It is so heart touching to read what you have written about one Singapore but many Singapores. What touched me most is the efforts you have been making to reach out to other people with little success, and your wonder how to change what is in the mind of people.

Well keep on keeping on. When I moved to Helsinki Finland in 1996, I tried so hard to reach out to the Finns but it was very hard indeed but I continued, and finally I got some few friends whose friendships are made from the beautiful Kaivopuisto (a beautiful park near my home) and for two years the park friends never came home to me even though I invited them. I went a step further in my (one way) relationship to them. When they share a sad story during the “park meeting” I asked them permission to hug them as my gesture to let them know that I care. This was the key to their hearts, they have never been hugged. And soon my hugs became contagious in a positive way, the cycle of ladies that I met in the park picked up the hugging habit, that they begun to hug me whenever we meet each other and this hug was extended to those who are always present in the park (we all had small children that we took out to play in the park. So we were superficially connected because of our children). From the hugs I got courage to organise a pot brunch at my home and they begun to attend, soon it was circulating.

So dear dearest do not give up on these fellows, one day the sun will shine on them, and your dreamt Singapore will rise to the occasion of true ones of a nation.

Yours
BS