Hafi and I would like to start by thanking you from the bottom of our hearts for all of your love and support throughout our wedding. It’s been overwhelming at times, and we truly appreciate each and every one of you so much. It means the world to us and it has made our entire wedding experience so incredibly memorable. So thank you!

My moment in Como

Hafi and I were lucky enough to not only get married in the incredibly beautiful city of Lugano, but to have the amazing experience of travelling through Europe with our family and friends as well. And as perfect as the wedding was, there were moments throughout the holiday that really put life into perspective.

I had one such moment on our first night in Como. Eight of us flew from Singapore to Milan together, we met another six people at the airport in Milan, and another five joined us in Como on the first day, giving us a total of 19 people.

We were sitting at a little restaurant below our Airbnb having dinner. The weather was mild, Como was bustling, and the table was full of pizza, pasta and wine. To my right were Hafi and his friends giggling and laughing, and to my left were our families enjoying our first family holiday together.

In that moment, as I was sitting there watching my family and friends enjoying each other’s company, I thought to myself, “This is enough! This is all I need.” It was one of the most beautiful moments of the holiday for me.

Take a moment to slow down

But it got me thinking… When do we ever stop to smell the roses? When do we really sit back and just enjoy the simple things in life? Our children playing. A hug from a loved one. A laugh with a friend. These are the most precious moments in life, and often the most fleeting.

I’m not sure how long it will last, but this moment is still as vivid now as it was when it happened. And it makes me stop still. It reminds me of what’s important. It helps me when life is busy. When things aren’t going to plan, or when I’m overwhelmed by something. It was one of those moments of pure stillness, and although brief, it has been invaluable ever since.

A similar experience

Upon my return to practice, a patient of mine explained that she had a similar experience recently, albeit in a very different way. Whilst on holiday, her and her son were in a major car accident. They were hit by a drunk driver, who pushed their car into the side of a mountain. Miraculously, they both survived with the only injury being that of a fractured collarbone to her son.

However, when I saw her, she seemed really calm. She explained to me that ever since the accident, she has slowed down. She is rushing less. She is taking her time during the day to appreciate the smaller things. Often major incidents in our lives can put life into perspective and make us see things from a different point of view.

But why does it take a major car accident? Or a health scare? Or the loss of a loved one? We can slow down at any time. We can appreciate the smaller moments throughout our day. The sun shining. A cool breeze. The clouds moving through the sky. A delicious cup of coffee. Our children as they wake from sleep. A good book. A family photo. A smile from a stranger. A message from a friend. Our spouse as they come home from work. We have so much to be grateful for every single day. We just need to slow down occasionally to enjoy these beautiful moments.

Another moment in Bellagio

Another moment came on the ferry to Bellagio. Hafi and I had surprised everyone the day before with T-shirts that we had made with our faces all over the back of them (the video is hilarious of people opening them for the first time). We asked everyone to wear them the next day in Bellagio. By this stage, there were 22 of us, so you can imagine the looks that we got from strangers passing by.

The weather was perfect that day. Low twenties, sunny and ideal for a day on the lake. We were outside taking photos, and Hafi and his friends were laughing with one another (as they always do), and our nieces and nephews were having the time of their lives playing with one another.

I stood back and watched everyone, and again, I thought to myself, “It doesn’t get much better than this”. I have everything that I need. I have my family and my friends, who all love us dearly and have travelled all this way for us. I have my niece and nephew, who I adore more than anything in the world, laughing and playing and having the most amazing experience they’ve ever had. Both of these moments were moments that I will never forget, and moments that have had a huge impact on me ever since.

Take the time to reset

We’re all busy! Life is busy! Kids, work, family, friends, travel. There’s so much going on these days. Which is why it’s even more important to take the time to stop, reset and recover. That might be an hour in your day to have a coffee on your own. Or a night out at the movies with your spouse. It might be an intimate dinner with a friend. Or a day at the spa or playing golf. It could be a night away relaxing in a hotel. Or a long weekend. Or it might be a couple of weeks holiday where you really get the time to stop, slow down, unwind and just recover from the busyness of life.

Whatever it is, it’s incredibly important to take this time to reset, to not only rest and recover, but to also remember what’s important. To spend time on the beach with your children in a tropical paradise. To see the awe in your child’s eye as they experience something new for the first time. To sit with your spouse at a cafe in a different city and watch the world go by. To spend quality time with your family. To have a boys or girls weekend away where you let your hair down. To create memories that last a lifetime.

Because in the end of the day, that’s what we take with us. The memories of our loved ones. The experiences we’ve gained. The lessons we’ve learned. The important moments that make up our lives!