Happiness Journal 27/5/25

Yes, I am keenly aware that my hair is out of shape, but I will not look any younger, so now is the perfect time to capture any remnants of my depleting youth.

Today was really good. I’m entrapped in exam script marking, a process that is none too inspiring. Normally, I would have felt quite wound-up and breathless since I would develop tunnel vision and not have the capacity to care about anything else until I FINISH MARKING my scripts. However, as I usher in my 45th year on Earth, I’m noticeably more stoic.

Marked scripts while half-watching videos from my favourite Japanese show, Kenmin Show. Just hearing Japanese was soulful anesthesia to the dreary task ahead. Finally opened a Japanese book during brunch and read two pages for the first time! Used ChatGPT to help me really understand why Kagawa Prefecture is so into udon.

That’s not all. A colleague treated me to lunch subsequently. (I swear I’m not a leech. I used my CDC vouchers to belanja* him lunch last week. But it’s good to be on the receiving end.)

And life decided to surprise me further. A student’s Dyslexia Association of Singapore teacher forwarded me his work. I read his letter to his younger self. Simple and heartfelt. Goosebumps caressed my consciousness as I peeked into his inner voice.

As I write this, I realise I’m easily satisfied. Free food, new insights into how other people work or live, time andd clarity to pen some words. Life is good.