this week B-quoted

"Always dream and shoot higher than you know you can do. Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." - William Faulkner (1897-1962) American novelist and short-story writer, Nobel Prize laureate

The last day being 18

Any importance to this day? I guess not. What a better way to feel 18 for the last time than to study for Chinese exam tomorrow. Sian. The 18th year of my life had been reasonably uneventful in exception to one or two or ... happenings, for example, stressing over A level, the choir trip to Shah Alam, Malaysia, panic over A level result (which thank god I did well, if not my parents would have deported me), the mad brain overstress over university application, and .....

And so, bye bye being 18.

Creative People

As often as we label people working in the creative industry arrogant, selfish and hypocrite, we can't deny the fact that we (at least I) are envious/jealous of them. It is overwhelming to see the process as well as the end product of the art: from pencil lines and curves to a beautifully executed garment [Fashion], from perspective eye and appreciation of objects to stunningly captured photographs [Photography], from different sounds to harmonious compilation [Music], from everyday movements to flowing weightless action [Dance], from abstract/genuine inspiration to a beautiful drawings [Painting] - and many more.

It takes a lot of talents, potential and courage to survive in this industry. One day they are in, and the next day they may be out. But yet, the most admirable about artists is that they are able to portray their feelings, personality, thoughts, bla bla bla in just one creation of beauty.

Why am I writing about this? I have no idea. It is just one of "fairytale" wish to be in the creative industry.

this week B-quoted

"Time is limited, so I better wake up every morning fresh and know that I have just one chance to live this particular day right, and to string my days together into a life of action, and purpose". - Lance Armstrong (1971 - ) U.S Cyclist, 7-time winner of the Tour de France, cancer survivor.

Letting go of past glory

I believe in most of us, one of the main goal in life is to collect as many glorious moments as possible. Glorious moments may vary differently from one individual to another. They can be winning a prestigious awards, getting a promotion, winning a lottery, overcoming major obstacles, finding a life-long partner, and etc. However, to many of us, failure and rejection usually appear more often than the glorious ones. And then we start to keep replaying the glorious moments that had happened in the past. We begin to indulge and overwhelm ourselves with those past glorious. We start to feel proud of ourselves. In a way it gives us confidence that "hey, I have done it before, I can achieve it again". Yet, the big BUT is we have to learn to treat those glorious moments as a rewarding memories of the past and keep on moving. The urge to keep pressing on toward a new goal must never die. Do not let those pride of past glorious becoming a pseudo-solution for any disappointment and failures that we face along the way to achieve our new goal.

Learn to let go of the past glory, and strive forward for a new glory.

Pressing On

In regard to the previous entry, here is a short continuation.

We have not (and probably never will) obtained everything that can be called perfect. Many a times we regret something that has happened in the past. And there is always this high probabilty whereby we start blaming everything that is in the surrounding. We start blaming our parents, friends, circumstances, choices, dilemma for every failure and disappointment that we experienced. But, it is only when we self-evaluate ourselves that we realise the past happened because we did it ourselves. If something has gone wrong, that would probably mean we led ourselves into making that mistake.

Then, when something painfully regrettable happen that it is so difficult for us to let go, we hold it so tightly that everything we do in the present is somehow not whole. We often relate back to the past, focus all our energy into it, feeling depressed and then begin to see no hope in life. But, is that what we want our life to be? We still have long way to go in fulfilling our desire in life. There is always hope. Hope comes when we are able to forget misery that has happened in the past. By forgetting, it means to release our strong focus of the things in the past and use it to press on for the better future. It is never too late to realise our dream. However, a word of caution, no dream will ever be realised if we ourselves do not make a path for it to happen.

To end: by regretting what we have done and wish that we could have done it better, will never change a thing. What we can always do is to forget what is behind and strain forward what is ahead. All of us who are mature should take such a view of things.

Past VS Future

Past (n) 1. the past the time that existed before the present. 2. it's all in the past spoken used to say that an unpleasant experience has ended and can be forgotten: You musn't think about it. It's all in the past.
Future (n) the time after the present.

The past and the future are two extreme time frame more than often used in describing our life. The past indicates experiences; feelings/emotions that has subsided; memories be it painful, ecstatic, exciting or blissful; a time frame we often wish to erase. Meanwhile, the future implies hope, a better life, a realisation of dreams and happiness. The past is often associated with complexity while the future is often linked to the need for simplicity.

The past is often said together with the future as individual time frame in context such as wanting to forget the past and move on - "it's all in the past", "concentrate on your future". However, for there to be a transition from the past to the future, a time frame in between is necessary. And that time frame is none other than, the present. The present plays the role of examining the past and modifying it to get to the future. The present becomes a very crucial point in determining whether the boundary of the past can be crossed over or not. Hence, the present possess more risk than the past and the future. How so? The past, especially when it is full of hatred, grudges, hurt and pain can only be forgotten when we gradually learn to forget it in the present. Once we have successfully learnt to accept the past as something we cannot change and overcome it, the present then becomes the initial base in which we develop our new step, i.e, the future. However, if we keep dwelling on the past and forget that we actually live the present, then the present becomes a replay of those past memories, preventing the formation of base for the future.

So, the past is important as it made who we are today. The future is important as it will be how we want our life to be. But, the present is more important. In the present, we learn to accept our past; learn to forget (and to forgive) about the past; improve on our mistakes made in the past; re-live beautiful memories happened in the past that we want to keep with us throughout our life, and start to make the decision that "it's all in the past". The complexity of the past can only be re-invented as a simple future when we start confidently and with strong willpower to renew our life and purpose, in the present. To get some good in the future, we may need to sacrifice what we have earned in the past. If that is the only way, then the only thing we can do is to be strong and move on. For those who believe in God, strengthen our faith and let Him carry us through the many obstacles.

In conclusion, the past (the painful one) can only be forgotten when we start living the present and set target on the future. Do not frustrate over the past and keep on wishing for a better future if we, ourselves, do not see the importance of the present for that better future to happen. As cliche as it sounds, but, no action implies no result.

Of course, there is always the happening of what we did in the past, get forgotten in the present but somehow manage to be known in the future.

BBQ@JM's house - Sat July 8th

-Jia Min, the host of the night-

-skewing the prawns-

-chef of the night-

-dining together-

------The Salad Torture -----

-SO Comical-

-The Gentlemen-

-The Ladies-

-The Group-
(From Left to Right: 1st Row: Endi, Harris, Jian Rong
2nd Row: Cicilia, Carolin, Jia Min, Cheryl, Audrey)

-And so the night closes-

Language Preparation Programme

Sometimes back in June, I applied for the Language Preparation Programme in NUS for French. The programme is to prepare the students for the student exchange programme to France, Belgium or Switzerland. I checked the application status today and the outcome is: rejected. To be frank, I did not really expect the rejection. But, well there is always the French modules to bid for.

Living the Moment

What a better way to live life than to live the moment. Life moves without looking back. No matter how badly we wish a time-machine exist, it will never be. So, experience and indulge the spirit of youth that we possess before we age.

Love and Friendship - Spread the love as if all the days are valentine's day. Treasure the friendship we have and don't let any storms shake it. Tell those you love before it is too late. There is nothing more important as well as beautiful than to have friends, true by your side, as you spend your life day after day.

Faith - For those who believe in God, enrich our lives by strengthening our faith and purify our souls. Living a life full of hope, optimism and love. Stay away from the shadows and welcome the light. Leave solidarity and embrace true companionship.

Family - Thank our parents/relatives/guardians for bringing us up with unconditional love.

Talents - Don't let hectic life take the little time you have. Expand your talent by learning something new. Fulfill our childhood dreams. Don't grow up and painfully regret. Do something you love as it will make you love yourself more, increase your confidence as well as make life more meaningful.

Giving - When we are able to give, let us give with joy without expecting anything in return. To give is better than to receive. There is nothing that can beat the smile flashed by those who receive our gifts. A small gift can change someone's life.

Wealth - Reward yourself here and then when you achieve something or when you have done a good deed. But, do not overspent as the little savings we accumulate will enable us to get our rewards here and then.

Happiness - Treasure the happy moments we have and don't rush to welcome tomorrow. Dive into the happiness you are feeling and live the now. Chill and be thankful that we are blessed with those happiness.

Sadness - Life is boring without the ups and downs. Sadness is a part and parcel of our lives. Experience it so that our lives can be fulfilling. Learn to tackle sadness with hope, optimism and faith. Do not surrender.

Frustration - Chill out and relax. Frustration often waste our time for it will not change the reality. Find something comfortable and meaningful out of the frustration. Do not let frustration eat away our youth because the spirit of youth do not encompass stress.

24 hours a day aren't exacly much of a time. As the world is rotating faster and faster (so it seems) we should not let it drag us along. Find time in those little seconds to think of a happy thoughts, explore our young minds, dream of a fantasy and be thankful for all the good things that have ever happened to us. Carve all the love we received in our hearts for they will give us support and treasure to remember for the rest of our lives. Wipe away our hatred and grudges as it will only blackened our heart giving little space for another love to reside.

However, living the moment does not permit us to give in to temptation that will destroy our lives. Stay away from matters and stuff that will do us no good in a long run.