I recall that it was my house warming party at last year's National Day. So time has flown by again.

National Day is a good day for all patriotic citizens of Singapore. It gives them a chance to fully express their love for the nation and what they wish to see achieved in the future. Public affection for the nation only happens once a year so today is your chance. Once you miss it, you will have to wait 364 days to say "I love you Singapore!", sing those propaganda community songs or see the entire padang and everyone else in red.

For all those non-patriotic citizens who wish to migrate once you have the ability to, National Day is a good day too since you get to enjoy a day of rest at home and for those more fortunate little children including JC kids, you get to enjoy 2 days of rest and more mugging is optional.

National Day is also the day of propaganda. You flip open the papers and read of how much Singaporeans love Singapore and how the foreigners living in Singapore like the cleanliness or the food variety in Singapore. You read of the resilience of Singapore and her people as they fought against the odds through the years and learn that we are a people of determination and of sheer willpower.

Sure, National Day is one of Singapore's favourite holiday.

Honestly, I love National Day for it is the only day, besides those rare new reports of achievements by other Singaporeans that make me swell with pride, when I feel proud to be a Singaporean. As our society gets more cosmopolitan, how many people you see on the street are true blue born and raised in this tiny red dot? How many have survived the heartless regime of the education system from the small blue uniform up to wearing casual wear to school?

Who can walk along the road at around midnight and actually have no fears? We do not need to worry about internal and external security. We think the biggest worry is whether we are able to accomplish the tasks set out to us everyday. We worry whether we're able to find a spouse in the 4 million population while others worry about when's the next bombings in the city, lack of food or increasing taxes.

Seriously, we have taken Singapore for granted without realising it. As we reach 40, let us reflect upon the good things this nation has provided and let us truly reach out for the skies.