The Five Women I Met on Earth

I was born in a family of three quarters women – and dad, being the only male in the household completed us as a family. My dearest grandmother used to live with us and I went to an all-girl convent school – all the way through to my primary and secondary high school life.

Grandmother

Dearest grandma was an amazing and strong woman, and she was the epitome of all things great grandmothers should be. Grandma was loving, humble, patient, and had so much to give. She devoted every moment of her life to her children, her grandchildren and her relatives. She was also an amazing cook, a wonderful listener and was fair and never quick to judge. Some of the fond memories which I still reminisce were the monthly grandma-granddaughter ‘get-together’; where we would crouch beside a brightly lit corner and I would help her with her pedicure (with age, she had difficulty cutting her own toenails), me watching over her shoulder as she expertly cooked and prepared meals for the family and the weekly family outings which I would hold her hand as we walked around the shopping malls.

Grandma has taught me patience (which I am still trying so hard to muster to this day!), humility and her deep wealth of wisdom.

Writing about her and acknowledging her legacy cause me so much hurt – and mostly because of how much I miss her, so very, dearly much.

Mother

Incredibly strong-willed, protective and loving, mother is as true as you’d imagine to her Chinese Zodiac sign, the Tiger. Given the challenges thrown at her throughout her life, mum stands strong to this very day, unwavering. I’ve always tried putting myself in her shoes, and just as I remember myself sneakily trying out her high heels when I was a young girl, I doubt I could ever strut in her footsteps so magnificently as she had done to this day.

During my school days, I would wait for mother to come pick me up from school after her work ends and I look forward to the occasional treats she would take me to – like ice kacang (shaved sweetened ice) and char kuey teow (stir-fried flat rice noodles). If she was tired, she never showed it.

Another fond memory: I would never forget how mother used to adjust her red BBX 4607 Toyota’s rearview mirror, then checked her side mirrors and her seat every time before she took us out for a spin.

Despite her current circumstance, mother tries her best to stay connected with her friends, MY friends, and all those lives she could touch via her trusty iPad. To this very day, she remembers birthdays, special occasions and she would also try her best to bake and make her yummy treats for people that matters most to her.

Mother has taught and is still teaching me independence, resilience and hope.

Fun Fact!
“Your mum is a Santarina”

– Dad

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Sister

“Thor the Thunder God!”

Judy – the Bunny

Sister – yes, my dear younger seester.

It is amazing to see how much she has grown and evolve to who she is today. She has carved out her own identity – an identity she boldly displays in her work of art, her creative impressions and her thoughts.

Since childhood, my sister has always had the ‘hand which I wish I had’. She was always excelling creatively – be it in music, journalism, or art. I enjoyed the moments where I would sit beside her as she played Chaos Legion or Devil May Cry on my laptop, or advanced effortlessly in the Harry Potter levels on our old SONY PlayStation 1. I also enjoyed her then doodles and random paints, and her short stint of sewing pillows for our Barbie Dolls out of tissue paper (mind you, she has gone as far to embroidering towels now!).

As the years went by, so did our paths diverge. Every year, I would observe something new in her, and that spark just keeps growing and growing. From getting her Masters degree, to trying out new recipes and running, sister is continuing to break new boundaries. And no – she is so not stopping at just that.

Sister has taught me to keeep going.

The Bestie

If there is one person who fought, for that one dream she held so dear to all her life, would be my bestie.

If there is one thing among the other amazing traits that I admire in a person is the ability to acknowledge one’s true aspirations. Since high school, when I first met my bestie, she was always drawing, sketching, and an avid lover of Japanese anime. Bright and talented in so many ways, the bestie’s devotion was always to her characters and her art – and she had her personality intertwined within the multi-faceted layers of her handiwork.

In school, she excelled in sports, in her school work and exams, what have you. To top it all off, she graduated and majored in Robotics. But one thing never changed – and that was her love and passion for where and who she envisions to be in the future. From speaking a foreign language and surviving on her own in a foreign land, and working in a corporation with completely different dynamics of what you would expect back home, she did just that. She did what she had to do – to get where to she is this very day.

My bestie has taught me to keep believing.

Mother-in-law

Last, but definitely not the least, mother-in-law is a figure whom I both respect and adore through and through. Warm, loving, and kind, mother-in-law has showed nothing but generosity and care to all her children and grandchildren. Thoughtful and quick to cater to her family’s needs, mother-in-law remembers our favourite foods and is always there to lend a helping hand whenever we need one.

She is like the dream mother-in-law that all daughter-in-laws would hope for, and more. Like all the other inspirational women aforementioned, she is a hero in her own right. I loved listening to the stories my husband would share with me (and I still do!) about his parents’ lives and also that of mother. Challenging as her path in the past may be, she kept pushing on and held her head high – and raised three amazing, capable, and talented individuals whom one I am so proud to call a husband.

Mother-in-law has taught me fairness, equality and balance.

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However, there are still so many, many amazing women whom I have crossed paths and journeyed together with in my life. Childhood friends who stuck with me through thick and thin, teachers and lecturers who were there to support me during my educational journey, mentors and women in leadership whom were both humble and generous with their knowledge, aunts who had always been there to celebrate your wins, but deep down, I would also like to give a warm shout-out to the men. The fathers, the husbands, the boyfriends, the uncles, the friends and the colleagues who advocate and support us women as equals and who do not discriminate.

A toast to all Women and the band of supportive Men this International Women’s Day.

I #ChooseToChallenge to continue to empower women, celebrate equality and to celebrate women’s achievements!

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