This week's cover story

Unleash the potential that only love can create. 
by Ainee Cha

Spring is here... which means barbecue sessions are trending again, among the many activities I look forward to in the year. I had a great time hanging out with friends over a game of mahjong with heaps food and drinks to palette... and I had my first sip of Moutai... which led me to this inspirational moment!

It doesn't have to be some kind of an extraordinary or tremendous achievement to define living life to its fullest. Simple activities like being around with friends and family, watching the children play, fight, cry and make up is what really matters. It's the less visible and less obvious things that happens in our daily life that dictates the most of us as humans. It could be as nostalgic as taking a stroll down memory lane, or reading a favorite book, or a few minutes of mindfulness breathing while waiting for my soup to cook. As long as it is something that we enjoy at every present moment, we will experience life differently; more fully and more aware. 

Whilst having a good time and happily playing mahjong, we engaged in an up-close and personal conversation which took us back to a long walk down memory lanes. 

Killing Me Softly With His Love 

I could see tears gathering in her eyes, her voice trembling as she continued to share her contented love story. It was Valentine's Day but her third princess has just arrived, I bet she had probably been too busy with the little one to realize the special day or even to notice her husband until she saw the two bouquets of nicely wrapped roses, hand-picked by her husband from a friend's garden lying on the table; one for her and the other for her mother who was there helping her with the 'confinement' period. The subtle thought yet powerful gesture of her loving husband who has taken the trouble to not only do that for her but her mother simply touched her heart till today after being in a relationship for 15 years. "It was not just the hand-picked roses but the thoughts that counts, the love for her mother as his own"- she quivered as tears rolled down her cheek. I'm sure there are more little gestures that touches her heart and much more to come as they grow old together. 

There isn't really anything more that she could have asked for. He's both a loving husband and an amazing dad to her three princesses.

Love Letters

On a fine afternoon, as she went rushing home from a long day of lectures, she noticed a letter was left intentionally on her motorcycle. It was a love letter from an unknown author... a secret admirer perhaps. The prince charming who has longed for her attention still kept her heart pounding after 17 years as she uttered her story and got lost in the mahjong game. I wouldn't be surprised that the content of the letter were kept fresh in her heart as she continued her story - 'What beautiful long.... you have, he wrote.' Then she paused and smiled. I could tell that she was a little shy to continue further. It wasn't just one letter; but this Prince Charming of hers kept her adrenaline rushed inside out. "Could that be him?", she mumbled to herself in the corner of the school canteen. Her hearts pounded faster and faster when their eyes met. Her room was then filled with colourful flowers like a beautiful mural painting, for a moment her hearts melted... but secretly wish that the flowers will continue to grow in a pot instead... and the rest is history. 

Is that why her garden is full of flowers?... I wondered. She's definitely the reason why he has so much energy to upkeep the 800m2 garden. A man who never cease to keep her heart contented... what a beautiful love story.

Blind Date

A random guy who appeared out of nowhere from the evolution of technology. They started as 'pen-pals' for a good few months. The day has arrived, they decided to meet up for a cuppa coffee. So, she sat patiently at the table by herself, making an effort to restrain her anger as it was raining and he was late for almost two hours. A man walked over, dusting the droplets of rain off his shoulders and looked right into her eyes... there was a moment of silence. I was observing her expression; it was a though he is just right there as she looked up upon his firmly built muscles that melts her from the outside in no woman could resist. At that instant, I could imaging a helpless macho man, seeking for her forgiveness as he quietly sat down sideways... he must have felt really bad. But that did not make her lose faith. Deep inside her, she knew somehow that he was for real and she was determined to know him better. Soon she realized that he wasn't just physically macho but was indeed an honorable man who were there to rescue her in time of need. On their third date, she was introduced to his family and happily married until today for 10 years. 

Could that be real? I have never heard of a blind date that has turned into a fairy tale and live happily ever after. Perhaps looking towards to their second child! 

Thank you to my wonderful friends for sharing their beautiful stories. Their contentment reminds us that there are little things in our life that sparks the most beautiful moment to a happy marriage and a contented life. 

There is so much we can learn in life, much more about life itself if we can learn to perceive it without judgement. That doesn't mean everyday is spring with sunshine and rainbows nor that I like everything that happens to me each day. It is how we choose to see life that dominates how we live. It is about living each day without a pre-consumed idea of how things ought to be. It is about being in the present moment, learning and discovering the contentment that live within. When I think about the subtle things my husband does for me, it makes me fall in love with him all over again. 

"Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage" - Lao Tzu 

In the end, it's all about you!