Today, I turn 25.
I'm writing myself a list of things that I've done; it's easy to believe in yourself if you have a list. <3
I'm writing myself a list of things that I've done; it's easy to believe in yourself if you have a list. <3
25 Milestones Before 25
1. Hair for Hope
Shaved off all my past-shoulder length curls to raise funds for kids with cancer. More than $2000 was the final count. One of the things I'm most proud of.
2. Mum & Dad's 25th
Threw the best surprise party for Mum & Dad's 25th anniversary complete with childhood friends, freshly flown in Sister from Sydney, buffet spread and their favourite priest to renew their vows.
3. Quitting my job
Quitting your job because it makes you unhappy might be the wisest career choice you make.
4. Backpacking solo
And then I took off into the wild, met some of the most
interesting people I've ever come across and backpacked solo in South-East Asia.
5. Cambodia
I spent the most time in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, teaching
English to orphans and street kids. It was there I learnt that people in
developed countries are not as rich as we seem. Those kids taught me what joy
really is.
6. Barefoot for
Poverty
Raising awareness for people who can't afford shoes by walking a
day in their life. Experienced both the ugliest and kindest behaviour from
fellow Singaporeans.
7. NSP
Worked with the National Solidarity Party behind-the-scenes
as part of the Social Media team during the General Election period. We fought
a good fight.
8. Peace &
Conflict
Represented our little island in a 3-week course in Southern
Thailand about Peace & Conflict in the region. An amazing introduction to
South-East, South and Central Asian politics, conflicts and people.
9. Activism
From taking photos and sneakily distributing flyers for Make
Poverty History to selling tshirts for SlutWalk SG, joining the fight for Yong
Vui Kong's life and saying NO to the Death Penalty, there's so much to be done.
It's amazing to be a part of something great.
10. Vegan with a
Vengeance
Vegetarian is easy. Vegan is hard. That is all.
11. I Fought the Law
A remarkable fight for justice in university, when I was
denied a fair grade because of scumbag lecturer. It went all the way to the top. I won.
12. Meeting Paul & Mick
I met Paul Simonon and Mick Jones (bassist and guitarist from the Clash) and Paul said I was pretty, and that I inspired him with my passion for their music.
Being 1 of 2 kids running a website and a team of 17 reporters
was crazy, so much fun and a great introduction to path I later ventured into
in my career.
14. Full-Time Job
& Degree
Getting your degree with holding down a job in an advertising
agency has been done by lots of people. That doesn't make it easy.
15. New York, New
York
Being selected to go on a journalism field trip to New York where
we met lots of important people from NYT, Boston Globe, MTV and all that.
16. JD Pilgrimage
17. Moving Up
I have at least once been given a raise and a promotion. The
fact that I can successfully do grown-up stuff still fascinates me.
18. Band Travel
Whether it's Hong Kong or London, I'm there if a band I love is there. I like this about myself.
19. Roller Derby
20. Broken Bone
Painful, frustrating and tiring, but it is actually something I'm glad to have experienced. A badge of honour in my Roller Derby life. Once is enough.
21. Getting Help and
Letting Go
Acknowledging that there were some things I couldn't handle
on my own and realising that even the best people out there need help. And I'm
so much better for it.
22. Blogpost
Writing a blog post about painful parts of my past and
sharing them with the world is possibly the scariest thing I have done. The
amount of support shown, and the number of friends who confided in me, as a
result, was overwhelming, humbling and beautiful.
23. Mindanao
I fell in love with children on a mountain while helping to
rebuild their homes. I think about them every day.
24. NaNoWriMo
I completed National Novel Writing Month. My 50, 027 words
are still a work in progress, but I finished it.
25. Being 25
After a year that has seen so much change, disappointment,
joy, confusion, love, heartbreak, trust and misplaced hopes, I'm back on track
with a new job, old friends, amazing family, countless crazy Internet people,
and a badass list to remind myself in dark and lonely times that I have done, am
doing, and will continue to do some amazing things.
This is the most amazing list I have ever read. I will never be able to read those banal '10 things to do blah, blah, blah' lists again! I am sooooooo happy I met you! Cannot wait to read what you write when you turn 50 ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'm SO glad I met you too! Glad you enjoyed the list. It felt like a bit of an adventure just putting it together! xo
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