Growing older, growing wiser

Overcome life (Pic source: Google.com)

As we get older, we should have experienced things that younger people not experienced before. We have seen more things surrounding us, experienced more events not only internally, but also externally (worldwide affairs). 

We have met, known and lost more people throughout that journey of life. 

Our mind should have grown and aim to be a better person than we used to too, not the other way around. 

By middle age, we should aim to have been wiser, knowing what is right and wrong. 

Letting go have become easier, especially the wrong people, toxic relationship / friendship, mistakes we made in life, etc.

From the dictionary:

Wise - (adj.) having the power of discerning and judging properly as to what is true or right

Wiser - (adj.) having or showing understanding and good judgment: having or showing deep knowledge or learning. 

As you grow older... (Pic source: Google.com)

I happened to read the article from quotesilove.com and below is what they posted about growing older. It is meaningful and let me share it with you in this blog:

1. Age may bring physical ailments, but it also brings emotional resilience. You learn to face adversity with grace and strength, knowing that you have the wisdom and experience to overcome any obstacle.

2. As you get older, you learn to let go of things that no longer serve you. You start to prioritize what is important and focus on what brings you happiness.

3. Age may slow you down physically, but it can also sharpen your mind and deepen your understanding of the world. You become more insightful and compassionate, and your wisdom becomes a beacon of hope for those around you.

4. Growing older is a journey of self-discovery. It is about finding your true purpose in life and living it to the fullest.

5. Life is a journey, and each year brings new lessons to be learned. Embrace the journey, take risks, and always keep an open mind.

6. Growing older means gaining the confidence and courage to speak your truth and stand up for what you believe in.

7. Age is merely a number. What truly matters is the knowledge and wisdom you accumulate along the way. Embrace your experiences and let them guide you towards a life well-lived.

8. Growing older is a gift. It is an opportunity to learn from our mistakes, to grow, and to become a better version of ourselves.

9. Life is a journey, and each passing year brings with it a new chapter. Embrace the unknown, welcome change, and always strive to learn and grow.

10. With age comes the courage to be yourself. You stop caring about what others think and embrace your uniqueness. Your authenticity becomes your greatest strength.

11. As you grow older, you become more aware of your mortality. But rather than fearing it, you embrace it and live life to the fullest. You know that every day is a gift, and you do not want to waste it.

12. Age is just a number, but wisdom is timeless. Embrace the knowledge and experience that comes with each passing year.

13. Age is just a number, but wisdom is priceless. It helps us to make better decisions, has deeper relationships, and live a more fulfilling life.

14. Growing older is like a fine wine; you become more refined, sophisticated, and complex. Your experiences and knowledge add depth to your character, making you more interesting and engaging.

15. Wisdom is not something that can be taught; it is earned through life experiences. As you grow older, you gain more of it, and you become a valuable source of advice and guidance for those around you.

16. With age comes the realization that life is too short to waste on trivial things. You learn to prioritize what is important and live a more meaningful and purposeful life.

17. The best thing about getting older is the wisdom that comes with it. You start to see the world in a whole new light.

18. Every year is a new opportunity to reinvent yourself and become the best version of yourself yet.

19. Growing older is a privilege denied to many. Cherish every moment and make the most of your time on this earth.

20. Age may bring physical changes, but it also brings emotional growth. You become more self-aware.

Wise quote (Pic source: Google.com)

21. The wisdom of age teaches us that true beauty comes from within. It’s about being kind, compassionate, and loving towards yourself and others.

22. Growing older is a privilege denied to many. Take the time to appreciate each year, celebrate your successes, and never forget the lessons you have learned along the way.

23. Life is a journey, and each year is a new chapter. Write your story with courage, passion, and purpose.

24. Age is just a number, but attitude is everything. Keep a positive outlook on life and you will never feel old.

25. Growing older is not about slowing down but about continuing to live life to the fullest. Embrace your passions, try new things, and never lose your sense of wonder.

26. Age is not a measure of success; it is a reflection of your journey. You may not have achieved everything you wanted, but you have gained invaluable lessons along the way that will serve you for a lifetime.

27. Age is not a barrier to new experiences; it is an invitation to explore the world in new ways. You have the wisdom to appreciate the beauty around you and the courage to try new things.

28. As you grow older, you begin to realize that the most valuable currency you possess is time. Spend it wisely, invest it in experiences that matter, and cherish every moment.

29. With age comes a deeper appreciation for the simple things in life. Take time to savour the moment, enjoy the small pleasures, and find joy in the everyday.

30. The secret to growing older gracefully is to embrace the changes that come with age and to never stop learning, growing, and evolving.

31. As you age, you realize that the most important things in life are not material possessions but the people you love, the memories you create, and the impact you have on the world.

32. Aging gracefully means accepting your imperfections and embracing your unique beauty.

33. Age is not a barrier to success but a testament to experience. Use your wisdom and knowledge to achieve greatness and to inspire those around you.

34. Age is an opportunity to try new things and explore new passions. Do not be afraid to take risks and step outside your comfort zone.

35. Age is an opportunity to reflect on the lessons you have learned, the experiences you have had, and the people who have touched your life. Take the time to honour your journey, and celebrate the wisdom you have gained along the way.

36. You are never too old to set new goals and achieve your dreams. Every day is a new opportunity to make your life exactly what you want it to be.

37. As you grow older, you start to appreciate the beauty of imperfection. You understand that flaws make us human and that embracing them is the key to true self-love and acceptance.

38. As you grow older, you become more empathetic and compassionate. You understand the struggles of others and are better equipped to offer support and guidance.

39. Age is not just a number; it’s a reflection of the experiences, wisdom, and lessons you’ve gained over time. Every wrinkle tells a story, and every grey hair is a badge of honour.

40. The beauty of ageing is that you become more comfortable in your own skin. You start to realize that your imperfections make you unique and beautiful.

As you grow older... (Pic source: Google.com)

41. Growing older is not about losing your youth; it is about gaining wisdom, self-awareness, and inner peace. You learn to let go of the things that no longer serve you and focus on what truly matters.

42. Growing older is a journey, not a destination. Enjoy the ride and make the most of every moment.

43. Growing older is not a curse but a gift. Use this gift to live the life you have always dreamed of, and to inspire others to do the same.

44. Growing older can be tough, but it also comes with a newfound appreciation for life’s simple pleasures.

45. Life is too short to waste time worrying about getting older. Embrace each new year as a chance to grow and learn.

46. As you age, you realize that life is a precious gift. You start to appreciate the small things that bring joy and meaning to your life.

47. Age is just a number, but wisdom is a gift that only comes with time. Embrace your experiences, learn from your mistakes, and share your wisdom with the world.

48. As you age, you start to realize that the things you once thought were problems were actually blessings in disguise.

49. Growing older is like a treasure hunt; each day brings new discoveries and insights. You become more curious and adventurous, and your thirst for knowledge never fades.

50. Growing older means gaining a deeper appreciation for the people and things that truly matter in life.

51. Age is not a limitation; it is an opportunity to learn, grow and evolve. With each passing year, you become more resilient, adaptable and wiser.

52. Life is too short of taking yourself too seriously. Laugh often, and do not be afraid to be silly.

53. Growing older is a privilege, but it is also a responsibility to leave the world a better place than you found it.

54. Wisdom is not just a product of age but a result of experience. Embrace each new challenge as an opportunity to learn, grow, and become wiser.

55. You may be getting older, but that doesn’t mean you have to act your age. Stay young at heart and enjoy every moment to the fullest.

56. Growing older does not have to mean growing bored. Life is full of adventures waiting to be had, no matter your age.

57. Aging gracefully means embracing the changes that come with time and finding beauty in every stage of life.

58. Growing older means embracing your quirks and flaws and learning to love yourself just the way you are.

59. You may be getting older, but that does not mean you have to slow down. Keep pushing yourself to new heights and accomplishing your goals.

60. You are never too old to learn something new. Keep your mind open and your curiosity alive.

61. As you grow older, you begin to realize that time is your most precious resource. Use it wisely, live in the moment, and make every day count.

62. Aging gracefully means finding joy in the small moments and celebrating life’s milestones with those you love.

63. Do not let anyone tell you that you are too old to do something. If you have the passion and the drive, there is nothing you can not accomplish.

64. Growing older is like climbing a mountain. It may be tough at times, but the view from the top is always worth it.

Life starts in the middle age (Pic source: Google.com)

65. Age may bring physical limitations, but it also brings mental clarity and emotional stability. You learn to control your thoughts and emotions, and this newfound wisdom brings peace and tranquility.

66. Growing older is like a beautiful tapestry; each thread represents a different experience, and together they create a masterpiece. You become a walking work of art, full of depth and richness.

67. Growing older is like climbing a mountain. It may be challenging at times, but the view from the top is worth it. You gain a new perspective on life and appreciate the journey more.

68. As you age, you start to realize that the things that once seemed important are not as important as you thought. Focus on what truly matters in life.

69. Life is a journey, and with each passing year, you gain valuable experience and wisdom. You may not have all the answers, but you have a better understanding of what truly matters in life.

70. As you age, you realize that time is precious. You start to value each moment and make the most of the time you have left.

71. With age comes wisdom, and wisdom teaches us to live in the moment. It helps us to appreciate the beauty around us and to find joy in the simple things.

72. Aging gracefully means finding a balance between taking care of yourself and enjoying life to the fullest.

By now, you have probably learned that aging is not just about getting old, but it is also about gaining wisdom, experiences, and living a fulfilling life.

So go ahead, take that trip you have been putting off, try that new hobby, and make the most out of every moment.

You are never too old to set new goals and achieve them. Keep learning, keep growing, and keep inspiring those around you with your wisdom and experience.

Enjoy the second phase of the journey of your life, more confidently and with much positive spirit with you! You can do this! 

Peace and gratitude

Peaceful life is something that you cannot take for granted. 

In a chaos world like now, it is something that priceless and not everyone is lucky enough to have it, even when you are living in a peaceful country. 

People are busy searching for a better life by working more, earning more, investing more and have no time to have a peaceful mind or restful body. 

Even when they are having more than enough, they still aim for more without realising by having less, you do not have to worry of losing what you have in case of leaving the world behind, moving out to other countries,  and so on. 

With the availability of social media, people also compete more - "I must have things that are trending now", "I must eat at that café or restaurant that are popular now", "I must show them a more expensive thing than what they are having", etc.

Well, it is up to individual what life they want to have. 

But having a peaceful mind, living in peaceful country, leading a peaceful life by living simply, is also a choice that human can choose to have. 

A simple cup of tea or coffee, a simple room or house to live, a simple cloth to wear, a simple food to eat can be a wonderful life to live in too, but not many would understand and willing to choose. 

Many are simply comparing what they have with what other people have, and therefore, in a blink of eye, that simple happiness has just disappeared. 

Gratitude is the key to treasure what we have. Count your blessings every single day starting from the time you open your eyes from your sleep at night - "thank you for the good sleep", "thank you for another day to live", "thank you for the roof on top of my head, the bed I sleep in, the peaceful morning, the clean water to take bath, to drink, the family and friends surrounding me, the job that I hold on, the salary I receive, the superior that teaches me everything by asking me to do lots of things", and so many more.

Just having the thought of it, it could even make you smile. 

And simple resolution each day, "hope today I can do at least one good or kind thing that can bring happiness to others".

You do not have to go up to the mountain, or to be at seaside, or inside the forest to feel peaceful and happy. It can be at any where and any time, although those places give a plus point, especially when things in life are rough, emotions are jumbled up and your mind would not stop thinking.

It is not easy being a human. Buddha already said that we are born to suffer from the moment we born until the time we die. But let us take it slowly and choose an easier way to live, and love ourselves more. It is not selfish. But if we cannot love ourselves, how can we love others. Only when we are full of love within ourselves, then we are capable in loving others. 

So remember, give yourself peace and happiness. It is better than busy aiming on something that only lead to nowhere but suffering. 

May all sentient being be happy and healthy,

free from suffering and the cause of suffering,

life full of peace and joy. 

Sadhu Sadhu Sadhu

Women in Mid 40s

Menopause (Pic source: Google.com)

Hey hi, how have you been?

It has been a while since the last time I posted here. Time flies like crazy. In few more years, I would enter the middle age that I never thought I would be one day. Hahaha...

Talking about this, I want to share what I have been through while passing these years. I would not shy sharing all these because one day, all young ladies (readers) would also one day reach this phase, if you are lucky enough, of course! :D

I wanted to share my menopause experience here. I have it already now. It considered quite early but still under normal age category. I had the pre-menopause moments for about two years before the period had actually stopped.

The most obvious symptoms was irregular periods. In the beginning, the period duration became shorten where usually it took 4-5 days each, had become 2-3 days. The flow had also reduced. 

Slowly, the frequency had also lessen  From the regular once a month, it had reduced to once every 2 months, 3 months, and even it stopped for almost a year. 

The other symptom that appeared was hot flush - a sudden feeling of warmth in the upper body. In my case, it was happened mostly at the back upper part, below the neck area. 

I heard about it before, but when I experienced it myself, it still felt weird and funny :D 

Brain fog and forgetfulness. You know, it was when you went somewhere like kitchen, room, toilet, etc., and then suddenly you could not remember what you were going to do by entering those places. Or when in your mind you could picture one thing but suddenly you could not remember "that particular word" of that thing. Or you just lost focus and harder to concentrate.

Well, we thought it was because it was parts of getting older, but apparently, that was symptoms from pre-menopause as well.

Some people would be having difficulty to sleep. Not to the stage of insomnia, but it was not as easy to sleep as before. Luckily so far I have no such thing unless I had a very high dose of caffeine after lunch time or took a nap in the afternoon. And I had to practice a simple mediation before slowly dosing off to the dreamland.

The infamous thing from perimenopause is mood change, which includes easy to get irritation, sometimes could feel depressed too as our hormones changed. Especially when you were alone. 

When I told the doctor that I had my menopause already, one thing she asked me if I did any additional measure in taking care of my bones. The lack of ovarian estrogen after menopause could cause a significant loss in bone strength, placing women at higher risk of osteoporosis. Therefore, I needed enough dose of Calcium and vitamin D taken into a daily basis. As I could not be exposed into the sunlight, I had to take vitamin D supplement into my diet.

I was also advised to do light exercise as not to exert the joint parts too much. So instead of running, I could do walking on a daily basis and light aerobic or Zumba few times in a week.

Food was also playing a big part to lead a healthier lifestyle. You could observe what you get in your basket each time you buy your weekly shopping. 

I just shared with my sister-in-law recently on how lucky we are for staying in Singapore as the Singapore government really takes care of its citizens by always encouraging us to take healthier food (less salt, less sugar, less oil campaign), do at least 150 mins exercise a week by providing us free exercises that we could book through the Healthy 365 apps, providing exercise places, grounds and parks accessible in each neighborhood housings for free or with lesser/ subsidized fees, free checkup for men and women above 40s, sometimes free in-body check up (to check how much muscles are in our body parts) and providing us advises on how to improve them - by exercising and taking more proteins in our food, and many more.

The high cost of hospital bill has also become the deterrent for us to prevent sickness and improve our health being.

I mean, how many countries in the world would bother to care to its citizens health like that? 

Maintain the moderate BMI is still difficult for me, so far, I have always fallen in borderline overweight category. But I tried my best to balance my meals and eat more healthier food. 

Most importantly, keep positive mind everyday. It is not easy, but we can do it. Especially morning time. It is the most important time of the day to have a positive mind. 

Getting old is part of process of living as a human being. We have to accept it that nothing stays permanent. Wrinkles, white hair, loosen cheeks and eye bags, slow metabolism, weaken joints and bones are something we need to face soon or later. 

We cannot avoid it all (unless you go for face-lifting surgery, or Botox, of course). But by growing old, we can focus on how we could grow wiser, calm in time of crisis, and maintain peace in mind despite whatever thing that happen worldwide - high oil and gold prices, wars, natural disaster, economic crisis, and so on. Also spend our money and time wisely in everyday life.

There are more and more people in their 60s, 70s and 80s in Singapore these days. Soon, I too will be there. Hope everything will be in smooth journey and most importantly blessed with good health so I still can travel and visit more countries in the world and do what I love doing.

So, one day at one time. Focus on what is there at the present moment. Just get ready of what will come ahead. Cheers and wish everyone be happy and healthy always..... :)

Receiving Day

Source: tranquilitydujour

I have been wanting to post this on my blog, so let me post it today. All of you must be wondering what the title means. Hahaha... :D

It is simple though. Receiving day is the day when I receive things from people. What things?

Well, it can be many things, a gift from the heart. And usually I receive it from my friends or families, from here (Singapore) or outside Singapore (overseas).

It is just so coincidence that on that particular day, more than one people give me the things, as if all of them have agreed in advance to send me something on the same day.

It happened so many times and it often brings me wonder :)

I am very lucky and feel very grateful for many of very close and good friends (wherever they are, many are staying overseas). But at times, I feel a bit lonely, as I do not have many friends as I was not born and grow up here in Singapore (luckily my dear hubby always reminds me that good quality friends are better than quantity).

Those who stay faraway, I am very lucky to have friends who are equally grateful for having each other and treasure our friendship. We always have each other in our thought. Despite long distance, we often keep in touch through chatting apps and messengers. 

And whenever someone - friends, colleagues, friend's friend, relatives, family members - are coming over to Singapore and vice versa, we would send something to each other, and usually it is something from our own country, or something that the other party will love to have.

But the thought itself, has already been a blessing for me. Many of them treat me even like a family. I am very very grateful and thankful, to you know who you are, in case you read this :) 

Thank you for everyone's love. Love you all ❤️ 

And yes, that receiving day, really make my heart fill with so many gratitude, for everything in life. Then I would feel, at least I am not lonely. Someone else think of me. And I hope that all of them is blessed with good health and lots of happiness in their lives, and wish that we could meet each other again in person :)

Do you also often have receiving day in your life too?? :)))

Travelling

Courtesy of: Travel Thoughts PH

 

I first traveled out of my home country at the age of 11. I was very lucky indeed being to travel in such a young age, not only to one, but 3 countries (Hong Kong, Taiwan, and Japan) and transit in Singapore (first time touching my feet there). But before that, I had been travelling all around the islands where I lived in car with my parents and siblings, and domestic plane or even boat to my father's hometown.

Then I studied overseas as young as eighteen and to further country when I was twenty. While on school holiday, I traveled mostly by trains to other cities and neighboring countries. Sometimes, it took me three flights and trip more than 24 hours to reach the other side of the world, to cut cost (the more you transits, the cheaper your flight is).

Since my late 20s, after diagnosed with SLE, I started to travel to countries I wanted to visit. First on the list, was Tibet. But sometimes, fate led me to countries I even had never heard before - so many of them - thanks to my parents who led me visiting them as they brought me along as their company. Countries like Bhutan and Nepal, Iceland, Baltic countries (Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland, Estonia), Russia, and so on.

Fate brought me to explore India. My dream to meet Dalai Lama has not come true yet. It has been years since my failed attempt, and until now, I still have not made them realized yet. But the company had brought me to Buddha pilgrimage places - I had been dreamed visiting them since my middle school time. Not only that. I also managed to explore Sikkim, including Gangtok, Darjeeling, Kalimpong, and visited many Tibetan temples.

Through good friend, I managed to visit Sri Lanka (never ever thought visiting the country before), Vietnam, Thailand (the Golden Triangle), Myanmar, West America (LA, Las Vegas, SF). Later on, I managed to make my dream came true by visiting UK, Central Europe (Hungary, Slovakia, Czech), back to my school in Switzerland, and second visit to Denmark and Sweden.

Later on, I started touring with group tour to places that were more convenient to go with the tour group, such as: Balkan countries (Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro and Slovenia, plus Venice in Italy), Mongolia, Central Asia - the five -Tans (Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan, Turkmenistan, and Tajikistan), and recently to the East America and Canada.

I never count how many countries I ever visited but I think it should have been more than 50 countries. And it does not stop here. As long as my feet, body, mind, leave, and wallet allows, I will still travel and explore to visit other parts of the world. 

The job has made the travel slow, but it allows me to earn and save the money to travel. With the mercy of my Boss, it allowed me to spend time with family too apart from days taken for traveling. 

There are still a lot of country I have not visited yet. But I hope, one day, I will able to visit all of them, one at a time, slowly, but sure :D