Month: January 2013

  • Gift Giving

    I had fun preparing gifts this time.

    I went on Pinterest and stole some craft ideas.
    The gifts I got the most excited about were not the expensive ones.
    They were the quirky and personal ones.
    While I was preparing the gifts, I realized, gift giving is a mindset.
    It can definitely be a chore. 
    I'm sure I don't need to remind you how obligatory special occasions can be.
    But, just like my philosophy in life, anything can be fun if you make it fun.
    The thought of a smile on her face makes me happy.
    That's when I realized gift giving can be fun - and it's definitely not about the monetary value.
    As we 'grow up', we tend to have more money to spend on gifts.
    I often start with a budget, which I don't believe should be the first decision criterion.
    Some of the best gifts I've ever gotten don't even require a budget.
    Case in point: 
    I dug this toilet paper holder up from my stash of memorabilia.
    Someone noticed my toilet paper holder was broken.
    One day, out of nowhere, he got me a new one and drew my friends on it.
    I had such a good laugh. 
    How much did it cost?
    Under $2.
    ------
    Another friend was looking for NeoCitran. 
    The girl was sick and she made a passing comment about how NeoCitran is always out of stock.
    My friend and I walked past a drug store and he asked to go in to take a peek.
    He lives in a different city and wanted to mail NeoCitran to her.
    I thought that was really cute. I mean, who doesn't like opening parcels?
    Nothing extravagant. But it's the thought behind the gift. 
    Unexpected, relevant, and cheap. All in all, very cute.
    ------
    Anyhow, I have new found appreciation for gift giving. 
    I'm sure I will have much more fun with it in the future.
    For starters, I will stop viewing it as a chore.

  • Be Happy

    Two people around me got quite sick recently. "Quite sick" is an understatement, trust me.

    It was hard to swallow. Receiving two pieces of news one after another, within a span of 10 days.
    When the second piece of news hit, I was devastated. It was a low-point.
    I hid under the blanket and slept incessantly.
    However, I am over the hump. 
    When life gives you lemons, you make chocolate sponge cake with no icing. 
    Yes. I like non-sequitur thoughts.
    I appreciate all the email and phone check-ups. 
    Despite failing at so many things in life, I've made some truly solid friends. Young and old.
    Thank you.
    My two friends who have gotten sick both live relatively healthy lifestyles.
    As much as you can try to take care of your body, no one can escape the hands of fate. If ailment comes knocking on your door, it is what it is.
    That said, I still think it's important to take care of your health.
    But, it's even more important to live happy.
    You never know what would happen tomorrow.
    So do yourself the favour. Be happy. Don't be miserable.

  • It's That Dreaded Thing

    On many occasions this week I wanted to write. But I don't know what to say.

    I don't feel like joking about anything.
    I also don't feel it's appropriate for me to sulk.
    Emotionally, this is the strongest she's ever been - proud of her.
    Emotionally, this is one of the weakest I've ever been - I suck.
    I am very hopeful. But when a trigger hits, I become teary-eyed.
    Mom went to the temple and did the whole 'ask the buddha' majig. She received positive signs.
    I'm collecting content for a pick-me-up box.
    So whenever she's down, she can reach into the box for a little pick-me-up.
    Kind of like Kinder Surprise, the adult-not-so-fun version.
    If you have any ideas on what I could include, please let me know.

  • Moral Support

    On December 28, I received an email from one of my girls. 

    We're usually on email or WeChat on a daily basis. We haven't heard from her in days. We just assumed she was busy with her boyfriend, visiting her in NYC.
    The email was short, it said: "Brain surgery at NYU tonight. Have a big ass cyst. Ask JC (boyfriend) for questions."
    It came out of no where. We were all in shock. From diagnosis to surgery, it was a mere 16 hours.
    It ended up being a 7cm brain tumor, not a cyst. Size of an egg. The surgery was smooth and she's recovering well. 
    But a brain tumor at 30? It was surreal. 
    When I first received the email, I didn't quite understand the implications. 
    So I emailed my best friend in Singapore who's a doctor and asked, "How bad is this?" 
    When my best friend responded, I teared. It was then that I realized it could be serious.
    We're all anxiously waiting for pathology results now. The tumor could be benign or cancerous. I don't know why, I really think it's benign. 
    -----
    My company recently went through a round of layoff. I was chatting with a colleague who got the pink slip. She told me, "Sometimes people don't say anything because they don't know what to say. But, that's even weirder."
    When she received emails telling her she'd be missed, the support lifted her from the state of rejection.
    -----
    A good friend's mom passed away last year. I learned how important it is to offer a hand of support. You may not know what to say, but, even a "Are you ok?" or a "Can I help with anything?" means something.
    Being there is important.
    -----
    When I got kicked out of PUYO, I remember what the streams of emails and checkups did for me. They were my source of strength. Simple words, but they went a long way to get me out of my pit.
    -----
    As I'm thinking about these four different scenarios. I see a commonality.
    Practical or not, showing that you care is important.
    You may not know what to say, but, if the person's close to you, say something.
    Showing that you're by their side means something, especially when they are in a state of vulnerability.