Hi Blog,
One day, every one of us will grow old. The youthful face we once admired will slowly change. Wrinkles will appear, hair will turn grey, our bodies will lose their strength, and eventually the mirror will reflect someone very different from the person we once knew.
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| If beauty is temporary... what remains when time takes it away? |
As I thought about this, I realised something that I wish I had understood when I was younger. If my happiness depends on being good-looking, then time is my greatest enemy because it will eventually take that away. But if my happiness is rooted in the person I try to become—being kind, sincere, compassionate, with integrity—and in the lives I touch—then time cannot easily steal those things. In fact, they often become even more beautiful with age, just like plants as they grow.
That doesn't mean I will never have moments of insecurity again. There will probably still be days when I compare myself with others or wonder what life might have been if I had been born differently. But those thoughts no longer have the same power over me. They are simply passing clouds, while my values have become the mountains beneath them. I cannot choose the face I was born with, but every day I can choose the heart I am becoming.
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| 3rd Aug 2026 - Honestly... While swimming, I kept thinking about the sold Spidey suit. I felt a bit lost after selling it... I know I did it on impulse, out of anger and a loss of direction... But I think... I will focus on what I have now... I will honour the remaining Spidey suits by cosplaying in them more. Somehow, the pair of goggles gives me some idea... I will resolve the blind issue for glasses wearers like me. |
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| 4th Aug 2026 - How can I slim down when there are celebrations and food at my workplace? I understand that I might be a people pleaser, accepting the food rather than refusing it. I tend to consider how others might feel, and I just hope everyone can be happy; hence, it's called 'Happy Birthday.' |
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| 5th Aug 2026 - Finally! This evening's sky is bright and perfect for jogging. I shouldn't hesitate and should quickly dress for a run. Now I'm looking at my blue trisuit... It seems I have four or five blue trisuits! I guess it will become my iconic colour for working out. |
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| 7th Aug 2026 - I know I am short. I was also affected by social pressure regarding how people view height, so I got a height-increasing insole to try it out. A few centimeters to boost some self-esteem or maybe out of vanity. Haha. Actually, from other people's perspectives, it makes no difference. However, walking with it for too long tends to strain the feet. |
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8th Aug 2026 - Many people, including myself, feel that going to JB during this long weekend is a crazy idea. However, it is difficult to get my busy ex-colleagues—our former vice-principal Dr. L and current colleague G—to agree on a common date to go. So, we decided on this date, and I also wanted to test my theory of beating the crowds to JB by taking the express bus. When I reached the bus interchange, the situation somehow surprised me! There were no queues or crowds at all, and the check-in was smooth. As Dr. L said, whoever had gone in had already gone in. They helped to open the door for us. We just had our simple meals and did some shopping together.
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| 9th Aug 2026 - Happy National Day and 61st Birthday to Singapore! Today, my brother invited me for a badminton match. Since I haven't played in a while, I shall accept the invitation. |
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| 10th Aug 2026 (part 2) - Congratulations to ZN and his wife on their new home! I went up to help with things like photography and arranging things, which I don't know anything about. But it looks like a Chinese New Year celebration, except I was wearing green like a leaf in their photo. Hope they are happy. |
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| 11th Aug 2026 - Honestly, the feeling of getting fatter every day isn’t pleasant, especially since I’m in a situation where I can't make any changes. I don’t feel lousy just because I feel fat, but because I hear many standard pieces of advice telling me to take action myself if I want to see changes. I simply feel overwhelmed and unable to lighten my responsibilities and duties, and not many people understands. I can only do what I can. |
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| 12th Aug 2026 - Recently, the swimming pool has been quite busy with swimmers and families. I was feeling a bit meh and fat, but I know I will recover soon. Just keep swimming, just keep swimming. |
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| 13th Aug 2026 - Today, I appreciated my reporting officer for treating every admin staff member to lunch at Swenson. This was my first time having a lunch buffet there. The food was limited, but I appreciated it because they wanted to have lunch elsewhere yet ensured I had a good variety of choices. I must say, I ate a lot today—almost to the point of feeling like I want to vomit... |
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| 14th Aug 2026 - Honestly, wearing my favourite white trisuit reminds me to treasure the moments because we won't know what will happen in the next few years. Lately, I have been looking back at my past posts; I was so young and energised, and now I look fat and tired. Who knows, I might stop hiking or jogging... |
Perhaps that is the answer I have been searching for all these years. I may never be the tallest person, the most handsome man, or the one who captures everyone's attention. But if I can leave behind kindness instead of pride, hope instead of discouragement, and love instead of judgement, then perhaps I have lived a life far more meaningful than beauty alone could ever offer. Maybe the mirror was never meant to tell me who I am. Maybe my character always has.
Jeff
