(On contentment, enjoying the present, and saving Bukit Kiara for those who come after us)
We are wired to compare. It’s human. But constant comparison steals the one life we actually get to live: our own.
Some people are born with strong genes, quick minds, or easier paths. That is simply a fact of life. Yet, envying someone else’s head start won’t move you a single step forward; gratitude will. Think of what you are blessed with. You are unique in ways no report card or resume can measure, possessing strengths others don’t. Millions would gladly trade places with you today, especially for your health.
It is incredibly hard to move forward when you are unhappy, because good thoughts do not grow in bitter soil. Instead of complaining about the past—which will never change or remove a single hardship—we must focus entirely on the present. We should look at our lives and say, “Yes, life has been good to me, and I thank God for it.” Be thankful for what you have, and enjoy it right now. While our candle is burning bright, we must take full control and enjoy that brilliant light. Life is short, and life is precious. If you waste your life away today, you will find that life is leaving you tomorrow. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you will enjoy it.
Lessons from the Trail
I learned this deeply on Bukit Kiara. BK—the precious hill beside my house—has been my best friend for years. At 77, people often tell me I look much younger, and I credit the trail. I hike it regularly. I make new friends, socialize, sweat, and come down the hill lighter every time.
When people pass compliments or call me an inspiration, I smile. Perhaps my mixed parentage helps—my mother was Chinese, my father a Sikh—but genes only take you so far. The real secret isn't luck; it's choices. I chose to invest time in my health. To eat right, to drink right, and to keep moving. It requires small sacrifices and discipline, but those choices add up over a lifetime.
Ultimately, I owe my success to myself and the choices I made. I want to have a lot of control over how my story is going to end, and it is deeply comforting to know that I possess the power to choose my own final chapters.
Of course, nobody’s perfect. Even the best of us is prone to doing something silly in a moment of weakness. But how do we move on to become better persons? We learn to be more forgiving, patient, and kind, and we accord others the exact respect we expect for ourselves. We can make a massive difference in this world just by how we conduct ourselves.
From Using the Hill to Saving the Hill
That feeling of inner contentment grew much deeper when I started protecting the very thing that kept me well.
As a green activist, my main goal is simple: to preserve open green spaces in our cities and stop them from turning into concrete jungles. Future generations deserve the same walks, hikes, jogs, and fresh air we enjoy today. Fighting for this cause has been my ultimate therapy.
That is why I co-founded the Friends of Bukit Kiara (FoBK). When you give your time to a cause, never expect anything in return; God will always give back to you in His own mysterious ways. For me, that return has been pure peace of mind. Being able to slowly but surely protect the hill, securing its gazettement in stages, has given me a satisfaction I cannot put a price on. Knowing that my grandchildren, and yours, will still have BK to climb—that is my true success.
I started from humble beginnings. My late parents didn’t have much, but they raised me right. They would be proud to know their son became the Director General of a government agency. I have come a long way. But the proudest distance I have ever travelled is from envy to contentment, and from merely using the hill to saving the hill.
Tending to Your Own Patch
So, here is what I practise every single day: being genuinely happy for others. When a friend wins, I celebrate it without shrinking myself. Their light doesn’t dim mine. Joy is not in short supply; someone else blooming does not mean I am wilting.
This habit softens comparisons. It plants the seeds of true contentment. It reminds me that we are all on a journey—some ahead in some ways, some behind, but all walking the same earth.
The next time the grass looks greener on the other side, pause. Tend to your own patch. Water it. Rest beside it. Speak up for the green spaces that keep us all alive. When you nourish your life with presence, gratitude, and care—both for others and for the earth—your world won’t just look greener. It will feel vibrant, purposeful, and beautifully alive.
Sometimes, that is all you ever need.
Pola Singh (mediaplayer1717@gmail.com) is a content creator under the Newswav Creator programme, where you get to express yourself, be a citizen journalist, and at the same time monetize your content & reach millions of users on Newswav. Log in to creator.newswav.com and become a Newswav Creator now!
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