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.
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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.

七月與安生

"我恨過你，但我也只有你。"

七月與安生，兩個截然不同的女孩，13歲起成了形影不離的閨蜜。到了18歲，因為家明的出現，她們的關係註定在知己和敵人之間晃蕩。

為了逃避家明的追逐，安生選擇「漂流」，嘗盡人生的酸甜苦辣，也飽受思鄉之苦。為了追逐家明，七月試圖用「安定」綑綁他，卻在安穩的生活中，找不到內心的平靜，和對人生的熱情。

10年裡，她們透過不斷的離別與重逢，彼此依賴、默默關懷，卻也互相羨慕、不斷妒忌。
...

導演曾國祥（曾志偉之子）手法細膩感人。電影不斷重復這些畫面--倒影（鏡子、玻璃窗、地板），和流水（蓮蓬頭、水龍頭、浴缸、海洋）。彷彿是要我們和劇中的兩個女生一樣，一起審視我們的人生。在成長的道路中，你是否也在「安定」與「漂流」中難以抉擇？你又在「安定」和「漂流」得到了什麼，犧牲了什麼？

看著看著，想起張艾嘉1986指導的「最愛」，同樣是2個閨蜜愛上一個男生，用一生的時間糾纏在謊言與真相中，各自關懷，互相折磨。
小忠告：要看這部電影，必須預備很多紙巾。