老闆娘的最后一夜

老闆娘上週四結束了在本校園長達13餘年的工作經歷。昨晚我和同事在幫她整理物品之餘，我們有感置身在時光隧道，每一件物品都是記憶的影子。如果不是我和同事的「狠心」丟棄，她可能好多東西都捨不得擱下。丟著丟著，突然感慨，原來多年來的辛勤工作，最後也不過化為一堆廢紙。所幸我們培育的是學生，所以我們的真正成就，正在社會生活中發光發熱。花了這麼多年培育別人的子女，老闆娘現在終於能在往後的日子把時間無私的奉獻給自己的小孩。祝福她！

为安靜寶寶說話

小的時候，因為安靜，曾在課堂上吃過很多次悶虧。還有老師會自以為好意打電話向我媽媽投訴我的安靜。也有大人認為我的安靜意味著驕傲。

有一次媽媽聽信了老師的讒言，還搞不清楚狀況，以為我在學校裡幹了壞事，就用藤條伺候了我。那年我8歲，莫名其妙被打，哭得慘，也哭得冤枉。詞不達意，也沒想到能辯解，就不了了之。

長大以後，因為環境的改變，我學會也適應了溝通，我甚至需要在人群面前演講、教書。我的話醬子開了，不過真正的侃侃而談，僅留給讓我覺得舒服自在的人面前。我在很多人的時候還是會緊張，在陌生環境還是會變成當年的小學生。

不要歧視安靜的人，尤其如果他是你的親人，特別是小孩。我們有我們的好處。安靜不是放空，是讓我們更專注於聆聽和觀察。我們的沈默往往陪襯著沈思。你難道沒有發現安靜的人常常能夠一語驚人，敲醒夢中人嗎？

安靜的人往往筆鋒過人。去找找你的安靜寶寶最近寫或畫出來的東西。他有話說，就看你願否用你的心來聆聽。

Keep in Touch

It's not often that your Singaporean friend is abroad in the same city as you.

每一次的離別，每一句的"keep in touch"，我都在猜測到底真正持續保持聯絡和見面的，會有哪幾個人。有時候猜測的和現實不符，但隨著成長，原本牽掛的人或事現在都能放下。

我沒想到我和Tian Ming在這近十年，即便更換了幾個工作崗位之餘，依舊保持聯絡，也有約見面。這是難得的友情，也是珍貴的緣份。

I Survived 2016

2016 has been a challenging year. I began the year with worry, passed the mid year mark with frustration, before finding an emotional equilibrium and a come-what-may attitude to deal with uncertainties.
In between the pain, disappointment and relief, I learnt a few lessons.
...

1) Don't feel pressured to make goals where u need to "do better" than last year. Sometimes maintaining status quo or reducing expectations is fine too.
2) U can plan trips with challenging destination or people, but not both. U paid for this holiday, u have the right to enjoy it in your terms.
3) Pace yourself at work. The work will never end, and u are not indispensable.
4) If u feel depressed, do not wallow in self-pity, because it is a self-fulfilling prophecy and downward spiral.
5) Cats may be cute, but it is more important to spend time with people that count.
6) When u r down, fall back on a trust system -- a handful of friends who you can talk to, without judging u.
7) First impressions seldom last. Give a new acquaintance time, and yourself chance to get to know someone.
8) The measure of a person's kindness and integrity has nothing to with the person's designation, accolades or social standing in life.
9) Don't be scared of feedback, provided they are constructive, because u can learn to be a better person. Don't be quick to defend. Some will be blind spots, and u may have been rubbing people the wrong way.
10) Different people affirm in different ways. Do not turn just to one person to validate your worth. U can self-affirm or look to others for encouragement.
11) Don't be obsessed with saving money all the time. Some money is worth spending because u get much more in return.
12) Open your heart to people, and they will repay u with friendship!

Meeting Net Friends

Met a bunch of new friends. We bonded over the online 歡歌 singing app. Singing live with them is a very humbling experience! First time singing with so many semi pros. I felt so nervous! Everyone machiam put cd press play.

Meeting friends off the Internet is something I would not have done if I was much younger. But I think the Taiwan trip has empowered me to be bolder and more assured of myself, and be open to new experiences.