These days it feels like I’m writing letters to my younger self, when I write here. But unraveling and unpacking oneself do not happen linearly – not always, anyway – and it is good exercise to look back in order to spring forward and sometimes retrace steps and rewrite them differently. Here’s today. There is … More “Kid, you are alright.”
When I am inspired, I want to challenge every tired narrative out there that is reflective of my personhood. I want to challenge every narrative that describes Possible against the landscape of words that are often brought up in the context of loaded and double-edged meanings: traditional; conservative; familial; cultural; religion; female; progressive; Muslim; Southeast … More Redefining Possible.
2020 sometimes feels like a year that keeps taking with surprising speed that I keep having to remind myself it is one that has also given in bountiful. Growing up, when Mum welcomed international examiners during exam season, she would bring us kiddos to the dinners with the external profs. In one of those occasions, … More The ordinary, unexpected tale of a 21-year friendship.
I have been thinking about this and decided I will just put it out. I think the process of living the words “Be yourself” is in truth, extremely difficult. I spent my teens and twenties unpacking what that means – how to stay true to myself while staying ‘relevant’. I have held myself back too … More You will always be ‘too much’ – and you are just fine.
Safekeeping here too cos the words, they are finally here: 2 weeks ago I came across a short clip of an interview between Sandra Oh and Sharon Choi (Bong Joon-Ho’s translator) where they spoke about his (unintended) sophisticated shade ie calling the Oscars local and consistently unfazed reaction receiving all those awards. Sandra Oh said … More “But why is this my fight?”
I feel like I am in this strange limbo or time loop: I’m focused, extremely busy with work – and they are tasks which speak to me on a personal level, passion and all, so despite the intensity and craziness I will still be the first to affirm this is good busy – yet I … More (how is my heart today?)
Bookstores and libraries are my happy place. It has taken me so long to openly and cheerfully admit this cos book nerds aren’t cool. Any type of nerds aren’t cool really but those with their noses in books definitely fall under Top 3 …or so described by all the books I read growing up: American … More redefining cool: book nerd.
It’s funny: I don’t think I’m special but when I look back, I feel like I was always going against the flow of the majority in my immediate circles or communities. In my schooling years when friends dreamed of white knights and picket fences, I dreamed of university life in America. I chased that dream … More against the flow.
I feel like… I do so much of life alone that I don’t know what to do with myself. I have tried to write about this for so long; in fact, I think every once in a while, I would come back here and drop a post or two about this but it often feels … More trust issues, 29 years and counting.
I hate for life to makes sense only when death comes knocking; I hate to write about life as this big, significant thing only when death comes knocking; and I really hate reflecting on life cos death came knocking and therefore reminded me that eveything is transient. But there is no winning… against death. I … More for Tom.
