Today, I turn 30.
Part of my birthday will be spent with my residents and volunteers at MPS tonight. But I will also be bidding farewell to my 20s among friends who have stuck with me through thick and thin. A rather unusual manner of spending a birthday, but also a very apt and meaningful way of marking the milestone.
Looking back at the decade past, my life took many twists and turns, much like a roller coaster ride. There were dreams fulfilled and broken, moments of deep sadness and pure joy, comforting and worry-filled episodes, rocky paths and smooth roads. All in all, I am thankful for reaching 30, maybe with a few more bruises and scars but nothing more acute, and I am grateful for my family members, friends and team members who accompanied, encouraged and supported me through this journey. Truly, I am grateful.
Not everyone is fortunate enough to make it to 30 and I silently pray for them. In MacPherson, I have witnessed a few heart-wrenching cases of young parents who lost their children to illnesses or accidents. The bereaved parents often recounted to me how intelligent and endearing their children had been, and how much hope they had pinned on them. I remember holding one extremely shaken young mother, trying all I could to console her as she wailed in despair. There was so much pain. It was heart-breaking. Moments like this remind us that life is to be cherished, for every breathing moment is a blessing. I wish these families well with all my heart and I hope they will find the strength to overcome their grief.
I would also like to offer my best wishes to others who still struggle with their lives. MacPherson has more than its fair share of families in distress. Over the past years, I have met families straining to make ends meet, families with ailing grandparents or kids with disabilities, and families struggling to cope with profound losses. I have been inspired by children from dysfunctional families working hard to rise above their circumstances, by single mothers enduring social stigma and working doubly hard to raise their kids, by elderly aunties and uncles making the best out of what little they have, with fortitude and tenacity. My volunteers and I try our best to help them, and I am thankful for the many donors and volunteers who contribute their resources and service to the community. I hope I can continue to count on their support. And I hope that these Singaporeans going through tough patches in life will eventually overcome the challenges they face, and soon see better days.
Looking ahead, I seek to do more for the community and for Singapore, both of which I care about very much. In MacPherson, I will continue to build on what my predecessor Mr Yao had done, refine and roll out programmes to help needy residents and fight for funds to extend infrastructural, financial and social support for residents. In Parliament, I will continue to speak up for the elderly, the young and those with mental health conditions, and on issues that affect Singaporeans, like housing, transport and healthcare. I believe that each of us, in ways big and small, can all make a positive difference to the lives of others. Therefore, I hope that more big-hearted individuals will volunteer their service and together make MacPherson and Singapore a truly inclusive and caring home for all. And as you read this, I ask that you join me in this quest for a better tomorrow.
Today marks a new milestone for me. The past decade will certainly be unforgettable, but birthdays are not the time to lament the passing of years. Yes, we ought to recount the past, learn from our experiences, and hopefully become wiser and stronger. But our eyes should be firmly focused on the future that is yet to be shaped – to see what wrong needs to be put right, to act boldly to make things better, to seize the day and fulfil our dreams.
~Carpe Diem!~
Tin Pei Ling
*Article first appeared on Tin Pei Ling's FB page here.