Sunday, July 24, 2011
Tale As Old As Time
"You're God's way of telling me I'm such a lucky person."
It made me realize; what are quotes really, if not given in context?
``larcenciel
Music: Beauty and the Beast - Jump 5 (cover)
Mood: Contented
7:51 PM
Monday, July 11, 2011
Don't Just Smile When You're Told To
Yesterday was my first AJCC activity and like all firsts, it was nerve-wrecking, exciting, interesting and well, has lots of room for improvement. I was one of the two bus leaders for BR01 bus - under Mr Low's division, and it was truly an experience. Having to converse in Mandarin for the whole trip, having to entertain the people in the group - they're mostly aunties and uncles - and having to keep cool and calm even in times of crisis (think leaking air-con and punctured tire) and learning how to manage people's expectations against a not-so-awesome tour guide and hot-tempered bus driver; that was the learning.
No doubt I could have done much better, but at least it paved the way for improvement in the future.
At the end of the day, no matter how many blunders you make, you know you've struck the right cord if a resident comes up to you and presses a packet of Malaysian prawn crackers in your hands and says, "This is for you. Thanks for everything."
The spirit of giving and service to others is surely the most fulfilling and satisfying of all. Mr Low has been a true servant leader to his residents in Hougang for so long, now he embarks on helping the residents in Aljunied. He is visibly tired, drained and even shy - but his spirit of sincere service and dedication to the people is what drives him - and that is easy to see. He smiles when he's told to, and he smiles when he's not told to.
Surely, there must be something special about a politician who can stand up in Parliament and deliver heartfelt speeches when all odds are against him; sit at a table with aunties and uncles, drinking Guiness Stout and laughing together with them; offer durians to the mere volunteers in his party - all the while displaying such leadership and inspiring people to believe in him and the better future he hopes to build.
Yes, that.... that must be the spirit of serving the people. Nothing less.
``larcenciel
Music: Liar, Liar - Christina Grimmie
Mood: Inspired
12:02 PM
Thursday, July 07, 2011
Unbearable Lightness
On overcoming her eating disorder,
Portia: Now when I look in the mirror, I am happy... (laughs sheepishly) I don't think I am perfect but...
Ellen: I do!
They are too sweet! Portia is such a lucky lady...
And I feel as lucky as Portia :))
``larcenciel
Music: Teenage Dream - Katy Perry
Mood: Happy
2:49 PM
Wednesday, July 06, 2011
Life Is A Tragedy, Death Is A Comedy
Recently read about a woman who was arrested for the death of a five year old boy. She is the aunt of the said victim, and allegedly killed the boy because she was "tired and stressed" and she didn't earn enough ($40 a day for working from 5pm to 1am) to support the family.
The main point of the author (who commented on that article run by none other than Shitty Times) was to criticize biased reporting - the edited article left out crucial details about the woman's mental and financial state thus fitting her in the cruel, bad guy mold - so that it might be easier to make her look template bad; and perhaps easier for the public to accept an eventual death sentence for her.
But what's so bad about that right? Death is eventual afterlife. After living for so long, it is funny to hear that people are still afraid to die. Fear of the unknown? Fear of pain? Or maybe something pretty and poetic like, living is a privilege and I am happy to be able to take another new breath and wake up to a new day, etc. I can't say for sure I am ready to die - right now - but I can imagine, if I were in the lady's shoes, I might have chosen her path. No matter how dangerous, how awful and how hideous that path might be, nothing must be worse than seeing your loved ones suffer because of your inability to provide them a better life.
Of course, pro-life camp would dismiss this so-called cynic emo-pessimism as being "too weak" and "a coward", but really? I think sometimes, we get too caught up in romantic ideals that we forget that giving up doesn't mean you are a failure, it just means you are strong enough to let go.
Letting go - eventually - that's what gives life it's beauty, novelty and rarity.
And while the rest of us deal our proud hand of justice on the accused lady in a few weeks time, she will be the last one standing; laughing at us.
``larcenciel
Music: Stickwitu - Pussycat Dolls
Mood: Zen
4:38 PM