A fish in a little bowl swam around for the longest time. All his life he had wanted to go out into the wide world beyond. He waited years to grow to the right size. Today was the day. He jumped right out of the bowl, and to his shock, he realised that he was living in water. Water, something he took for granted, was no longer there. Many people today are like this fish. They take their youth for granted. One day, they will realise that they will no longer have their youth with them. What are you doing today ? Never have regrets.

This is something that I have heard on the radio for every day for the past month. I cannot say that it is not on my mind. But also I have had a tough week. What with regional managers, and heads of departments coming for visits, I have had a lot of extra work. This means, working late, as well as a lot of standing in meetings. Not to mention impromptu trips to the airport...Any wonder that I am losing weight (though not enough) and gaining eyebags ?

At one point in life, you realise that you have to grow up and face the facts. Had a serious heart-to-heart talk with two of my female managers who gave me a lot of advice on life. About how to move forward, what I can do, what I should look to, what I should learn, and how I should live life. I was very grateful. I am beginning to like my job more and more, because I have very caring managers, all of them, who are willing to teach and share. And when Jolz closed a USD4 million deal today, I was happy with the rest of them. All my life, I have been eagerly waiting for this moment, when I will be part of a deal making team, having frentic deadlines and meetings. Yet when I am here now finally, I cannot help but feel that time has flown by incredibly fast. Things I worry about include taxes, further education, EPF, finding a house, car installments and career. What happened to the days when I skipped a class to find a new coffee house ? Or spend the night playing Mahjong as if there were no tomorrow ?

When people went back to Melbourne, I realised just how dependent I have become. Not just physically dependent, but also emotionally dependent. And as I started to converse with parents of my friends, I find out just how much different I have become. I see the way parents feel about their kids. I start to appreciate what my parents have done for me. I realise now just how long it feels when I go overseas for what I think is a very short time. I discover how you can never have your heart broken before you are mature enough. I find that sometimes you put others first before yourselves when you care about them. I think about how right parents are, how much effort they take to raise their children and how much pride they take when their child succeeds.

Being around older people has changed me.

I miss the old me.

But then again I miss a lot of things. But looking forward is the key. I like to think that I am the eternal optimist. What better time to prove myself right ?

Sometimes, you have to be sad to know how happy you were.

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