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While growing up, I imagined myself getting married by the age of 25, welcoming my first child at 28, owning a home outright by 30 (I didn’t know what a mortgage was back then), and ascending to the CEO throne in the same year. Life after 30 never crossed my mind; I regarded it as old. After all, you’re supposed to have everything figured out by the time you’re 30. **Shut storybook**

Well, the reality?

I embraced the world of clubbing and socialising at 25, experienced my first heartbreak at 31, entered my first adult relationship at 33, and earned a “Manager” title for the first time in my career at 36 years and 9 months. I tied the knot at 38, just a week shy of turning 39.

The Journey…

Life has a way of taking us down unexpected paths.

Hailing from sunny Sydney, I took a leap across the pond to London at 31. I was single, bored, and dreamed of living and working overseas. This was far from my childhood fantasy! As a second-generation immigrant born to Chinese-Vietnamese parents, I lived at home and craved the independent city life. Attempts to move to Hong Kong at 23 and New York at 28 were unsuccessful, but at 31, I successfully planted my roots in London.

During the first 18 months, I experienced my first and second heartbreak. This led to a phase of soul-searching, listening to Taylor Swift anthems (All Too Well, I Almost Do, and Red) on repeat, and becoming a gym junkie. I was desperately lonely. While I managed to make friends in the new city, as an introvert (I am an INFJ if you’re into personality types), I required time to establish deeper connections.

Despite soul-searching, Taylor Swift tunes, and gym sessions, life uncertainties, self-esteem, and loneliness struggles continued to be constant companions. To combat loneliness, I turned to journaling and started new hobbies, although many didn’t flourish.

(Before starting this blog, I had released a children’s book on Kindle – it was intended as a lift-the-flap book. However, due to supply and distribution challenges during Covid-19, I decided to release a Kindle version instead. The ebook garnered no sales or views. I also attempted to create two monthly budget spreadsheets and advertised them on Etsy, managing only 3 sales.)

Starting this blog…

I’ve always wished to be a writer like Carrie Bradshaw (Sex and the City), pondering about love and relationships or writing well-crafted songs like Taylor Swift. But I’m not a good writer, nor am I a creative person. I am an accountant by trade, and my hours are long during month and quarter ends.

I’m always reminded that life is short, and I don’t know anyone passionate about balancing the books. So, I wanted to do something that doesn’t involve numbers – that is, write about something I care about, practise my writing skills, and have fun learning how to create a website.

While I’m not a lifestyle guru, I’m a firm believer that life is a continuous journey of self-discovery, at times giving you unexpected challenges. Through my soul-searching, Taylor Swift anthems, and gym sessions phase, I learned to embrace change, create a life that resonates with my heart, and prioritize self-care.

This blog brings together my passion and shares my experiences, tips, and insights in a light-hearted and humorous way.

Let’s embrace the complexities of life, tune into some Taylor Swift, and discover joy in the little moments!