IMPACT 0064: HOPE AND GRATITUDE AMID UNCERTAINTY

This letter was written during the height of the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020 as part of Dear Covid-19. Though some of the events and details in this letter may have changed since then, we hope to remember those in our community who stepped up when it mattered most. Continue to keep up with them on their social pages at @butterlun.

Dear COVID-19,

Life has never been so still. I clearly remember the night I drove out during the first week of circuit breaker to get groceries. The road was quieter than ever, not only because there were fewer cars.

More importantly, people were not rushed for time. It was only then I realised that Singapore is such a busy country; it’s almost suffocating. It was then that I realised the absence of cars rushing to work and honking each other – people venting their frustrations in life.

I drove at a relatively slow speed, yet no one was chasing me. Suddenly, I felt peace around me. Something that I have not felt in Singapore for a very long time.

Although on the surface, it is a very unfortunate and chaotic hurdle for everyone, deep down in a lot of people’s hearts, I believe there is a part of them that actually appreciates the stillness of this “new life”. It also opens another window to reset and rethink life.

That is true for myself too. I have been thinking about my film-making career and future. Film-making has brought my life through ups and downs. It has always been my passion to create stories to inspire but the process is constantly hectic and strenuous.

During this break, things have become a little clearer. There is no way I can still be doing what I am doing when I am 50 or 60 years old without it taking a toll on my mental and physical health.

Hence, I plan to give it my best shot and also my last shot at film-making while I still can, before exploring my other passions post-Covid. I am ready.