AiJou Chuah • Wordsmith

29/02/2024

𝐁𝐫𝐢𝐝𝐠𝐞𝐫𝐭𝐨𝐧 - 𝐆𝐫𝐞𝐲'𝐬 𝐀𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐲 - 𝐒𝐜𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐚𝐥 - 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐨 𝐆𝐞𝐭 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐌𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐞𝐫... what do all these groundbreaking shows have in common?

They were created by Shonda Rhimes (American screenwriter, producer and author)!

I'm currently reading (well, actually listening to the audiobook) "Year of Yes", a memoir by Shonda Rhimes about the year she said YES to everything, especially those requests that scared the s**t out of her.

The quote below is from her Commencement Speech delivered at Dartmouth College (2014) where she controversially said,

"𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟭: 𝗗𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗺𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗲𝗿𝘀."
"𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟮: 𝗧𝗼𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗿𝗼𝘄 𝗶𝘀 𝗴𝗼𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗼 𝗯𝗲 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗪𝗢𝗥𝗦𝗧 𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝗲𝘃𝗲𝗿 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂."
"𝗟𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝟯: 𝗜𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝗰𝗰𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗮 𝗼𝗳 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲, 𝘆𝗼𝘂 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘃𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝘆 𝗳𝗮𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝘁 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗼𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗿. 𝗧𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗶𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘁𝗿𝗮𝗱𝗲-𝗼𝗳𝗳."

Personally, I found these pieces of advice highly useful and practical. She gets real in the commencement speech by telling the hard, honest truths, the stuff that nobody wants to hear. She vulnerably admits to the crowd about her fear of public speaking, and reveals the weakest moments she had right after graduation.

To me, I find that inspiring. Because here is a strong woman who stood up in front of everyone, telling them how scared she is. And yet she stood up and gave the speech anyway. Feel the fear and do it anyway! (That's also the title of another book that came across my orbit.) And she cared not one bit whether people lost their respect, doubted her or took her down from the pedestal.

Leading up to International Women's Day, we honour and commemorate women who were brave enough to stand up and fight for women's rights - to vote, to work, and to have a share in the privileges that were previously accorded to men.

Shonda Rhimes, is one those women I admire, purely from the great shows I've watched and her courageous Year of Yes and the ensuing memoir that she wrote.

Share with me yours!

11/09/2022

11/09/2022

This is my monthly book event hosted under the auspices of The Hatchery Place and Revitalize Books.

The next one is Community Book Sharing on the book “The Happiness Project” scheduled for Sunday, 2 October!

27/08/2022

I don’t normally call myself a digital nomad, but I became one when I am based in Langkawi for an event for 12 days and had to find somewhere quiet and without distractions to get my productivity in.

I heard so much about this space Jetpack Langkawi from friend Giang and I had to pay a visit!

While waiting for the festivities of Langkawi International Art Tourism - 30 Aug - 4 Sept 2022 to begin, I caught up with some work for my regular clients.

For just a RM30 day pass, I experienced the blazing fast internet, had a productive workday, chatted with very knowledgeable and bubbly owner Iska and met some interesting coworkers. I’d say I got my money’s worth!

Did you know that MDEC is going to launch a Digital Nomad Visa soon? Check it out at https://mdec.my/derantau

26/08/2022

I’m in Langkawi now for the Langkawi International Art Tourism - 30 Aug - 4 Sept 2022.

This is my first work trip to Langkawi and second sponsored work trip since I began freelancing as a writer!

I’ll be living the island life while working for the next 11 days. Follow my Stories at Instagram daily.

Liew Kian Yap ArtMalaysia Kian Langkawi

25/04/2022

I've been on the journey of simplifying and decluttering my belongings since 2012. In 2018, I decided to adopt a more minimalist mindset.

I'm grateful to have the opportunity to share articles on simplifying and minimalism on Reconnect & Recharge's blog.

by admin | Mar 30, 2022 | Articles, Simplicity | 0 comments Simplicity: The Path to Self-Love By Chuah Ai Jou   How are things going in your life? Do you feel fulfilled, energised, motivated and hopeful about what’s in your life right now? If you’re not, then maybe the opposite is true. Are you...

19/01/2022

Yeap, writing is a long process. And people think why we charge that much “just for typing”.

15/12/2021

OCT 2021
Sleep is one of the most important aspects of physical health. With sufficient sleep, you’ll maintain a healthy immune system, enhance brain performance, make better decisions, reduce stress, improve your mood, and get along better with people.

So, how can you fall asleep easily?

Click to read: https://www.rhymbahillstea.com/5-easy-ways-to-fall-asleep

15/12/2021

AUG 2021
Losing weight is not an easy thing to do for most people. Here are some tips and guides for you to achieve weight loss naturally at home.

Click to read: https://www.rhymbahillstea.com/5-easy-ways-to-lose-weight-at-home

15/12/2021

AUG 2021
How Can You Reduce Bloating Naturally?

Click to read: https://www.rhymbahillstea.com/5-easy-ways-to-reduce-bloating

15/12/2021

JUNE 2019
Insights into what goes on behind the doors of the treatment rooms at YapChanKor.

Click to read: https://yapchankor.com/pain-blog/a-healing-journey-with-an-osteoarthritis-patient/

15/12/2021

OCT 2018
In this article, we nail down some caveman practices versus modern lifestyle habits which affect our human body for the better or the worse.

Click to read: https://yapchankor.com/pain-blog/caveman-habits-vs-modern-lifestyle-which-is-better/

15/12/2021

AUG 2018
One in four people suffers from lower back pain at some point in their lives, especially when they reach middle age. YapChanKor Pain Treatment Centre offers tips on how to manage lower back pain with some easy remedies and appropriate lifestyle changes.

Click to read: https://yapchankor.com/pain-blog/9-easy-ways-you-can-support-your-lower-back-pain/

05/07/2021

It's award season again!

Each time it rolls around, I get to meet inspiring entrepreneurs who talk about their business with passion and I learn so much about their perseverance and innovative strategies.

It renews my zeal about my writing services and my "why".

27/11/2020

When I started out as a Marketing writer in corporate organisations, I was just that - a writer who wrote for marketing materials. Websites, brochures, advertisements, newsletters and social media posts were the name of the game. They all revolved around words strung together to describe and "sell" the company's products, activities, events and philosophy to its target audiences.

Coming out as a freelance writer after 17 years of corporate work, I thought I would continue doing the same.

But in 2019, I embarked on a new type of writing called award writing. Having not done much of it during my corporate career, I wasn't sure how to go about it because it involved long essays written across multiple pages singing the accolades of the company's initiatives or the best part, the entrepreneur himself.

Last year, I managed 4 award writing clients, and we placed for 3 of them.

This year, I'm looking forward to see what placings my clients would achieve. Some of them have already advanced to the finalist rounds.

I would like to thank my clients for placing their trust in me to write for multiple awards this year. I've written for the JCI Sustainable Development Awards, JCI Ten Outstanding Young Malaysians (TOYM), Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Awards and currently the Star Outstanding Business Awards (SOBA).

The award writing season started a little late this year but I'm grateful it is still here. May my clients achieve their goals of winning these prestigious awards and recognition as a mark of accomplishment in their careers. May they spur on more success in themselves and others that they inspire.

01/08/2020

Writing is all about forming ideas, structuring them and then creating the piece, finetuning it until it's a masterpiece.

What's your Creative Type? Mine is 'The Visionary.'

Check out this very cool test from Adobe Create. It's really fun and engaging to do -- do look out for the creative and illustrative fillers in between questions!

My creative type is Visionary, and we're known to be charismatic and expressive. To discover your Creative Type, take the quiz now.

04/07/2020

Writing reviews can be quite fun!

Here's my review of Cantaloupe Sky Dining's Scrumptious Sunday Lunch which received a high traffic amount on my blog!

My gift for words were mostly used for corporate and marketing write-ups up to now.

But, during the MCO, I've realised that my flair for words can help small businesses if I give a review of their business, service or product.

Would you like me to review your business? I'm offering 10 free reviews on my blog and personal social media to kickstart my reviewing engine.

Don't wait, send me a request now!

I’ve always had a secret dream to be a food reviewer/blogger, but often find myself failing at taking beautiful photos of food as I just can’t wait to taste it! Good eats, I’ve re…

07/05/2020

Writing is realizing. 💫