Shhh! Secret Life of a Princess

Random, provoking thoughts from a self-confessed princess :: with focus on motivational learnings from the media. I hope to inspire everyone to be the best they can be

Monday, July 20, 2009

Butterfly Fly Away - Being A Single Parent




I just watched Hannah Montana The Movie on a plane on the way to Manila. Watching a movie like this on the way to a journey just intensifies the emotions. Most importantly, this movie not only touched me to tears, it left an indelible mark in me towards single parents. One should watch it for the beautiful, idyllic sceneries that was potrayed in the serene hometown of Miley Cyrus, such a contrast from Los Angeles where she comes from.

There is no power stronger than the love of a father. In one scene when Miley Cyrus was changing between her two personas just to go out on a date with the guy she likes, this action irked her future stepmom. As the stepmom ordered her to stop, her father, Billy Cyrus defended Miley and found himself being left by his new lover but it was all worth it. That is the sacrifise he is willing to put himself through for his own daughter so much so that noone else comes first.

It amazes me how a kids movie like that has such a meaningful and deep message and evoked such strong emotions in me. He single-handedly raised 2 intelligent hyperactive children who are now willing to do anything for their father.

I found myself being in the same scenario as I was being pursued by a single father in Singapore two years ago. He was fair to me by being honest about his status very early on and I was fair by telling him that I have a long distance relationship. When he mentioned that he has 2 children at home and that he is going through a messy divorce, that didn't stop us from being friends. What I did not know was that he treated me more than a friend. It is only later that I realised the impact I had on him, his children and his ex-wife. It breaks my heart to hear his daughter calling him on his cellphone asking where he is and when he will be back while I am nicely having a sumptuous dinner or jungle trekking (our fav activity) with him. He did not rush home to be by his children and comforted them through his cellphone. When I asked why he did not go home to his children, he told me he needed a break from his kids as well as the complicated divorce procedures. It was then that I felt I was the only escape he had.

Being a single parent is never easy. I admire those who could do it, not out of their own willingness though. What I am afraid is I am this close to being one myself too.

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Sunday, July 05, 2009

2 Beautiful Girls, 2 Different Life

She came out of the car like an angel welcoming the Earth. It was no ordinary car, it was the latest BMW E series with its rim modified if I am not mistaken. I would have taken note of that car had I seen it whizzing past me on the road. Now, however, I took note of the angel that just got out of it. Like an angel sent from above, she wore a white dress that shows off her slim shoulders. She was pretty, sweet looking with a fair porcelain complexion, unlike others in her profession who look aged and haggard. She has a slim build and was not trashy looking at all. She looked at me as I got down on a motorbike probably wondering if I am in the same profession as her, considering I was also stepping into an area frequented by people of her stature.

The man who got out of the car next to her meanwhile looked almost like he can be her father. However, considering he was fetching her to a place like this, one would think twice. He was not bad looking, just old, garbed in working attire, probably just after work, seeking for some form of relaxation from the daily grit of life. They headed towards the hotel next door and whatever happens after that is beyond my imagination.

On the other side of the world, another pretty lady emerged in front of me. I met her in the dressing room of the gym while I was changing after my daily workout. This one however did not look like an angel, she was garbed in a worn down dark blue T-shirt. She was devoid of make-up but despite that, one could see that she has a pretty face, fair skinned with spots of pigmentation. This girl however might be earning only one tenth of what the angelic girl earned. While this girl could be working longer hours and putting in more effort in cleaning toilets and mopping the huge floors in the gym and feeling tired after hard days work, the other girl could be earning 10 times the salary with just one to two hours of coercing and pumping work. While it might seem easy and lucrative, she had given up a lot more to be where she is, losing her pride and dignity. Both of them came from the same country called China, migrated to a new country called Singapore, seeking for more money and glory. Noone better than the other. Just different lifes, different luck.

Enjoy Steven Sodenberg's adaptation of life as an escort who provides men with real 'fake relationships' in New York called 'The Girlfriend Experience'.



My Radio Interview on BFM




This is the first time I appeared on a radio interview with Business FM (BFM for short), in fact this is the first time I appeared on any live interviews. I was glad to be given the opportunity by the CEO of DraftFCB to be interviewed alongside him representing DraftFCB as the Associate Director of Strategic Planning for Interactive. The topic of the conversation is 'How to Advertise Using New Media during the Downturn'. I also thank my ex-colleague, Malek Ali for making the interview come true.

The experience was great, having to put the microphone in front of your lips and speak live to your audience. The topic resonates in me as I am a true believer of Digital and New Media esp how much more effective the online and mobile medium in spreading news and information in this generation. Being in the advertising industry was fun and glamorous for me. I am glad I dipped my toes in it even for a while.

Tune in to BFM more as it truly resemble a Malaysian company taking a new way of broadcasting, not for entertainment but for useful nuggets of information for business and professionals like me.