(Chinese) New Year, New Me: Finding what truly matters this festive period
On the first day of Chinese New Year, I often get asked by relatives: “Oh, where are you working now again?”
Few years ago, the old me would get my defences up high, and mentally prepare a verbal LinkedIn profile, ready to brandish it if (or when) the said relative was to list his/her child’s achievements.
But this year, I will decidedly be more understated.
“I work as a journalist with TODAY,” I will say, and stop it at that.
Growing up, I used to fuss over what some might call the tangible aspects of Chinese New Year.
These included what new clothes I should wear (would a silk Hawaiian print shirt match the new black pants I bought?) to where my family should go for reunion meals (will the yusheng be nice? I hope they ordered a non-spicy dish.).
It also included fussing over my red packet collection — making a mental list of how much I collected each year.
And as I grew older, I also cared about carefully curating what photographs I should upload for the festive season.
Would my #OOTD (Outfit of the day) look photogenic?
Should I flatlay my grandmother’s Hakka Abacus Seeds this year, or the Rice Wine Chicken? Or both?
But this year, it will be different.
There is no craving to showcase to my distant relatives a listicle of highlights from the past year.
My colleague even (hopefully jokingly) commented that it was “out of the ordinary” that I did not get a haircut as Chinese New Year drew near.
And now, writing this hours before we usher in the Year of the Pig, I suddenly realised that I might not have new clothes for the festive period.
But why this shift in my attitude towards Chinese New Year?
I can’t seem to pinpoint an overriding cause.
Perhaps it is the realities of adulthood.
As you get older, you become more cognisant that things like wanting to outdo someone else become unnecessary.
Or perhaps the slew of sobering news over the past few weeks has taught me that there are issues that are more deserving of my time (and effort) that simply wanting to get my hands on the nicest outfit for Chinese New Year — things like family and health.
Don’t get me wrong: there is nothing wrong with wanting to be a spiffy new outfit this Chinese New Year, or wanting to dine on the finest. Similarly, wanting to document your New Year adventures on social media may not be a bad thing.
But when it becomes nothing more than an exercise in keeping up with the Joneses, then surely, it is not worth the while.
So this Chinese New Year, I am making it a resolution to find the little things that “sparks joy” — to borrow the now-ubiquitous line from Marie Kondo.
For me, this means making sure a reunion dinner is, as the name suggests, a reunion, a gathering filled with thanksgiving and, well, joy.
It also means that the house-to-house visiting becomes less hiding in a corner gorging myself silly on packet drinks and bak kwa, but more a genuine opportunity to catch up with others on their lives.
Lastly, it is knowing that it is not about how much red packets you receive — or bemoaning how much you have to give out — but about the attention and goodwill you give.
After all, it is those that matter that will spark joy.
Sure, the incessant “when are you getting married?” questions — and their related follow-ups — might grate my nerves.
But perhaps I shall deflect them gently with a disarming smile and reply: “I’m married. Married to my job, lor.”
Now if you will excuse me, I’ll pig out — pun intended — and bask in the festivities with family and friends.
Happy Chinese New Year!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Alfred Chua is a journalist with TODAY who covers court and crime, education, as well as consumer stories.
