It’s been a while since I updated this blog.

I’ve been trying to form the habit of regularly recording on Twitter and on my own phone in the form of Notes.

What I realised is that I find it way easier when I don’t feel that I ‘need to connect’ to an audience.

I may decide to kick people off the new Instagram account that I’m trying to set up about my professional life until I’m deeper into it.

Right now, I do feel a certain insecurity due to the presence of too many people (although there are less than 20 followers).

Let’s figure that out later.

——————

My Word of the Year 2021 is…

Jam

I actually wrote all of this down on 31 Dec 2020 in my notebook on why I chose this word:

1) Jam is experimental

It involves other people. In the coming year, I intend to experiment more, both to test things out as well as to continuously improve myself and my skills and abilities. As others are also involved, there will be a need to continue to build and maintain relationships, as well as cull them, continuing on from the previous 2 years.

2) Jam can get messy (as can jamming) (and making jam)

I intend to be unafraid of getting my hands dirty and having things in disarray. Eventually, things will become…

3) Sweet

The signature taste of jam. I will trust that things will eventually turn out for the best, The end-result of a jam is not only pleasant to the tongue, it will be pleasing to the eye (and ear), and is readily shared.

4) The Jams in my life

I will have to isolate them, deal with them, or overcome them. Also, I’ll have to jam the brakes on bad habits and behaviours that are detrimental to me and others.

——————

If you’ve read this, you’ll notice quite a bit of play on words. I find that this helps me to remember things and keeps them fresh in my mind.

Now that Singapore’s Circuit Breaker has entered Phase 2, with limited openings of certain establishments, I suppose we could say that we are starting to get back to some sense of ‘normal’.

Perhaps this is a time to take stock of what I’ve done over the past 2 months or so.

The main achievement?

I produced 4 sets of curriculum/content.

Namely,

1) Forensic Investigative Skills

The original purpose for this one is for the school market, of course. This will be put to use in July, as long as schools remain open.

That said, I think that it will be both useful and fun for adults as well. The skills, after all, are used in our everyday lives - information gathering, observation, problem solving, and so on.

I’ll have to see who I can talk to to get this started.

2) Health Science

Again, this was made for the school market, but can be useful for those who have aged parents and/or children to take care of.

3) Harnessing Your Quiet Strengths

Now, this one has a little story behind it. It was originally developed for Introverts Network Asia (INA), but things have tapered off for this, so I never finished it, leaving it half done.

I decided to just finish it up. At least I now have a set of curriculum ready to go should I need it, either live or, perhaps, as an online course.

It is, as expected, aimed at introverts and helping them to make use of the strengths that they perhaps regard as insignificant, but are actually highly valuable.

I see this as an accompaniment to The Introvert Teacher, and intend to have them linked together.

4) 4D Your Message

This is my take on communication skills, slightly angled towards newer educators/trainers, but can definitely be used by anyone who wants to get their message out.

This, too, has a story behind it. It was originally conceived for online delivery as part of an initiative by an organisation. But, as with the previous set of content, this, too, fizzled out.

I decided to just have it finished up.

My main thought at the moment is figuring out how to bring these things to more people once Circuit Breaker properly ends.

I've considered online training, but the activities, especially for the first two, are best done live. I could potentially redesign them, but it’s A LOT of work.

Alternatively, I could have them converted to videos and sell an online course. I’m not sure yet.

I’m also finishing up a project I started 2 years or so ago - my book on gem buying, titled A Gem of a Deal.

The good news is:

A Gem of a Deal is NEARLY finished! Yay!

Here’s a cover I designed for it. It may not be the final version, but I’ll use it for now.

I’ll put more information up on Loupin Jewels.

Yes, I designed it myself. Photoshop and Illustrator. ;)

Photographing gems!

It’s quite a long story behind this, but I’ve started to photograph gems again. This time, the results look pretty good, even if I do say so myself.

And, of course, I’ve been collating some of my old photos.

It’s been a fairly productive couple of months, I’d say.

Here’s to an even more productive 2 months ahead!

2021 Updates for remuszhong.com, including Word of the Year

I Spent Two Months Plus Doing These Things During Singapore's Circuit Breaker