perceptions of money

It's December, last four weeks into the internship and supposedly the last month, in as long as I will possibly remember, (excluding a grad trip if its ever going to happen) of stress-free time. At work, I am constantly reminded of how colleagues will compare themselves to peers in the same line and look at achievements, and that rarely deviates from the type of dwelling they stay in, size of their drives, or the number of months of bonuses they are likely to receive given that year-end is approaching. I accept that such comparisons are inevitable, and I find it personally a sense of motivation and a benchmark that can be set to see what you achieve on at different stages of life. Its going to be a tall ladder to climb, but one I'll gladly do it. It's only fair to pay back the privileges I have been afforded thus far.

Which brings me to another flashback today. While buying lunch at Mcdonalds, I opened my wallet and arranged the S$1000 I troubled a friend's dad to bring over. At that instant, there was this blast from the past, as I recalled opening my wallet, also in front of the cashier with the same amount of cash. Back then, as a primary 6 geek waiting to buy his first ever canon digital camera and scanner, my mum actually trusted me alone with the cash to buy what I wanted. She didn't even question if I needed it. No question, no doubt. Looking back, I'd never trust my kid with that money, not even a credit card. What an incredible mum I have.

Right now, I'd be thankful if I'd see through my daily expenses with the $1000 by the time I reach home. And that starts with a trip to Beijing tomorrow. Pretty excited to meet up with a couple of friends and of course the MLTR concert. Till next week!