Ever since I could remember, I shared a room with my sister. This went on for years and I didn't get my own room back till I hit my early 20s and was back in Singapore. So when I was told I needed to have a roommate in my term at boarding school, it wasn't much of a big deal.

Elaine was easily a nightmare roommate. She was messy, borrowed and lost your things whenever, and picked fights at you every so often out of boredom. But living with her was a good experience. We became great mates and she also taught me a great lesson in life that I will always love her for.

She taught me to lighten up really.

Believe it or not, I was always somewhat of a worry wart. I'd fuss over the littlest things, dwell on my emotions and get all upset if I felt my needs had not been met or throw a strop if I felt someone had stepped on my toes. I listened to the gloom and doom of the Smashing Pumpkins or Radiohead in the morning and I'd get all morose.

Elaine was totally different.

As soon as she got up, she'd whack on her favourite dance tracks - one of which was a really crazyass mix of Spice Girls' Wannabe. In my groggy haze, she'd grab her comb and sing in to it at me and in no time at all, a great big smile would break out on her tiny face.

It bugged me no end.... For awhile. Then the smile started to infect mine too :)

It started to get to me in a good way. And in a few months, I was jumping up and down and being silly in the mornings with her. Call it assimilation or whatever you will, but I started feeling like a happier person starting my day on a happy foot, rather than a self-indulgent suicidal one. She was blunt and blatant with me always and soon I also stopped sweatin' the small stuff and crying over spilled milk.

I did the same to my poor sister when I went home on vacations and she wanted to kill me

...

I managed to get up early and I'm heading to the gym. I guess it's no surprise then that the first track of the day is a pumped up house mix and I'm all set to go!