A lot went down in 2015. I changed my address, I changed my job, I changed the people I spent time with. I redefined myself through my thoughts and what I did with my time. It almost seemed that I had a completely different life than before.
It was scary but I relished the opportunity to work with a fresh slate.
So here are my 10 "Life-Changing" Moments of 2015:
ONE: Moving to Punggol
My new room in Punggol! |
TWO: Writing for Kronenbourg Celebrates Craft
After my blogpost about moving out went viral, Sugarquoted, a content-creation outfit, picked me up and I secured my first writing assignment - the Kronenbourg Celebrates Craft facebook series. I've had the chance to interview quite a few cool people, from a leather craftsman to a mixologist.
Fahim - giving the best cuts at Hounds of the Baskervilles |
Morgan - producing custom-made furniture, Roger & Sons |
Also write two articles for shiok.sg about ice cream establishment 320 Below and terrarium-making Mini-Nature.
THREE: Hosting the Hot Soup Challenge
I've been hosting internal events for my company at my last job for the longest time, whether they were townhall meetings or gatherings. I've also emceed weddings for the longest time and it was only this year that I actually had the chance to do it as a sideline, and I'm hoping it grows into something more.
Hot Soup Challenge was my first, and most exciting event. Organised by Asian Geographic magazine, it was a competition for secondary school students to pit their smarts against each other. It was memorable not only because I got to interact with the staff behind the magazine and learn from them, MP Baey Yam Keng was also in attendance and I got to ask him a couple of questions about his job so that the students could learn what an MP does!
It also resulted in this epic selfie. |
The only time I can't eat food when it's in front of me is when I'm the emcee |
FOUR: InCider
Let me get this off my chest: InCider is no more. Started it with two colleagues, and failed. It was promising and definitely a cool idea, delivering choice ciders and beers to your doorstep for your house parties.
I was in charge of the social media strategy and in the beginning we drummed up quite a bit of publicity and had a good following. I was quite proud of what we had achieved.
Delivering the Brothers promo pack |
Unfortunately, for reasons unknown to me, our operations came to a halt just as we were about to work with a major establishment for a countdown party. I was hoping that the event would take us to the next level and it was my contact that got us the gig. My ego took a beating. I apologised to my friend. I'm not sure what more I could have done. I was disappointed and guess, not ready for a business.
Photoshoot for InCider publicity |
FIVE: Exploring Singapore
Mucking around at Macritchie Reservoir |
The Punggol Tree, that is no more :( |
Along the Green Corridor |
Linkway between St John's Island and Lazarus Island |
Really enjoyed being in nature, exploring, walking and taking photos, so I guess that laid the foundation and solidified the "get closer to nature" theme for 2015.
SIX: Zhui Lu Gu Dao - Taroko Gorge
Ten days in Taiwan didn't feel excessive. In fact, we discovered that there was so much more that we'd left undiscovered that we've probably got to go back to erm, discover them.
The start of the trail is gated - you've got to register to get in |
Not so easy |
Phwoar |
SEVEN: Races - Urbanathlon, YOLO Run, Standard Chartered Marathon
Over the years, I've become more selective of which runs I attend, having done ten a year at my peak. I think I've mellowed in my er, older age. Urbanathlon was in March, the first of the year and one that I have been taking part every year because not only do you have to be able to run, you've got to be able to take on the obstacles. It's a total body work out and a real test of endurance and fitness. Loved that.
YOLO turned out to be gimmicky, with its #runshirtless theme they banged on about, but fun because it rained just as we were about to reach Gardens by the Bay and poured even heavier on our way back to the starting point. Drenched!
SC Marathon was one that I didn't expect to do. Took part in an Adidas instagram competition and won a pair of tickets for the 10km run so we said okay, let's do it, despite not having trained much because of the persistent haze. We ran all the way and I was proud to have done so.
EIGHT: SAFRA Awesome Instagrapher
Like I've said before, this was probably the biggest birthday present ever - a chance to try all the activities that SAFRA has to offer and take over their Instagram for a month.
I could still remember seeing the ad on facebook and signing up for it when I was working out at SAFRA Toa Payoh, and some time later, getting a call from the agency running the campaign to inform me that I had been selected. Unreal! It's that feeling that if you told anyone, you'd be rudely awakened from the dream and it wouldn't be real!
Aikido! |
Rock-climbing! |
Zumba! |
Sometimes I get to chill |
Would do it all over again.
NINE: Jolin - Play
It was 2007 when I saw her being lowered by a pair of rings into the stadium and it was pandemonium. I didn't know then that it'd be 8 years till I saw her live again, and there I was standing in the front row, witnessing her performance on a 360-degree round stage.
One thing that struck me as she sang songs from as far back as 1999, was how she has matured as an artiste, how she was still a perfectionist and how she has continued to work incredibly hard to put on a show of this magnitude. Here's someone I grew up with and it made me reflect on my own journey and where I wanted to be in the future.
TEN: Zoukout
Who's down for partying till the sun comes up? Me!! It's my fourth or fifth one already and even though there were no Hardwells, a competent lineup of Nervo, Axwell ^ Ingrosso and Armin pumped music into the cool drizzling air all night long. It was great basking in that atmosphere of people feeling and being free, enjoying themselves, singing, expressing themselves, bodies bouncing in pure pleasure. A joy to watch, and a joy to be a part of.
With the BFF |
That's how I want to remember 2015. Like a party with endless energy ending with a huge bang, fireworks and all, then breaking into a new dawn.
Gonna take the first week of 2016 to plan what I want to achieve... not really resolutions, but to find themes that I'd like to learn/explore with my time. With so much happening, and things that are definitely out of one's control, I've discovered that I cannot control the specifics, but I can definitely devote my energy and thoughts to areas that I want more of.
To 2016.
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