TR EMERITUS

When Elon Musk observed that Singapore will go extinct in the near future due to the shrinking birth rate, one of the wishes for 2025 (in the Forum Page) is, well, to tackle that. We need to do something about it. We do not want to be the last of the Mohicans.

Others from the Forum Page wish for protection of the environment and well, better women’s health and youth mental health.

Closer to home, we have more practical wishes like lower taxes, lower prices, and giving free nutritious lunches to all needy primary school pupils and free medical care for all children up to the age of 12. Hmm…workable?

There is one particular wish that is personal. His story is that he had applied to become a Singaporean and was rejected many times. His siblings were all born in Singapore and were naturalised at birth. But his mum was in Johor when she gave birth to him. So he was left out.

He wrote: “It seems that I have to pay a price because of bad luck or my parents’ negligence. My wish is thus to become a Singaporean.”

Here’s hoping the authorities pay some attention there and make his New Year wish come true.

Still, there is one forum contributor who wishes for a “quiet commute”.

He wrote: “My sincere wish for 2025 is to see proper behaviour from commuters.” He had seen inconsiderate commuters “speaking loudly on their mobile devices. Some even turn up the volume to listen to audio broadcasts.” I suppose some of us can relate?

Last but not least, we have the grand all-time wish offered with the best of intentions. If his wish comes true, the world would look very different from what it is now. So strap up for his three wishes.
“My first wish for 2025 is that all wars will end. The second is to love and be loved by people I encounter in my life. Last but not least, I wish to remind all Singaporeans to count our blessings as we have enjoyed 60 years of peace and stability.”

I don’t know your wish for 2025, but for some of us, we have many wishes, while others don’t even bother to make one. It’s debatable whether we should have (or make) them, if we tend to break them midstream or bargain them down, and they are soon forgotten.

But for those who want to live intentionally, maybe it is good for the soul to be conscious of living our life by making a commitment towards our betterment. It’s never too late to start, at whatever age.
And a major step in that direction is to just be consistent, even if the road is long and silent, and no one at first notices the change.

If our life is not moving towards some tangible progression, mainly of how we respond better to circumstances, and watching our character grow from those responses, then we are living like a leaf tossed and thrown by the wild tides, or even the trendy ones.

For most of us, it is warm soup for the soul to count our blessings for the year past and the year to come. That is definitely a good place to start any noble endeavour and to end with it too.

Gratitude deepens our perspective. It gives us roots against our unanchored appetites. Gratitude also widens our perspective so our focus is on a future hope that sees to it our eventual overcoming.

We draw upon what is given to us thus far, appreciate the growth from it, and from there, we take a step of courage forward to shape our future.

Gratitude also reminds us that we are not helpless if we know what to protect and cherish and what to let go. True autonomy comes from a heart that is at peace with itself, being able make full use of what we have and letting go of what was never meant for us.

That wisdom to know the difference is the gift of freedom and that is the sustaining power of a heart of gratitude and contentment.

Michael Han

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