@ho-shuhuang When you don't feel like doing anything at all, a small step makes all the difference. Thank you for reminding me of this today.

While we can wield our might to be as strong and as resilient as we can be, some people need that extra nudge to build their resilience. For instance, if one grows up in a household where his parents are verbally abusive, it might take him a lot more effort to fight his inner demons (i.e. being self-critical, low self-esteem, etc.) than someone who's confident having grown up in a health household. Of course, like what @maitatoy has mentioend - resilience is a muscle that we need to flex! It's just that we have to acknowledge some people are born to be more athletic than others.

Thanks for your input @ho-shuhuang. Yes a diagnosis certainly is like a double-edged sword! A diagnosis is something that can serve as a useful starting point, and we reckon that shouldn't be the final goal or determining factor in our daily living. In many ways, stigma happens when people misuse the "label" and see it as a be all and end all, instead of seeing that there is life beyond the definitions of a disorder.

@Warmanadarsh2504 It sounds like you're going through a tough time finding someone to hear you out. We're sorry that you're going through this right now... Loneliness can be a crippling and overwhelming emotional state to be in. We can't specifically advise you on how to improve your relationship with your friends or family, but there are others who are willing to talk with you through these difficult times. Perhaps consider speaking with a counsellor? There are a number of mental health helplines which @maitatoy has provided. Some of them are free. You're never alone, and help is available. You can even remain anonymous for some of these services. We hope you'll feel better after speaking to someone who is trained and who would also talk to you without judging. Sometimes loneliness can be our friend. It allows us to be still in this noisy world, and from that we develop greater strength and resilience.

@Sharon-Lok thanks for the great tip on using apps! Aside from the period tracker, one of the apps we've come across is Dailyo, which lets us to rate our moods daily and record our activities. Pretty useful for people who prefer a more pictorial way of recording their moods! There's also Mood Panda which is similar but has a social function to it - it lets users publish their struggles publicly and receive "hugs" from those in the same thread/channel. If a person is not into apps, journaling and writing are also good ways to becoming more aware of their emotions. Simple things such as listing their symptoms as bullet points, or laying them out in a table really goes a long way in tangibly monitoring their moods across a period (or periods) of time.

Alfred's suggestion is great. The Creature Feature should speak well to the young and the not so young. I think we can do more too. Helping to talk to people in our lives about the issues is one big way to spread awareness, especially those that we know take TCM. We want everyone, humans and wildlife, to be healthy and safe, and there are great plan based TCM options out there that help people to get better, and is ultimately better for wildlife too! Wins all around!

It is has been said, that journey is always better when it is shared for focusing only on ourselves will not reveal our life's purpose. Strangers it may seem, but, they were God-sent Angels as channel of blessings for you to see His goodness and great mercy.

@gizellealpuerto I like your suggestions, Gizelle! Participating in the local economy helps secure jobs which stems the need for people to venture off and possibly risk their lives to trafficking. It's a good reminder that we all can't do everything, but we can do something. Even the act of listening can provide support to the downtrodden. Thanks so much, Gizelle.

@alfred76 I totally agree! It really doesn't take much to make someone's day.

@lynnchan I love what you shared, Lynn. There is a marked difference between listening to understand and listening to reply. It is good for all of us to learn to listen more and accompany our loved one in what they go through as a way of showing our care and support.

I wish a MC wasn't always necessary to 'prove' or 'justify' a person taking sick leave. While I'm sure this differs from company to company, country to country, such is the norm here in Singapore! Sometimes, a person might be going through a mental block and might need a stress relief day. Our mental health is just as important as our physical health, so why shouldn't coping our mental state without a MC be okay?

@lynnchan Maybe mom is sad to see grandma's condition. In a closed tradition it is better not to ask what and why she is sad. I think mom will refuse to talk about it and is becoming more and more secretive. Just give your attention. What does she like? Cake? Have cake with her. Give her warm hugs. Long and friendly hugs. Don't ask anything, but let her cry in your shoulder if she wants. Tell happy experiences with mom and grandma. Laugh with her. Say that you love her and grandma. If mom wants to share her feelings, please listen and hug. If she doen't want to talk, don't force her. All your mother needs is a feeling of comfort. Maybe if she is asked a lot of questions, she will feel uncomfortable because she worry about giving you trouble. Just give your attention and love. Pray together and let her hear your asking for her: may God help and love her very much. Bless you and your family.

I think we can all start with the little things, such as bringing reusable cutlery (titanium spork, anyone?), a pouch for waste and of course, a water bottle. While hiking , always keep to the marked trails, respect the land and leave no traces of your adventure behind. Needless to say, don't feed the wild animals, even if they are oh so cute. This includes fruits, as they may not be part of their native diet. If you are camping overnight, particularly at a site without a toilet, do bring a small shovel to bury your waste responsibly. Note that toilet paper should not be buried but bagged away to be taken with you when you leave. When washing up (yourself or your cutlery), keep detergent/shampoo/soap out of water sources such as rivers/streams/lakes. Let's all do our part to look out for the environment!

Beach clean-ups are a big thing in Bali! Try following groups like Trash Hero Canggu or One Island One Voice on social media to see when their next clean-up is, or for news of any events happening during your trip. I've also been exploring going back to North Bali for a trip, and came across Pemutaran, a town on the north coast that is home of one of the most successful Bio Rock programmes in the world - planting rocks underwater to let coral regenerate. It was a brainchild of the local community, which also organises beach clean-ups on a regular basis. I'll definitely check it out if I ever make a trip there and report back!

Hey! Was planning for a similar trip to Cebu few years back and I had the same concern with you - should we swim with the whale sharks or not? My husband and I decided against the idea (and also we were running out of time) after reading about the state of whale sharks in Bohol, Cebu. I saw a recommendation from someone to swim with turtles on a neighbouring island though: https://www.dontforgettomove.com/swim-with-turtles-apo-island/ Perhaps that's something you can consider? All the best for your trip!