“Look at the sky, mummy. I’m so happy. So very, very happy. Have you seen the sky? It’s so blue. It’s so beautiful.” My daughter, 12 years old.

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A month back, social media sites and news reports were abuzz with disgruntled criticism of the haze, anger at those painted guilty of causing it, displeasure at those who weren’t doing anything about it, regret over being locked up indoors, photos of dreary skies and buildings not visible in them. Hashtags #haze #SGhaze #PSI scattered across Twitter, Facebook, Tumblr and Instagram.

And one day, the skies were blue again. Over-joyed people posted photos of the blue skies, of outdoor life and life returning to normal.

Life appeared normal to us, who are again enjoying sparkling blue skies, intermingled bursts of thunder and nurturing downpours of rain. But what about in Indonesia, is life there back to normal? We appeared so concerned when we too, were affected by the haze, but how easily we forget. As soon as our skies cleared up, it was convenient to ignore that in Indonesia there was still a hashtag called #masihmelawanasap, translated as ‘Still fighting the haze.’

We forget bad things fast, which is good for moving on, but why does it appear to be harder to stay in gratitude than in displeasure? Such energy and persistence were put into complaining. How long did the blue sky posts last?


My daughter expressed yesterday how happy she was. So very, very happy. About the blue skies. About the sunshine beaming across the skies, and the light surrounding us. She called me out several times in recent days for one simple reason:

To look at the sky…

To look at the sky…

To look at the sky...

To be.

And to look.

She remembered the haze, and how it affected her lungs and flared up her asthma. She was in pure gratitude, the way young people can be, without any pretense or feigned airs of being “enlightened” or living mindfully, which is such a fashionable topic nowadays (and this is a good thing, don’t misread me –more on this pet topic of mine to follow).

On this morning of writing, it is one of those glorious days when time stands still and unity with nature comes easily. If this afternoon it rains, that will also feel glorious. And if tomorrow is another blue-sky day, and the day after, and after, can we stay in gratitude? Can we feed that positive feeling and express it with the same gusto as when it was hazy and we were all unified by the common experience of misery? Can we be unified on a daily basis in gratitude, as well?

And now I shall send this off to the editor and pause.

To look at the sky.

To look at the sky.

To look at the sky.

To be.

And to look.

What would be an “opposite of” hashtag to #SGhaze? Can we trend for no apparent reason except for being grateful for something? Can we come up with a hashtag that unifies Singapore just for the sake of appreciating everyday life, and blue skies?

I am designing a 2016 Spring Bali Retreat. This retreat is for women by women. Let me know what an ideal retreat in Bali would be like for you below!