Promises

Promises are made to be kept, not broken. The problem is however many people end up breaking their promises. The key point here is that most of them break their promises not because they want to, but the circumstances have changed compared to the time when they made their promises. Is it their fault to break their promises then?

In the first place, when we make a promise we should consider the fact that things always change through time. Even though the circumstances have changed and you find it hard to keep the promises that you've made, maybe there are still reasons to keep your promises. Think back why did you make that promise in the first place. Does that reason still exist? If yes, why not keep it?

Looking back at the times where people promised me things and I told them that things might change is quite funny. Most of them insisted that they will keep their words even though I told them they might not be able to. Then the time where they break their promises due to the different conditions came.

Now, personally I do not believe in non-circumstantial promises anymore because most people don't think too far when they make a promise. However, that doesn't mean I can break my promises just because others do. So for everyone who have principle in keeping their promises, try your best to keep the promises. It doesn't have to be fulfilled the same way that it has been before but we can always think of a more suitable way to fulfil the promise.

Climb up where you fell

When a journey ends, another begins. However, my journey has not ended when I stepped down as a president. I thought that I would just start anew after I step down as a president but I changed my decision. I am the Immediate Past President now and I will step back up using that name, bearing my past.

Many things happened throughout the time where I was a president and for most of it I was always thinking of giving up and broke down countless times along the way. Call me weak if you want but at least I’m true to what I feel :). All that I’ve been through changed my thinking and behavior a lot and I continue to change myself now.

I realized a lot of things through the bad times. Does that make the bad times not that bad after all? Well, it doesn’t really matter now I feel but what matters is how to make the future better. I will climb back up where I fell and I will climb up higher than ever :)

Honest & Truthful

Honesty and truthfulness are among the many virtues of mankind. Upholding these virtues is supposed to do ourselves and other people good. But is it still the case in the society today. Can we really succeed while upholding these virtues? I will not state my answer first.

Being honest and truthful doesn’t mean you will earn other people’s trust and respect. People will still doubt you because it’s too hard to really trust people in the twisted society today. Also, being truthful may end up with some sensitive people who couldn’t accept others’ comment being offended and turn against you and also might end up with you admitting to a negative characteristic that almost everyone has but others just don’t admit it. People will just see it as you have that problem and people won’t see it in a way that most people are actually the same.

Another problem that arises is that many times the truth that you admit to very often ends up spreading to other people with extra seasoning with the truth. People very often twist words and spice up stories when sharing a secondhand story with others. The little truth that started with a little bit of negativity ends up going everywhere with enhanced negativity. It can be solved by hiding the truth or twisting the truth in the first place but that defies honesty and truthfulness so is it really worth it to uphold it?

My answer is that I don’t know if it’ll bring negativity or positivity in the end but what I know is that if it’s a principle that I have then I have to uphold it. No matter how much trouble it brings me, I will not let go of the principle of upholding these two virtues. I’m not saying that I never lie and I don’t hide anything from people but I at least try not to.

We all lie, but how much?

Failure

There comes a point of time where you’d look back into your past trying to find out what you have achieved. Then many will realize there’s really nothing significant to actually look back upon. Then you question yourself, “What have I been doing all my life?” and that’s when I, yes I’m talking about me, realize that I’ve been failing in most things I’ve done.

To fail in doing things wouldn’t make you a failure, but what if you’ve lost even the drive to actually do better? What if aiming for your dream doesn’t motivate you? When you’ve stopped moving towards your dreams, that’s what makes you a failure. That’s what I am right now but not what I could remain to be.

If you keep failing and losing and you think you’ve reached the bottom and that there’s nothing more to lose I’ll tell you you’re wrong. You have yourself to lose and that’s the one thing you can’t lose. As long as you don’t lose that, there’s a chance for a rebound. There’s a chance to climb back up higher than anyone else could. That’s what I need to prove. Even a failure can make it.

Failures can become successful

Lonely

Loneliness, it’s a really bad feeling to have especially when you’re at a discomfort from other things. To be alone sometimes sounds like a good idea when it happens too often you might want to think again.

Most people have a certain group they belong to, always group up with and often talk to each other. Some people don’t exactly have a group but they have a best friend they can always find whether times are good or bad. There are also those who’d rely on their relationship partners.  Now, what happens if you don’t have any of those? What happens when you’re an extra in groups, normal friends to everyone and don’t have a partner?

It’s simple actually, you end up feeling lonely. Very often the feeling of being an outcast comes as you don’t really belong. Everyone needs somewhere to turn to no matter the times are happy or sad. People aren’t meant to like the feeling of being alone. Now, don’t think that those who feel lonely are those who seem like they only have that few friends but it’s those who seem to be everywhere but never really sticks around.

These people might have many friends all around. They can mingle around and seem to join in different groups. But when the groups start grouping up among their own pack and have their own pack’s conversation, that’s when they get lost. Pay attention and you’ll see how much these people are actually walking around alone.

Loneliness, there’s no one who likes it

Walls

As you walk through the course of life there are bound to be walls keeping you from going further.  People usually say don’t let these walls stop you, climb over it or break through it. That’s a good mentality definitely but do we always have the ability to climb over it or break through it?

The answer of course, is no. But one’s ability level doesn’t remain stagnant, we improve as we progress. It’s just like playing an RPG game, sometimes our items and stats makes our character too weak to go against a boss. We go around training and collecting items. Same principle applies to the real world. If we’re not good enough right now, make yourself good enough. Learn, train, practice, do whatever it takes.

There’s no limit to how good we can be. What we’re limited by is the time we have. Take the time, make the effort and these walls will be nothing for you. 7 months, that’s my target time to break through the walls in my course currently.

Ability has no limits, we’re only limited by time.

Fall

Every journey through life has its ups and downs. Everyone will meet the point where he or she falls hard. At these times people looks for something to fall back onto. Whether it is a past achievement, faith in religions or maybe people that will always be there for them. Everyone needs something to fall back onto. If not they’ll suffer a breakdown that’ll be really tough to recover from.

What if one day you realize the things you’ve been falling back onto are some false and some just plain useless? What else would you fall back onto? One day you realize the achievements mean nothings at all, the ability you used to think is your best trait is beaten by many around you, losing track of who are actually your closest friends and having no faith in any religion.

It’s really tough without anything to fall back onto and to no surprise, some just breaks down. To recover from the breakdown will be really tough until he or she finds something to fall back onto. Some might lose all motivation and heart in doing anything at all. Losing more than just the confidence that has be instilled but to lose also the passion that was truly there falling beyond the past. Only when able to seek something to fall back to can he or she ever climb back up.

Everyone needs something to fall back onto

Find them, don't fix them

I used to think everyone is supposed to train up to become a leader. I used to think if you realize your problem, fix it. If you see others’ problem, help them fix it. I had my mentality fixated to that too much. The truth is everyone is meant for different things. You shouldn’t be too focused on fixing what you cannot do but instead to find out your specialty and work on it. Everyone has their own specialty and positions suitable for them.

Review your everyday lives. Think about the times where you’re doing something better than others. Think about the moments where you stumble upon something that you just can’t stop trying to find out more about. What are those moments? Those are the things you’re good at and have interest in. Those are the things you might want to consider trying to excel in.

Not everyone is meant to shine on stage, give excellent presentations, talk and everyone listen or anything like that. Everyone has their role to play in this world but to play a role with utmost excellence, that’s an achievement that many people can’t do. You can’t force a person who likes to follow orders and work according to guidelines to become a visionary who sets targets and vision leading people towards it. Maybe it’s possible to train the person into doing so but is it really his thing?

It is right to improve ourselves in things we’re not really good at but don’t spend your life fixing something you’re not meant to excel in. Use the strength that you already have within you. Find your calling and work with it. Everyone already have something within, you just need to find it and work on it.

Find them, don't fix them

Happy Chinese New Year

Chinese New Year is around the corner now. I shall wish everyone to have a very happy time in this Chinese New Year season first. Many people goes back to hometown in this season while other who have no hometown to go back to stays and spend time with family at home. Now, that’s not what I want to talk about but the Chinese money minded mentality.

Do you realize the wishing people commonly use “gong xi fa cai/gong hei fatt choi” means wishing people wealth. Doesn’t it reflect how money minded Chinese people generally are? That’s why in recent years I’ve changed my wishing to Happy Chinese New Year or in mandarin/Cantonese “xin nian kuai le/san nin fai lok”.

Another thing is the very popular ang pow money and gambling in the season. Is this season all about money? No. Concentrate more on your family and your relatives. Spend time with them, foster a good relation. I hope everyone have a good time with their family and relatives. Happy Chinese New Year :)

CNY, it's family time

2012

It has been quite some time since I’ve last written here. I will start back writing from now on. I’ve always needed this blog to express thoughts that are hard for me to express verbally or through actions to other people. It also serves as the archive of the many thoughts that went through my mind. But most importantly it is where I can write down what I truly think.

Many things went on and 2011 hasn’t really been such a good year. I’ve made many mistakes and didn’t do a lot of things properly but I guess it’s a part of a learning process. I really want to thank people who helped me and all and very sorry to those who through my actions or words got trouble, inconvenience or hurt.

I never realized how much more still needed a push to come out within me. I also didn’t realize how much I could move myself without anyone pushing me. I’m still nothing at this moment but I will not remain so. 2012 resolution, I will grow and no longer be an unpolished gem but a fully processed one. No longer will I need to fake self-induced self confidence but to be truly confident with mile stones to look back at.

2012, it’s not the ending, it’s the beginning