears. I found out that if you put your heart and mind to achieve something, there is no limit to what you can do. I experienced the pain of letting go of some of the people and things dearest to me. I grew in every way possible (except weight and height, hopefully!).

And now, 2011 has arrived.

With it comes new challenges and goals, new beginnings, new opportunities.

My 2011 resolution is simple: Work hard, study hard, and play hard. Laugh more, love always, and don't expect too much from people.

I have no idea what 2011 will bring with it, but I know it will be an incredible year - and I am excited. (:

**Leona Lewis's Run lyrics are running through her mind**