Currently listening to: I'll never get over you(getting over me)-Expose

Got back not too long ago from meeting the mentors. Forgetting that Nicoll Highway was closed, I took bus service 10 with my colleague and we alighted somewhere not very near Suntec City. Took a brisk walk down to Suntec where I met the rest at Kenny Rogers for dinner. Was already about eight close to nine when I reached so I was already half full from the hunger.

Cloud, J and G were there when I reached. KL had already gone by then (he is probably cycling on some expressway now). After dinner, we went off to Fullerton Hotel where we couldn't get any seats anywhere. Walked down to One Fullerton where we had drinks and cake at Baker's Inn.

I didn't talk much as usual. Was thinking quite a lot about what they were saying. Our reasons for volunteering with SMP even though we knew nobody in there. G's realization that life wasn't just about materialistic pursuits. J competently coping with life's little twists. Although PL, cloud and I didn't really talk much, I believe each of us found the conversation tonight rather meaningful. While waiting with PL for the cab home, I mentioned that it was rather heartening to hear that G had finally realised what happiness truly meant to him.

What does happiness mean to you?

What does happiness mean to me? I have been thinking this through so many times. Happiness to me is when my family is healthy, both physically, mentally and financially. Happiness is when people around me find happiness, be it in the form of marital union, finding a good job or knowing what they truly want in life. Happiness is also simplicity. A baby's smile, an old couple walking hand in hand, beautiful weather.......

One of the best things about mentoring then was that I found out how it felt to care for someone when my heart was in shreds. While I cared for someone else, I slowly recovered. It made me believe that I was still capable of giving, that happiness was really a matter of choice and that no one could ever take it away from me if I didn't want to. This belief does waver from time to time but I did become stronger than I was, in order to be brave for someone else then.

Looking at the kids, it made me grateful for what I had. I began to appreciate even more that giving wasn't about wanting something concrete back in return.