Starting my career in information security and privacy compliance roles has made for a fascinating journey. I am currently working in the fintech sector, which is a relatively young sector in the digital economy. I am learning disruptive technologies first-hand and also learning about start-up culture. In this sector, the management and working style tend to be more relaxed, and a collaborative environment is highly encouraged. It’s an incredible career path to learn and grow. However, the industry also faces a whole new set of regulatory and compliance challenges. As a result, work can be stressful, and sometimes I feel anxious, irritable and depressed when I am overwhelmed at work. To de-stress and stop overthinking after work, I love to do handwriting rather than mindlessly watching TV, Netflix and YouTube.
I am passionate about calligraphy as a form of meditation. I began this hobby, self-taught, in 2016. It is such as wonderful journey with wonderful teachers from different countries who sparked my passion to learn more and more. I have been inspired by many talented calligraphers during their Hong Kong tours and through online classes. I would do calligraphy practice all day if I could, but I can only spend around four hours a month on it, regretfully. No matter how busy I am, I will continue practicing and learning calligraphy. This handwriting meditation has taught me:
Be humble – there is always something to learn, and there will always be someone who is more skilled than you
Be patient – calligraphy skills cannot be achieved in one day, one month, or even years, if you don’t practice mindfully
Be diligent – practice doesn’t not make perfect, but it does make progress
This is all applicable to my career as well. Be humble to work with all parties no matter how senior or junior they are. Be patient to study and learn new skills. Be diligent as there is always something new that requires extra attention.