Season's Greetings

Its the end of the year, and I have not written for 2-3 weeks. I was in Singapore on Tuesday and Wednesday and when I alighted the train between airline concourses - it was so packed - and my colleague and I were almost squeezed like a LRT ride on peak hours! She remarked that we were the only two persons in the whole train who was in work clothes...! How true... and how extremely sad...

The holiday seasons is indeed here. Many people are taking the time off to spend with children and loved ones, shopping complexes have a very christmas and holiday mood, there are many people doing year end shopping and dressing up for christmas and new year parties and everyone's really winding down for the year.

December is a good month to reminisce about the year that has passed. Last week I read an announcement in email that one of my respected leaders in my company Kah Soon is moving on and pseudo retirement. Not sure about the politics behind this move, but I have a high respect for Kah Soon. He was the one who interviewed me for this job in Accenture, who decided to hire me with one screening interview, instead of 3 long full interviews. He has an uncanny ability to remember people and names, and most importantly he was truly one of the few persons I looked up to in the firm. He helped saved my soul in my lowest career times in Taiwan project, and at the same time gave me a second chance, and extended his hospitality to me many times to his family's home during my one long year working in Taiwan. He taught me how to be a good servant to others, and service beyond self is the motto which has let me learn a lot more about enjoying my work over the last few years.

December is also a month where I remind myself to stay healthy for the next whole year. I did a medical checkup for insurance a week back. Aside from the routine stuff, the docter remarked that my blood pressure was remarkably good, and I attributed that to my increased physical exercise and activity this year. I vividly recall the last insurance check up I did some years back, and to my greatest shock to find a lump in my breast. At that time, I was very naive and did not understand how scary that can be. Luckily it turned out benign. However one of my family was not so lucky. Fortunately this also turned lucky for us and my family member is now in remission. I remind myself to do a proper scan yearly (I have been slack) and also do the proper full medical checkup. Good health can be managed.

December is the month which reminded me of the need to take a good break sometimes in order for us to come back refreshed. This year has been good to me, I set forth with a few places I wanted to go to, and came away with a few more. I went to visit the Great Wall of China on one of my Beijing training trips, I conquered Mt Kinabalu, and most inspiring of all for me, I started to run seriously again.

2005 closing - it reminds me of why I am myself and thank you all who put up with me!

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to all... may you be blessed with good health for the coming years, lots of laughter, good friends and be surrounded with lots of love.