Apr 07 2009
So Who’s Your Inspiration?
Women who go out of their way and touch the lives of others are truly deserving of recognition.
I am amazed when I read about women who despite struggling with their own challenges still make it their personal commitment to help others. Take for example, Molly, the 2008 winner of the Singapore Woman Award., given out by MediaCorp. She was suffering from ovarian cancer but despite her own painful struggle, she reached out to young victims of cancer and dedicated her time to them. Molly died last year but she lives on in the hearts of all those she’s touched.
Now, that’s what I consider a starting point of any journey towards making our society a better place to live in.
Whether it’s the volunteer who devotes her in time in healing others or the campaigner who makes a real difference to her community, the achievements of such women are made all the more precious simply because, in most cases, they’ve been made in the face of adversity and hardship.
I often think about what it takes to build that inner strength, the courage that keeps these women going no matter how high the obstacles, and how I can learn that secret too. It’s something I’ve thought about for quite some time now. The only conclusion I can come to, is that you can do two things – lie down and give up, or work up to the challenge and in the journey, discover what you can do.
There is a nation-wide search now looking for ordinary women who have done extraordinary things through its Singapore Woman Award 2009. These are women who often, don’t set out to do great things but do them anyway because they felt they had to. These women serve as great role models to all of us and most importantly, show us that we too are capable of extraordinary things.
But don’t be mistaken… to be extraordinary doesn’t always have to mean you’ve got to do things on a large scale.
It doesn’t have to be about how many lives you’ve touched.
Let’s not forget the mother who cares selflessly for her child or the teacher who inspires her students and forever touches their lives. Whether it’s one or a hundred, these women have been extraordinary and they too deserve our salute.
Remember, every life has a story.
And there’s a hero in every one of our stories.
For me, it’s my mother. For you, it could be your sister, friend, teacher or colleague.
If you feel they should be recognized, do share because the stories deserve to be heard.
And by doing so, as Laura Hwang, our recent guest on Primetime Morning and one of the judges for the Singapore Woman Award puts it, “You’ve already made them a winner.“
Do you know someone you want to nominate for Channel NewsAsia’s Singapore Woman Award? Log on to www.channelnewsasia.com/singaporewoman
10 responses so far
“The inner strength”… isn’t that a short word called “Love”?
One can only do so much if these acts of kindness were self seeking or for an external reward;
but it is the genuine Love from the overflow of our hearts that gives one the strength to go on despite challenges, to share this love with others
Hi Suzanne! My inspiration is my mother, just like yours. I call her a SUPERWOMAN. For years, since I was in primary school till now that I am an undergrad, she has been both a working lady AND a housewife. She cooks EVERY SINGLE DAY and works 9 to 5 Mon-Fri. Sometimes I feel so bad and pampered as a son. Although at times I feel she has her shortcomings , I am just awed at her ability to do everything and the sacrifices she is willing to make. I really hope I can repay her when i start working later and take care of her and make all her wishes come true. Give her what she hasn’t been able to afford to have. I love her to BITS and PIECES.
To digress a bit, I would like to say that I admire you too! You’ve been doing a mighty FINE job as our beloved morning newscaster! I applaud your HIGH LEVEL of PROFESSIONALISM and SWEETNESS! Haha. Really, you seem like a really kind and understanding person.
Oh also, GREAT job on the interview with DAVID ARCHULETA! Have you watched your interview on YouTube? Someone uploaded it. You should read the comments posted! So MANY praised you and thought it was the best interview with him ever and that US journalists should emulate YOU. WOW. That speaks volume about your credibility, intelligence and skills. Congrats!
Another person I draw inspiration from is David Archuleta. He is just so sweet and genuine and most importantly HUMBLE. I’ve never met someone SO talented yet SO humble. Never. I got to shake his hands and get his autograph when he was at Iluma, Singapore for promos. How was he in person when you interviewed him???
I thought he looked like a DOLL in person. His eyes are eerily SHINY when I was close to him. I showed him the T-shirt I was wearing that says “LETTUCE BOY”, his nickname. He laughed off his usual infectious laughter. It was so brief. ): Now, he has really made an impression on me and inspires me. I can tell from the interview you follow his development quite closely too. Everyone can tell that.
Ok. I think my comment is way too LONG. Sorry! Have a SAFE and HAPPY life Suzanne. Stay in our tvs in Singapore FOREVER k?? Haha! Be our morning sunshine and continue cheering us up.
And for all things in life, Aza fighting!
Hee. I just learnt that phrase a week ago.
Regards,
Toyyib
My mom. I guess it is usual for quite a number of people. But why is she exception great as I believe all mother are great for a start? Let me think where to begin. Basically, at a very young age of around 10 or 12, she started taking care of her sibling while my grand mother works to support her family. By the time she grows older, she needed to take care of 10 siblings besides enduring the beating of my grandmother. Then by a young age of around 20 years old, she came over to Singapore from Indonesia to work. After she married my dad, she had been working more than 12 hours a day as a cook. However, she still needs to keep the house clean and take care of me and my brother wellbeing and homework as my dad just focus on working. Even uneducated, she made an effort to teach us in our homework mostly in Chinese subject with her bare minimum education which she learn from standing outside the school in Indonesia during her younger days. As she understands the importance of education, she worked hard to support our study yet without pressuring us to become extremely successful. Not to mention she need to tolerate my dad who at times can be insensitive as a husband. Although, my dad always complained about my mother on petty issues, however I think he is the most fortunate man in the world to marry her. Even my mom grows up in a traditional family without much western or formal education however she is very open-minded by nature as regard to her perspective of life and mentality. She is able to communicate well with me and my brother as a friend while giving appropriate advice when needed. When I derailed from life during my teenage years and simply live through a period coupled with video games, skipping school, occasional fight etc (you get the drift). Yet, she never tried to scold as she understands that I have passed over the age of scolding and corporal punishment. However, she also never gave up on me either, so she paid for my education in some stupid private school (which cause a real strain for my family finance at that time and is a totally crapped school although I am not helping the situation by skipping school as usual) which I flunked again without surprise.
So finally with her firm believed in my dream and strong preservation in supporting me. I had become a successful person in both education and career. So I hope to dedicate my achievement to her and introduce her to the world at large. My mother who is an inspiration, a life model and a loving mom for me.
I can’t agree with you more Xianghui. And you know, it is this exact thought that gives you hope and makes you feel this world is a beautiful place to live in and it has such tremendous potential to be even greater! Love is a powerful force… I wish everyone can see and feel this cuz I don’t think everyone does…
Hi Toyyib,
Thanks for sharing that short write about your mother. I love hearing such stories and it makes you feel good even though you may not know the person who’s writing it or is writing about.
Your mother sounds like such a lovely and warm, devoted mother with a big big heart. I know how you feel when you say you love your mum to bits and pieces… I can feel that when you say that
I feel that too about my mum and yea, just like you, I feel so lucky and blessed to be my mother’s daughter, I wonder when I can ever repay that and do the same for her what she’s done for me.
One thing I’ve learned over the years is that the best gift we can give our mothers are love, happiness and a peace of mind. And your mother is blessed to have a (son/daughter?) like you who is wise and is able to appreciate her love and devotion and all the efforts she makes everyday.
I know you will be able to repay her and take good care of her and just reading from what you’ve written, I know the two of you share a very special bond.
Btw, are you the only child in the family? Do you have siblings?
Well, Mother’s Day is coming up, maybe you wanna plan something special for her?
Thanks for the archuleta info. I had no idea! I did go check it out on youtube, very kind comments indeed. Let’s hope I can continue to air good interviews that fans and viewers appreciate.
Aza Aza fighting to you too my friend !
Cheers,
Suzanne
Hi Lanx,
It’s a beautiful story you shared with me. Thank you!
Yes I agree all mothers are great and to the people whose lives she touches, she’s truly exceptional!
I can definitely feel your love for your mother and it’s heartwarming for me to read how she’s greatly appreciated and loved.
From what I read, I know your mother is a wise, strong woman and I salute her for her deep devotion to her family and children.
Lanx, what you wrote about how your mother never gave up on you got me thinking about something that’s been in my heart for a long time.
I feel a mother’s faith in her child is very important just like how your mother has shown you.
Our mothers know they are a big influence in our lives, but I don’t think they realize how GREAT a positive force they really are for us.
I don’t think our mothers give themselves enough credit for it too. I think they forget that it’s mum’s undying love and endless support that make us who we are today… sons and daughters that she is so proud of.
Being ever so humble, our mothers shrug it off and give us the credit instead by saying “He’s a good son/ She’s a good daughter. I didn’t do much.”
I wish our mothers could take some time to see this and be proud of themselves and not just of us.
I guess that’s where we come in… We can help her see what wonderful qualities she’s brought to this world and our world and what a difference she’s made.
I know it would mean so much more for her to know that we feel it, see it and are ever so grateful….
Having said that, I know it’s not easy to bring this up out of the blue every now and then and suddenly get all emo about it… at least that’s how I feel. So I usually seize the opportunity on Mother’s Day and her birthday to tell her what a world she means to me and write a letter.
Other days, well, i use the famous three words ‘ I love you’ , and hope she knows that I mean much more than that.
Honestly though, I shouldn’t need those special days as an excuse to remind her that yea?
shy shy… hahaha
Thank for replying Suzanne,
You are totally correct. I remembered how she was beaming with pride during my graduation ceremony and being such a strong woman whom I never remembered seeing any tears before; she was dropping tears when I went up the stage. Even after returned back to Singapore, she would go around telling relatives and friends how proud she was of me for me to graduate within the top percentage of the class. It seem as if that you could see in her joy that my achievement was very much her own. However, she never did once mention of her effort and hardship in supporting my studies overseas. She also never once said how much she missed me during my studies as I didn’t came back since second year till graduation because I need to work during holidays to lighten the family finance but when she saw me after 2 years gap, I could see from her eyes how much she missed me.
Her greatness as a mother is beyond anything I can do to repay but I know she wants nothing else for me except to be happy. I hope not to just let her know how much I love her daily but also to give her a comfortable and happy retirement life with all the effort I can dedicate for as long as time allow.
Btw, I am never a shy person, hehe, so she know how much I love her except sometimes it does get a bit awkward for a man to say it outright as such I usually prefer conduct
. She likes to travel, haha, so planning to buy her a tour package to go holiday someday.
I can see you are also very filial to your mom and she must be a really loving, supportive, smart and kind woman as usually you see the mother reflection within the daughter (>,<)
Lanx
My grandmother is my inspiration!
Nice 2 Meet U
i like to watch CNA..
i also like to watch prime time morning
you are the great presenter
These past 5 years getting up at 4am and watching you on CNAIs prime time morning every week day, has been the most rewarding part of my life during this time. With each day I grow to respect you more and it’s as though, I get to know you better with every passing day. Thank you for being you.