A Life Lesson From My Late 20s That Still Rings True Untill Today

To my dear son,

One day, as you navigate the winding roads of adulthood, you may stumble upon a moment where you feel as though a part of who you are has slipped through your fingers. When that time comes, let me share a story with you, for everything in life has its rhythm, its seasons, and there's no need to burden yourself with undue worry.

I used to be a photographer, painting the world with the lens of my camera for over a decade. My first true passion, it began as a curious experiment and bloomed into street photography, and later, into the rich world of photojournalism. Those were days filled with adventure, when I would travel far and wide, chasing the whispers of a good story, capturing moments in time that spoke of life's intricacies.

Then, love entered the picture. I met your mom, fell head over heels, and together, we built the foundation of our family. When you arrived, a miracle wrapped in joy, I realised I had just traded one dream for another. My freedom, my passion had morphed into a lifelong desire to be a father. I won't deny that it felt like my wings were clipped, bound by a new responsibility that filled my heart with warmth even as it weighed heavily on my shoulders.

The cameras were put aside, gathering dust, forgotten in the shadows. They became silent witnesses to a void that grew within me, a yearning that seemed to lose its voice.

That's when I discovered road cycling. I threw myself into it, cycling with a hunger, a fierceness, as if every pedal was a beat of my heart. From Tampines to Joo Koon, daily, I cycled to work. Some called it madness, but to me, it was freedom reborn. Yet, like a candle in the wind, the flame wavered and eventually died out after three years.

The bicycle joined the cameras on the shelf, another chapter seemingly closed.

But, son, life has a way of weaving old threads into new tapestries. The desire to document your growing years flickered inside me and beckoned me back to my old love for photography. I dusted off the camera, and the world came alive again through its lens.

And today, feeling the weight of years on my knees, I turned to my bike once more, letting the wind rush past me, rediscovering joy in each breath of fresh air.

So here's what I've learned, my boy: It's okay if some passions seem to fade away, For everything in life has its own timing, Just like the seasons; They come and go, but they will surely return, embracing you once more with familiar warmth.

Love always, Papa