It's not the New Year, it's not some special day, but i just feel that i need to make a commitment, and pledge myself to this course of action TODAY:

1. I will not indulge in senseless shopping.

Yes, i feel so happy when i buy that new bag, new dress, but at the end of the day, nothing major changes. - I still wake up and go to work at 9am, You get what i mean? These things do not change my life. With or without them, i can still get on with my life and feel as good/bad about myself. The worst thing is, i've realised that more often than not, i keep buying new stuff, but after that, i do not actually get about using them! I keep feeling the need/urge to shop because i enjoy the excitement that comes with the ACT of purchasing new things. It's like an unhealthy addiction. AND, my whole room is so messy and cluttered thanks to this bad habit. Stuff that i once loved and purchased with such enthusiasm now come across to me as junk. Most importantly, all that money could have been put to MUCH better use. That's why, i'm warning myself, i NEED to STOP this right now.

2. I make a promise to give majority of my monthly salary to my parents.

After deducting CPF, my car instalment, gym membership instalment, and setting aside some funds for daily necessities/personal expenditure, I will give the remainder to my parents. I am currently giving them some monthly allowance out of my salary, but i feel that i want to give MORE. Yes, even if it means sacrificing my own happiness, and not being able to buy things/do stuff that i'd otherwise be able to do. Honestly, my parents are getting on in years, and life is so vulnerable and unpredictable that we simply have no idea when our family/friends/pets/loved ones will leave our side. Since young, i have always talked about wanting to be a filial daughter and providing my parents with a good life - It always seemed like something that i'd do in the FUTURE. But, who knows what the future holds? Will my parents still be around to witness and enjoy my success when that "future" comes? Sad to say, based on the amount i currently earn, i'm nowhere near to giving them that good life i've always envisioned, but rather than procrastinating and constantly thinking that, it's alright, i'm still young, and i will be able to fulfil that goal in FUTURE, i can start now by giving them as much as i am able to, before it's too late. After all, from a parents' point of view, it's always the thought that matters, and i am sure they will be so happy to know that their daughter places their happiness at the top of her priority list. - That's the most important.

To be honest, i do not have a happy, perfect family. I do not get showered with gifts and pocket money despite being the only child, but i can say that my parents have always provided for me and taken good care of my needs. - putting me through uni and ensuring i have a good education, paying for the downpayment for my car, providing me with a roof over my head, bringing me up all these 23 years...

Whenever i needed to borrow a significant amount of money from them in the past, they'd question and lecture me, and they'd never let me have it easily. But, in the end, they'd always soften their hearts and give me what i ask them for, if i'm able to justify my reasons for doing thing. They really trust me.

Whenever i'm hungry but lazy to go out to buy food, i just have to say "Daddy can u go buy food..." and he'd ALWAYS give in to me, get changed, walk out, buy food, and deliver it right to my face. I seriously feel totally embarrassed telling people about this... I feel absolutely unfilial and spoilt. I'm a young, fit 23-yr old, and im abusing my old man like that...

I feel that i owe them so much, and they have given me more than i could ever ask for. I can never repay their kindness towards me, never. Which is why i want to do anything within my ability, to make them as happy as possible.

Please note, I'm NOT trying to brag that i'm a filial daughter or anything. The reason why i want to post this publicly is because i want to be reminded/i want people to remind me of these promises i have set forth to fulfil. I don't want them to be empty promises, i want to follow through and keep it up.

I need help. Whenever i get tempted to "make an exception" and purchased that beautiful dress, or that shiny bag, please, someone, remind me that, rather than spending that money on that cold, hard, emotionless piece of object, it'd be more meaningful to say, bring my parents out for a nice meal, and put a smile on their faces...

3. Do more charitable deeds, control my temper, be more tolerant towards other people, and quit using vulgarities!!!

I am generally very nice to people, but when i meet people who piss me off, THAT'S IT. I bear grudges, i bitch, i scold, i point... :x And the scary thing is, it does not take a lot of effort to make me pissed. I get especially agitated when i'm on the roads, and sometimes i do/say things that i afterwards regret. Let me just briefly mention that i ever engaged in an argument with someone at the traffic light, - Our windows were wound down, and i was so mad that i crushed a piece of paper into a ball, and threw it right smack on his face! (hmm.. actually i feel quite proud for hitting my target spot on! :x) I feel that, being such an "angry"person reflects badly on any1's image, and is bad for health! So, i'm determined to keep my cool, control my temper, prevent my blood vessels from bursting...

Also, i want to do more charitable deeds, like buying tissue paper from those old people, helping old people cross the street, etc. I want to accumulate good karma so that it can benefit my loved ones.