My interview with this pretty famous local celebrity didn't go off very well at the beginning. When he first saw me, he said, "All you millennial journalists, all don't know how to be journalists one. You all just like to be called a 'journalist'. Back in my time...."

Yeap he was one of those uncles reminiscing the "good ol' days". But it didn't end there.

He went on to talk about how he used to be a great journalist working with some great people back in the day. Then went on to criticise his former colleague for having fake boobs, and wearing a fake bra.

I was shocked that he'd tell me such things. First, for judging me by my age. Second, he couldn't care that I was a woman and insulting a woman's assets and her choices.

I gave him a little glare.

Let me remind you, my interview with him hadn't even begun. This all happened within a span of a few minutes meeting him.

"Don't you think that's a little.... sexist?," I asked.

He replied: "What's so sexist about that? Men are born to look at women that way. We are put on this earth to procreate. What's wrong with that? Huh?"

Aggressive.

I decided I wasn't going to engage in a debate with someone who seemed so adamant about his stance and could not go past the fact that times have changed.

Besides, I had a job to do - that was to get a soundbite from him and disengage.

But after the interview, he continued to sit and chat with me and my cameraman. He seemed to actually like our company and wanted to talk even more, beyond what we had already discussed during the interview.

I figured that he was someone who enjoys media attention, and wanted to assert his authority at the beginning by telling us about his hey days.

-----

If there's one thing I learnt from this, and from interviewing many other mid 30s to 40 year olds, is the fact that they all seem extremely entitled, and pretend that they know everything.

I hate that. I hate talking to such people. And they're the worst when you question them, because they become defensive and they're not open to ideas and new suggestions.

I told myself, I hope that when I reach 40, I'm never like that. I hope I will always have someone, a trusted friend, and reliable colleagues to tell me I'm wrong, when I'm wrong. To tell me what should be the right solution. To peel my eyes open to see and try different ways of doing things. I don't want to be blinded thinking that I'm always right, that things should go my way just because I've been through so much things.

Understandably, by the age of 40, many would've reached some sort of milestone and attained some sort of status after having a lot of experience in whichever industry it is. So I can understand why they'd act such a way, because they've earned their title, and the respect for coming so far. Conversely, for people who haven't had much luck, they're probably very resentful and spiteful of everything that they've been through over the years.

I don't want to be like either of those people 10, 20 years down the road.

I'm currently reading a book called the Third Door - it's a lovely book written as a first person account. The author traced various successful people and talks about his journey on how he reaches those people, speaks with them, then shares the advice he's gotten from those people.

There was one advice that's stuck with me, and that is, "to always be an intern". At every stage of your life. This man, the legendary Quincy Jones, has had all the money and fame after being a well-known record producer, but he said to always keep learning, being open to new experiences and exploring the world.

That's what I want to do at 40, and keep doing beyond 40. Heck, even right now, I want to be an intern.

And I'm glad I'll always have a whole bunch of friends supporting me at every step of the way:





Just a few of some of my most recent meetups :)
There are a lot of other people that I've met but didn't take a photo with - they're my family who will see me through. And I trust them with all my heart to give me advice when I need them and slap me in the face as well.

Speaking of family, I'm heading overseas next week with my dad, to a country that I've alwayssss wanted to visit for the longest time....

BHUTAN!!!!!!!

Oh my frakkin lord, you don't know how goddamnnnn excited I am. Lord Jesus Christ, please forgive me for using your name in vain. But vain I am!!! Because.... visiting this place means a lot to me. It's a country that's number one on my bucket list because I've heard so much good things about it. Where their monarchy takes good care of their people. Where money isn't a priority. Where happiness takes precedence over all else.

It's the happiest place on earth.

And I'm going there!!

It's also going to be a special holiday. My dad has this grand idea to go to a country with each of his kids to wherever they choose to go to. I chose Bhutan, and I really think it'll be a trip.... I'll remember for a long, long time. It will be so special :')

Till my next blog post, I hope you never lose your sense of wonder too and never stop exploring.