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Journalism of Courage
At a time when many dream of retiring early and slowing down, a Singaporean man, 91, is quietly offering the world a very different perspective on staying engaged with life. His encounter with Australian traveller Jaden Laing has struck a chord online, and even caught the attention of actor R Madhavan.
While exploring Singapore, Laing came across the elderly man working in a public restroom. What began as a casual hello quickly turned into a moment that left him stunned, the man was 91, still reporting for duty every single day, and putting in 12-hour shifts without complaint.
Curious about his secret to staying fit at such an age, Laing asked if he followed any special habits. The man simply laughed and said he ate whatever he normally ate, didn’t exercise, and just “kept going” with life.
Touched by his warmth and resilience, Laing handed him a small tip for lunch and later posted the video on Instagram. Along with the clip, he urged people to treat elders with dignity and compassion, quoting a verse from Leviticus about honouring the elderly. The post spread quickly, drawing emotional reactions from viewers around the world.
Madhavan also reshared the video, calling the man’s spirit inspiring. Many who watched the clip felt the same — pointing out how his daily movement and positive attitude might be the true reason behind his good health. Others appreciated Laing’s gesture, with one user noting that his tip could “easily cover the man’s groceries for a month.”
Others also left comments. One user wrote, “He is actually healthy because he is active daily.” Another user wrote, “If we all emulated this attitude towards strangers, the world would be paradise.” A third person commented, “I really hate how our seniors often have to work cleaning jobs and food court jobs when they’re well past retirement age here. Thank you for making his day.”
A fourth user said, “I think bro was legit shocked someone asked him how his day was he felt so good that you too an interest in him. Love that – respect.“
