A Post Entitled Nostalgia? I know you want what used to be
I’ve only just managed to break down this interesting feeling that washes over me when I go through my old posts. I’m not going to call it nostalgia because it isn’t. Nostalgia is a yearning to go back. I don’t yearn to go back, and I don’t think you do either.
We all like to say that we miss old times and want to go back to them, but deep down I’m pretty sure that’s not true for most people who say so. We don’t want to go back and do all that over again, we just want to relive old experiences. That’s what we do when we reminisce. Reminiscing in moderation does not sacrifice the present for the past.
But why not go back to the past? I say no because I believe we look forward to change more than we look back to the past. Everything should be about moving on, and everything has always been about moving on. Those of you who might be reading this should have “moved on” enough times to know what that constitutes. We’ve invested too much in what we have so far that moving on should be the only way to go. Nostalgia can anchor you to your past, but it can also leave you rooted there.
So much has changed in the last 5 months since I posted, and then just as much in the 5 months before that. I now realise the year 2011 came along and simply shot whatever was remaining of childhood out of the sky without warning. I’ll always remember what came before 2011 as the last years of ignorant indulgence; I loved those days. But as “moving on” beckons, I guess I’d choose to leave behind what used to be.
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A Post Entitled How to be a little happier (3)
Hello everyone, and welcome to the real world. It’s been a long, long, long time since I’ve posted, as is the usual case-either too many things happening so i have either no time or don’t feel the inclination to post, or if not it’s that nothing is happening and there is therefore nothing to post about.
Like I said, welcome to the real world. The world that lies outside of school, outside of the good old bummin’ lifestyle, outside of being able to do whatever you want. It’s not a very lovely world we live in; I guess for the soldiering crowd it has been a sudden realisation of this fact, being slapped in the face by an overarching authority that decrees all that you (can) do. The others face a less intimidating, but much less certain path, of moving on with studies. Whatever you do, this stage of life isn’t going to be a cruise.
Often the melancholy that arises from whatever situation we face completely drowns us, and to so much of an extent that all of a sudden, we lead the worst lives, look towards an utterly bleak future, and suddenly feel all alone. Perhaps some of you guys might have experienced this, perhaps some have not, but I should think that this is a phase that we all ought to experience someday.
Our feelings often completely muddle our perspectives, and drowning in self-pity with no ‘real’ cause for sorrow is a terribly masochistic act. We feel good when we feel pity for ourselves, but often there is nothing to feel sorrow for. Instead, we need to take a long, good look at ourselves, and what we have around us. Our feelings of underachieving, of being lonely-these are all shaped by impressions people around you have imposed onto you. There is no need for you to be going out with friends every night, or to have a place in a prestigious university, or to be in a sweet relationship just because all the people around you are doing or have done so. We really do need to consider what we are going to set out to achieve, on our own, and that will be more than sufficient to keep us secured.
I believe one day, we all have to feel lonely, or have to feel like the lousiest person in the world. It cannot be helped-no one can always be the best or be the most loved. What we must do is to not make an inferiority complex of it all-plant some seeds of self-esteem by juxtaposing your current situation against what could be the worst case scenario. Cliched as it might sound, these emotional fish-out-of-water periods do lead to better appreciation of whatever our current plight. And when we do realise, and then cherish, our ‘plight’, we then create happiness out of nowhere, simply by appreciating. Remember that while perhaps nothing in your ‘plight’ can be changed, your feelings about it definitely can.
I guess then, happiness cannot be found. It can only be felt when one can see where it lies. It’s really all a matter of perspective. And many people, myself included, need to realise this.
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A Post Entitled When you listen to your iPod in public places.
On the outside you’re like:
But on the inside you’re like:
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A Post Entitled Wilkommen to Schweiz
Okay clearly I didn’t have the time, Internet access, or the will to update every day here. Therefore I will update when convenient and when I feel free.
It’s getting colder and colder here, with temperatures dropping negative just about every morning and evening. The chill is pretty annoying… sometimes I just cannot feel my toes or my fingers even when they’re totally covered I figure I need heat packs in my shoes the next time i go up to high altitudes.
Speaking of altitude, went up by cable car to a really high point (3000m) near the Matterhorn this morning. I’ll post photos when I get back to Singapore I have so many photos! I take 100-200 photos a day and that makes 1400 photos or more by the time this holiday is over… I never used to take this many pictures.
Tonight I’m staying in Montreux, in a French-speaking region of Switzerland. French sounds so much better than German mostly.. and somehow French signposts seem closer to English than German messages are. In French I can make out the gist of the message, I don’t know why.
Lake Geneva is also really nice! In the past few days snow and mountains have become such common sights that I’ve gotten used to them. First the heavy Christmas snowfall in St Moritz, then the mountains of Oberalp Pass and Zermatt today… I thought I’d seen it all. Until I saw Lake Geneva today which was quite breathtaking even though there was little snow. Like an oasis in a desert of snow..?
Snowstorms in the US now.. hope there won’t be freaky weather in Zurich when I’m going back, don’t want to have to spend the night in an airport. On one hand it’s really nice here but I also want to go back to my real, carefree holiday back in sunny Singspore. Plus basic theory test 5 days after I get back! Going to retire for tonight then. Wonder when i’ll post again here.
A Post Entitled Tag eins
It’s cold, but comfortably cold here. Temperatures haven’t dropped below zero, and today the wind was bearable in only a single layer of clothing and a jacket.
It’s 4am in Singapore now, but it’s 9pm here. I am already incredibly beat, after having rather short 5-hour nights over the past 3 consecutive days. Tonight I will sleep early and hope Zurich doesn’t freeze over, even though having it cooler would let me see snow, something which I only see right now piled onto the sidewalks as ice, and which is dirty black from dirt on the ground.
Today was quite an experience, familiarising ourselves with the public transport system, and our hosts having wonderful hospitality. I ate about six SLABS of grilled cheese at dinner which they provided. Walking around Zurich old town was also refreshing, and today’s weather was close to perfect for slow strolls by the Zurich lake. Nearly everything is in German, English not so much the norm.. argh. Quite a few lookers in the streets I notice..
Off to bed, might only update again if more exciting things happen. SLEEP i need you
A Post Entitled I’ll be back
But it doesn’t feel like I’ll be back. I’m at the airport now, and it’s a funny feeling to know I’m about to spend Christmas AND the New Year away in another country. It’s worse when I leave now and come back in January. The problem is, I really don’t think I’m going to actually be back-I’ll return to Singapore, but I won’t return to 2010. In that, I know I’m never going to come back, and I’m worried things will change so much in the two weeks that I’m gone, made worse by the transition from old to the new…
No point worrying though, going to enjoy my holiday now. If I have Internet access and plenty of time then I might update my Tumblr while I’m away. Seems like it’s going to be the case, with everything closing in the early evenings since it’s winter. Happy holidays everyone, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year in advance!
An Audio File
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]CAN YOUR MAC DO THIS? DIDN’T THINK SO.
i am dead.
ahahaha
dying
omg
(Source: dropaheartbreakaname)
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An Audio File
[Flash 9 is required to listen to audio.]LOL PRESS PLAY AND LOOK AT THE GIF.
HAHAHAHAHAHAHHA
(Source: jeangreys)
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A Post Entitled Having the best time of your life?
I am supposed to be sleeping now, but then I decided I’d be wasting a peaceful, cooling night by sleeping it away, and it was either FIFA or this, so I chose this since I’ve been wanting to update my tumblr for a while now.
I find it rather ironic how I start a blog to remember the best times of my life, yet it is during the best times of my life that I don’t blog, because I am having a hell of a time doing something else. I’ve been trying to pack dates every other day at minimum to keep myself occupied this holiday before my trip to Switzerland, lest I degenerate into a computer nerd-with too much time and too little to do, I end up playing really nice games on my new PC with little to no social interaction whatsoever.
My point is, this is supposed to be the best time of your life. Then again, I wouldn’t even be sure if this IS the best time of my life, even; having too much time, going out every day and then going home, with little REAL purpose (apart from trying to rebuild your social life from the remains of the A-level rampage) ; that does not sound particularly appealing as a lifestyle. No drive, no satisfaction, no rewards-just fun, lazing around and letting the hours go by. I don’t mean to incite any flaming, but one must agree that there is a case for having a preference towards a school life, with a clearly defined purpose (exams), and the clearly defined means to achieve it (study), instead of this vague, limbo-ish existence just about all of us A level finishers (congratulations) lead right now.
Without a purpose, I find it difficult to designate this period of time, the most commitment-free and relaxed period of my life since primary school, the best period, because, what on earth is a good life anyway? I don’t want to be free like this all my life-we get no satisfaction from living off what is not ours. Or at least, I don’t-I need to get a job, do something productive, etc. This is in direct conflict, however, with having a good time-enjoying meals with friends, being able to relax and not do anything for real, or simply being able to pursue your hobbies.
Hence, I believe a “good” life is shaped by the goals we hold, as well as the amount of leisure time we have. Leisure time is a major constituent of the good life, yet too much of it saps spirit, motivation and drive. Having goals gives one purpose, motivation and a desire to achieve, all of which will bring about satisfaction.
Therein lies the paradox-having no goals leads to a skyrocketing of leisure time, while the designation of goals leads to a quick loss of leisure time. Often we have one or the other-it is difficult to keep a balance of both, and I suspect things will be this way all throughout our lives.
How would you rather spend the “best” time of your life, though?
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