Week 12: Stop and smell the orchids
This is the last study week of Term 1; exams are next week, and then it’s all over, for now.
*deep sigh*
Was that purely a sigh of relief?
Alas, the first quarter of 2022 is over, almost, but at the same time, it all felt like a mad rush. A mad rush to get to places, to get things done.
That was how the last 12 weeks felt — like I was constantly DOING something. And yet, there never seemed to be enough time.
“I’m late, I’m late! For a very important date! No time to say ‘hello, goodbye,’ I’m late, I’m late, I’m late!” — The White Rabbit
Perhaps it was the influence of Singapore’s hustle culture. Or perhaps I felt a strong need to prove myself after quitting my job to study and moving my life across countries.
Regardless of the reason, the fact was
- that I became so obsessed with ticking off to-do lists and making sure everything was going “to plan” on this journey,
- that I lost focus of the goal (to learn and meet new people), and
- that I forgot to stop and smell the orchids (in reference to Singapore’s national flower) along the way.
And it is somewhat a pity.
In my “natural habitat” (under the right amount of stimulation and stress), I usually find myself in reflective mode, pondering over the beauty in seemingly unimportant things — in the way a phrase of melody rolls of your tongue, the way a line of lyrics perfectly sums up your thoughts, the way tiny flowers break through the cracks on the sidewalk and thrive…
And it’s time to provide space for that girl to exist again, to learn to slow down and appreciate the people and events around me.
Time to bring some balance back into life.
Time to stop and smell the flowers.
Week 11: Stop trying to be liked by everybody
On a side note, in the spirit of smelling flowers, I recently visited Gardens by the Bay, with my partner, and on a day I initially dedicated to writing my assignments and preparing for my exam.
I must say, I did NOT lose any time for assignment and exam prep, and at the same time, had a great day out.
