New Year 2026

It has been a whirlwind of a year in 2025, and in the blink of an eye, I am already halfway through my gazettement. I thank God for my gazettement friends, and I don’t think it would ever have been possible for me to survive this (believe me, it’s not that difficult—even though I was apprehensive, cowardly maybe, and still am) period where I am awkwardly a baby again, but with more babies to carry and nurture. It’s complicated, lol. Shall we call ourselves the Famous Five?

SGH is a nice place to be in. Being a specialist now, I have more time to think through my diagnoses, and there is no shame in being a bit slower to organise my thoughts and document at length (hey, to avoid potential lawsuits, OK). To be fair and honest, the first few months last year weren’t the best. I sorely missed HKL—my consultants, friends, food, and everything about the peninsula/semenanjung—and that feeling has been steadily replaced by the friendliness, chillax-ness, and genuine kindness showered upon me. The freedom of carolling in the hospital, celebrating Christmas, and praying for each other reminds me of the good old times, when things were more direct, straightforward, and simple.

I was just casually talking to Julia over dinner yesterday, about the aunty who stayed with us for three days during her chemotherapy drug trial. She told us on different occasions that she is the only survivor among the six participants who joined the trial 2.5 years ago. Julia mentioned that she nearly teared up upon hearing that, and I merely told her (while maximising my levator palpebrae superioris), “Ugh, 1 out of 6—well, I wonder why she’s still in the drug trial.” I’ve known since young that I have a very dark sense of humour. People see me as extremely extroverted and bubbly, but deep down, only God sees through me—cold and easily detached. Too rational to be led by emotions, because such feelings only render one vulnerable. Julia replied, “Oh, no wonder you can be a doctor—that’s the difference.” That really struck me and had me reflecting for almost the entire night after that evening.

I remember many years ago, when a few of us from JC were writing down our aspirations. The reasons to be a doctor were purely altruistic. Our summer breaks in med school revolved around annual trips to Thailand, Cambodia, and Myanmar. I had the best time of my life, holding onto the notion that, hey, I would join Doctors Without Borders one day. Then I remember going onto the ship with Rachel for two weeks, roaming the PNG islands, with patients walking barefoot for almost six hours just to see the healthcare team. It seems so long ago now, before I was drowned and caught in the rat race. Life felt so much more comfortable back then. Was it the people? Was it financial abundance (at that time)? Or when the number of phacos didn’t matter, and career progression was viewed as a natural course rather than riding against huge tides? I feel that I am drifting away from God.

Then I had dreams of people I had long forgotten, followed by dreams of people surrounding me. There are thoughts I need to sort out, and I believe I can do better than allowing emotions and attachment to get the better of me.

But all in all, 2026 is here. 🙂 Let’s continue to swim forward, declutter our thoughts, and be a blessing to the people around us.