Writing this on board SQ108. Yet another flight - this time a day trip to KL. I had two meetings to attend there. Then, I had to make it to the airport during the rush hour jam to catch a flight back to Singapore for two board meetings the next day. I went back to KL again on Friday for another meeting and from KL, I flew to Jakarta to connect to Semarang for the ASEAN Economic Minister meeting taking place over the weekend there. The UK Minister for Trade will also be there and wants to meet on Sunday so I will get back home on late on Sunday.
Though I had to take 7 flights in those 5 days, I must say that what I had to go through is nothing compared to what you are doing now. I started my last letter stating that you inspire me and indeed this is one example.
By the time you receive this letter, you would have completed more than 20% of your course. You would know the Pareto Principle. The right 20% can deliver the bulk of the results. No doubt you have already learned much from all that has happened in the past two weeks. I looked up what the Ranger Course entails and saw a handful of videos showing the various exercises you have to do: in the water, on land and in the air. I don’t know exactly when these activities are held but I keep you tangibly with me constantly by wearing your watches on my wrist throughout the days and nights. See the Laco Pilot watch on the way to KL and the Tudor Diver in Semarang.
Indeed, we are all counting the days here, being with you in spirit all the way. Mom prays every day for your safety and well-being. Unlike the watches above, I have no pictures of a moment so you would have to imagine it, Josh, and may that scene be stored in your memory sweetly: on Thursday night, mom and me were sitting in front of the TV and though some program was playing, we were not watching it. Instead we were both thinking about you, silently holding hands together, wishing you well and then we both remarked simultaneously of how grateful we are to have such a wonderful son in you.
Speaking of memories, I recall a moment we had at a father-son dinner when you were about 10 years old. I think you may remember that too. I was travelling a lot (then as I still do) and so to be able to just sit and talk with you over dinner was indeed a really precious moment. And you made it all the more special when you made a comment well beyond your years. You told me that you liked the way I parent. How I think many years ahead, paint a vision of what could be and inspire you to go there. I assure you no 10 year olds can think like my son. And you also know that very few 20-something have gone through as much as you to lay the foundation for a fantastic future.
Between KL and Jakarta, I spent the night in Malacca. Its only for a mere nine hours but again inspired by our father-son moment, I wanted to spend the night with my father and mother. Naturally, you were the main topic of conversation and I showed them the youtube videos of the Ranger Course. They are obviously in awe of what you are doing now. And back in our bedroom in Cheng, there is a sketch of you on the wall. Its off a photo of you playing in the sand on a beach in Sri Lanka. I had asked the artist to title the sketch “SSPP”.
I meant then for the acronym to mean Super Son, Perfect Prince. Coz even then, as an eight year old, you were super and perfect to me. I don’t know why I didn’t get the artist to write the title in full then. Now, I know why: unbeknownst to me, I must have been directed by forces higher to me to label it in shorthand because as it is clear now, you were meant to go on and to do more than just being super and perfect.
In the 18 years since that photo was taken, your life story has you so far growing in Singapore, USA and UK. You are the top Scout, Scholar, Soldier, Soulmate to your Partner, Parents, Platoon and Planet.
Maybe when you can connect again with your devices, you can now update your social media accounts to read “SSPP”. We all know that social media can be a soul sucking void of meaningless affirmation especially when the envy becomes the primary perspective with which one views the messages there. But used right it can also be a channel to let our loved ones know what are the moments worth capturing and retained in the account for posterity and for all to see. In your case, there is so much more superlatives and perfection to come and the challenges you go through now will only make those times all the sweeter.
At the ASEAN Economic Ministers Meeting, there was much talk about how we are the few remaining growth hot spot in the world. With a population of over 600 million people across 10 countries, we are larger than Europe and our economy may soon be larger than the EU’s. ASEAN could be the 4th largest economy in the world, after China, US and India by the middle of the 21st century. Little wonder then that the citizens of this region are also amongst the most optimistic in the world. They all can see a better future ahead. Singapore is going to be in the middle of all these development, not just geographically but also economically. The country and the region will need its men and women to seize the moment. Maybe some of the future S’s and P’s that you will go on to experience will be to help lead the way just as our past leaders did when winning our independence and growing the nation for its new citizens.
We can only imagine the future end-state but the path is not visible. We only know it will not be linear but through twists and turns, it will lead to the destination. The Ranger Course, in my mind, is a microcosm of that. You know what the activities are. You know when the end date is. You cannot however fathom exactly how you and your mates will do on each program. One thing is clear though, that if you hold on together, you will make it to the end. Beyond the badge, the knowledge that you have been on this journey is enough to assure your future self that you have it in you to take on bigger challenges, whether at the Social or Societal stage, whether in the Private or Public sector.
Right now, the challenge is to be a Ranger. I am here rooting for you all the way!
No comments:
Post a Comment