The capacity to exist completely in the current instant defines this feeling. Presence asks us to set down the heavy weight of upholding control and perfection. Instead, the focus shifts to accepting the unfiltered self and letting go of both past burdens and future anxieties. As the calendar year draws to a close, this state creates space for honest reflection—what can we truly embody right now?
Presence in Relationship
Ricky Sim (Artistic Director)
Presence… is something I’m still learning. I used to think it simply meant being there — showing up, sitting across from someone, nodding at the right moments. But as I grow older, I’ve realised that presence is much quieter and also much harder. It asks for a kind of honesty that doesn’t always come naturally.
There are days when my mind races ahead of my body and I’m with someone in the room but drifting somewhere else entirely. I can feel that disconnect, that moment when I know I’m not fully tuning in. It isn’t because I don’t care. It’s just that life pulls in many directions at once. Still, I’ve started to notice how much it means when I choose to pause and give someone my full attention. Not to fix anything. Not to offer the perfect answer. Just to listen, honestly and openly.
Ferns & Herbs
Matthew Goh (Company Dancer)
My recent love for gardening has prompted me to slow down, observe and appreciate. Growing plants takes patience, understanding them takes time and seeing them bloom brings a quiet feeling of joy.
It has been a surprise to encounter this experience! As I work my hands into the soil, prune the plants and silently “speak” to them. It feels as though we are sharing a collective presence of time, breathing and living.
“The truth is, nature doesn’t speak in words — it teaches through presence, patience, and quiet observation.”
– Mathees Asinsha
Source: Medium.com
The Space Between
Audrey Desmond (Social Media Manager)
The year has flown by, and as 2025 fades, I’m reflecting on a season of growth with deep gratitude. Amidst the constant ebb and flow of life, I’m now choosing to lean into stillness. One of my commitments for the year ahead is a daily ritual of silence—honouring the stillness within before the tasks of the day begin. Before I start ‘doing’, I choose to simply ‘be’.
Artwork by Tang Yau Hoong
Sufficient, not perfect
Theres (Marketing Intern)
To me, illusion is often the picture we hold of how life should be or the perfect outcome we hope for.
Over time, I have realised that life does not need to be perfect to matter. What matters is that things are sufficient, that they give us enough meaning and stability to keep moving forward.