I have had the word ‘tough’ used on me by different people. By ‘tough’, it’s not to mean I’m a difficult person to deal with. For one person, she meant to say I’m able to survive on my own and fend for myself in a foreign country. For others, it was more referring to the fact that I’m quite willing to partake in physically demanding activities such as ultramarathons. But I sometimes wonder if being tough has been a double-edged sword. My mum once remarked that I’m too independent; to the point that men are scared off by it as they probably feel I don’t need them for anything.

I guess it’s a vicious cycle. If I have no one to depend on, I will of course have to learn to do things on my own. In any case, I think it’s better to be tough than not. At least should something happen, I will know how to handle the situation and not be completely  helpless.

As for the sporty side of ‘tough’, I have been taking that a lot of notches down this year. Tired. Need a break. Not so tough anymore.