Introduction

Hello, my name is Jothi, and this is my introduction to my blog..

I’m 29 years old and will be turning 30 this November – still a little while away! I’ve decided to start my own blog, and I wanted to give you a quick introduction to what it will be about. My blog will cover all sorts of things that I find interesting, including topics related to dogs, food, travelling, relationships, life advice, and just general random thoughts. I’m planning to write once a week initially, just to get the hang of it before committing to a more consistent schedule.I really enjoy writing and reading blogs because they offer a different perspective into another person’s experiences. I also feel that I enjoy sharing my own stories, and perhaps many people might find them interesting. So, why not write them down in a blog? I’d also love to uncover more about myself along the way through my posts, kind of seeing how I’ve progressed in life.

Aside from that, a little bit about myself: I live in Singapore and work full-time as a pharmacist. I actually pursued my undergraduate degree partly overseas – three years abroad and my final year back in Singapore. COVID unfortunately disrupted my plans, as I had intended to finish my degree in Australia, where I really enjoyed the lifestyle and even hoped to build a future. I’ll also be sharing some of my experiences and thoughts about living there and how different it is from Singapore.

Ever since returning, I often feel like something is missing. It’s not that there’s anything inherently wrong with my life right now; it’s more that I feel a lack of excitement beyond going to work and coming home. I am married to a wonderful partner, and we also have a wonderful dog named Chunko. We got her a year ago because I’ve always loved dogs and wanted to own one, but my parents wouldn’t allow it due to the perceived high maintenance and their concern for the house’s cleanliness. Now that I have a dog, I can understand that it involves constant cleaning and attention, requiring a lot of responsibility. However, the joy she brings is on another level. After a long day at work, having someone eagerly waiting for you truly brightens your day. I feel like getting Chunko was the right decision.

However, I feel that my nine-to-five job isn’t really for me, and I’m unsure what other career paths I could pursue besides pharmacy. While I could consider part-time work, my partner isn’t very supportive of that idea, so I’ll need to think of other ways to achieve the lifestyle I desire. Basically, I’d like a more balanced life – a balance where I can do things I enjoy, run errands, spend time with family, and pursue hobbies. It feels like after finishing my undergraduate studies, life has become 90% work and only 10% everything else, which I don’t like. I don’t appreciate this emphasis on work with seemingly little life outside of it. I often wonder if this is the norm in other places.
You know, sometimes it’s nice to enjoy work. It seems like the majority of people spend most of their time on work-related tasks, leaving little time or thought for things outside of work.

However, there are some companies that really prioritize work-life balance and also focus on their employees’ stress management, even organizing team-building activities. I really admire those kinds of companies that set aside time for fun and genuinely want their staff to be content and happy to come to work. It seems like these are mostly privately-owned companies; government-owned ones often seem less concerned, wanting to extract every ounce of energy for the public service.

Another thing about the public in Singapore is that they can be incredibly demanding. They often expect the highest level of service, even in a community setting, which is meant to be more basic. You’re not going to get the same refined level of service you might find in a private hospital or clinic in a community setting, yet people often expect that and don’t make it easy for those on the front line. I often wish there was more balance and understanding, which is a topic I will delve into further in another blog post. Until then, goodbye.