Upcycling Bad Experiences

Upcycling is when you take junk and make it useful. Wooden crates can be upcycled into shelving or coffee tables. Old tyres can be upcycled into ovitraps. With some ingenuity, people can turn junk into attractive pieces of furniture.

What about upcycling yucky experiences?

Last Thursday, I had a bad experience with a man who had decided that a lone woman eating breakfast could be forced into the role of a social escort, obliged to entertain his advances. It was a bad experience.

I have upcycled this bad experience and turned it into a largely positive one for me.

Children's Safety

On the same day that I was Insulted in my Modesty, I read about the 7 year old girl who was taken, sexually assaulted and murdered. Together, both these experiences alerted me to the need to tighten security measures at the Bedok centre, to protect the children in my care. If a man can force his presence on me in broad daylight at a hawker centre, other things can happen in broad daylight too, e.g., grabbing defenceless children for sexual gratification.

I am not defenceless.

The children are.

Perfect Workout to Fend off Osteoporosis

I did briefly consider swinging myself onto the table, leaning back and kicking in the teeth of the man who had insulted my modesty. I cycle 3 hrs a day. My legs are strong. However, I became keenly aware that I had poor upper body strength. My punch would probably feel like a tickle. This was a physical shortcoming that I needed to address. So, I researched boxing classes and fell in love with Muay Thai. Then, I discovered that punches and kicks to the punching stand would stimulate bone growth. Muay Thai will ensure that I stave off osteoporosis.

Yes!

Understanding My Rights

I discovered that I can actually get the fellow arrested if I wish to. There is CCTV in Chong Pang Market. I need only make report and the police can get the footage. He can then be charged for Insult of Modesty, which can attract 1 year in jail or a fine or both.

So, I know the law is on my side.

So, all the women reading this blogpost. Do note that if there is a CCTV around, you have recourse to justice.

Importance of Upcycling Bad Experiences

As one gets older, one should get wiser and kinder. So, I am not going to hang on to bad experiences that will make me bitter. For my own happiness and internal beauty, I am going to upcycle all the pain in my life into love, joy and learning.

My own experience as an abused autistic child, I now use to protect, nurture and love autistic children.

My own experience as an abused daughter-in-law, I now use to ensure that I protect The Daughter and cherish my future daughter-in-law.

Poop can be fertiliser. My shitty experiences can fertilise the growth of families: my own family and other people's families. Bad experiences can be made good.