Navigating Change, Staying Grounded

Chiohui S
Apr 18
3 min read

Earlier in March, I had the opportunity to attend a talk at Mandala Club on AI.✨

It’s a topic that’s hard to avoid in today’s world. It can feel sensitive, even polarising — some see it as a threat, while others embrace it with excitement. And in the creative industry, the question naturally comes up: is AI a friend or a foe?

I’ve come to realise that it really depends on how we choose to see and use it.

At this point in my career, and through my own experience working with AI tools, I can almost tell within a sentence whether someone resists it or embraces it. Anyone who has truly worked with AI would know — it isn’t as simple as it looks.

Crafting the right prompts, refining outputs, making sure visuals are coherent, and adjusting details so everything actually makes sense. It’s not just clicking a button.

There’s a common perception that AI makes things instant and effortless. But in reality, achieving something intentional and high quality often requires multiple iterations — which means more credits, more time, and yes, more cost.

Having attended a couple of AI talks this year, this particular one felt especially close to heart. It didn’t just highlight the convenience AI brings, but also touched on what we might slowly lose — the simple joy of creating, the appreciation for process, and the satisfaction that comes with it.

In my day-to-day work, being in a competitive creative environment means embracing AI is almost inevitable. But outside of that, I find myself craving something slower.

Weekends have become my space to return to a more grounded pace — to reconnect with slow living, with analogue creation, and with myself.

For me, that balance feels important.

A Journey and a Reminder

After the peak period at work, I took some time off for a short trip to Zhangjiajie, Hunan, China.

This time, I travelled with a tour group — something I’ve grown to appreciate over the years. I used to prefer free-and-easy trips, but gradually, I’ve come to see the ease and structure that group travel can offer.

While it wasn’t my first time in China, this trip brought back a mix of emotions.

We spent some time in the city, but most of the journey took us into more rural areas — visiting scenic spots and UNESCO sites surrounded by nature. The landscapes were breathtaking, but I also felt a strong contrast between city life and rural environments.

It made me realise, quite clearly, that I am very much a city person.

There was one particular experience that stayed with me. At a tourist spot, due to an unexpected situation, the route down the mountain became extremely congested. As it got later and the sun was setting, people started getting anxious and things escalated — people cut queues, raised their voices, pushed, and some even started arguing just to get out faster.

My friends and I, being among the younger ones in our group, found ourselves trying to navigate the situation while also looking out for the elderly travelling with us. It was stressful, and at moments, overwhelming.

That experience left a strong impression on me.

It reminded me how important upbringing, manners, and empathy are — especially in moments of pressure. How easily human nature can shift when faced with discomfort or fear.

Would I visit again?

Perhaps… but for now, I think I’ll take a little pause.

Getting Back to Basic

Recently, I’ve been trying to return to traditional drawing.

It’s been a bit rusty, but I’m slowly getting back into it. I’m challenging myself to draw directly with ink instead of starting with pencil — to be more confident and less reliant on correcting mistakes.

To keep myself accountable, I’ve started sharing some of these on Instagram — a small commitment to stay consistent and keep going.

Work continues to take up a large part of my energy, especially with management responsibilities and AI-related work.

So on weekends, I’m choosing to do the opposite.

More analogue, less digital.

More process, less efficiency.

Still figuring things out, but this feels like a good place to start for now.