While I was getting a severe scolding from my dad after having food poisoning recently for NOT taking care of my health(a constant topic in my live nowadays), I had this thought….
He was telling me to focus on my priorities, is my health more important or the DAN LAIN LAIN(other things translated in English), basically questioning me whether I basically want to live and grow old gracefully or get a relapse in cancer. He is that blunt to the point asking me “So, if you have cancer again, don’t look for me!”
As the newer generation, we are the below:
– An overwhelmed generation where our source of stress can be internal and external because of the pressure to perform, to be better or to be AS GOOD as others
– An overconnected generation – As everything is at the source of our fingertips, we strive to perform be a superkid OR some get lost in the fantasy world
– An overprotected generation – No doubt about that, many of us are told to put on our safety belts, be careful when we cross the roads, be careful of snatch thieves,etc. We are basically VERY SHELTERED!!!!
The above are taken from a book by Tim Elmore called Generation iY, and I actually agree with him on quite alot of things but I want to focus on being an overwhelmed and overconnected generation.
Talking about being overwhelmed, we always strive to achieve this and that, like for me, after coming back from the US, I wanted to achieve many things besides killing myself over a PhD of course..
So, I wanted to host a show, Yippie, hosted my first show on RTM, and then Astro tutor TV after that… But, you know what, I wasn’t satisfied, I wanted more….
Manage to come up with a show which had a similar concept to PersonEdge, a company I founded with Ashley, and now a subsidiary of Lowyat.net called The Influencer. With the winner of the show Rebecca Saw . Again, not satisfied.. I had the “Then what?”while my mom was asking me to slow down.. this was right before cancer
During the times while I was achieving the above, I still had the notion to want to achieve what EVERYONE else was doing such as buying a house
Check, then what I asked myself?
I don’t want to go on and on about “the achievements””, and write my checklist down BUT what I am trying to get at is our generation is always SO stressed out!!!! Why is it that we are not satisfied anymore?
I heard in Singapore, it’s even worse with 1 in 3 people getting cancer… come on.. we have to take a step to make a change for ourselves, and towards a better society…. not getting angry on the road because of traffic jam, sharing political nonsense to fuel even more political nonsense!! How does that help?
We have to STOP with the then what syndrome but have the SO WHAT, I AM SATISFIED syndrome… I am not asking you to stop achieving but reflect and maybe there are more important things in life such as
Family!! I recently bought my mom flowers from Bloom This for my mom for seriously always being there… even not going to Singapore to be there with me when I had food poisoning
Bringing my cousins out for facials
Doing meaningful activities with Ben
Learning how to cook with these gals
Spending more time with friends from out of town
Going for bestie trips
And of course being with The PersonEdge team and valuing their efforts!
I can always continue to be on my laptop replying emails, meeting people, and solving all the million problems that keep arising but the recent bout of food poisoning have me setting my priorities straight, do I want to feel like bleh again and asking myself “Then what?”or do I really want to start what I’ve always come back for, create an impact in the community?
Giving talks on cancer awareness and helping people
Like Jennifer, spending time to uplift her before her surgery
Giving people hope and helping the youth!
I want to continue to make a change and am always grateful to all of you for your constant interests, emails and uplifting words of encouragement!!! You guys keep me writing…. do tell me what else you would like me to write on?
Other than that, I am going to STOP being overwhelmed, and overconnected, and hence, tomorrow I will also join Digi to “puasa(fast in malay)” my Facebook from 7am – 7pm, here I am taking the #ertisosial pledge (I am really not paid to do this pledge, I thought it was pretty cool, so I am joining in!)
Remember guys, I love hearing from you, your thoughts…keep them coming <3
Love,
Mei Sze
