fbpx Skip to main content
search
0
Category

Relationships

Grace Tan
In Life, Musings, Relationships

Turning Older…

Another year has passed and I am older yet again. On my trip from Istanbul to Cappadocia I met 2 students (from Portugal & Italy) who are on holiday. They are amazed that I am 10 years older than they are. Hahaha… good thing I still have my ‘youthful’ looks. Birthdays are not so special anymore as you get older… in fact, I had to calculate my age as I could not remember how old I was turning!

My clients in Turkey, Edwin and Dawn, were so sweet and bought me a chestnut cake. It was delicious! And the best thing was that we managed to share it with all the people traveling on the public bus we were on. Tonight, we will be going to a local restaurant, and hopefully I get to try the famous clay jar meal in Cappadocia!

I am reminded of this phrase today, quoted by Steve Jobs… “Live every day as it is your last, for one day, you will be right.”

It’s a reminder to me that life is so temporal. Yes, I am celebrating life today, but who knows what tomorrow will hold for me. If I am spending my life doing things that I do not believe in, then one day, I will surely regret it. I need to live each day with the conviction that what I am doing is eternal, and that it is leaving a legacy. I believe in living life to the fullest… but not alone. I am grateful to have Alex and my family and friends with me as I walk this journey of life. But most importantly, I have God by my side.

Grace Tan
In Life, Musings, Relationships

The 14th of February

Valentine’s Day. It brings back memories of childhood infatuations and dreams, wishing that that guy would somehow notice you and give you a rose. Even if it was only one rose. Or a little note. Or maybe even a phone call.

But of course those things never happened. And when you’re 15 in an all-girl’s school, seeing those other kids receiving roses from the boys in the school-next-door, you kind of feel… neglected. I tried to convince myself then that Valentine’s Day is nothing special. Roses are expensive anyway, and who cares whether you got one or not? But one day, I received roses. A dozen of them. And surprisingly, I was embarrassed. COMPLETELY.

I wanted the attention, and yet I didn’t. You see, I didn’t expect it from this guy!

Well, years later… I still can’t recall a good Valentine’s Day memory. The importance of Valentine’s Day faded and I didn’t really care whether my boyfriend and I celebrated it. Now that it’s my fifth year of marriage, I think about it even less. But little did I know that I was in for a surprise this year…

Continue Reading

Grace Tan
In Musings, Relationships

Balloons Galore!

The Integricity office was transformed for a day. When we came back from lunch yesterday, the room was filled with 140 red balloons. The bad news? It wasn’t for me. The good news? It was for our Art Director, Ser Young, sent by his wife, Rachel. Talk about a loving Valentine’s surprise! Alex, please take note!

Rachel had handwritten notes and had it tied to every single one of the balloons. Well, Ser Young was suitably embarrassed, to say the least. The funny thing was that he said he actually went with Rachel to choose the balloons! She said it was for some company event… sly!

I have to thank Rachel too, because I borrowed a ‘bunch’ of balloons for my shoot yesterday evening. And when I left the office yesterday, some colleagues were posing and taking photos with the balloons. Thanks Rachel for making our day interesting too!

Grace Tan
In Life, Musings, Relationships

Chinese New Year Musings

I am always really happy whenever my family gets together and is complete. Chinese New Year is one of those times… when my brother comes back from the States and we can all sit together, enjoy a Starbucks coffee or o-chien and laugh over silly things. This year, he’s only in Malaysia for a week. The problem about time is that it just flies by so quickly. Soon, it’s time to say goodbye. Unwillingly.

Speaking about goodbyes, my entire family, including my brother’s friend Ariel who’s visiting from the US, helped to clear up our Malacca house over Chinese New Year. Some say that it’s pantang or bad luck to do that during CNY, but to us, it’s about being practical. I wrote about my home in Malacca some time back. This Chinese New Year, we cleared a lot of things, and said goodbye to many items that held memories. Some things will be kept purely because it’s sentimental, but lots of stuff will just need to be put aside, just like these plants that were left to fend for themselves.

My mom’s collection of recipes. Sadly I did not inherit her cooking skills.

Continue Reading

Grace Tan
In Life, Musings, Relationships

Of life and relationships

As I sit in hospital looking at my mum sprawled on her bed, looking so fragile, I can’t help but think of the countless times in the past when this same scene played out before me. First, the stroke when I was 13, then the heart attack years later, then the heart bypass… in the midst of all that illness, my mum found her faith in Christ.

When Pastor Kee came over to pray for my mum the other day, he read from Psalm 121, one of the Psalms that I truly love.

I lift up my eyes to the mountains—
where does my help come from?
My help comes from the LORD,
the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip—
he who watches over you will not slumber;
indeed, he who watches over Israel
will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you—
the LORD is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day,
nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm—
he will watch over your life;
the LORD will watch over your coming and going
both now and forevermore.

My mum’s roommate is this old Indian lady who has a rare colon disease. She has been in hospital for the past 3 weeks. I see her elderly husband sitting by her side on the uncomfortable hospital chair, day and night, keeping her company. She doesn’t talk much, her medication keeps her drowsy, but her husband just sits by her side, in silent comfort. It must be really tough and tiring being in the hospital for that long. I am just so inspired by this man’s dedication to be by his wife as she goes through this illness.

My dad, when he sees my mum in hospital, shows his care by asking her if she has eaten, if she is comfortable. I can tell that he is worried for her. At home, his Alzheimer’s kicks in, and he asks my sister, “Isn’t someone supposed to be here?” (points to his bed).

I can’t help but feel a little saddened by the many sick people I see in the hospital. I guess it’s easy to just ignore when things are going ok, when you are just out there, doing your own thing, living your life without any interruptions. Not everyone, like the old Indian lady, has family members who care.

It’s time to stop, reflect and show some love.

My mum and dad, taken during my family portrait session in 2009.

Close Menu