Finding Joy

Finding Joy

It could have been my worst night working in F&B. The diners made it my best

In the midst of a demanding shift, when he felt almost invisible behind the constant motion of service, a few words of appreciation made him feel seen, says the writer.

Finding Joy

Comparison may be the thief of joy, but you can steal it back

Joy returns when you stop keeping score and start paying attention to the life that is already yours, says the writer.

Finding Joy

Taylor Swift’s face is easier to sketch than Tom Cruise’s. Drawing both is equally thrilling

Most faces are easy targets, like Taylor Swift, says the writer. Others pose real challenges.

Finding Joy

I lost one community, only to find another

The main tower of Thomson View, the writer's old home, with tarpaulin cladding reaching ever higher, like a shroud being pulled up.

Finding Joy

My mother’s unfinished love story showed me that joy doesn’t need a happy ending

The writer's mother. Reading her mother's old love letters allowed the writer to see her more fully.

Finding Joy

Want to know what’s really going on in our children’s lives? Cook for them

Conversations over dinner have inculcated open communication in his family, says the writer.

Finding Joy

They cleaned our estate for years. A final meal made us neighbours

A neighbour isn’t just someone who lives near us, but anyone who puts their heart into the places we call home.

Finding Joy

Without chilli, food just isn’t the same

Chilli may well be Singapore’s most indispensable and omnipresent culinary ingredient. It can be a make-or-break, says the writer.

Finding Joy

My students left my classroom. They didn’t leave my life

Maintaining bonds with former students – despite distances in space and time – is an underrated joy, says the writer.

Finding Joy

I get by with a little help from my (work) friends

Friends add another dimension, infusing meaning into the work experience, says the writer.

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MDDI (P) 046/10/2025. Published by SPH Media Limited, Co. Regn. No.202120748H. Copyright © 2026 SPH Media Limited. All rights reserved.