Do I really have permission to indulge daily in "a memory of comfort" in order to "grow my emotional tank"? This question has dogged me since my latest counseling session on Tuesday. Even though it's been two years now since I started visiting a counselor monthly to work through unresolved matters in my life, I … Continue reading Indulging daily in “a memory of comfort” to “grow my emotional tank”
We fought hard not to. Until we couldn't. This is the story of our toilet renovations that started three days ago. But in case you're wondering, this isn't a soiled and sordid tale about bowel movements and stinky water closets. This is a story about what truly matters in life. Sorry, I'm getting ahead of … Continue reading How renovating a toilet taught me what truly matters!
There's a scene in the film biopic "A Beautiful Day in the Neighbourhood" (2019) that's so sudden and violent, you wonder if the filmmakers forgot that this film centers around mild-mannered and famous US children's TV show host Mister Rogers (played flawlessly by two-time Oscar winner Tom Hanks). The scene? A wedding reception. The sister … Continue reading Film Review – A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood
A book I recently started reading got me thinking: What is life for me without adult conversations? The book centered around the experiences of a stay-at-home dad (SAHD) and trailing husband, as his wife's career took their very young family (two preschool kids) globe-trotting from Hanoi to Singapore to HCM City and San Francisco over … Continue reading What’s life without adult conversations for this dad?
Last week (and in fact this whole month), WMH Day or World Mental Health Day (10 October) was observed in various ways all over the globe. From national campaigns to promote mental wellness to local efforts like lighting up commercial buildings as a show of support and solidarity for the cause. The state of mental … Continue reading October is Mental Health Month — time to prioritise mental health for you and I
[An edited version of this post can be found here] Have you ever wondered: "What if we could live forever and never die?" No? Really? Well, I guess I must be the odd one out. Or maybe I'm reading the wrong Bible. I was quite certain there was mention there of a new heaven. One … Continue reading Mr Sandman, bring me a dream. Better yet, a friend.
This seems like a post I should have written long ago. After all, I've been teaching since 2003 so I definitely have a good two decades of experience in my belt to pen down some thoughts about this profession that's as old as time. Now don't worry. This isn't going to be one of those … Continue reading What 20 years of teaching has taught me
I recently had a brief life journey conversation with an old friend in the way most modern folks do today - via a messaging platform. It was unavoidable, not because of the pandemic, but because she lived clear across the world from me. The conversation started because I saw on her social media profile she'd … Continue reading How one friend’s “telescope” life journey differs from my “microscope” one
Between the already and not yet Ever stop to ask yourself"Hey where am I right now?"Allow me to tell youThe answer lies somehowBetween before and afterpast and future The already and not yet! Think about it For a minuteAnd you will soon agreeWe're always in transitionYou, the world and me. The middle is wherewe operate … Continue reading My (June) Monday Metrical Musings #86
June is proving to be the month for human connections for me. Or, more specifically, men-to-men connections. Especially if you go by what happened in the past week when I had not one, not two, but five separate and deep conversations with eight men! Had you told me this would happen a month ago, I … Continue reading Conversations for human connections
