Hi Blog,
As the new year arrives, fewer people ask me about my New Year resolution these days. Maybe people are busy, or maybe they already assume I don’t have one. The truth is, I do have an ultimate aim in life — but I’ve learned that it’s better to stay grounded and realistic than to dress it up into something ambitious-sounding but hollow.
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| Not every beginning needs noise; some begin with stillness. |
When I was younger, like many others — especially when single — my resolutions sounded familiar: eat healthier, work out more, achieve more, move forward faster. Couples seemed different; they had shared motivation and visible milestones ahead of them. As for me, a plain old single guy, my life has been shaped more by responsibility than by ambition — taking care of my mother and siblings, and filling my days with what many might call “boring” activities: hiking, swimming, jogging, blogging, gardening, volunteering, religious work, even cosplaying. These choices don’t always fit the image of someone who looks ready to devote everything to building a conventional family, and over time, they quietly shaped both how others see me and how I see myself.
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| 1st Jan 2026 - Finally, we managed to complete the 2026 New Year celebration activity after a few weeks of planning, including food, songs, decor, and programs. I wish that 2026 will mark a positive beginning for everyone, as well as a period of significant growth for myself. |
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| 3rd Jan 2026 - Today, my relatives hosted a BBQ session at Toa Payoh SAFRA. It is convenient to have a BBQ by the swimming pool, so one can jump into the pool right away. I tried to swim (I would, since I was there) but stayed far away from the rest, fearing they would see my body and be disgusted. After having my food, I tried to swim, but I realised I couldn't, because I felt like vomiting. So, there is a saying: never swim after having a meal. I guess it is true. |
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| 4th Jan 2026 - I spent the day getting ready to celebrate my mother's birthday. I bought her a cake and flowers a week ago, then hid the cake at the restaurant where we’d be having dinner to surprise her. But honestly, she already expected a birthday cake, so the surprise wasn’t really needed. Happy Birthday to my mum, and thanks to my siblings for being there to celebrate together. |
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| 6th Jan 2026 - Honestly, wearing white trunks has started to feel like a heavy burden for me somehow. Maybe as I am getting fatter, I’ve felt more disconnected from them, but I still wore them anyway. Maybe in a few more years, I’ll cut down to just a few pairs I’m comfortable with. After spring cleaning, I’ll sell some of my trunks on Carousel—but does that make me weird for selling my trunks online? :( |
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| 7th Jan 2026 - Today I was kind of annoyed by a manager’s comment about my pants being too tight. I thought, can’t you just get over it? No one’s even paying attention to this ugly shxt anymore. Whether they’re tight or not, it’s not like anyone’s going to ask me out or that it will affect my work. All I know is that wearing loose, oversized pants just makes me feel sloppy and older. I wear fitted pants because they make me feel confident and put-together. |
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| 8th Jan 2026 - Finally got a chance to go for my first jog of 2026, but it didn’t go well. My big tummy gave me a lot of trouble, and halfway through I felt the urgent need to find a toilet. What a disappointing jogging experience. |
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| 9th Jan 2026 - Finally survived the first week of work in 2026, and just as it was about to rain, I managed to squeeze in a short swim. Unfortunately, my camera couldn’t take any pictures because the battery was dead. Oh well… maybe I’ll treat myself to a new one for my birthday. Or perhaps it’s time to stop snapping photos of this eyesore altogether. Oh dear... I started to feel emotional somehow these days... |
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| 10th Jan 2026 - Thanks to WY and JY’s group for inviting me to their New Year celebration in the neighbourhood. Wonderful friendship and family vibes. Wishing everyone a healthier spiritual journey in 2026. |
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| 11th Jan 2026 - Shopping together as a group is always fun and joyful, especially when everyone shares the same goal and mindset. Even though they are all younger than me, I’m glad they welcomed me in. |
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| 14th Jan 2026 - Instead of procrastinating, I finally got to work and mounted my beloved Platycerium 'Jenny' on a board! I also made a cute kokedama for my Venus Flytrap (VFT). I have to admit, I’m not certain how the VFT will do in this setup, but I figured it deserves a shot! The end result is really satisfying, and I’m so happy with how it turned out! |
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| 15th Jan 2026 - This whole week, my cough hasn't gone away and has actually got a bit worse, so I decided to see a doctor for some medication and... MC! Yes, two days off! Since it was already afternoon, I thought I'd enjoy a quick swim before heading home. It was such a relaxing afternoon, especially since there weren't many swimmers at the pool! I wish I could have sunbathed a bit, but the cough gave me a headache, so I didn't quite enjoy it as much as I'd hoped. |
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| 16th Jan 2026 - I was on medical leave today, but after my working hours, I went to the Pets and Plants Extravaganza 2026 to nurture my soul and mind a bit. However, I ended up harming my wallet a little. I’ve always wanted to see a full-grown ZZ Black Pink, and there it was—it was so beautiful! Unfortunately, the price was also quite beautiful at $400. Still, I managed to control my urge to buy random plants, so I left feeling healed! |
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| 17th Jan 2026 - I finally had the chance to take a short bike ride! My mom asked me to take my waifu out so she could bring in a maid to help clean my room. I thought it was the perfect opportunity to enjoy some cycling while reading a book. I’ve really missed riding my bike! Although I have to admit, I'm not a fan of that numbing feeling under my crotch after a while. Here’s hoping it doesn’t keep happening... |
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| 18th Jan 2026 - I went down to my sister's stall to deliver some items from my mom and helped her with a few tasks. After that, I decorated my otter with Chinese New Year decorations to make it look cute. It caught the attention of a passerby who tried to snap a picture of it. HAHAHA! Mission accomplished! Cute otters never fail to impress! |
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| 19th Jan 2026 - After a week, it seemed like I had almost recovered from my coughing, although I still coughed heavily at night, but it was manageable. It's a blessing to know that despite my old age, my body is still doing well. Even though my fat body doesn’t reflect typical signs of health, I need to appreciate every single blessing at this moment. Today was a quiet Monday swim—just the perfect opportunity for my healing. |
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| 20th Jan 2026 (part 1) - These days I have been wondering... Should I continue the swimming or trisuit theme... As I will also be cutting down and selling my trunks online... Should I sell them? Should I continue my theme? |
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| 20th Jan 2026 (part 2) - After a good swim, I met up with M, and she had two free gold class tickets for a movie. This was my first time watching a movie in gold class, and the best part was that you can order food (expensive) and lay down flat on the comfortable chair. What an experience! |
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| 21st Jan 2026 - It's my third day of swimming, I guess the new lifeguard started to notice that this nerd was swimming regularly. How I wished to get a good suntan because of the fewer crowds. Oh well, it's best to avoid damaging other people's sight. |
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| 22nd Jan 2026 - Seriously, I can't believe I actually went swimming today on the 4th… I completely forgot that I had promised Teacher C into going for a swim! He hadn't been swimming in ages, over two years, so instead of bailing on him, I just went with him and we chatted about work stuff. Good thing I always keep a spare pair of swimming trunks in my bag, just in case – always ready for a dip! |
So this January, my resolution is not about becoming better in obvious ways. It’s about accepting where I stand, without resentment and without self-deception. If there is progress to be made, I want it to be honest, grounded, and aligned with the life I am actually living — not the life I once imagined.
Jeff
