Everybody has a story.
Not everyone gets to hear it.
Weekly Sparks is here to listen.
Aspire To Inspire. One Story At A Time.
“When you stand and share your story in an empowering way, your story will heal you and your story will heal somebody else.” - Iyanla Vanzant -
Sometimes all we need is a spark of inspiration to keep going.
We can draw strength from the stories of real people whose acts of kindness, compassion, empathy and/or good deeds have the power to ignite positive changes in our lives, in the environment, in socio-economic issues and in the communities we live in.
Weekly Sparks has featured more than 300 stories since we started in June 2021. We will keep shining a light on normal folks’ everyday struggles and subsequent triumphs – all borne out of sheer determination to overcome barriers to achieve their aspirations.
Our Story is really about their resonating stories, testaments that we are not alone. All we have to do is stop, look and listen.
Bella Borgers has learned to beat Post-traumatic Stress Disorder. She gets on the skateboard to forget her trauma and tell herself “I can!” “Skateboarding has become the most rewarding form of self-care. It teaches me not to (mentally) beat myself up, and helps me feel better about letting some things go. I’ve learned to celebrate every small piece of progress, especially the progress that is happening when it doesn’t feel like it."
Dads are the silent guardians. They hide their true feelings and mostly stay in the background as they watch their children grow. Jason Wong is an exception. His story is one of the rare pieces we’ve come across that’s too good not to share.
"When a father is present for his children when they are young, they are likely to be there for him when he is old,” writes Jason.
Ageism is under-discussed. Yet, age is a potent benchmark by which people are judged to classify their abilities and capabilities, as Cathy Siapno shares in her anti-ageing antidote. If 50s is the new 30s, she is proof that there’s life after 50 and is living it with the same zeal as when she was in her 30s.
ANTHONY BOURDAIN. Who amongst food lovers, world travellers, and culture mavens does not know him, respect him, and wish he were still around? He was a singular voice in food writing, but he was more.
He was irreverent and we, his followers, loved him that way. Effusive with praise if he liked the meal (or the people); but otherwise, blunt, rude, and sometimes, profane. He was a rogue, a lovable one, and God, how we miss him!
The popular TED Talks series of Pico Iyer, Taiye Selasi and Mariana Atencio provide three compelling insights on "Where are you from?” Each grew up outside their passport countries and their personal take-away views will make you pause and ponder. For Pico, home has really less to do with a piece of soil than, you could say, with a piece of soul. For Taiye, home is the place where you live within the framework of local experiences shaped by relationships, rituals and restrictions. For Mariana, embracing what makes you different is the first step in becoming more inclusive is recognising and appreciating what makes others special.
The founder and president of Voices For Animals (VFA) in Singapore, attests that his love for animals saved him from himself, quite literally.
“I’ve always loved animals since I was young. They make me happy,” says Derrick. To say that he has a soft spot for homeless furry creatures is an understatement. He made it a personal advocacy to rescue them – and he has saved plenty.
“Choose a job that you love and you will never have to work again in your life.”
Marjorie Chu, owner and founder of Art Forum Singapore, is the epitome of this famous quote. Often called the Doyenne of Southeast Asian Art, she is a lady in love with what she does, compelled to share her knowledge, passion and enthusiasm, infecting everyone she meets. And she has been doing so for the past 50 years.
Our Story is really about their stories. They reflect who we are at a deeper level, beyond roles and goals.
