A New Beginning
Today is 9 August 2021. It’s National Day for Singapore. Since I am coming close to a year of my freelancing journey, I thought it will be timely to pen down some thoughts of the past year.
It has been a challenging, unpredictable, roller coaster year for the nation and many people. Businesses, Business owners, Freelancers (especially those in media, creative, performing arts, events, hospitality) have been struggling with varying level of challenges. I can personally relate to many of these challenges as a creative freelancer myself. There are indeed may lost work opportunities, lost human interaction, and lost horizons from overseas cultural immersion.
The repercussions of a pandemic-stricken year also seem to trigger many societal problems brewing within in the local or global context. Mental health issues, domestic abuse, racial and religious differences alongside others.
However, it’s really through the tough times that we see the ugly (unfortunately) and beautiful. I have met many extraordinary individuals who step up and empower people around them, newfound communities supporting one another, ground-up initiatives helping local hawkers, local businesses adapting, work culture finally (maybe forced to) embracing work-from-home and hopefully flexible working hours. I believe if not covid-19, another wave of massive challenges will occur as a matter of life – be it nature, technological, socio-political – every generation has hurdles to cross.
The pandemic definitely has pushed my limits. I became a freelancer when we moved into circuit breaker. It was unfortunate in the sense that I took 4 years to make this bold move only to be “welcomed” by covid-19. But as the wise says, there’s a reason for everything and there’s always a sliver lining. I become more open-minded, bold, adventurous, resourceful, resilient, and more importantly, grateful for people who has inspired me and given me opportunities to grow in their own ways. I think I’ve advanced a few steps, doing a bit of films, commercials, virtual theatre, livestreams, programs, and writing. I am glad in a way that I keep working on my craft.
If any, the current times we are living in now should be a reminder for us to work harder for the things we are passionate about, and not an excuse to complain and retreat into despair. It should be a reminder of the things we should prioritize and resolve for a long time, instead of a reason for to cause further divide, discrimination and mindless rants. It should be also be a stark reminder to be grateful for the people and things we have, being alive, healthy, abled, and sheltered instead of blaming others for what we don’t have. Of course, that doesn’t stop us from raising valid concerns and giving constructive suggestions.
As author G. Michael Hopf puts it, which I certainly agree from learnings and observation, “Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.” It’s our choice to become strong in hard times, and not be weak in good times.
As a nation, we have imperfections to work on. As a community, we have differences to embrace. As a citizen, we have odds to overcome. I’m happy to call Singapore my home and I’m grateful to be safe and sound. After all, we can love something and somewhere without loving everything about it.
Get inspiration. Stay motivated. Be grateful. Have an open mind. Be objective. Judge less, if possible don’t judge. Stay hungry. When you’re afraid, try anyway. Be clear minded, complain less and adapt more. Exercise more, ‘cause covid-19 is bad for waistline. Cry if you need to, but chin up and move forward. Love more, laugh more, and live more.
Happy birthday Singapore, my home. Onwards, fellow Singaporeans.