What It’s Like Being Chosen as a Child Sponsor

I started sponsoring simply hoping to make a small difference in someone’s life 🧡

I’ve been a sponsor for some time now… and somehow it quietly became part of my life.

When I first started, I chose to sponsor girls. It just felt like a place where I could show up and make a small difference.

I didn’t expect that certain moments along the way would also leave such a lasting impact on me.

One of those moments came through Chosen® — a programme by World Vision where children choose their own sponsors.

And honestly, it really shifted my perspective.

There’s something powerful about a child being given that chance — to make a choice for themselves, to have a voice, and to feel like their decision matters. It gives them confidence and reminds them that they are seen and valued.

I still remember attending a Chosen event in person last year. The boy who chose me didn’t know I was there, and I didn’t know it was him until he walked out holding my photo. The surprise, the smile… It’s hard to explain, but it stayed with me.

I remember wanting to go and say hello right away, but the moment was meant to happen later — so I just watched quietly from a distance.

I later found out he chose me because I looked strong and sporty, and because he likes sports too. (The photo I submitted was from one of my running events.)

The next Chosen® will be in Bohol, Philippines, with the choosing party happening on 4–5 June 2026. This will be my fifth time signing up for Chosen®, and that feeling of not knowing who will choose me is still something I look forward to.

More than anything, I look forward to being part of their journey — supporting them as they grow, and walking alongside them in whatever small ways I can.

It has quietly become one of the most meaningful parts of my sponsorship journey.

I’m always happy to share more about my experience if anyone wants to know what it’s really like.

May xx

A View From Above the Clouds

A random thought I had while flying from Tampa to Phoenix this morning…

There’s a whole world beneath us, filled with stories we may never fully know.

Looking out from above the clouds always gives me perspective. From an airplane window, everything feels quieter, smaller, almost still — but down there, life is constantly moving. People are going about their days, carrying responsibilities, chasing goals, and navigating things we may never see or understand.

It’s easy to forget that while we’re focused on our own routines, so much life is unfolding everywhere else at the same time.

Sometimes travel just puts that into perspective in a very quiet way, not in a dramatic or life-changing sense, but just enough to make me pause and think a little differently.

And maybe that’s all it is — a reminder that there’s so much happening beyond my own little world, and I don’t always need to see it to acknowledge it exists.

Just a small thought, really. A reminder to stay a little more aware, a little more grounded, and a little less caught up only in my own bubble. 🤍

May xx

When Running Stops Looking the Same

I haven’t really been sharing much about my runs lately. Not because I stopped moving… just because things have been a bit all over the place.

Running has always been a big part of my routine. But since December 2025, things started to change.

At first, it was manageable. I was still able to push through and even complete two full marathons during that period. Running didn’t feel perfect, but it was still possible.

After January, things started to shift. My plantar issue became more persistent, and my shin began to flare up, too.

There were days it felt like my body just wasn’t cooperating the way it used to.

Over time, my shin improved, which was a relief. But the plantar issue still comes and goes whenever it wants to.

So I made a decision I didn’t take lightly — I stopped forcing my runs.

Instead, I started showing up in different ways.

Walking.

Swimming.

Slowing down.

It wasn’t what I planned, but it became what I needed.

Life also continued in between all of this.

There was travel, long walks in new places, and a slower way of exploring the world. At first, it felt like I was “less active” than before.

But slowly, I started to realise something important — I was still moving. Just differently.

And surprisingly, I started to enjoy this slower pace more than I expected.

Seven days into May, I realised I’ve already walked almost 35km.

It’s not the same as logging running miles. It doesn’t look like marathon training.

But it still counts.

It still matters.

I’m still showing up.

I don’t know exactly when I’ll be back to running at full capacity.

But I do know I will return to it.

For now, I’m learning that consistency doesn’t always look like running.

Sometimes it looks like walking.

Sometimes it looks like resting.

Sometimes it looks like trusting the process, even when it doesn’t make sense.

Oh well,

This season has taught me that movement is not just about pace or distance.

It’s about showing up in whatever form your body allows you to.

One step at a time. Literally.

May xx

When April Feels Like a Blur — Travel and Life Reflection

April felt like a blur — the kind of month where everything was always moving and slowly blending into each other. Travel, work, small routines shifting, and quiet in-between moments that only made sense when I looked back.

It came and went the same way — without a clear beginning or end. A mix of celebration, movement, and slow pauses in between.

It started with my birthday month, and this year felt extra special. I had a surprise celebration planned by my boyfriend, together with my siblings, nieces, and nephew. It was one of those moments I genuinely didn’t see coming. Being surrounded by family made it feel simple, warm, and grounding in a way that stayed with me.

Not long after that, my boyfriend decided to drive back to Penang on a mini road trip. It felt like a slow transition between places — not rushed, just driving, stopping a few days in Bangkok and Hua Hin, and letting each place unfold naturally along the way.

After that, things shifted again when my boyfriend had to travel for work, visiting different offices and focusing on a company revamp. It started with a few days in Singapore, then we moved on to Europe, and eventually the US.

While most of his days were packed with work, I found myself in a slower rhythm. I stayed back, walked around familiar streets, and treated it like my own quiet version of a holiday. There wasn’t a fixed agenda — just walking, observing, and filling time in simple ways.

Dresden, along the Elbe River. Cities like this don’t ask for attention. They just let you slow down.

I’ve recently learned to crochet and have become slightly addicted to it. It became something I did between travel and downtime, until I eventually ran out of materials and had to pause. Still, it was one of those small things that kept my hands busy and my mind steady.

Running, which I thought I would do more of, took a backseat because of my plantar issue. Instead, walking became my main form of movement. I ended up walking at least 5km most days. It also became the way I explored cities like Dresden and Milan, both beautiful in their own quiet, different ways.

Just taking it in - Duomo di Milano

Work-wise, I’ve been slowly scaling down. I’m only attending weekly calls now based on client schedules, and I’m hoping to close this chapter soon. There’s a part of me that feels ready to step back completely and shift my focus to things that feel more aligned with where I want to be.

Lake Como from above. Some views don’t need much explaining

I also noticed some of my daily habits shifting this month. Reading, which I’ve been trying to be more consistent with, took a backseat. On trains and during downtime, I found myself more drawn to gaming or crochet instead. It wasn’t planned, but it’s what naturally happened.

Somewhere between travel and downtime, this little whale came to life.

With everything moving — travel, work, and time zones — even though we’ve been travelling together, most days have been shaped by his work schedule. It’s meant quieter days in between, with him focused on meetings and responsibilities, while I’ve been exploring or staying in. It’s been a different rhythm for us, and I’ve been hoping things ease up a little soon so there’s more space to just enjoy the trip together, and for him to have a bit more breathing room, too.

Looking back, April wasn’t defined by one big thing. It was a mix of celebration, travel, routine shifts, and slower personal adjustments. Not perfect, not linear, but real in its own way.

And maybe that’s enough.

May xx

My Surprise 45th Birthday in Bangkok with Family at Nobu

I turned 45 in a way I really didn’t expect.

On the morning of my birthday, it started like any other morning we’ve had in Bangkok. I followed my boyfriend to the office for a cup of coffee, but that day he said he wanted a haircut first, so I tagged along. After that, we went to his office, and he told me to wait for him so we could head back to the hotel together and maybe have lunch later.

Back at the hotel, he had a conference call. I was thinking of going for a run, but realised I had forgotten my socks (classic me), so I stayed in the room, played some games and just waited.

Then the doorbell rang.

I opened the door and just froze.

There were my siblings, nieces and nephew standing there with a cake, singing happy birthday. I was honestly stunned. It took a few seconds for it to register that they were really there, in Bangkok, as a surprise for me.

Apparently, my boyfriend had been planning this for two weeks — hahaa, so not him actually. Especially with how busy and stressed he has been with work, it made me feel even more grateful.

In the evening, we went to Nobu, a place my boyfriend had wanted to go to for a while, so he made it part of the celebration. High above the city on a rooftop, with Bangkok lights around us, it felt like a special occasion in every sense.

(Original photo recreated to protect the privacy of my niece and nephews.)

We talked nonsense, laughed and caught up on life. It was fancy — not really my style — too atas... but because he had arranged it, it felt meaningful. And somehow, what made it special wasn’t the place, but simply having everyone there together.

I think at this age, I don’t really need big celebrations. But this meant a lot — the effort, the thought behind it, and just having family around me.

And thanks to my boyfriend and my siblings for keeping this so quiet from me. There was so much thought and effort behind this surprise, and I felt deeply grateful. It was more than a celebration — it became one of those simple but meaningful memories I know I’ll return to often. 💛

May xx