Yes.. I just came back from watching the movie. And it made me start to think.. Is it really a movie or will the world come to an end on that day? I’m not writing a post to discuss the movie.. But actually just to give my 2 cents worth on this whole apocalypse prediction.. that of course, the world will end on December 21st 2012.

I believe that if the world does come to an end, I don’t think there’s much we can do to prevent it. We live in a world of

prevention. Whereby we try to prevent diseases, crimes, accidents etc.. However, this is something really beyond our reach. If we are really afraid of the world coming to an end, it’s simply because of two reasons. Firstly, we are just afraid of what’s gonna happen next. And secondly, we just haven’t been truly living our lives to the fullest.

Why wait for the world to end then panic? You could cross the road and die! No sea levels rising and grounds shaking. You could just sleep and not wake up! Fact is, anyone can die at anytime of their lives. To feel better, all we gotta do is take charge of our lives now! And start living them to the fullest!

Everybody could make the world a better place. It all starts with an action and there will be another reaction. Just let our hearts lead the way, and I’msure things will get better.

But like I said at the start of this post, it’s just my 2 cents worth!

Hello! Been quite busy lately! Hence the lack of updates..

Oh well, Today I am going to post about something I feel is important to every performer. Something which I will need to rediscover. I feel I have become more and more complacent in my performances, compared to when I first began..

It’s not about the fire or the drive. But rather, I don’t really feel it coming from the heart as much as I used to. It’s like I’ve been sticking to my comfort zone. And that is not really a good thing. I’ve abandoned my gift to communicate from the heart and have started to bother about the technical side of things like the sound, the audience… What song to play next. The pitch, the volume…

Yes! All these aspects are indeed important! However, none of these would be significant in one’s performance, if it is not delivered from the heart! A song was written from the writer’s heart! And who am I to tell that story, if I do not even feel it? I guess it is essential for me to rediscover this vital element in performing once again. Even if it takes baby steps.. As long as I get there in the end, I’ll be happy..

Which way to go is a decision that could either make you or break you. One wrong step and an unneccesary detour would waste you time and effort. Of course, none of us are perfect and we tend to make wrong decisions but we work around it.

Regrets are thoughts of actually.. Not making full use of the chances given to us in the past. Thinking that if we did something different, things would have been better. But many times, we fail to see that there would have been so many other elements that are changed and different too. Are we willing to live with those differences too?

I believe that those who live in regret, will always live in regret.. Even if they were having a good life, they would fail to see the good side of things, only remembering the bad, and what could have been. These are people who live in the past.

What could have been would always be what could have been.. But I believe what’s meant to be, will be. But of course, this has been a phrase that has been misused by many. They just say that phrase, collect dust, and expect things to pop up, since they are meant to be. I guess if that happens, you’re just meant to be a bum.

I believe, the true meaning of the phrase is no matter how hard you work towards something, if it’s not yours, you will not get it. But if it is, you will! And the most important word in that whole two sentences? WORK!

I’m sure it’s obvious to many now, that the rich in this world get richer and the poor do get poorer.

Most of us work our butts off just to see the bank account grow by a little, and sometimes get frustrated in the process. Of course there are a few ‘lucky’ ones who strike a lottery and become rich. But there are those who are just stuck and cannot break into a more comfortable state of life.

Sometimes we even tend to question if all we were taught in school were true. That studying hard would give us a good life ahead. And yet, even after graduating with a degree, we just earn a mere 2-3K a month. Which is indeed… Very little. And you start to wonder.. were you disillusioned all this while? Is this the good life?

And even if you were to earn 10-20K a month, maybe as a private banker or something, are you really sure that when times get bad (which they will), that you would still have your job and not be released by the company?

There are those who also ‘spoil the market’ in a way or so.. They would offer to do the same job, for a lower pay. And sometimes seem to perform better than the ones receiving the higher pay. And of course as the boss would be probably good at saving his company’s funds, he would hire the one who requires less income.

But you see my dear readers.. It’s not so much about how much you earn or what qualification you have..

I believe it’s more about the core values which will make you have a comfortable life. Having the correct business sense and knowing how to save money are the most important things. There are many times where I see people say.. Nevermind la. It’s only a dollar. But imagine if you could save that dollar every hour, that’ll be 24 dollars a day and that could provide you with your 3 meals!

The element of luck of course needs to be present in order for you to strike it rich. However, with the correct values in place, even if you were just working a normal job and stayed in a simple house, you would be happy and not worry so much about money.

And to me, it’s not being rich that would make you happy. But rather, being happy would make you rich!

I have completed about 14 months of service to the nation and now reflecting back, it has really changed me to a certain extent. Before I enlisted, I actually dreaded this phase of my life. Thinking that it was going to be unbearable and difficult. Of course, it was for a start. But I was fortunate enough to have a change of mind-set, taking this time and deciding to make the best out of it.

I mean, every Singaporean male will have 2 years taken away from them. Why not make the best out of those 2 years and maybe time would pass faster? In the end, what happens to you in the 2 years is determined almost fully by you..

Of course pride was quite an issue for me. But one thing I’ve learnt (even though it was very difficult to) was that if I swallowed my pride, life would be much easier..

But of course, the most important thing I’ve learnt is not to always look at the short-comings I have in my army life, but rather, look at the blessings. I think this is something that can be applied in every phase of life and not just army. It’s just that sometimes, during the hardest times that you are put through, you learn the most important values in life.

I mean we all have blessings and short comings. It’s just what we prefer to focus on that makes our life heaven or hell..

I was just thinking… As the world upgrades and improvements are made, how much more complacent do we actually get? Complacency actually comes with comfort. And we tend to sometimes, take more things for granted.

Every week or so, new gadgets come out which is enabled with the latest technology. Which most of us, would actually aim to get. Or aim to save for. That new gadget or device, actually tends to make life easier.. But sooner or later, we are actually a victim of it. We look at drug addicts and see them as weak people who cannot function without their fix. Well, what most of us do not consider is that the gadget that makes life easier, has actually become our drug.

Even I admit to be a victim of this. There is no way I could go a day without a mobile phone. Or internet.. Or even… my I-pod! I remembered the last time that I forgot to bring my mobile phone. I spent the whole day, checking my pocket to see if I had a message or a call, just to realise that the phone was not even there! Doesn’t this sound like a withdrawal symptom?

Lets take it back to awhile ago.. Just 50 years back. There was no mobile phone, nor internet and let alone an I-pod. In those days, people weren’t complacent. They were told to meet at a certain place at a certain time, and there was no such thing as texting the other party saying.. “sorry I just left my house..gonna be 10 min late”. Sad but true, even I am a victim of this comfort!

So my question is, as the world upgrades.. Do we as humans tend to unknowingly downgrade?

Education is really an important thing. I just wish I realised it sooner, like… 10 years ago? Because if I did, I’d probably not have done so badly in school. Haha.

Anyway, on a more serious note. I see that most University students, actually are absorbed by what they are studying. And hence, they will “mug” for days and nights, just to complete their small objective, (doing great for the examinations) and move on to the main objective, (graduating as one of the top students), and moving on to the biggest objective, (earning themselves a decent living and retiring with enough money to travel the world).

But have we ever stopped to think, how much we learn from lectures, books and teachers, are actually going to be applied in the future, in whatever career that we choose to do? Many times, we tend to see “gifted” individuals amongst us who seem to play and play and play… and play, and yet top the class. And we think to ourselves if it is really worth burning all that mid-night oil, and burying our minds in the words of the book..

You see, the only difference between the “gifted” person and a not so “gifted” person is one thing, that can never be learnt in schools. And that is application.

The ability to apply whatever that we know, into what we do, is the most important thing. I mean, why do you want to have all the knowledge in your head, without wanting to apply them? It’s just like getting a mosquito bite, and knowing that this certain cream would eliminate the itch, cool the burn and reduce the redness. And yet, you do not apply the cream.

It’s the exact same case with education. Anything learnt, could actually be applied into daily lives. It’s just depends on which side of the coin we look.

Oh well, I really hope that when I further my studies, I will practice the art of application. Haha.

It’s been awhile since I blogged. I actually decided to start again, as I think it will bring me back to sanity again.. Writing and reflecting. Right now there’s actually been a big one year gap since I last blogged. And it’s quite difficult for me to recall on what has happened etc. Heh!

Oh well, my life hasn’t been too bad.. It’s actually been pretty interesting. Now I am kind of at the cross roads. Since I will actually complete my National Service in about 10 Months, it’s time to actually concentrate on what I will do after I finish my National Service.

Obviously, this is Singapore and qualification is very important. Without any professional Degree, it will be quite difficult to secure a well paying job, and even harder to sustain a comfortable life. But then again, there’s always my first love, music.

Oh well, whatever the choice, let’s just hope that I will make the correct one..

On a lighter note, I’ve been addicted to a lot of John Mayer lately. Here’s something for your viewing and listening pleasure..