Look Mom...I Got An Award! 🏆

I've always believe in giving back to the society as what my mom has taught me since I was little...I find fulfillment and a sense of purpose for my contributions to the community.

I started community service at YEC (AMK) in my late teens and from a member of the YEC to RN committee. It's been a compelling journey with the (GRC) Grassroots Organizations over the years...

 

I am pleased to receive the Good Service Award at the Grassroots Appreciation Awards Ceremony recently... It was a honorable moment to be standing on stage to receive this award in person, from the Advisor (MP) and taking pictures together.

                        

Well, it's been a really long time since I received an award and I remember the last time I won a trophy was during a Talentime competition back in high school.

Though this isn't the Grammy or our local Star Awards, lol..however, it is still a valuable award of recognition and honor. It's got my name and the MP signature on it. (Wow..how cool!) It definitely feels good to be recognized and appreciated for the years of hard work and commitments. The crystal trophy looks pretty cute with a thumb up and this thing is heavy!😄 (*Censored for content security and confidentiality*)

Personally, I have great admiration and respect for all volunteers in the community work, they are the true givers who empowered the beauty and generosity of humanity. With the support and dedication of the volunteers, it provides a resourceful network and efficient support systems for our local communities.

Everyone can be a volunteer, as long as you have a heart of giving and the passion to serve the community, you are an asset to the country! 😊

Growing up from a humble and less privileged family, I can empathize the challenges and the struggles when you don't have a lot and I have witnessed many vulnerable families and elderly in the society who needs help and assistance. Therefore, every source of support matters and it is never too little.

As a work at home mom with 2 young children and a busy schedule... I barely have much free time, but I strive to be productive and manage my time wisely. I do my best to contribute as much as I can, as I would rather do something meaningful for the society than doing something else, but that's just me! 😉

Dinner Is Ready! Good Times & Great Food..:) 

As you know I'm a foodie... Eating is a pleasure and I love taking random food photos to share with my readers. I love the Nonya Laksa, Chicken Satays and Peking Duck Rolls. So yummy and satisfying! It was a fruitful day to receive an award and enjoying great food at the award ceremony.

 

          

      

             

A Proud Moment...

My kids are so happy for me, "Welldone Mommy, we are so proud of you!" Awww, my heart melts when my little ones praised me. My family celebrated my sweet achievement the next day...

As a mother, I would encourage my kids to give back to the society when they grow up. Kindness is a virtue and it's priceless! No one has ever become poor by giving. To offer help and support makes a difference in life that brings warmth and comfort in humanity.

                

Servicing the community on social events, Emcee hosting and teaching music (Ukulele) has developed my leadership quality, interpersonal skills and I get to explore new interests and potential.

Being a Grassroots Leader with the role of the Asst.Treasurer in the RN Committee, I gain new skills and knowledge from my seniors. I have the opportunities to meet people from all walks of life and I enjoy interacting with the MPs, other grassroots members, residents, parents, students on social events, seminars, campaigns and celebrations.

To me, such experience are much rewarding and fulfilling than monetary rewards.

            

This award is a great reminder that hard work and efforts are appreciated and valued.

My perceptive of life is living with passions and purposes! This belief motivates me to chase my dreams, to keep elevating and to fully embrace myself!

I look forward to achieve more awards in the years to come, to fill up my display shelf, hopefully! (haha!)

Last but not least...I would like to thank my family for their support & understanding and to all the amazing mentors who guided & inspired me in every aspects of life...

As a true blue Singaporean, I will contribute my greatest support in my best abilities to serve our community and beyond.

With great honor and gratitude, I am truly thankful for this remarkable award! 🏆🥰👍

*Remarks:

 A blog to express my heartfelt gratitude for receiving the Good Service Award and a tribute to all the Grassroots Leaders and volunteers from all constitutions. Every generous contributions, efforts, time and hard work makes a difference to the society and humanity. Written by Author : Mandy Law (aka Mommywarrior77)

                             

The Black Belt Journey 🥋

I've always love Taekwondo.

For ages, I'm amazed by the stunning kick patterns, self-defense techniques and the 5 Tenets of Taekwondo. However, I never had the chance to have a formal training when I was younger and my mom is worried that I'll be too masculine..lol😅

        

But anyways, allow me to share an official news on my blog today!😊

My 11yo son got his Taekwondo Black Belt (Ist Dan). Yeah, I am filled with joy & excitement and I would like to share my personal experience and thoughts on this Black Belt journey...

It's been a challenging but a rewarding process. Though there were some delays due to the pandemic restrictions earlier and a few failed gradings in the past, but my son pass his Black Belt grading on the first attempt. My family is overwhelmed by his performance and we are really proud of his accomplishment.

From Zero To Hero! (*White To Black Belt)

 

My son N, is very much a gentle and mellow kid. He isn't a huge fan of Martial Arts, Kung-Fu, Wu Shu that sort...In fact, he loves Science, Robotics and Music, but like many concerned parents, we are always worried that our kids might get bullied in school, so I encouraged him to learn Taekwondo as a form of self-protection and to boost his physical fitness. Quite frankly, I never expect him to get a Black Belt at this young age, but I'm grateful that he did and completed the course.

 

            

I still remember when he failed his grading at Green/Blue belt when he was about 8yo, it was emotional...I felt his sadness and disappointment. After all, no one likes to fail. At some point, we hesitated and even thought of giving up Taekwondo, especially when some of his friends started quitting at Green/Blue belt, but I told him NOT to give up! I want my children to be resilient with determination and perseverance, so I motivate him to continue the training...I believe in my son and I know he can do it!

 

As parents, it's important to show our full support and encouragement to our children and guide them to achieve their goals and dreams. Even if they take a little longer, we shouldn't just give up. A slow progress is still better than no progress!  I've been his biggest cheer leader in every Taekwondo gradings and I enjoyed these amazing experiences.

Life is full of challenges, setbacks and failure is part of life! It's OK to fail, but don't be afraid to try again. Sometimes, we have to push ourselves a little harder to discover our full potentials. 

I've learnt many tough life lessons and with an assertive personality today, I don't give up easily and I stand firm with integrity. 

 

Personally, I don't believe in quitting, unless there are valid reasons or special circumstances. When I started something new, a course, an assignment, a project or a goal etc..I will do my best to complete it with all my efforts.(but that's just me and my perspective.)

I'm glad my son took my advice and go all the way, he didn't quit even though every level gets tougher! Getting a Black Belt isn't easy for anyone, it takes a lot of hard work, practices and self-discipline to keep leveling up and earn the Black Belt.

Taekwondo improves agility, reflexes, and concentration. It boost stamina, confidence and built a stronger mentality. I notice many positive changes since my son started his Taekwondo journey. At times, we would practiced together on sparring, kicks, board-breaking with our training gears. It's our bonding and N will teach me some basic moves and self-defense maneuvers too. Well, I can do Chong-Ji and the turning side kicks. Pretty cool, right? 🤭

A Black Belt Is Born! :)

            

When I saw N wearing the Black Belt at the ceremony that day...Wow! it's beyond words can describe and deep emotions run through my mind. My little guy look so manly with his Black Belt around his waist. I feel safe and protected to have my personal "Body Guard" beside me.Lol..It's one of the greatest moments indeed and I'm really happy for him.🥰 

I would like to take this opportunity to express my heartfelt thanks and gratitude to his Masters / Trainers for the guidance, patience and hard work for the past few years.

The Black Belt journey has taught me some important life lessons. As long as you keep trying, be consistent and believe in yourself, you will get there! Nothing comes easy in life, without determination and willpower, there is no progression nor success. I firmly believe...The harder the battle, the sweetest the victory!

            

Keep Trying...Don't Let Yourself Down!

Perseverance is strength. When you set a new goal, stay committed with solidity and you will achieve a positive outcome.

 

We may not always be the fastest, the greatest or the most outstanding ones, but keep in mind that the tortoise won the race for its hard work and persistence.

 

In life, people may fail you, but Do NOT fail yourself! Success may take a while, but it's all worthwhile in the end! We made it when we refuse to quit and this remarkable journey has displayed the core values and the indomitable spirit of Taekwondo.😎

" A Black Belt Is A White Belt Who 

Never Quits! " 

 

Keep Training Hard...Taekwon! 👊

                

Lessons I Learned From My Mom🌹

Mother's Day is a beautiful occasion to celebrate motherhood, maternal bonds and the contributions of mothers in our society. 

My mother has inspired me to be a better and stronger person today. Kind, loving and generous. She is one of the strongest and toughest woman I ever known. A woman full of strength and courage, she never back down and she is always positive about life in every situation. My mom is someone whom I look up to, an amazing woman I truly respect and admire...

In honor of Mother's Day, this is a blog to express my appreciation and gratitude for her hard work, sacrifices and the valuable life lessons my mom has taught me.

Important Life Lessons From Mom :

Family comes first

Always protect your family and love your children unconditionally. Nothing in the world is more important than family.

Learn to cook

My mom is a great cook! She believes, 
"A way to a man's heart is through his stomach...'' (Oh mom...😅) When I was little, she would asked me to help in the kitchen, chopping the onions, garlic, pounding the spices and I would watched her cook everyday. She believes home-cooked meals are the best and much healthier. With the culinary skills today, I enjoy cooking & baking because it's a joy to cook for the family.

Treat everyone the same

Never be arrogant. Whether they are cabbies or the CEOs, everyone deserves respect and to be treated equally.

Be kind and help others

Kindness is a virtue. My mom has a heart of gold. She would help the poor, the needy and the less fortunate. I do volunteer work because I believe in giving back to the society, to offer help and support to our community. The world need more empathy and compassion.

Have more patience

Well, I have to admit this is a tough one...I'm not the most patient person in the world, but I will try my best to work on it! 

Never give up

Like a warrior, my mom is a fighter, she taught me to be brave and strong, to keep trying and never give up hope no matter how hard the situation is! "Where there is life, there is hope..."

Keep some money aside

Save for a rainy day. Ah yes...a wise advice! Always keep some extra cash or a reserved fund, you never know when you need it!

Keep learning and exploring

As a child, my mom would encourage me to follow my passion, interests and to keep learning as much as possible. She never stop me from playing music or joining the singing contests, etc... Even when I didn't do much to make her proud, she never rain on my parade. She is always there to cheer for me and I thank her for believing in me.

Choose your friends wisely

It doesn't matter how big the circle of friends you have, it's the TRUE ones that matters!
Friends can influence your thoughts, actions and behaviors, so be careful who you surround yourself with. Mama is right! 

Live with integrity

My mom live a honest and humble life. She taught me the values of being true and upright, to speak with honesty and act with integrity. I raise my head high, each and every day...

Be thankful

Despite all the storms and difficult times, my mom doesn't complain. She is always grateful about life and counting the blessings...

Life doesn't come with a manual, it comes with a mother. I thank my mom for being there to support and guide me over the years... 

Sometimes, we may not share the same views, beliefs or have different ways of expressing ourselves, but in the end... All mothers have the best interests at heart for the children and the family.

...The combination of the purest love, kindness and patience can never be replaced...🌹

What are some lessons your mom have taught you? Share with me and comment below.😉

Change The World..Teach Music! 🎼

There are many things in life that I am crazy about and MUSIC is one of them! 😎

I Love Music! I love to sing and I took part in many singing contests in the past. (Hmm, I really missed those glamorous days, performing on stage!lol..😁😍) I also enjoy live bands, writing songs and playing musical instruments too.

 

When someone talks about Music, songwriting, favorite bands or musical instruments, etc.. I swear the conversation can go on for days. Lolz! Music gets me through good and bad days, it's like a heartbeat that flows inside me. I never get bored with music and I need Music everyday! 🎧🎶

I appreciate good Music and a great song is like a therapy, not only it helps me to relax, it also calms my mind...and happy songs make me feel positive about life! Music is an inspiration. Many lyrics in the songs are so touching and meaningful that express different emotions.

Indeed, music inspired people and connects the world! Over the years, I made many cool friends who are music fanatics like me and we often exchange ideas and techniques to improve our skills in playing different musical instruments.

Just a little background about myself...I played the Trombone and Tenor Saxophone during high school. Look, I still have my Band Major Badge and Sash here with me..Pretty cool and vintage, right? Looking at these cool badges bring back many fond memories of my school band.

My passion and the love for Music bloom, ever since ......

I've always wanted to learn the guitar but as a teen back then, money was tight.. I couldn't afford a guitar but I didn't want to ask money from my Mum, so I started to work at 7-Eleven (My first job) during school vacations and finally got my first guitar at the cash converter shop! The sound quality and the condition of the guitar wasn't that great but I was still happy to own my very first acoustic guitar.🎸

Every day, I spent about 1-2hrs playing the guitar till my fingers were sore and I've watched countless guitar tutorial videos on Youtube and that really helped... After a few months of practicing, I finally could play many popular pop songs on my guitar.

So I figured that self-learning is still possible if you don't want to spend much on music lessons, but if you can afford the money and really want be a professional musician in your career, it will be good to get a certified and experienced music teacher to guide you along.

From Youtube, I learned to play the drums as well but since drums are loud, I have to practice drumming at the jamming studio as I don't want the neighbors to complain about the noise when I practice drumming afew hours every day, so I bought a Yamaha digital drum kit to practice at home, with the headphones. 

Playing music makes you feel energetic, it makes you look cool and feel young too! There are so many health benefits when you play a musical instrument. It stimulates the brain, boosts your memory, self-confidence, build creative minds and the list goes on...

In recent years, I've also learned to play the Ukulele. I love it because it sound so lively and joyful! I see many kids having fun learning the Ukulele in school. It's lightweight and easy to carry around, unlike guitars and drums that are quite bulky..hence, traveling and transportation can be quite a hassle sometimes...

I take my Uke to birthday parties,

bbq, gatherings and jam with my music buddies! There are so many great songs you can play on the ukulele and the guitar. I really think Ukulele is a cool instrument, suitable for the young and old. 

As a busy Mum with daily routines, family commitments, work assignments and online orders, I haven't been playing music actively but I still 'bond' with my favorite instruments whenever I'm free or in the mood...

A few months ago, the RC committee in-charge asked me to form an Interest group for Ukulele that allows the residents to learn and play together on weekends. It was a perfect timing as they are people in my neighborhood who are so keen and ready to learn the Ukulele.

I have started teaching Basic Ukulele afew weeks ago, the class is on every Sunday and I hope to bring Music into the neighborhood! So if you love Ukulele, you are welcome to join us and learn together. Email me if you are interested. 

My personal advice to anyone who wants to learn a musical instrument... Put your heart and efforts to learn, no one is too old or too slow to learn an instrument, don't let anything stop you from learning! Age is only a number, so long as you have the passion for music and still able to move your limbs freely. You can learn almost anything! 😉

Don't give up just because you keep playing the wrong notes, no one is born a musician and practice makes perfect! Keep in mind that Music is supposed to be fun and entertaining, it should never feel like a race or make you feel stressed!

Don't rush and push yourself too hard!..Follow your comfort pace. Don't feel discouraged if you can't play a song yet, everyone has different learning speed and ability. Babies first learn to crawl before they start to walk. Patience.

I'm really happy and feel honored to teach anyone who wants to learn the Uke. Though I'm not a professional musician who sings or plays music for a living, but I'm willing to share my music knowledge for free! 

To me, life isn't always about money!
I know there are many people out there who love music and wants to learn an instrument so badly, but they couldn't afford expensive music schools/courses.. so providing free
Music lessons will encourage them to keep on learning. 

The biggest joy about teaching music is when the students could finally play a decent song smoothly on the Ukulele! Oh wow! That to me, is the most rewarding achievement! 

I always encourage people to pursue their interests. Don't worry about what others think. Learning an instrument is truly awesome! Just go ahead, play the instruments that you love and have fun! 

Music is beautiful and soulful...it has no boundaries and it benefits everyone! So grab the Uke and start jamming'..Rock on! 🤘🤘😎


Blogger Mommywarrior77

 

Dare To Dream! (The Spirit Of Success) 🏆

Everyone has dreams and goals in life.

I love motivational speech. When I hear success and life-changing stories of people from all walks of life. It broadens my perspectives and inspired me to achieve my goals. Words create deep impact....and many times, one good advice could change your life.

So the question is, how do we achieve the goals? I have never seen or heard of anyone who only talks and is successful without any planning and hard work, so the point is to put your dreams/goals into actions with the right strategies.

I read many stories about successful people and I realized that these people have similar traits ;

-They have positive visions.
-They are open to new ideas.
-They are strong-willed.
-They think out of the box.
-They have great self-motivation skills.

Indeed, self-motivation is really important in our daily life. It is a skill to help you push yourself to move forward and keep on trying even after you failed many times.

Do you still remember when you first learn how to ride the bicycle? At first, you wobbled, trying to find the balance and was so afraid to fall...but as you keep trying (after a few falls) and learning to balance yourself, the bike moves steadily in your speed when you take full control. That is the same theory for success, to motivate yourself and achieving your goals eventually.

I will share my personal advice on how I motivate and encourage myself to achieve my dreams/goals.😉

1) Don't be afraid to fail
I know failure sucks!...everyone experience rejection at some point in life and failure is part of life journey but each time you failed, you learn something new. No one is a true failure until they choose to quit! Even one of the most successful entrepreneur, Jack Ma (Alibaba Group) got rejected 30times. So don't feel discouraged, keep trying and never give up!

 2) Have a concrete plan
Know your strength and understand what you are good at, it doesn't matter if it is a short or long-term plan. A plan is the first baby step in reaching your goals. Like my teacher used to say..."If you fail to plan, you plan to fail!" That is true! Without a plan or strategy to work on your goals, it's like a ship cruising in the ocean without a destination.

 3) Read
Knowledge is power! Well, I have to admit I'm not a huge fan of books, but I love reading motivational & inspirational books because it makes me feel positive about life, it boost up my self-confidence and morales as well. The more knowledge and positivity you feed your brain, the more motivated you are! 

 4) Learn from successful people
You don't have to follow exactly what they did or start making crazy investments but understand the KEY ingredients that generate good results and success.

5) Don't waste time
Take the first step. You may have great ideas/plans for years but if you don't make the first step to work for your goals, these dreams will never turn to reality. You can sit all day, playing your computer games and wish for something great to happen or you can take the first step and make things happen! Don't wait for tomorrow, start now! It is your life, your future and the choice is yours.

6) Open to new ideas and explore new opportunities

I was in Sales & Marketing and Customer Service industry for many years before I got married. I never thought I would be a blogger one day, but it's a great honor and I was over the moon when I got Google Adsense approval within a week after one application. It is every blogger's dream to get Google Adsense approval to serve the ads on their blogs/websites. There you go! Anything is possible!

 7) Have a positive attitude
Without a good and positive attitude, no one can truly be successful in the long run, in any industry, etc..It's ok to feel emotional in different situations but once you sort out your emotions...Learn to pick yourself up fast and keep moving forward. Train your mind to be positive, even if you failed, it's not the end of the world! You can always try again.

 8) Learn new skills
Learning is a great way to exercise your brain and keep the brain cells active, it is very rewarding when you pick up new skills and gaining new knowledge. In my opinion, no one is too old to learn anything, if you want to do it!

 9) Don't complain too much
It's perfectly fine to grumble and vent out your frustrations sometimes, but too much complains make you feel bitter, demoralized and it's a waste of time! If you are really unhappy about something, change it or improve it! Feeling sorry for yourself will never help you achieve anything. 

10) Patience
This is one of the biggest challenges for most people but you really need to give yourself time to see some good results. Don't expect a fat paycheck or instant revenue immediately, it doesn't work that way! Every success takes time whatever your goals are. Rome wasn't built in a day and a baby needs 9months to be ready to see the world.  

The journey of life is a learning experience. We are constantly learning and exploring new things every day since the day we were born...Learning to crawl, walk, talk and mature gradually...

I don't believe in taking short-cuts, I believe that hard work, perseverance and determination are the spirits of success. No one can guarantee your success even when you follow all the great advice from famous and successful people, but sensible advice and suggestions are good strategies to motivate you to achieve the goals. 

I am not an expert or a guru in giving advice. I have failed many times and I've learned many things the hard way but that made me a stronger and wiser person I am today. 

I strongly believe..where there is a will, there is a way! I don't think I am successful yet but I'm striving to improve myself every day and I'm proud of myself for the achievements that I worked for, over the years.

Self-motivation is not always easy, we are humans and sometimes we breakdown, we feel depressed and lost...but despite all these challenges and setbacks, we have to master the skill of self-motivation and it goes a long way because in the end, you are the one who has to motivate yourself in life and no one else can do it for you.

Make plans for the future. Set goals, dream big and stay focused. Always believe in yourself and work hard to achieve success! Who knows one day you could be standing on the stage, giving a powerful speech to motivate others and share your success stories.

Last but not least...always remind yourself these golden words! 
" I Can, I Must, I Will "

Sharing is caring! Feel free to share this blog and spread words of motivation to inspire others! 👍 


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