The context within this quote is altered entirely when quoted in the foreword section of this book.
You can discover more about a person in an hour of play than in a year of conversation - Plato
Sunday, 31 October 2010
Saturday, 18 September 2010
Life is like riding a bicycle - in order to keep your balance, you must keep moving
Time to step up my game.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
"If only..."
Often times I stop to ponder about things. I often ponder about very deep things that people tend to pass off as something too confusing, depressing, pessimistic, unsuitable for our age, unsuitable for our circumstances and etcetera. Little do people understand why I do continue to ponder about these things, even though they often are depressing.
Ever come across a situation where you wished "If only I had realised something sooner"?
Here's a modified example of what I pondered over.. when I was only 15.
Don't want to pop anyone's bubble out there, but here's something to think about. High school ends for those of you in M'sia in a few months time. High school ends for those of you in Melbourne in about a year.
After all this while, you've definitely made friends. Friends ranging from the "hi-bye" friends, normal friends, good friends and best friends. The thing is, after high school, everyone goes their own way and you'll won't be as close to them anymore.
One might say that it is possible to keep in touch via Facebook, Hotmail, MSN, meeting up and etc. To be honest, that statement does not prove false. I have been keeping in touch with some of my friends in M'sia. However, the numbers are few.
Realistically, the chances of you keeping in touch with your good friends are low. Only the best friends would put in the effort to keep in touch with you. Even so, some best friends wouldn't even do it.
This brings about 2 questions:
1. "Why won't they keep in touch with me?"
2. "Who would?"
1. Once you've all parted and started a new life in uni/further education, you'll make new friends. Your interests change. Your priorities change. And a whole lot of other things change. When you meet again, you will never be the same again and so will they. Of course there are exceptions e.g. when you become room-mates. But apart from them, what about everyone else you used to know?
2. The answer lies in the kind of friends you make. What kind of friends are there? There is a long list of them, but I'll just highlight the few of them that are applicable to us adolescents:
a. The kind that seeks for companionship based on the things that they commonly do together. e.g. There's always a group of people who commonly associate themselves with games. Most of the time, apart from games, they share nothing else. This kind of relationship is shallow. Once their games are removed, they have nothing much to relate to each other about.
b. The kind that seeks the relationship casually. Most of the time, they do so for assurance and a peace of heart that you're not alone i.e. They don't want to feel left out. They often only talk only about trivial things, joke around, hang out with friends and etc, with the mindset of simplicity. They never delve into the relationship to form closer relationships; they refrain from doing so. On a side note, these people are often manipulated by peer pressure.
c. The kind where you seek the relationship because he/she wants to genuinely get to know that person and develop a healthy, mutual friendship. They would do all the following activities with one another, but with a different mindset. Ups and downs would be faced together, advice would be given not to please the person but for the benefit of the other even though it's bad and etc.
Obviously, type c would be the only one to reciprocate the effort you put in to keep in touch. The first and second one would just find new companions to assure themselves.
Sadly, the number of people who are from type c are very few. This is because, nobody thinks carefully about the kinds relationships they should make in high school. Ultimately, those ignorant of these facts will realise that their high school years weren't as meaningful because they never developed such a friendship. So I pose a question to you all today: "Will any of your friends keep in touch with you after you've all parted? If so, who?"
Crunch the numbers. It's pessimistic. It's tragic. It's depressing. It's real. Reality bites. Less than 1% of the adolescent population have ever come to this realisation at an early stage to do something about it.. Would you make a difference?
Ever come across a situation where you wished "If only I had realised something sooner"?
Here's a modified example of what I pondered over.. when I was only 15.
Don't want to pop anyone's bubble out there, but here's something to think about. High school ends for those of you in M'sia in a few months time. High school ends for those of you in Melbourne in about a year.
After all this while, you've definitely made friends. Friends ranging from the "hi-bye" friends, normal friends, good friends and best friends. The thing is, after high school, everyone goes their own way and you'll won't be as close to them anymore.
One might say that it is possible to keep in touch via Facebook, Hotmail, MSN, meeting up and etc. To be honest, that statement does not prove false. I have been keeping in touch with some of my friends in M'sia. However, the numbers are few.
Realistically, the chances of you keeping in touch with your good friends are low. Only the best friends would put in the effort to keep in touch with you. Even so, some best friends wouldn't even do it.
This brings about 2 questions:
1. "Why won't they keep in touch with me?"
2. "Who would?"
1. Once you've all parted and started a new life in uni/further education, you'll make new friends. Your interests change. Your priorities change. And a whole lot of other things change. When you meet again, you will never be the same again and so will they. Of course there are exceptions e.g. when you become room-mates. But apart from them, what about everyone else you used to know?
2. The answer lies in the kind of friends you make. What kind of friends are there? There is a long list of them, but I'll just highlight the few of them that are applicable to us adolescents:
a. The kind that seeks for companionship based on the things that they commonly do together. e.g. There's always a group of people who commonly associate themselves with games. Most of the time, apart from games, they share nothing else. This kind of relationship is shallow. Once their games are removed, they have nothing much to relate to each other about.
b. The kind that seeks the relationship casually. Most of the time, they do so for assurance and a peace of heart that you're not alone i.e. They don't want to feel left out. They often only talk only about trivial things, joke around, hang out with friends and etc, with the mindset of simplicity. They never delve into the relationship to form closer relationships; they refrain from doing so. On a side note, these people are often manipulated by peer pressure.
c. The kind where you seek the relationship because he/she wants to genuinely get to know that person and develop a healthy, mutual friendship. They would do all the following activities with one another, but with a different mindset. Ups and downs would be faced together, advice would be given not to please the person but for the benefit of the other even though it's bad and etc.
Obviously, type c would be the only one to reciprocate the effort you put in to keep in touch. The first and second one would just find new companions to assure themselves.
Sadly, the number of people who are from type c are very few. This is because, nobody thinks carefully about the kinds relationships they should make in high school. Ultimately, those ignorant of these facts will realise that their high school years weren't as meaningful because they never developed such a friendship. So I pose a question to you all today: "Will any of your friends keep in touch with you after you've all parted? If so, who?"
Crunch the numbers. It's pessimistic. It's tragic. It's depressing. It's real. Reality bites. Less than 1% of the adolescent population have ever come to this realisation at an early stage to do something about it.. Would you make a difference?
Sunday, 8 August 2010
Tick Tock. Tick Tock.
Ok, in anticipation to those who are confused by such a piece of writing, that was just a creative approach I used to address something. That "something" was merely the phenomenon where I realised how little time we have left on Earth, and how we spend it meaninglessly.
It begins with me asking myself "Have I lived a meaningful life?", and then I stop to remember my past to see where things have went wrong and what can I do to improve life now. After taking myself out of that deep thought, I made comparisons with life now and ultimately, I see hope.
LOL. Okay that was just one paragraph that summed up the whole post below, no? haha. Well, the reason I did that was to.... make the blog posts more interesting.. I guess? haha dunno if that worked..but yeah. Read some creative writing and I was somehow inspired to do some.. I guess I'll stave that off from now on.
Oh well. Anyway, to the other things that've happened in the past month. I've taken the Myer-Briggs Personality Test and I am a ESTJ or an ESFJ. So Shannen and Janie, you were partially right. Although that psych dude said I could be occasionally T and F at times according to the scenario.
And the Athletics Carnival took place last Friday, and it was epic!!! X3 well, for others really but the epicness sorta passed on to me. The high jumps were like awesome!! the best jumpers were crossdressers and one Navi' dude. lol. Avatar fan much. xD Anyway, those dudes made a freakin' 160cm++ jump. Apart from that, the carnival was similar to that of the Swimming Carnival. So yeah. Just loitered around pretty much. Played some cards and that was about it. Pics are on FB so yeah. The convenience surpasses that of here ^^
Ok. Bedtime. Toodles. Will post a more elaborate post next time..
It begins with me asking myself "Have I lived a meaningful life?", and then I stop to remember my past to see where things have went wrong and what can I do to improve life now. After taking myself out of that deep thought, I made comparisons with life now and ultimately, I see hope.
LOL. Okay that was just one paragraph that summed up the whole post below, no? haha. Well, the reason I did that was to.... make the blog posts more interesting.. I guess? haha dunno if that worked..but yeah. Read some creative writing and I was somehow inspired to do some.. I guess I'll stave that off from now on.
Oh well. Anyway, to the other things that've happened in the past month. I've taken the Myer-Briggs Personality Test and I am a ESTJ or an ESFJ. So Shannen and Janie, you were partially right. Although that psych dude said I could be occasionally T and F at times according to the scenario.
And the Athletics Carnival took place last Friday, and it was epic!!! X3 well, for others really but the epicness sorta passed on to me. The high jumps were like awesome!! the best jumpers were crossdressers and one Navi' dude. lol. Avatar fan much. xD Anyway, those dudes made a freakin' 160cm++ jump. Apart from that, the carnival was similar to that of the Swimming Carnival. So yeah. Just loitered around pretty much. Played some cards and that was about it. Pics are on FB so yeah. The convenience surpasses that of here ^^
Ok. Bedtime. Toodles. Will post a more elaborate post next time..
Monday, 2 August 2010
Tick Tock.
My digital clock's colon blinked at me as time passes slowly.
Wait. Stop...
Okay, maybe that's an understatement.
Time is passing extremely quickly.
Even as I'm typing now, I cannot fully comprehend the situation.
In 24 hours,
I spend approximately 33.33% of it sleeping.
I spend approximately 25% of it in school.
I spend approximately 10% of it on studying at home.
I spend approximately 5-10% of it eating food.
I spend approximately 10% of my time doing chores.
I spend approximately 15% of my time doing whatever I like which is usually unfruitful for the most of me.
Out of that 15%, less than 5% of it is meaningful.
By following such a vague routine everyday, I've long ago lost track of my sense of time.
Days whizz past me quicker than ever.
Perhaps I'm getting older.
Perhaps I'm enjoying things now.
Perhaps I'm ignorant of these things.
What happened to those times where a second felt like an eternity?
I still see that 10 year old boy, wishing time would pass me by faster so that I may grow up.
Little did I realise that time had pressed the fast-forward button on me.
2x faster. 4x faster. 8x faster. 16x faster.
Had I not realised that things around me sped up like so, I would've wasted me life away, leaving me speechless at the time when the question was presented to me.
"Have I lived a meaningful life?"
I could only stare blankly at it.
Clueless.
Confused.
Disorientated.
Uncertain.
Anxious.
Afraid.
As I thought about it, sweat trickled down my cheekbone.
The drop hit the floor with a loud thud.
It was as if it caused a massive ripple in the clear waters of a still pond.
As that thud echoed around me, time re-winded it self and started replaying again.
Happy and sad times were revisited.
Laughter was shared.
Tears were shed.
Looking at those vivid episodes of my life, I couldn't help but give a bittersweet smile.
Then time pressed the fast-forward button.
This time however, I was able to grasp all those times which I carelessly discarded into the back of mind.
It was only then, did I realise the significance of those events that have occurred.
Regret filled my mind at my unawareness of life then.
The ripple in that pond slowly came to a halt and the waters were still once again.
The show came to an end when the most recent moments were played out.
The credits did not roll out.
There was no coda at the end of this piece of music.
I was left there in the quietude once again.
It was there that I managed to find the answer that I sought.
"There is more living than just being alive"
Deriving some hidden messages from this Latin proverb alone,
The gears in my head churned for a logical conclusion.
God knows how long it took me to answer this question.
But I finally found the answer.
I blinked as the clock beeped when it hit the hour.
I avert my eyes outside my window and to the sky.
The moon manifests itself in the horizon,
It's faint glow illuminated my hopes for the future as the past lay subtly in my shadows.
And in a very very long time, I started to smile as that glow gently filled the stratosphere.
Wait. Stop...
Okay, maybe that's an understatement.
Time is passing extremely quickly.
Even as I'm typing now, I cannot fully comprehend the situation.
In 24 hours,
I spend approximately 33.33% of it sleeping.
I spend approximately 25% of it in school.
I spend approximately 10% of it on studying at home.
I spend approximately 5-10% of it eating food.
I spend approximately 10% of my time doing chores.
I spend approximately 15% of my time doing whatever I like which is usually unfruitful for the most of me.
Out of that 15%, less than 5% of it is meaningful.
By following such a vague routine everyday, I've long ago lost track of my sense of time.
Days whizz past me quicker than ever.
Perhaps I'm getting older.
Perhaps I'm enjoying things now.
Perhaps I'm ignorant of these things.
What happened to those times where a second felt like an eternity?
I still see that 10 year old boy, wishing time would pass me by faster so that I may grow up.
Little did I realise that time had pressed the fast-forward button on me.
2x faster. 4x faster. 8x faster. 16x faster.
Had I not realised that things around me sped up like so, I would've wasted me life away, leaving me speechless at the time when the question was presented to me.
"Have I lived a meaningful life?"
I could only stare blankly at it.
Clueless.
Confused.
Disorientated.
Uncertain.
Anxious.
Afraid.
As I thought about it, sweat trickled down my cheekbone.
The drop hit the floor with a loud thud.
It was as if it caused a massive ripple in the clear waters of a still pond.
As that thud echoed around me, time re-winded it self and started replaying again.
Happy and sad times were revisited.
Laughter was shared.
Tears were shed.
Looking at those vivid episodes of my life, I couldn't help but give a bittersweet smile.
Then time pressed the fast-forward button.
This time however, I was able to grasp all those times which I carelessly discarded into the back of mind.
It was only then, did I realise the significance of those events that have occurred.
Regret filled my mind at my unawareness of life then.
The ripple in that pond slowly came to a halt and the waters were still once again.
The show came to an end when the most recent moments were played out.
The credits did not roll out.
There was no coda at the end of this piece of music.
I was left there in the quietude once again.
It was there that I managed to find the answer that I sought.
"There is more living than just being alive"
Deriving some hidden messages from this Latin proverb alone,
The gears in my head churned for a logical conclusion.
God knows how long it took me to answer this question.
But I finally found the answer.
I blinked as the clock beeped when it hit the hour.
I avert my eyes outside my window and to the sky.
The moon manifests itself in the horizon,
It's faint glow illuminated my hopes for the future as the past lay subtly in my shadows.
And in a very very long time, I started to smile as that glow gently filled the stratosphere.
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