About me

Hello.
My name is Shelley Lui and this is
my blog.

For as long as I remember, I have been enticed by the world of advertising. As a young child, I would be the only one from my class who would sacrifice a play date in order to record the “funniest ads of the year” on VHS, and would see TV spots as short films that moved me and made me laugh. It became a goal of mine to immerse myself in this world, and I then started my torrid love affair with advertising, being swept up in the tight deadlines and challenges, the glitz and glamour of it all (the shoots around the world, the award ceremonies and trophies) – until it became all that I knew.

After having been a devoted adwoman for over 18 years, I started to wonder if I had a reason of being beyond what I knew within the four walls of agency life.
 

As I stand at this juncture in my life, I’ve decided to embark on a quest to confront the “what-if’s” that have crossed my mind during all these years. While I was studying art direction in advertising back back back in the day, I loved to blog about my daily life, and on a drunken night out amidst Jägerbombs in the crisp winter air in Boulder Colorado during my last quarter, my teacher approached me and shouted in my ear “YOU SHOULD BECOME A WRITER”. 

I didn’t switch because I had put so much time into the art direction program already – after all, what would my very pragmatic Asian parents think? Probably “get a job, already!” Moreover, I’ve been good at doodling ever since I was a kid – I am DESTINED to be an art director, right? But those drunken words have followed me ever since, and well… here I am exploring that side of me all of those years later in this blog. 

Facing my first big “what-if” – right in those big ol’ eyeballs.

The Start of a New Era.

Over the coming months, I plan to delve into various aspects of my sabbatical in this blog, sharing insights, reflections, and discoveries along the way. From traversing distant lands to reconnecting with cherished loved ones, my journey encompasses experiences that I am looking forward to embracing wholeheartedly.

I have always loved traveling, and during this sabbatical, I will be checking some experiences and destinations off my bucket list – more on these plans later! I strongly believe that we are small beings in a large large world, and there is so much to absorb. I want to be the most porous sponge possible, sucking all that cultural richness in (sorry trypophobic friends for that visual). I want to be in awe of my surroundings again, see things for the first time and just have those moments of euphoria, confusion and giddiness all rolled into one big emotion that ties my stomach into knots and that sear deep visual memories into my mind.

Most importantly, I want time to be mine again – time to nurture relationships, create lasting memories with loved ones and focus on all those side projects that are close to my heart. Life is just so short, and I don’t want to have any regrets down the line of not having set my priorities straight when I had the chance to. Here is to more morning coffee talks with dad, late night conversations with mumzee, reconnecting with dear friends and family, and most importantly – stopping and appreciating those moments for the valuable memories that they are.

In addition to travel and spending time with loved ones, my sabbatical is also dedicated to the pursuit of knowledge and personal growth. From diving into new hobbies and interests to delving into new art forms, I am committed to embracing a never-ending journey of learning and self-improvement.

Through this blog, I hope to document my experiences, insights, and reflections, offering glimpses into the joys, challenges, and lessons learned along the way. So whether you are a fellow wanderer seeking inspiration, a soul yearning for connection, or simply curious about the endless possibilities of what a sabbatical journey could possibly provide, I invite you to join me on this exciting adventure.