If letting go of a hobby makes you happy... why not?
Fomo and childhood conditioning can lead us to pursue activities we don't enjoy just to fit in or keep up.
The writer was around six when her mother enrolled her in weekly piano classes as an enrichment activity.
While we're still marinating in the sweltering midday heat, many are already starting to plan their year-end getaways. And the allure of a wintry escape, complete with snow-dusted mountains and frosty air, is hard to resist.
If my avalanche of Instagram updates is any indication, it seems like from December to March, half of Singapore migrates to Niseko and Hakuba in Japan, or even the French Alps.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New Paper
12 hours ago
- New Paper
Match Me Abroad contestant comes to S'pore to find love
A repeat participant of American dating show Match Me Abroad, Harold Davis, has come to Singapore in an attempt to find his soulmate. In the reality series launched in 2023, expert matchmakers connect Americans with love overseas. Davis, a New Mexico native who previously introduced himself as someone on the autism spectrum, joined the show in its first season with the aim of finding a Czech partner. He grew close to a woman in Prague, but the relationship did not work out. The second season follows six Americans, including Davis, in pursuit of love. The 43-year-old, who lives in Texas and has become popular with fans of the show, said on Match Me Abroad that "dating in America hasn't worked out" for him. He switched locations on dating apps and found that he had the most success in Singapore. "I think because they see me as tall and cute. So I wish to go to Singapore to have my luck changed," he said in a trailer for the show. Davis said he finds women in Singapore "beautiful and sexy". He also noted that many women in Singapore state on their dating profiles that they enjoy anime, and he has "seen thousands and thousands of anime". He said it would be cool to "nerd out on all the same things" with his future soulmate. Harold also went on a "practice date" with an international matchmaker who goes by "Dolly", who played a "typical Singaporean woman". Their date took place at Artyzen Singapore, a hotel in Orchard. On the practice date, he gave Dolly a hand-drawn flower, describing himself as "an artist, inventor and designer". He later received feedback to "loosen up a little", as he appeared to be nervous and stiff. Davis also shared some of his experiences in Singapore on Instagram (@harolddavisii), including visiting The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, visiting a Toys 'R' Us shop, walking along Orchard Road and visiting a McDonald's outlet. On July 5, Davis posted about a date with "Cheezy", where they visited a cat cafe and enjoyed art together. He wrote in his caption: "Art cafe with cats, modern dating, a little behind the scenes, exploring Singapore." After the date, Cheezy noted that Davis was kind and gentle. His hands were clammy, however, which "was not a nice feeling" for her. The show airs on HBO Max from Aug 15.
Straits Times
13 hours ago
- Straits Times
Pakistan won't send hockey teams to India, say government sources
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox Pakistan will not travel to India for upcoming hockey tournaments over "security" concerns. KARACHI – Pakistan will not travel to India for upcoming hockey tournaments over 'security' concerns, government sources told AFP on July 12, potentially jeopardising their place at the 2026 Hockey World Cup. The nuclear-armed neighbours traded the worst violence in decades during a four-day conflict in May that killed 70 people. Pakistan was due to participate in the Men's Asia Cup for hockey to be hosted by India in August and September, for which the federation had sought the government's clearance. 'After the recent war, the security and safety of our hockey players will be at risk,' said a sports ministry source, who asked not to be identified. Pakistan will also not participate in the Junior World Cup in India in November, the source said. Once a force in international hockey, with three Olympic gold medals and four world titles, Pakistan have slumped to 15th in the rankings. Not featuring in the Asia Cup will likely cost Pakistan a place in the 2026 senior World Cup to be held in the Netherlands and Belgium. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Singapore Govt will continue to support families, including growing group of seniors: PM Wong at PCF Family Day Singapore From Normal stream to Parliament: 3 Singapore politicians share their journeys Business 29 Jollibean workers get help from MOM, other agencies, over unpaid salaries Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors A second government source also confirmed the decision to AFP. Pakistan's foreign office has not responded to AFP's request for comment. India stalled all bilateral sporting ties with Pakistan in the wake of the 2008 Mumbai attacks, which it blamed on militants based across the border. Cricket has been the most affected sport, with the two countries only meeting each other in multinational events abroad. India refused to visit Pakistan in 2025, when it hosted the Champions Trophy, forcing the final to be staged on neutral ground in Dubai. In a tit-for-tat move, Pakistan will also not send its women's cricket team to India for the 50-over World Cup later in 2025 and the T20 World Cup in 2026. They agreed instead to play their matches in Sri Lanka. Pakistan's hockey team last toured India for the 2023 Asian Champions Trophy, finishing fifth amongst six teams. Meanwhile, over in India, the nation's top-flight football league, the Indian Super League, is on hold, the country's football federation (AIFF) announced on July 12, citing stalled negotiations for a contract renewal with their commercial partners, Reliance-led Football Sports Development Limited (FSDL). Talks to renew the 2010 agreement stalled after India's Supreme Court asked the AIFF not to renew their deal with FSDL until its order, the federation said. A case to implement a new constitution for the AIFF is ongoing at the country's Supreme Court. AFP, REUTERS
Straits Times
15 hours ago
- Straits Times
Tourist coins pose giant problem at N. Ireland's famous causeway site
Sign up now: Get ST's newsletters delivered to your inbox In recent decades, visitors have pushed thousands of coins into fissures in the rocks. BUSHMILLS, United Kingdom - Northern Ireland's Giant Causeway draws close to one million visitors a year, but their habit of wedging tiny coins in cracks between the rocks – to bring love or luck – is damaging the world-famous wonder. Now authorities are urging tourists to keep their coins in their pockets to preserve the spectacular landscape. Some 40,000 columns mark the causeway, Northern Ireland's first Unesco World Heritage Site. Geologists say the natural phenomenon was created by an outpouring of basalt lava 60 million years ago. Legend has it that the causeway was formed by Irish giant Finn McCool. In recent decades, visitors have pushed thousands of coins into fissures in the rocks. The gesture is 'a token of love or luck', according to Mr Cliff Henry, the causeway's nature engagement officer. Top stories Swipe. Select. Stay informed. Singapore Government looking at enhancing laws around vaping to tackle issue of drug-laced vapes in Singapore Singapore Why the vape scourge in Singapore concerns everyone Singapore I lost my daughter to Kpod addiction: Father of 19-year-old shares heartbreak and lessons Singapore Organised crime groups pushing drug-laced vapes in Asia including Singapore: UN Asia Why China's high-end hotels are setting up food stalls outside their doors Business 29 Jollibean workers get help from MOM, other agencies, over unpaid salaries Singapore Geothermal energy present in S'pore, but greater study on costs, stability needed, say experts Singapore Driver arrested after 66-year-old woman dies in car crash at Geylang pasar malam But the coins rapidly corrode and expand, causing the basalt to flake and leaving 'unsightly' rust-coloured streaks, Mr Henry told AFP. He pointed to streaks on a rock and gingerly prised out a US cent with a set of keys. 'We get a lot of euros and dollar cents. But coins from literally all over the world – any currency you can think of, pretty much – we have had it here,' he said. A report by the British Geological Survey in 2021 revealed that the coins were 'doing some serious damage' and something had to be done about it, he noted. Signs are now in place around the site appealing to tourists to 'leave no trace'. 'Distressed' 'Once some visitors see other people have done it, they feel that they need to add to it,' causeway tour guide Joan Kennedy told AFP. She and her colleagues now gently but firmly tell tourists to desist. At the exit from the causeway, a US couple said they were 'distressed' to hear of the damage the metal caused. 'Our guide mentioned as we came up that people had been putting coins into the stones. It's really terrible to hear that,' said Mr Robert Lewis, a 75-year-old from Florida. 'It's kind of like damaging any kind of nature when you are doing something like that, putting something foreign into nature. It's not good,' said his wife, Ms Geri, 70. As part of a £30,000 (S$51,800) conservation project, stonemasons recently removed as many coins as they could – without causing further damage – from 10 test sites around the causeway. Mr Henry said the trial was successful and is to be expanded across the causeway. 'If we can get all those coins removed to start with that will help the situation and hopefully no more coins will be put in,' he said. 'If visitors see fewer coins in the stones and hear appeals to stop the damaging practice, the problem can maybe be solved. 'We know that visitors love and cherish the Giant's Causeway, and many form deep personal connections to it, so we want this natural wonder to remain special for future generations.' AFP
