Shooting Stars

The first shooting star which came across my life was few years back during one of the relaxing camps we had with the juniors. It lasted for seconds but the image remains in the heart up till today, whereby it crossed the dark, leaving its traces among the stars, Beautiful as it has always known to be, it carries information which brings sorrow to particular people as well, for its fall represents the end of an influential person, the shining star which used to brighten up the sky in the absence of the source of light, where no other stars can compare with its might. We are told to make a wish whenever a shooting star shows up in sight, simply because such happening is rare enough that many take it as special and reckon whoever sees it as lucky. Stars are fascinating but they take away a person’s breath only when there is whole bunch of them instead of just one or two, unlike the fallen star in which is capable of doing so alone, with the little friction across the planet. Perhaps it is when we do not have the friction to fire up and work towards the wonderful life that we require many others in helping us to shine. Perhaps it is when we choose to associate with the particular elements such as strong will and determination that we are able to cut across the darkest night, leaving our traces in the hearts of many. Perhaps it is when we decided or just so happened to be facing our mistakes which have brought us down that we have an unique way to reflect the light source to areas in need, including our very own souls. At times we prefer to be the ordinary stars and not the shooting star, as its beauty can be seen once and only once as compared to the others. Nevertheless, we are the star itself and it is the matter of time that we will shine as bright as the shooting star, someday, somehow.

Orchestra

Went through another firsthand experience just yesterday in KLCC at one of the MPO events playing the piece “In the Sea”; it was fascinating and certainly, breathtaking in a way. Orchestra has been giving the impression of “one instructs, others play along” and it seems to be slightly luxurious to be an entertainment, just like any of the movies and in anime; talk about stereotype. As the man raised his hands in the air and the music started echoing in the room, there was a form of sensation and somehow, we automatically had our eyes closed and so to enjoy the performance they were bringing to us. Perhaps it was just me that I tend to seek for one focus point and search the origin of one particular fragment played by the particular instrument when the eyes are wide opened. Perhaps it is just us that we simply want to find one perfect spot in which we are comfortable with, be it when we are conscious or shutting our visions away from the outside world by closing the eyes. For example, we would choose one focus point when we are to daydream and stare into the air doing nothing but we do not usually stare at some random stranger’s face and stone. If we ever do, I bet the person will be uncomfortable in return and wondering why. As we were enjoying the music and following the rhythm played, the waves of notes produced by the various instruments took us deep down to a different world whereby it is surrounded by water, divided into light and darkness. It was amazing, and still is, to actually feel the elements presented by the performers using their skills and teamwork; peace, mysterious and possible dangers. One instrument may be able to play a good piece of music, but with the combination of many other musical instruments, a greater art is produced in which able to steal our hearts and take our breaths away. Recalling the time when the frequency slowly dies away to the moment where every movement is stopped at instant, the heartbeat stopped for second and followed by applauses storming the area.

撕破脸

礼貌上，即使心中抱有不满，我们也尽可能保持面部的笑容，直至超越固定的界限方出声表态。或许是先前所发生的某项事件让自己无法长久性的忍气吞声以实行所谓“君子能忍人所不能”之道。或许环境的改变所引起的评语早已在心中种下不耐烦之根源，进而学得回应某些不动听的言语。或许这无非是人生中的变换之一，“领悟”了分享所能给予的解脱与快感，甚至乎达到无恼一身轻的境界。近来时而回想过去的一切，让记忆的假象逐渐吞噬所有的思绪，只剩躯殻在这世尘间接受时间带来的洗礼。即使我们不与某些人物来个正面冲突，然而并不拒绝其中间接撕破脸的可能性。“局中者迷，旁观者清”此言确实有固定的可信度。在我们含沙射影，不断讽刺被锁定的目标时，双方之间其实早已筑起不满之桥梁。试问有谁能闻此火药味而装作不懂呢？当双方各持有自己对事态的见解且不肯相让之时，不欢而散的结局乃是家常便饭。也许过去有过去的美好，也许撕破脸会更有快感，也许是时候再次回到从前了。

Chain Mail

Received some message the other day, the typical ‘bad luck would come upon you if you do no forward this’ type of chain mail. I removed the part in which relates to bad luck and forwarded it back to that person who sent it over; it seemed to be a must to do at that moment because the message was actually built on friendship. Surprisingly, or maybe not, the friend was thankful because the message is no longer a chain mail with dark curse. Sounded surprised and relieved in his replied message, he no longer has to be bounded by the bad luck chain. I am amazed by the number of people who actually forward chain mails as such, hoping that they can break the so called bad luck chain, or to be granted the luck in pursuing happiness, in the form of relationship especially. Perhaps it is simply the psychological ‘beliefs’ and ‘needs’, whereby one short message is more than enough in bringing a person high up in the sky or, down to the burning hell. Perhaps one does not have self confidence, in which he believes the messages received are good enough in destroying the empire he has built, be it on academic or social achievements. Perhaps it is merely the hope many have accounted for; hoping everything will be better by one click, hoping the unpleasant emotions and incidents would be erased simply by pressing the ‘send’ button, hoping to be bad-luck-proof. Nevertheless, one may tend to miss the point that, it isn’t that difficult in achieving something good, it isn’t that hard in pleasing ourselves and it is not impossible to eliminate the unpleasant. At times all we have to do is taking the steps required, even as simple as pressing a different button. Delete the message if we do not wish to be haunted by those insignificant chain mails as compared to the things we are to accomplish in life; look at the matter from a different angle, because the scenery may be even greater than we can ever imagined; last but not least, tell ourselves that we worth more than what people think we are. We are not required to be chained by idiotic messages like ‘you will be lonely forever if this is not passed on’, we are not born to be restricted by simple chain mail in which delivers bad luck as stated and, we are not here for the sake of sending the chain to someone else hoping to end it once and for all. You know what? All it takes is, we ourselves not forwarding it to anybody and that’s it, the chain has been broken. Even if we wish to share the meaningful content which comes along with the chain messages, remove them because most of the recipients may take them seriously. No joke.

The Minority

Very often we define monsters as creatures with frightening appearances, or mostly refer to those who seem to be different from any other beings which we usually see. Perhaps we’ve gotten used to the fact, or probably the statement that we are the dominant species on Earth, well, at least we are from our point of view. Nonetheless, we’ve forgotten that there are still the many species exist out there, sharing the same planet as we do, the same universe as we are, or perhaps, of different universes too. We use the saying “majority wins” every now and then, but does that mean we have the right to ignore the minority? What’s our right to known the creature which does not share the common physical traits as we do a monster? What’s our right to call people who are different as abnormal? What’s our right to even label people according to our own preferences? The minority deserves to be heard. Perhaps it is about time to realize the fact that we may be the majority for now, but things change. The day will come when we’ll in turn be the minority. Not everyone has to do it our ways, and certainly, not everyone is born to please us at all time. We are all individuals, with the particular preferences and doings. If we ourselves do not like to be labeled as monsters or abnormal beings, what’s so different to those who are less dominant? We do make the decision on which path to take and which not to, but sometimes there are the choices which are not for us to make; say, the physical appearances. We are given the chances to act normal and live the normal life like everyone else, but that may not be what we’re comfortable with and desire most. We seek for comfort when we’re feeling insecure, but what about those who are less ‘fortunate’? Do they not deserve to be who they are? Do they deserve to be treated like aliens who do not share the same world as we do? Abnormality exists when we see ourselves as the top of the world, but do note that we may in turn be the abnormal ones from someone else’s view. It’s not wrong to be different, be it physical appearance or even sexual preference and it’s not right to refer ourselves as the dominant ones. Who knows one day the dominancy will no longer be ours, but to those who we currently label as the minority? 

Children's Voices

Have you ever the thought of ending your life at the age of 10, hoping the mother never gave birth to you? Have you ever wonder what your responsibility as a child is and hoping it’s not all about studies? Have you ever feel suffocated and trying hard to breath each day as you live? Our lifestyle has been improved as claimed, as we traded Mother Nature for more advanced technology and inventions. And as the requirements on comfortable lifestyle increases, a higher standard is then required in recruiting human resources, thus, the higher education level the better. This further leads to the pressure on both parents and children, where the parents don’t mind spending extra amount of money just so the kids can get into well-known educating buildings for a brighter future, and where the children’s responsibility then become study machine rather than enjoying their childhood before stepping into the real world in which more thoughts needed in every action and consideration. Very often we seek for the freedom to speak up our minds and thoughts, but how often do we consider in giving the children their right to share us theirs? There’s a reason to how a child may behave, be it in class or at home. Personally find it saddening when a child who does not complete his work is labeled as problematic, and labeling of such is then promoted to other children in the entire class, planting the impression of sitting with that particular child is a form of disgrace. How often do we go to the root of children’s mischievous behaviours? How often does it come across our mind that it may a sign of their disapproval on how we work things out for them? How often do we ask how they feel and what they want for the little few hours break after coming home from school at 4pm, with the homework piling up at one corner? Not all punishment works in disciplinary, but also the little reinforcement by rewarding them; not all children are as problematic as we think they are, but only when we’re willing to listen to what they’ve got to say about their lives. The concept of children not as stressful as adults may be wrong, at least, for the current society we’re in, it is no longer valid.

Single Idea for All

There are many grey areas when it comes to almost everything which relate to human behaviour and development, personalities and thoughts, since it is rather subjective and it varies from one perspective to another. Perhaps that’s one of the reasons why dozens of researches have been done over and over again, yet not able to settle down with just one theory instead. Perhaps we are just too complicated to be studied and to be categorized under particular section, as changes taking place every now and then, with the little improvement or evolution if that’s what we wish to call it. Perhaps it is simply part of the curiosity and desire to know it all which drives us to achieve what we’ve already achieved in the current days, and wish for further achievement as the time goes. Some of us believe the results obtained in experiments are able to improve our lifestyles once we get hold of the information needed on how the world actually works; some on the other hand, find theories not as important as we think they are as practices and experiences are all we need to strike for a better life; some focus only on numbers because it is what everyone uses in daily life, regardless the education level or culture. Personally find it unlikely to have only 12 different types of people who exist in this world as the zodiac signs and horoscopes stated. Perhaps it simply eases people who are lost and not know who they are. Perhaps it functions as one kind of mental support by giving daily prophecy to those who believe in it and actually make it happen through actions without them consciously knowing. Similarly, one theory may not apply to all situations occurred because third variables do exist, does not matter we like it or not, and adaptation takes place in order to favour our situation at times.