What do a Malaysian working in Singapore and a young couple trying to start a family have in common? Cost of living!
Yes, this morning as I was rummaging thru the headline, this 2 articles caught my attention. In fact, it could be an AI run sequence of articles as a person is trying to get thru his browser.
Nevertheless, lets do the math and compare how ‘difficult’ things are these days 2024.
Twenty four years ago, when I was starting out as a senior engineer in this country, 18 % (750) of my monthly income goes to flat rental. That leaves about 5% (200) going to my transportation, 2.5% (100) to my phone bills (no internet, just landline), about 2% (200) to my utilities, 5% (200) to my income tax. Lets assume I peg the groceries to 25% of the income and incidental, misc or entertainment to 2.5% (100), this totals to about 60% of my income on monthly expenses, the balance 40% on savings. Hence I was able to save for a house downpayment in a matter of 3 years. Since I was very young, I dont need so much cloths, nor do so much house maintenance since were renting . Forget about self care since free sports is available out there.
These days, the breakdown is totally different. My car mortgage is around 14% of my income, my tax is about 11%, phone bills at 4%, utilities at 3%, food and groceries at around 30%, gas and car maintenance about 5%. School expenses to about 3%. So this totals to about 70% of my income. Where does the balance 30% go ? Cloths, house maintenance, self care etc.
After my covid days July 2022, this time the symptoms are a bit more than usual
Day 1, sunday, jan 8: rorys bday! The usual bday preparation started with a trip to grocery and buying ingredients. Felt sluggish, with bad/painful throat. The whole morning was spent lying in bed while wife prepares dinner. The bday celebration went successfully without any hitch. My daughter in law gave me zinc and vitamin C in the evening. Got myself tested prior to facing my inlaws during the party. Feeling better now I said…
Day 2, monday, jan 9– first thing to do is consult doctor for sick leave paper. Got myself tested- negative. Well this is probably a mild case of low grade flu i said. Had breakfast with wifey. Then went home and just rested. Picked up Rory during lunch time and went home afterwards. Many liquid remedies were given by my daughter in law and wife. Ginger tea with manuka honey. My throat feels better every time i take those concoctions. Cooked brunch made of potato and carrots for the young family.
Day 3: tuesday, jan10-sent rory to school as usual and lie in bed afterwards. Took wife to the grocery store and bought lunch for my son and his wife. Too tired to cook i said. My throat is getting more and more painful. Finally in the evening I took the anti inflammation at medicine. on the contrary, i Did not sleep almost due to body heat.
Day 4, wednesday, end of my sick leave. i sent rory to school during a rainy morning! On the way my tummy went crazy. It feels bloated and so painful. I was soo nauseous that I had to abort driving and let my daughter in law drive. I had myself tested and behold – solid line positive! Jeez, this is it I said, all the while this bug is causing my unusual body joint ache (mild), severe throat pain, and unusual body heat, heat. The weird thing is I dont have a high fever compared to a normal flu. I just slept the whole day with occasional bfast lunch dinner interruptions from family members. Symptoms wise, my body is really very heaty and every now and then I would sweat. Finally in the evening I took panadol so I could sleep better.
Day 5 Thursday Jan 11: I began my day with feeling the heaty body and continues profuse sweating. Im still feeling weak and nauseous. My runny nose continues as well as that pesky dry cough. For the first time, my taste has gone south. So I ended up sleeping almost whole day in bed that by night time, I tossed and turned due to my dry cough spell.
Day 6 Friday Jan 12: I feel slightly better overall today. So I ended up cleaning and dusting my room. Aaah that feels good I said. After which I rested and slept. By lunchtime, I picked rory at school and bought takeaway food from KTPH hospital. On hindsight, I shouldn’t have done this, why? A since few days later, Rory has been infected during this brief encounter! 😦
Day 7Saturday Jan 13: my sweaty body and heaty body continues. For some unknown reason, my coughing intensified. I can almost feel the pain started from my upper sinus areas, upper throat and now goes lower and lower my throat. My worry is that this indicates the virus going down the trackway to my lungs. Another unknown symptom, I had a headache at lunchtime. So I sleep again during the day. My cold feet continues. Still zero taste bud. To feel not guilty, I went to dry cloths to the laundry wash.
Day 8Sunday Jan 14: my headache is lesser today. But my sweaty body and cold feet continues. Coughing continues. My runny nose is better. I continued to take medicine to make the phlegm thinner. I cleaned my room and toilet and bought more test kits at Greenwich Guardian. Of course while here, I tried my taste buds and to my surprise, its slowly coming back.
While folks of all ages plan how to end the year with all its challenges, ordeals, accomplishments and all-our golf group pulled up an act to host our 1st ever christmas party-with a live band!
How times have changed – drastically for 1 generation.
Our June 2023 holidays was a whirlwind, yet full of unexpected and free flow experiences.
First, we were thinking of flying and going overseas. The thing was, the decision to spend a quick weekend ++ with Rory was hinged on the fact that June 2, a Friday was a public holiday. So just days before the D day came, our family decided to spend the long weekend elsewhere. I asked Rory what kind of experience will make his holiday worthwhile this year. He said riding a boat will do!
And off we rode the ferry to Indonesia.
SQUALL. Your read it right. At the onset of our travel, some weather disturbance is already off in the air. As soon as we boarded the ferry at exactly 8AM, looming clouds from the distance started to appear. At first, the weather forecast said Singapore were to have rain from between 11-2 PM. With the sweltering heat weeks prior, this is a welcome respite, or so we thought!
As soon as the boat started sailing, here comes the trickling of raindrops in the sea swept windows of our ferry. Barely 5 minutes out and the waves started to swell! For an 8 year old boy, this is exciting! But for someone who has seen how this body of water unexpected unleash its fury in a blink of an eye, I was tense. But knowing the destination is not too far out, just a short 30 min (40km) ferry ride, all I could muster is to watch thru the bridge how the pilot skillfully criss crosses waves, perhaps 8 ft high in order for our ride to still remain comfortable. I got a big sigh of relief as soon as I could see the bouys dotted the landscape. LAND! I said inside of me. For a boy, the 30 min ride is forever etched into his memory -and so does this bigger boy!
Golf: One of our main agenda is for Rory to play an 18 hole round without the pressure of the flight behind us. And so we choose a golf course that would allow him to play a round with us. A 4 minute video is created for him to remember this day as well!
Resort Stay: finally, a place to stay. As a stickler for good view and nature inspired location, we choose a beachfront resort to spend this weekend! The place was oozing with frolickers and holiday makers for this loong weekend! Before we know it, we are already enjoying the place’s quaint marina frontage and lightly forested backyard.
Before I could type SAYONARA, memories flooded my brain and Im looking forward to the next island getaway!
Why do they call this the leap of faith? Scripturally, it could be from Peter Leaping out of the boat to join his Master, our Lord Jesus!
Wikipedia defines this is ” the act of believing in or accepting something not on the basis of reason”.
When was the last we did this in our lives? Some may be doing this on the heels of a broken relationship. Or broken finances. Or broken businesses. Or even broken lives. The thing is – it is fear that mostly preventing people from engaging this on its tail.
Fear of the Unknown. Fear of being ridiculed. Fear of stepping out of the boat. Yes we hear stories of people who were worse than when they leapt out of the boat. Question is – is this the majority of minority? Could be both. If numbers were to be the basis, then maybe we look around our circle of friends who venture into the unknown.
Among my closest of friends, one (Mr. N) leapt out of his comfort zone and made Florida his residence. This came after an emotional separation from a 25 year marriage. So if we think about it, was this a good or bad move? Another went back home to establish (Mr P) set up their family business, did consulting and is slowing down now. Still another (Mr. R) went overseas to New Zealand after retiring at 63, does voluntary work for a church and now doing side hustle as consultant. And many more stories.
All of them did leapt of faith, with good measure for some, others as a result of their circumstance. We may say, life must go on. And it sure does. The thing now is, if we were to account for all these experiences in life, how many times have we leapt out of faith and what is our success rate, if ever we want to call it that way? Success being, you land on dry ground instead of sinking deeper from leaping out of the boat.
In every enterprise, endeavor, business, movements, the end recipients benefit and welfare ought to be always at the forefront of their practice or performance. If one is a farmer for example, the consumers satifaction of the produce he makes is all that matters. So with professionals like engineers, doctors, lawyers. Its never about ‘us’- but THEM rather.
For more insight on this principle, I came across a nice article- from the medical field that is. And it triggers the importance of giving credit where its due – to those we offer our service or expertise to.
Except from a doctor writer on one leading magazine wrote and I quote:
“Doctor, thank you po for your support.” Those words had come from a senior pediatric resident who had just presented a case that turned out to be a diagnostic dilemma. My reply, “You are most welcome. That was the least I could do to let everyone know that the course of action taken was my decision and not yours. After all, I am the captain of the ship and the reason that the case was presented was because I did not have the answers. We needed the input of the team so we could do what is best for the patient and his family. In dealing with saving lives, there is no room for arrogance but plenty of space to practice humility complimented by unrelenting perseverance and deep prayer.” Before that particular day ended, I caught up with a mentor and asked what would be the best teaching strategy in going about making clinical decisions when faced with gray areas. How did he bring me up back then? He didn’t bother to mince words. “Allow them to do their homework and their best.”
Being a physician is difficult with medicine not being an exact science and riddled with complexities. What makes it more difficult is the responsibility that the job entails because we have a direct hand in saving lives. As I continue growing in this profession, I am beginning to understand and appreciate the value of constant communication as a way to let the patient know that we care more than they could ever imagine. Moreover, in the journey to self-knowledge, I have seen the importance of acknowledging my own limitations and sharing uncertainties with both the patient and his family. Letting them in on your thought processes and plan of action goes a long way in any doctor-patient relationship. Such open discussions and honesty lead to a better understanding of what the patient and the family are facing and build that needed element of trust. Never ever think that you’re the only one with solutions. Be humble enough to admit that you would be in need of help. Though you may be good, someone will always come along who will be better than you or have more experience even if you are in the same field. To seek another’s consult is never a sign of incapability, would never hurt, and comes at no cost.
A good physician is one who knows his limitations. As the attending physician, always remember to include others in the equation, as it is never about you in the first place. Focus on the only one who matters, the patient.
And like most mysteries or unsolved events, hollywood came to the rescue and made a Netflix series about the the missing airline. Webster defines mystery as a “something that is difficult or impossible to understand or explain.’
By all accounts, even with today’s technology, advanced communications systems, tracking capability and high tech gadgets, the plane literally vanished without a trace!
A mystery. An enigma? Or simply an intentional act of a man that showed as a sign of protest. whatever it is, we may never know since the wreckage (at least clear evidence, was not found in totality, or at least crucial pieces of it.
Mark Boado Blog 