The waiting game

Hi all,

I'd have hoped that I didn't have time to write this post at all but my baby girl is still taking her time to grow comfortably and adequately in her premium lounge inside my tummy. As long as she comes out healthy, I shall be patient!

I can't help but I really need to express myself on this space of mine that I MISS WORKING!!!!!!
I'm referring to meeting my wealth managers face to face for strategies talks, planning 1-2 weeks ahead to pack my calendar with meaningful meetings and actively servicing and planning for my clients face to face as well.

I'd say that the coincidence of the virus and my final month of the last trimester is quite timely. I've been staying home for 1 full month preparing for Aurora's arrival since the 2nd week of March and it was just announced yesterday that all citizens are to stay home for 1 full month starting from next week. As Aurora can be arriving anytime these few days, this means that my confinement will fall almost perfectly within this 1 month of lock down.

As much as I am yearning daily to leave the house to eat good food at nice restaurants and go out for walks or shopping, it is really a very crucial time for all of us to observe responsible behavior to stay home for the safety of ourselves, our loved ones and my baby girl.

Honestly, this is the very first time I can remember that I have stayed home for 1 full month. While it sounds very enjoyable, this kind of lifestyle is definitely not for me, even though once a week sounds perfecto! The greatest joy that I can think of is to be able to zrx everyday without any stress. I online-shopped a lot for baby essentials and home necessities. I get to decide and cook what I want to eat every day. I watch a few episodes of shows daily as well. Life is in fact very stress-free. But, 1 month of this is very very overkill for me.

Another reason why I can't wait to deliver Aurora is because of the full blown acne outbreak that I am experiencing in the last month of pregnancy. I've never had serious acne problems in my entire life but this explosion of hormones really gave me a shock to how my body can be disfigured in a matter of few weeks. I swear i've done my best to make it go away by showering multiple times a day, adjusting to cleaner diet, ensuring that the temperature at home is optimal and applying antiseptic and moisturizing cream on the affect areas. None of these works.

When are you coming out my baobei girl girl? Mummy cannot wait to see you and have my life changed 360 degrees for you!

Last few days of "freedom"! Lai ba!

Read more »

Aurora 陈梦宁

HI!

I started writing this at week 31. Time flies.

Before time disappears at the speed of light when she arrives, I just wish to pen down and share some experiences, feelings, appreciations, blessings and sufferings I've been through this pregnancy.

First trimester.

Like what every experienced preggie would say, it's the worst part of the pregnancy.

Mummies are indeed the most noble people in the world. My first sacrifice came when I learnt that I cannot eat sashimi, drink multiple cups of coffee and tea daily and consume soft-boiled eggs and medium rare steak. Luckily, I got over it pretty fast. Occasionally, I indulge by bringing Junrong to Japanese restaurants to watch him eat aburi sushi and shiok maki. Haha. Usually, I'll insist to pay to reward my baby's papa for his hard work going for many appointments per week.

The second month of my first trimester coincided with a pre-booked vacation to Taipei. I was absolutely looking forward to the trip because I wanted to just eat all my favourite Taiwan food and enjoy a getaway from being my usual workaholic self. I totally did not expect the trip to be a total disaster for me. We went for 6 days without planning any itinerary because we simply want to just explore with no plans. I woke up daily in Taipei with morning sickness and all 6 days, I had zero appetite. I did not crave for any food at all and was experiencing extreme food aversion. Everyday was just 自然醒 (zrx), hunt for food, return to hotel for nap and hunt for food again before returning to hotel for movie night. As much as it sounds shiok, it was nowhere close to shiok for me at all. Sigh.

Thank goodness for the hubby for being so accommodating and understanding. He has always been pretty easy-going but I couldn't help feeling bad towards 'spoiling' his holiday with all the food aversion and lack of mood to do anything due to my fatigue. That was an unforgettable 6th anniversary with our little rice inside me.

Back in Singapore, on the first 3 months, I must not go hungry. Gagging in public and especially in front of clients and colleagues always left me feeling sorry and embarrassed. I feel nauseous every single morning. So before the hunger kicks in, I always have to wake up earlier to prepare our breakfast.

On the final day of my first trimester, we finally announced the pregnancy to our parents and family members. Prior to that, I suffered from 3 months of depression and fatigue as we didn't know we can share the news with our parents before first trimester ends. Everyday, I had to deal with keeping quiet about this good news and concealing my morning sickness symptoms from everyone. Sometimes, I had to postpone my appointments as I felt lightheaded and nausea very often.

Post announcement days were the happiest as my parents and in laws showered me with loads of concern and birds nest. My colleagues and clients were also very understanding towards my long toilet breaks and late-coming when I had to ease myself and readjust my state of mind after random sporadic vomiting at home and at public toilets.

.........................................................................................................

Continuing this post at week 34, going 35 in 3 days.

The second trimester was ushered in with the peak of my morning sickness where I puked multiple times everyday and merlioned my dinner every single night without fail for 2 weeks! It was a waste of money and time to take dinner during these 2 weeks during the 14th to 15th week. Lol. My tip to all fathers-to-be and mothers-to-be, don't waste too much money "pampering" yourself with yummy expensive food during the first 16 weeks of pregnancy. They may all come out and go to waste unless you are those lucky ones who don't experience morning sickness!

I was 99% intolerant of taking spicy food prior to having our baby girl. During the pregnancy, I craved for katong laksa, mild spicy garlic aglio olio and otah. I believe my little girl is going to come out as a 小辣妹. haha.

Coincidentally and thankfully, my 2nd trimester also fell on the final quarter of 2019 when Junrong finally got transferred to my team. Without him, I wouldn't have promoted to EFSM in 2020. We worked so so hard to fight for his Gold Award and RCC, as well as my promotion. I'm also very blessed that some of my WMs fought extra hard in the final month of 2019, considering my promotion in their minds. We are all really thankful to our clients who trusted our advice and took action to progress in the building of their financial portfolio in November and December too.

At the end of my second trimester, we also decided on her Chinese name on my birthday! 陈梦宁! 梦想的梦，安宁的宁. We hope that our baby girl gets to chase her dreams and live a very fulfilling and meaningful life. 对于有意义的梦想，要有宁死不屈的精神! When she retires, we hope for her life to be filled with bliss, peace and contentment. This name is a gift from papa and mama to you, 梦宁!

Not to forget, I received a gorgeous push present from the hubby too. 谢谢老公! <3

.........................................................................................................

My third trimester falls on Quarter 1 of 2020. It's unlike our usual Quarter 1 where we rest and have fun. I didn't even go for my annual Q1 trip with Junrong though we planned to go Korea/Bali. The first few days of 2020 were spent on springcleaning and moving furniture out of Junrong's game room to make space for 梦宁's nursery. I'm grateful for my in-laws who came over to help out as I was not allowed to carry heavy items.

Novus, our new organization was newly set up. As a senior manager, I was heavily involved in many organizational events and new business models. Things went well in 2020. The work engine of the team started on the right note as all my WMs eased into their respective business models and into their new environment. I'm very certain that ZSA will work together with one another as a strong community with positive vibes and momentum while I retreat to rest and prepare myself mentally and physically for 梦宁's arrival.

Just last month, we finally got down to deciding her English name! The hubby opposed to this name for the longest time due to its difficult pronunciation. Finally, a wedding dinner made him give in. We have decided to name her after the Northern Lights, Aurora Chen. Junrong loves playing with snow and as a couple we have traveled to icy cold countries like Norway, Iceland and Finland to enjoy/self-torture in the cold and most importantly to catch aurora borealis!

An aurora is a luminous phenomenum, a natural light display in the Earth's sky, when the charged particles that come from the sun hit the atoms and molecules of Earth's atmosphere, exciting those atoms to give off light. The lights can come in so many beautiful colours and to be able to see it, one has to find a clear cloudless sky with no lights pollution. As such, the Aurora Borealis is usually seen in skies filled with countless stars and it never fails to take our breaths away! This name is another gift to her, as we hope that she is the most beautiful light of all lights, so strong but breathtaking.

As much as I'm very in love with the meaning and reason behind this name, I'm still practising the pronunciation everyday while forcing the hubby to practise it as well.

Today is the first week that I work from home and this week began with us unpacking the nappies and placing them into the right drawers, as well as unboxing all the deliveries from Shopee like baby nail file, wet tissues, oral wipes, breast pump. Just yesterday night I placed order for more baby items like the legendary Tula baby carrier and other necessities like the baby camera, more stretchmark cream, pacifier and bottle warmer. I still have more errands to run though I cannot wait for her arrival in 3 to 6 weeks' time.

Today also marks the 2nd day that I cooked from home. It's very very torturous to stay home for me! 2nd day only leh!! Yet at the same time I cannot fit into a lot of my clothes, so it's also very troublesome to leave house as I need to dig for clothes to wear. The belly is also well-packed and tight now, so my movements are all very restricted and snail-like. I can't even sleep properly at night.

Back to my stay home life tomrorow! Shall plan some meaningful home activities.
I will probably update again after her arrival when I have more insights on parenthood!

Read more »

Yilifan

Good afternoon all.

I'm happy to finally revive all my 3 blogs.
Today, I want to write a mini note to my daughter here.

My dearest precious yilifan,

Mummy just woke up from a bad dream about you last night. In fact, it wasn't the first time. Thankfully, every time I wake up, your papa is always by my side, telling me all of these nightmares are not real. I guess all along my confidence level in everything I do is decent, but when it comes to this new arena of pregnancy and parenting, i'm absolutely clueless and fearful. That explains all my insecurities and dreams.

But, my dear baby, don't worry. Mummy is strong. In fact, all mummies are strong for their children. It's evident from all my clients, my friends, my colleagues, strangers whom I've seen on air planes managing their kids, and of course not forgetting your grandmothers. I really salute their grit and insane capacity to teach us and take care of us till we are all grown up, get married and now bearing new lives.

I have thought through about some of the important values that we hope to teach you to grow up with.

Love - I love you

Filial Piety - Through actions!

Gratitude - Thank you

Integrity - Being ethical and honest

Responsibility - Commitment

Courage - Stand up for your cause

Growth mindset - Embracing improvement for all your life

Community - Recognize how teamwork is important

Tenacity - Resilience, never give up easily, troubleshoot problems and move on

Courtesy - Respecting others. Mummy and papa will show it to you first

Kindness - Helpful towards others, bring more smiles to the people around you wherever you are

Optimism - March towards the bright side of situations

Self respect - Saying No to and taking No from others

Forgiveness - Let it go with follow up action to solve the problem

I understand that it's not going to be easy. Not just because of the fact that mummy and papa don't have experience, it's also because we will need to show you tough love sometimes. Just remember, if one day you ever feel that mummy doesn't love you anymore, it's not real. Love comes in all forms, more often pleasant but sometimes not. Everything we do for you, to you is because we love you.

Mummy is enjoying myself everyday watching you move, suck your thumb, curl up comfortably in my womb through the ultrasound videos papa religiously take at our gynae consultations. Mummy is also enjoying all the flutter kicks, knowing that you are growing inside me healthily everyday. Please continue to grow stronger and give me more kicks! Also, i've never been so satisfied seeing my belly grow bigger and bigger everyday.

I'm just so touched everything has gone through very smoothly in the past 5 months.
Papa and I are very excited to see you in another 5 months' time!

Mummy will continue to give you your daily sayangs everyday and papa will continue to give you your nightly kisses that you enjoy every night.

We love you, baobei.

Read more »

2017 New Year Resolutions

I will feel really uneasy not doing this annual ritual of listing down my new year resolutions!
It is thanks to having the commitment to achieve my new year resolutions in 2016 that I can try new things in this year's list after striking out some basic and important items last year.

Let me try to categorize my new year resolutions in the aspects of how i can upgrade myself and how i can help others.

How I can improve myself

1. Be efficient in tidying my belongings

My room actually looks quite neat, but behind the doors of cupboards and drawers, it is more often than not, a mess! So, I heard a saying about how one's room looks is also indicative of the one's mind. I have also read online about how decluttering one's work space and environment can help with stress relief and mind clearing. I need to make a conscious effort to tidy myself inside out and stop being okay with hidden mess! Time to get down to clearing mess and organizing documents as soon as possible! I promise no more than 2 days max!

2. Take up dance!

All along I envy people can groove to music and actually still look good. I also secretly always wish that I can freestyle to all kinds of music just because I can. Last year I became closer to a friend whom i trust that can accept my initially awkward dancing and is truly passionate about dance. I can try dancing once a week first! Dance will also become my alternative way to exercise as compared to my usual treadmill and weights routine. I believe it will be another stress-releasing activity for me!

3. Be lean and strong

I believe attaining an ideal weight is achievable after I found out the best way to lose weight for me last year. Since I was in university, I have never given up this dream of training up a set of beautiful toned abs and be lean but strong. I'll do enough research and garner all the discipline in me to achieve it this year. After all, I have 11 more months to this year end. "Whatever my mind can conceive and believe, I can achieve." This is a motto I have always believed in at work. Last year, in my journey of weight loss, I finally learnt how to use this on an aspect outside work. This made me understand that the body listens to the mind if the focus is persistent and strong. JIAYOU AH!

4. Document my travel experiences with pictures and tips

They say the most beautiful things will always be remembered deep in one's heart. Yet, I feel that when there are too many beautiful sights to behold, snapping a photo moment or taking a video can keep these memories forever more reliably. Let's list the places I've been to: Australia, Bali, Malaysia, Boracay, Taiwan, Beijing, Chengdu, London, Munich, Venice, Paris, Florence, Milan, Seoul, Tokyo, Iceland, Norway Oslo, Tromso and Bergen. Some photos cannot be found while others I couldn't really remember how the experiences were. So this year, as I'll be traveling quite a bit on leisure, I'll make it a point to document my experience down in the form of blog posts! Shall learn how to use photoshop and video editing!

This year I've been to Iceland and Norway. Will be heading to Japan in Feb, Yogyakarta in March, Genting in April and Barcelona, Santorini and Rome (maybe more) in May!

Hoping to go to Dubai, Maldives and Africa soon!

5. Learn to play an instrument and sing at the same time

This item is definitely a must-do this lifetime. Let me do it this year. I'm going to pick three songs that I like and master how to play the keyboard or ukelele while singing them, self-learned!

6. MDRT 

Going for it for the third time this year! My goal is to receive lifetime membership of MDRT from hitting 10 years of MDRT. :) I feel that if you have the passion and intention to give back to the society and also the time to help others, firstly you need to have a stable and sustainable income, as well as a flexible-like-water schedule. If one is unable to provide comfortably for one's family and oneself, he or she will not be able to have the time to worry about others. MDRT is one significant and prestigious award and membership for all insurance planners all over the world. It's definitely an honour to be part of it.

7. Book reviews

I never told many people, but I have always wanted to own a business and make it sustainable. I don't believe that taking up degrees or studying business can make that happen. I've been ceaselessly inspired by bakery, tech, cafe, phone application, social media company entrepreneurs. I've read articles about the bosses. This year is a good year for me to start reading books written by these bosses.

How I can help others

8. Ensure 5-digit income for friends whom I bring into this career

I've brought about 8 friends into this career without active recruitment because I really cannot find another job that's more perfect than this. This year I'm going to personally mentor the newly contracted agents I've brought in and ensure they receive 5 digit income monthly before Dec 2017. You can ask me anything about this if keen! :) Click "contact me".

9. Client servicing  

I'll focus on returning to all my 700 families of customers to review all their policies again. In 2016, I transited from roadshow business model to appointment business model and can't help but fall deeper in love with my job. I love all the friendships forged and the trust that was established among all my clients-turned-friends. I love the smiles on my clients' faces when they receive abalone, mooncakes, cookies and cards from me. I also deeply appreciate the referrals given to me by my trusted clients-turned-friends. Such friendships and gestures are impactful and irreplaceable to me.

10. Skills upgrade

This year, I'll read up and take up courses to understand more about investments of all sorts to better service my customers and to find the best places to diversify my funds. Now, I've learnt the foundations of wealth accumulation and wealth protection, it's time to learn more about growing wealth at higher returns.

11. Charity

Besides donating money to needy organizations, I'll also contribute physically to give back to the society. I've been talking about it last year but did not get down to do it! With my 8 years of tutoring primary school children, I was thinking of given free tuition to needy kids from poor families. Alternatively, it'll be quite meaningful to go to an Old Folks' home to cook, perform and accompany these elders.

12. Cook better

I finally realised the importance of home cooked food be it for health, weight loss or for family bonding. It's really therapeutic to be able to cook while enjoying it! There is also a sense of satisfaction when people tell me the soup that I cook or the fish that I prepared actually tastes good. :) It also feels rewarding every morning seeing the man enjoy his breakfast. I don't mind washing dishes if people I love actually enjoy the food I prepare with my heart and effort for them. That sense of accomplishment. :)

Alright. Already thinking about a blog post on 100 things I want to do before I die! Ciao!

Read more »

2016 Recollections

Hello blog, seems like every blog post i write will always start with "it's been a long time....". Haha. It's because I've been on the more convenient social media platforms like Instagram and Facebook more often. The last time i blogged was about half a year back. I guess the blogging habits in Singapore have also revolutionized to cater to the laziness of people who prefer sharing at a click of a button. I'm no exception.

I am late but still decided to stick to my usual routine of consolidating my annual happenings in a single blog post to give the previous year a closure. Doing this always helps me be clearer of how to set my new year resolutions. Goal setting is an essential part of my life.

Generally, in 2016,

1. I took up a 1-day keyboard full day course.
2. I got myself licensed for will-writing and general insurance.
3. I learnt to be independent at exercising and did it more consistently.
4. I became more health and diet conscious.
5. I quadrupled my savings.
6. I sold my Beetle and upgraded to a sexy Mercedes SLK 200.
7. I sang covers more often because it is still my passion.
8. I ran a marathon.
9. I made time to spend quality moments with my family every week.
10. I joined an FA for an upgrade to the services I can provide for my clients.
11. I stopped doing roadshow to focus on value-adding my services to my clients.
12. I'm humbled to be the top existing agent of Jianming agency again
13. I ended the year with a Silver award as a full appointment model agent.
14. I lost 4kg and finally figured out the discipline and methods to healthy weight loss.
15. I traveled to Bali, Hong Kong, Bangkok and Korea.
16. I corrected my eyesight.
17. I went for the first cruise in my life.
18. I brought friends into my career and began my mentorship for them.
19. I started the Client Servicing Loyalty Programme.
20. I made a donation to the bursary which helped me when I was a poor student.

Here comes the pictures!

January

I sponsored the family to a trip to Hong Kong. It was the first time my brother took cable car!


Won company lucky draw and got $3000 Chanel vouchers.


Junrong brought me to a staycation at Oasia Hotel. It was also his first time getting me a luxury item as a birthday present.


Jianming ageny had a bonding trip to JB!


Started #ZwSandyVIPClients and took so many selfies with some clients. :)


Looney Tunes Fun Run - It was the first time I joined a run that I had to pay for.


February

Enjoyable Chinese New Year with my family and Junrong's family.


Began running more often. Broke personal record every time i go out for runs. 5.3km, 6km, 7.5km, 10km


Relex Smile - I finally took the courage to go through a slightly invasive surgery to correct my eyesight. It was one of the best choices i have made in my life. Refer to my post on it.


March

Trip to China with Godmum - Beautiful jiuzhaigou. More photos here.


Awards Night to go on stage to receive my Gold Award in my ex company. More photos here.


SuperStar Gemini Cruise for the first time with JR


April

Jeju and Seoul with JR and Shawn

PTO D&D


Snoopy run with JR


Brother's 17th birthday celebration


May

Long distance runs - I challenged my body for a breakthrough and my body did break. Haha.

19.7km with Dason for The Straits Time run


42.195km Sundown Marathon


Mothers' day surprise


Completed my will writing course


June

3d2n birthday celebration for Junrong


Fathers' Day celebration - Chin Huat Seafood Dinner + Staycation


July

15km Singtel race against cancer (First race for a cause)


Boss wedding


Bali with Junrong


Jiali's 24th birthday celebration


Les Miserables musical with god mum


Bangkok with agency


August

Mum's 52nd birthday celebration


Kfit - Also attended 2 months of Kfit to try out the workouts.

September

Changed car to SLK200 and had our 3rd year anniversary celebration at W hotel again.


Mid Autumm Festival at Chinese Garden with the family


Agency retreat at D'Kranji for goal set.


Oct

Due to lack of space at home, I moved out to stay again.

Halloween Horror Nights 6 with Jiali and Junrong



November

First buffet treat for my VVIP clients Mr Ang and family



ChooYilin flower jade ring


Swan Lake with Godmum


Learnt to cook myself more often


December

Left Fitness First, set up my own home gym


Tanya Chua concert with friends


Cycling with family at ECP


I made my first donation!


Climbed Bt Timah Hill with Qian


Father's birthday celebration and staycation at Pasir Ris

Overall, I feel that 2016 had been the happiest and yet the most stressful year of my life so far. My life was balanced with adequate getaways, family time, work, upgrading myself and spending time with true friends. Looking forward to the next post: MY 2017 NEW YEAR RESOLUTIONS!

Read more »