Focus on Revival

Unlike others who make resolutions, I usually set a theme or focus for the year and plan the year ahead. As the year passes, I set goals around this focus.

In the past 2 years, I have focused on development. As part of that process, I left my job of 5 years as a corporate counsel.

I went back to law school to do a law conversion programme and I got my licence to practise law in Singapore. I now work as an advocate and solicitor in Global Law Alliance LLC.

The change has been refreshing.

I no longer advise just one company but a whole array of individuals and entities. I have been introduced to areas of law that I was never exposed to in my in-house stint. I have made many new friends, some of whom are very close now.

It is not easy to put your life on hold.

A lot of sacrifices have to be made and you tend to deprioritise things you once considered important (for example, updating this blog).

You also come back to a lot of debt!

The next 2 years are going to be about revival. I wish to revive the things that I once wanted to do, to have and to pursue.

I hope you will take some time to think about your year ahead.

Happy New Year.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

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Think Happiness Revival

For some months, I have not been able to give this blog the necessary attention it required.

I was preparing for my Singapore Bar exams. I was also ending my sabbatical of 1.5 years to return to the workforce. I also wanted to use the time to reflect the way forward for this blog. For a number of reasons, I was thinking of shutting down this blog. I wanted to focus on other priorities.

Over the past few months, many loved ones have encouraged me to revive my writings on this blog. Several friends share that they find this blog a source of inspiration or information.

I have heard all of them in earnest. And so in deference to all those who care enough about this space, I have decided that I should start updating this site again.

I am now thinking about making changes to this site. If you have any ideas about changes I can effect on this space, please do share them by leaving your comments.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

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Support Yellow Ribbon

My community legal clinics from time to time bring me face to face with persons, who have just been released from our prisons.

These persons are often eager to start their lives on a new page, and to make a difference for themselves and their families. In pursuing this, they are willing to look into the many opportunities that are available to them.

Quite often, these opportunities are limited and society attaches a negative stereotype to such persons. Over time, these persons lose that passion they once had to turn a new leaf, and risk re-offending only to have face our criminal legal system.

This is really unfortunate because there is something we can do about it. It is also sad because a lot of these person have dependants, such as spouses, children and even old parents, who will all have to suffer. Most will lose the capacity to pay their household bills, others will not be able to go to school, and a few such families may end up having to go hungry.

For this reason, the Yellow Ribbon Project is something I value. The purpose of this project is to check this trend of re-offending and to combat stereotypes attached to ex-offenders. And every year, I do something to show my support for this cause. This year is no different.

September is Yellow Ribbon month. Visit the Yellow Ribbon website to find out more about how you can make a difference!

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

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Love Happiness Murdered

My other blog, Love Happiness, was killed today as a result of a conspiracy involving my friends, readers of this blog and me.

Fortunately, she died peacefully and has reincarnated herself here as "Inspire".

With the growing popularity of this blog, I had received feedback from various persons that it was time for Love Happiness to go.

Last week, while on holiday, I found the will and ability to do this. This did not come easy. There was a lot of planning and I also had to learn the art of labelling blogs so as to ensure that the death was less painful.

Nevertheless, I am pleased to also inform that Love Happiness leaves behind a child, The House of Happiness, which will feature contributions from friends and readers.

The child is also a fruit of the conspiracy involving my friends, readers of this blog and me.

Friends and readers of this blog have from time to time shared that they too would like a independent space to participate more actively and even be featured.

Check out The House of Happiness in the coming weeks, as more will be unveiled!

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

FAQ: Third Thursday Thinking Talkies

Over the last 3 years, I have from time to time organised dinner gatherings on the third Thursday of every month. Here are some frequently-asked questions about these gatherings.

WHAT IS THIS ABOUT?

When I first started this initiative, the main intention behind this was for me to find an efficient way to catch up with friends that I had lost touch with. Since then, the idea has evolved to Third Thursday Thinking Talkies.

At these dinners, I bring about 15 - 20 people from different walks of life together; sometimes, they bring friends.

They join me for a meal, and on a typical evening, we discuss a range of issues from history to culture to current affairs to international developments to society, and other things which people wish to know more about.

HOW MUCH DO I HAVE TO PAY?

Each person pays about $10-$15 for his own meal.

WHAT ELSE IS EXPECTED OF ME?

People are requested to come without expectations. They should be prepared to meet everyone and anyone!

WHAT HAS HAPPENED SO FAR?

I have hosted at the same table young and old; academics, students and school drop-outs; chief executives, businessmen, social entrepeneurs, professionals and persons just starting out in their careers; news-makers and journalists; leaders from various sectors of the community; the religious, the non-religious and even a psychic!

One of the things I have realised is how much others know that I don't. And I think the realisation is the same for people who have attended Third Thursday Thinking Talkies. It has been an engaging gathering of wit and wisdom of sorts!

Some who have attended have also gone on to organise their own similar gatherings.

HOW DO I GET INVITED?

Leave a comment here requesting for an invitation and your e-mail address.

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav

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Alumni News - Singapore Association

ARTICLE PUBLISHED IN THE HARRY PEACH NEWSLETTER, FACULTY OF LAW, UNIVERSITY OF LEICESTER, UNITED KINGDOM, ON 8 JULY 2006

Dharmendra Yadav (LLB 2003) is about to complete three years as corporate counsel of NTUC Income, a leading insurer in Singapore and a prominent insurance cooperative in the world. He and other Leicester alumni meet on a regular basis on the second Saturday of every month in Singapore.

Dharmendra writes: ‘This is to continue a tradition we started in Leicester where students from Singapore used to meet similarly. We have now gone a step further and recently set up a website to better reach out to each other and serve as a support network. It is work in progress but do check it out."

Think Happiness Inspiration

Last month, Alex Au of Yawning Bread, suggested that I set up my own blog to discuss my views and perspectives on issues of the day.

He felt I had a lot to say about equally many things and it was just impossible to put all these on New Sintercom, without compromising its independence.

Over the last few weeks, I have given this idea some thought. Initially, I was concerned if I would have the time or the resources to achieve this.

I have also thought about why I want to do this. My view is that if one wants to do something and one can find a strong reason to do so, one is likely to do it. I have now persuaded myself that I can and need to do this.

Think Happiness is thus an attempt to record some of my musings on current issues that concern me. The musings are in no way my final word on such issues. Over time, these views - like most perspectives - will meander and evolve.

Perhaps one day, these musings, through its meanders, will become my own personal mantras.

Thank you Alex Au for this inspiration!

Happiness,
Dharmendra Yadav