A kind little stranger

When I was 6 years old, I waited a long time for my mom to pick me up from kindergarten. After a while, even the teacher had gone home, leaving just me and my 4-year-old sister there.

I started crying because I thought my mom didn’t want me anymore.

After some time, a young lady nearby offered to give us a ride home. My sister and I followed her on her motorbike. When we reached home, my mom thanked her. She had simply lost track of time while taking care of the house and my other sibling. After that, she scolded us for following a stranger.

Looking back now, I realize how lucky we were that the young lady was kind and trustworthy.

But that experience stayed with me. Until today, I still don’t like waiting. It makes me feel anxious, like I might be forgotten or abandoned again.

I do hope she and I would meet again one day. I’m not even sure for what purpose… I just want to see her again and say thank you.

And maybe let the younger me know that there are still kind people in this world.

my sinus

Since I was a child, I have struggled with my sinuses. Nights were always the hardest. My nose would block so often that I learned to breathe through my mouth, forgetting what it felt like to breathe normally through my nose. Over time, this became a habit, and even now I catch myself breathing through my mouth more than I realize.

Sleeping has always been a challenge. If I lie down the wrong way, I wake up with my nose blocked, my face aching, and my ears feeling full or painful. Sometimes the pressure in my sinuses triggers a migraine, making it impossible to rest. When I caught a flu, the congestion and pain worsened, bringing facial pressure, ear pain, and that familiar block. I would go to the doctor hoping for relief, but it was hard to explain exactly what I felt. The doctor would say, “It’s normal for the ears to block during a flu.” Some even laughed at me. It made me feel stupid, but I knew my situation was more complicated.

Growing up, we didn’t see a doctor often because my family couldn’t afford it unless it was serious. I also struggled with persistent bad breath. I brushed my teeth, rinsed constantly, and tried everything, but nothing worked. Slowly, I realized the culprit wasn’t my teeth. It was the sinus mucus, silently building up, causing post-nasal drip and that unpleasant smell.

It wasn’t until last year, at 37, that I finally got a proper diagnosis. The doctor told me, “This is sinus-related,” and prescribed medicine from the clinic. That was the first time I understood the root of decades of discomfort. The doctor also suggested I figure out any allergies I might have, another piece of the puzzle I had to manage myself.

Now, I am learning how to breathe through my nose again, though I still don’t fully understand what caused it. I usually let it resolve on its own and only take medicine if it gets serious, like an infection. I often sleep only two to three hours a night because I am afraid of waking up struggling to breathe, and migraines make rest even harder to come by. After this experience, I plan to get a steam inhaler and keep medicine on hand so I can manage my sinus issues and migraines more proactively.

Our Experience at Pasir Panjang: A Lesson About Responsibility and Fairness

We had just finished praying at the Pasir Panjang Tua Pek Gong and were walking back toward the shoplot area outside the temple. We did not enter any of the shops; we were only walking past. My mom was walking backward a little while recording my niece, and beside her was a tall rotating display stand placed outside one of the shops. The stand was positioned outside the yellow line, not fully inside the shop, and it stood on a roller base, which made it unstable.

When my mom stepped back, she accidentally pushed the stand. Because it was on rollers, it slid and fell. The fall was not intentional

it happened because of where and how the stand was placed. We immediately wanted to settle things politely and responsibly.

But before we could explain, the shop’s whole family rushed out. The old man insisted again and again that we needed to pay for the “whole set.” Their kid kept chanting “pay pay” happily beside us. The woman said “lai yi ge yi ge suan,” which sounded like she wanted to charge item by item on the stand.

When I asked how much, the old man said the whole set cost RM1,000. Then he changed and said RM700 for the whole set. This included the display stand and all the crystal bracelets displayed on it. That was when I asked: “Don’t tell me I also need to pay for all the crystal bracelets?” The old man said yes, because it was “a set.”

I told them clearly: if they want full compensation for the whole set, then we should be allowed to take everything including the crystal bracelets. But from their reaction, it felt like they wanted us to fully compensate them while they still kept all the items, which is unfair.

Then the woman changed her approach and said it was not like that. She said we only needed to pay for the damaged part. She asked the old man to switch on the display: the light still worked, but it could not rotate. She then said we only needed to pay for the rotation mechanism or the top cracked part, and they would fix it. The crystal bracelets were all intact.

During this time, my mom tried to explain softly that the stand fell because it was placed on rollers outside the yellow line, making it unstable, but the old man kept saying “no no.” We never refused to pay; we simply wanted fairness.

We believe in taking responsibility, and we were willing to pay for actual damage. But if a shop demands RM700–RM1000 for a “whole set” replacement, then they should provide a purchase invoice showing the true price, year bought, and actual value. If the stand is many years old, charging a new item’s full price is unreasonable. And if they insist on full-price compensation, then logically the entire set should be handed to us, because compensation means we have paid for the item.

This situation reminded us: responsibility must be fair on both sides. Customers should pay what is genuinely damaged, and shop owners should not pressure people with unreasonable charges.

When Fear Arrives Late

When my dog suddenly couldn’t walk, fear rushed through me.

The vet was closing soon.

I didn’t know the road.

I didn’t even have enough money at that moment.

But love made me move faster than my fear.

I borrowed money from my mom, grabbed my keys, and drove out.

Normally I would delay, think too much, or avoid going alone.

But this time, I didn’t think .I just acted.

On the road, I didn’t shake.

My mind focused on the GPS, the traffic, and the hope that I wasn’t too late.

It was as if my body went into survival mode calm, steady, holding everything in.

Only when I reached the vet did the real fear catch up with me.

My hands began to shake as I talked to the doctor.

My fingers felt stiff, like stretched rubber  hard to open, hard to control.

My voice trembled.

And then the tears came, falling faster than I could stop them.

Fear didn’t show up while I was driving.

It arrived only when she was finally safe.

And maybe that’s what love does It makes us strong when we need to move,

and it lets us fall apart only when the emergency is over.

Missing Cheerful Skies

The rain falls for 3days no stop( endlessly), and it brings tears to my eyes. I worry for the floods, for the animals running for safety, and for the homes we have worked so hard to build. I miss the cheerful skies, the warm sunlight, and the calm days that feel like a gentle embrace.

Is the sky sick, or merely tired that it cries for so long? Sometimes, perhaps it hears our quiet wishes and softens, letting a little light through its clouds. We pray for ourselves, yet often forget the sky.

Let us pray together, whether you are busy or just taking a moment of peace. Whenever you look up at the sky, just say hi. Say, “I know you are unhappy, sad, or sick. Please get well. We miss your cheerful smile and bright days.” 

Even a quiet thought can send love and hope to the skies.

Love Yourself, It’s Better to Be Alone Than With Someone Who Isn’t Right for You

Image source: from a Chinese reality show ,“再见爱人5 (Goodbye My Love 5),” shared here for discussion and reflection only.

Sometimes a TV show isn’t just entertainment, it becomes a mirror.

I recently watched a Chinese reality show that made me stop and think deeply about love, care, and what it really means to be with the right person.

There was a couple who had been together for eight years. They broke up and got back together many times. The man often said “I’m sorry,” but his actions never changed. He kept forgetting her favorite flower, ignored her feelings, and kept her waiting for a marriage that never happened.

He proposed to her, and she became his fiancée, but four years passed and they still weren’t married. Eventually, even her mother lost hope. She asked him if he had ever saved money for their wedding.

He said no.

When the woman fell ill, facing thyroid and eye surgeries, he stayed with her once, then left her to handle everything alone. She spent a year fighting illness, fear, and loneliness. She even defended him, saying he was a tough guy who didn’t like to talk about pain, like when he broke his leg and didn’t tell anyone. She thought maybe he expected her to be strong like him.

But I kept wondering, what was he thinking? Did he understand how terrifying it is to face eye surgery, the fear of possibly not being able to see again? When she was sick and alone, did he ever imagine what it felt like to face that pain without anyone by her side?

In daily life, she carried the relationship almost by herself , moving houses, cooking, and so on. She even cared for his parents. But wait, what did he do for her? He would complain about the cost when they went out for meals, yet spent freely on his own hobbies.

He once said he had bought her a house as a Christmas present, but it was under his name because of the installment. He said he didn’t want her to feel “burdened.” But if it’s not shared, can you really call it a gift for her? Shouldn’t love be something you build together?

Image source: from a Chinese reality show ,“再见爱人5 (Goodbye My Love 5),” shared here for discussion and reflection only.

Image source: from a Chinese reality show ,“再见爱人5 (Goodbye My Love 5),” shared here for discussion and reflection only.

Later, he mentioned had bought an insurance policy for her.

But in fact, he had bought it for himself, and she was only listed as the beneficiary.

That means if she gets sick or injured, she can’t make any claims, because the policy doesn’t cover her at all. It only benefits her if something happens to him and he could remove her from it anytime without telling her. So when he said he bought it “for her,” it felt misleading. It made me wonder, what was he really trying to do? Was it an act of care, or just a way to look caring without truly being so? It felt confusing and distant, not the kind of open care that real partners share..

At one moment, I actually agreed with the lady. I also thought he might be innocent, someone who just didn’t know how to express love

But after seeing how he handled things, the house, the surgeries, the insurance. I started to feel that he was acting. His words seemed soft, but his actions felt empty, a bit like everything he did was just on the surface.

The most heartbreaking part was watching her still defend him. She called him innocent, like a child who didn’t know how to love. She kept forgiving him, hoping that one day he’d change.

But some people lack love for so long that even a small bit of warmth feels like hope.

They tell themselves, “He’s trying,” “He means well,” even as their heart keeps breaking.

Watching her story made me realize something.

When you’re always the one understanding, forgiving, and trying, that’s not love. That’s exhaustion dressed up as loyalty.

Image source: from a Chinese reality show ,“再见爱人5 (Goodbye My Love 5),” shared here for discussion and reflection only.

Real love isn’t about saying “sorry.” It’s about showing change.

And if someone keeps hurting you, apologizing, but never learns, then the most loving thing you can do is to walk away.

To everyone who has loved someone that didn’t love them back the same way, please remember, you don’t have to keep proving your worth.

Love yourself first.

The right person will never make you beg for attention or care.

Sometimes being alone is far better than being with someone who makes you feel lonely.

I cried watching her. I saw strength, pain, and hope all mixed together.

I’m her fan, and I truly hope she realizes her own worth. 💖

mouth breather vs nose breather

https://www.instagram.com/reel/DQEkDo0E-2a/?igsh=NTZwM28yeWhoZjdw

I have been a mouth breather since childhood due to allergies, which often led to persistent sinus blockages. These blockages sometimes caused pain that radiated from my cheeks to my jaw, and even occasionally affected my eye bones. For many years, I did not understand the cause of these issues. I had seen doctors before, but usually only during bouts of flu, and the diagnosis would often be that it was normal during a cold or flu. Last year, I experienced recurrent ear infections accompanied by pain when hearing high-pitched sounds. I sought medical evaluation again, and this time a doctor diagnosed me with sinus problems and prescribed treatment to clear the blockages, which successfully resolved the infections. The doctor also advised me to learn more about managing my allergies and to seek medication from his clinic whenever sinus problems arise. After years of relying on mouth breathing, I realized I had forgotten how to breathe properly through my nose. Since then, I have been actively learning and practicing nasal breathing to restore proper function. Thank God for the clarity and progress.

🎶 From Notes to Music — Practice, Mark, Play!

Recently, I’ve been having some difficulties practicing songs on the piano. Then I came across these words — Practice, Mark, Play — and they really encouraged me. So I’m going to follow them: 🎼 PRACTICE → Go through the notes slowly carefully. ✏️ MARK → Mark the rhythm, fingering, or tricky parts on your score. 🎹 PLAY → Put everything together — play the full piece smoothly. Step by step, I’ll keep improving. 💪 Nothing is impossible! 🌟

Discovering Imagine Dragons

I was just surfing through YouTube when I came across a short video of the Imagine Dragons lead singer, Dan Reynolds, performing “Thunder” with some amazing dance moves. It was absolutely mesmerizing.

That got me curious, so I searched for the full song and while listening, I realized that “Believer” is also their song. That’s when it hit me that so many songs I’ve loved over the years are actually by Imagine Dragons.

I’ve completely fallen in love with their music now. Their energy, emotion, and unique sound are just incredible. Each song feels powerful and full of meaning, whether it’s about strength, pain, or self-discovery. Their music always gives me this burst of motivation and positivity, no matter what kind of mood I’m in.

Imagine Dragons have this amazing ability to mix deep lyrics with catchy beats that stay in your head for days. It’s more than just music, it’s a feeling that connects straight to the heart.

Here are some of their songs that I really love:

🎵 Believer – About turning pain into power and learning from struggles.

🎵 Thunder – A reminder to stay true to yourself and chase your dreams, no matter what others think.

🎵 Whatever It Takes – All about pushing through challenges and doing whatever it takes to succeed.

🎵 On Top of the World – A cheerful, uplifting song that celebrates perseverance and joy.

🎵 Warriors – Dedicated to those who never give up and keep fighting for their dreams.

🎵 Bad Liar – A more emotional song about honesty, heartbreak, and pretending to be okay when you’re not.

🎵 Demons – A heartfelt song about inner struggles and learning to face the darker parts of ourselves.

🎵 Radioactive – A powerful, intense track about transformation and awakening to a new, stronger version of yourself.

Their music has something for every mood, whether I need motivation, comfort, or just a song that understands what I’m feeling.

And I have to say, I absolutely love Dan Reynolds. His voice, stage presence, and passion make every song feel alive. You can see how much heart he puts into every performance, and that’s what makes Imagine Dragons so special to me.