Quite an overwhelming day today – woke up really late for work after two late nights in a row. Hari Raya Day – shop filled with happy papas and mamas bringing children and babies… very festive-ey warm feeling… tis the season to be jolly… :)

Very philosophical day - spent almost all of office time talking to good friend with relationship woe (consider it part-work ‘cos have to help colleague sort out personal problem which can potentially affect her work performance : p). Concluded that the most important elements affecting all human relationships are three main things – Fear, Trust & Appreciation.

The best thing we can ever do for friends or any other people we love are to help them conquer their fears. Fears are like evil demons in everyone. We all have our own unique set of fears (some of which can actually be really silly – like one of my old ones which was the fear of sitting on a merry-go-round – I’ve since gotten over it.. really..). When we help people to get over their fears, we inspire in them new possibilities and rebuild their confidence in themselves.. which can be the greatest gift we can ever give them.. more than jewellery or chocolates or even money.. Unfortunately, the inverse is true – creating fear in people (either by being nasty or inconsiderate to them (like how we are sometimes to our parents), making them feel inferior or threatening them in any way, e.g. by messing up relationships or threatening breakups at every bad juncture) divides people and are terrible for relationships. Problem is, these fears that we create are usually done unintentionally and subconsciously, so in the end, we may even deny that we are the cause and blame the other party for it… yet more divide..