hello.

I've always disliked the glorification of being busy. As we age... It gets harder to find time for doing many things, simply because we have other commitments too.

It's not a bad thing... to streamline to cut away. To declutter...

I really need a good detox for my life. Too many negative thoughts recently, too tired all the time, too bogged down by many things, most of the days I am filled with dread.

The things that I want to do, I find myself too busy to. And I hate it when I've to reply people, "I've been too busy". We make time for the things that matter yes...

I just really need a timeout and a break. It seems like I keep telling myself, after this and that my life would be better. But it's not true... Maybe it's really a state of mind. And I really do need to cut away things that don't need me.

In our fast paced life, how do we truly take a break though?

I've not had this kind of Saturday in a long long while. I'm currently on one week's leave to study for my exams next week. Though I'm supposed to be studying... I've taken quite a bit of break to do everything else. :p

I've been cooking dinner for myself every night for past 3 days! It feels good to cook different stuff up, past few months I've been too tired to do anything. Glad this exam break enabled me to do so! I've cleared stuff from the fridge I've been meaning to clear since forever. Washed dishes, prepared breakfast for tomorrow, prepared fruits for snacks later.

Now... I'm applying clay mask and waiting for it to dry before showering.

I don't know why but all these little things make me so so happy. I really can't remember the last time I felt so at ease... and decluttered. You know those nagging thoughts that come to you everyday, asking you to do this do that, but you've never really gotten around to doing it? So glad I could today!

I think I haven't been very healthy or kind to myself since 2016 started. It blurred past me.

After my exams... I really want to take the time out to piece back my life again, find the drive again, declutter my life, prioritize what's important. Read more, love myself more.

“其实敬虔和知足才是真正的财富” - 1 Timothy 6:6

I've been thinking about simplicity a lot this season of my life again. 

There are many things to pursue, many things to want, many things to need, many things to conquer. But these days... I find joy in the simplest of things, day-to-day mundane routine.

And I thought to myself, what is contentment? I guess true contentment comes when we simplify our lives, stripping away the unnecessary, understanding that what's essential is not really seen. Other things are just bonuses or add-ons.

知足常乐。还在学习着。

Sharing one of my favourite photos from my Nice trip back in 2014. I simply love Nice so much! Such a charmer! I feel like I could just sit there the whole day, enjoying the breeze and sky and stare into the horizon. Seagulls flying everywhere... the waves amazingly soothing. The beach is filled with pebbles instead of sand! Being the OCD me... I actually secretly hate sand. I dislike the feeling of having tiny particles between my toes and fingers and not able to fully clean it off. I know I know... I am a weird creature. So Nice's beach fits me perfectly!

This is one of my favourite photos as well. I was touched just strolling by and noticing this old couple. Sitting there together enjoying the view. Simplicity... Bliss!

All these are non-filtered. You simply don't need filter in gorgeous Nice! No wonder it's filled with tourists during summer. Perfect to go in the colder months like December like I did! :)

Okay so why the nostalgia.

I was scrolling through my photos and missing these carefree moments. I feel like this year is so busy it's ridiculous. I feel like sometimes I've no space to breathe! But then again, sometimes it's also the pressure I put on myself. Working and studying part time is no joke... All these on top of other commitments. There were so many moments I felt overwhelmed.

I'm not that kind who WANTS a holiday to get away, to feel that I've rested. I don't like the idea of living from holiday to holiday to 'get away'. I believe we CAN rest too even if we are in Singapore. It's a state of mind more than anything. Of course, holidays are nice... But if we live from holiday to holiday, I think we won't truly enjoy the in-betweens. It's so easy to get stuck in a rut, and experiencing a 'high' to be okay. I don't really like such a perspective of life. There is also beauty in the mundane.

I digress. All in all, I think for now, I really need a space to breathe. I was feeling a little too burnt out, carrying negativity and cynicism too often in me. It's so not healthy. I simply can't wait for exams to end actually.

In the meantime, Tingting fighting!

Hello. I have been thinking for the longest time to revive this dead space. I thought that I should start afresh, to have a new blog, as the 'old' one is rather negative. Haha. But then again... I thought that it's a good timeline of how my life progressed. Hahaha. I used to only blog when I'm emo. So hilarious.

I'm still trying to figure out some HTML stuff though! Bear with me.

Hello to you if you are here... I have no idea who still bothers to read this space. Haha.

Am trying this out again... A space for me to just write on and on. I recently feel that I should start 'cutting' on social media, thus I've not been posting a lot lately. It's scary what we put in public. I feel I should keep a low profile. Been quite a good thing though!

Will be back! :)