Julian JP Lee

Dear friends,

The sky this morning is shot-through with a joyful azure. The wind is fair.

Having wakened later than I usually rise, the morning sun is harsher than I am used to, and more feisty.

As I write these words, I am strolling steadily towards Bishan, cutting through HDB estate and heartland malls.

Once again, I find myself thinking about the contents of life. Monday felt like a hustle— deadlines, emails, expectations. But there was also soft-boiled eggs, and laughter and the silence of night.

One particular image stands out to me as I review my memories: a brief moment from when I ended work last evening. Just a passing thought that visited my mind out of the blue: Where did my whole day go?

And I suppose with that came the strange and humorous realisation that work is not the heart of life, it’s just a part of life— something to do, someone to serve, but no more.

Last night, although I was in school for class, I chose not to attend it eventually.

My mind was already crowded and numb with thoughts from my work. I was not going to make myself sit through another 2-3 hours of lecturing.

So after dinner, I gathered my stuff and adjourned to a quieter part of the school.

I sat there, in the dark and quiet night, just being.

In moments like these, the complex and arduous endeavour that we make life out to be turns simple. Our being here is enough, everything else is unnecessary complication.

When was the last time you slowed down and breathed?