A Moment of Thought - Chinese New Year 2017

Around this period every year, jovial songs in Mandarin play in shopping malls, supermarkets and retail outlets. This year is, of course, no exception.

This year, I noticed fewer 'traditional' Chinese New Year songs being played. In their place are songs that are wholly unfamiliar or songs that are modern renditions of the 'classics'. It does feel that the introduction of too many new things is tamping the festive mood down a little.

Chinese New Year is a traditional festival. Let's not over-modernise it, lest it lose its charm and original meaning, as so many other festivals have.

That aside, I am looking forward to a fairly relaxed Chinese New Year. There will be a few visits but, generally, nothing too hectic. Just the way I like it. There isn't much point in exhausting yourself during over the next few days, is there? You'd just go back to work in a less-than-positive mood.

I am intending to be mindful of a couple of things over this Chinese New Year:

1) Be more willing to participate

Normally, I prefer to withdraw from most activities during this period, especially when crowds and noise are involved. This time, though, I'll be more purposeful in participating.

2) Be more observant of customs and behaviours

Never having much bothered with traditional customs in past years, I thought that it would be good to observe them a little more starting from this year. As a teacher, it's always good to add a little more material to my repertoire of examples and anecdotes.

All in all, I am thankful for being able to celebrate CNY here in Singapore and for the people with whom I will be celebrating it.

Here's to an un-stressful Chinese New Year and a great 2017 ahead!

Word of the Year 2017 - One

Following the tradition from 2016, I decided that my Word of the Year for 2017 will be 'One'. My reasons are threefold.

1) 2017 will be the year of two becoming one.

2) It is also a time when I intend to focus on one pursuit at a time, one task as a time. I realise that, in the past year or so, I have been trying to do too many things at once. The result of which was that I lost a lot of time transiting from one task to another.

3) Finally, I will keep my mind on the One who has saved me, protected me, kept me and brought me to where I am today.

What is your Word of the Year?