An experience that will never be forgotten, and a chance to reflect.

BY: Mary Lim

 

I just got the VCD from Pico Art yesterday, and had a good look and heard the participants of this year’s Golden Orchid Pageant (held at the 50Plus Expo in early April). In fact, those who spoke in Mandarin did very well and I truly appreciated their own individual ways of keeping themselves active ageing. Summing up, I have learned a lot from them too.

 

Giving thanks to many people

Well, now after nearly one month of winning the title of Golden Orchid, nothing much has changed. I still embrace my active lifestyle, and I am doing the same thing as I used to do, albeit slightly more busier. I held a thank-you get-together at a café for my supporters and new friends from the pageant who came and supported me through the whole pageant process. I was especially appreciative of the fashion stylist who chose my two outfits for the finale. He shared in an e-mail to me that, “A dress is just a dress. It is how you carry and present it that matters. I did the packaging and you did the delivery, convincing the three judges that you deserved to win.”

He added, “Throughout the event, I realised how wonderful and sincere a person you are. A lot of people who talk a lot and when everything is over, they barely remember you. … You have a good heart and your perception of life is even more valuable and priceless than the pageant title.”

His e-mail touched my heart. There are many behind-the-scenes people I am grateful for like the hairstylist, make-up artist and catwalk trainer. As without them, I wouldn’t have done well. During my presentation at the pageant finale, I mentioned, “Today, my inner beauty is being transformed to my outer beauty which I will cherish for the rest of my life.” I truly believe inner beauty is the true beauty of a person. An outer beauty is just a façade and superficial. So if we can have both, that would be the ideal.

 

Keep healthy & active

I enjoy keeping myself active and healthy. Only with good health then can I can do more things in my life. When a person is healthy, no matter how much we do, we will never tire easily. In order to do this, you need to put in the hard work. Exercise regularly at least five times a week for a minimum of half an hour. Eat healthily – choose foods that are beneficial to your health and at times, they may not taste so great! You don’t have to write-off sinful food; it can be eaten once in a while.

As the saying goes – “Health is wealth”.  So enjoy your life and do what you want to do. Also consider contributing to the less fortunate as it would not only bring joy to them, but it can also make us feel happy.

For instance, when I was 56 years old, I started to be a blood donor. Now six years down the road, I am glad to say that I can still go on and give blood. I have now given blood 22 times and I intend to continue this ritual of mine for as long as my health permits. The gift of life is priceless. 

And my last secret to a good life is to have love for your family. My love for my family has made me more than just a wife to my husband and a mother to my children. Even my second lovable pet dog treats me like a mummy rather than a master. I give them all unlimited love and care, and do not expect anything in return. I thank God that I am still able to have two part-time jobs to keep me financially-stable and my bosses still value me. 

My life couldn’t be more complete, with or without the pageant title.

Mary Lim, 60, is an exercise fanatic and believes in giving back to the community. She is also an advisor of Agelessonline. This is her first pageant that she has won the title. In 1998 when she was 50, she was selected as one of the 10 finalists in the very first of its kind “Mrs Singapore Pageant” out of 300 women in Singapore. She managed to get into the finals.

 

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