-sigh-

Still a long way to go before I actually meet my own expectations. But meanwhile, I’d say I’m seeing signs of progress!

With a face like that,
It’s no wonder where she goes,
Trouble always follows.

Always Remember Your Passion

To the Future Me:

Do you still remember how much you love media and communication?

The first day you started school at the polytechnic, you told yourself to just do your best and never looked back ever since.

Do you remember how you would sit in front of your computer trying to do your best at design…
And hours will just fly by without you feeling tired at all?

….The euphoria you got when something in the group just clicks and ideas started to snowball one after another?

… That exhilaration and rush of self-satisfaction you got when you finished writing or designing?

… That flash of illumination when you thought of something big?

… That feeling like you’re in control when you were managing a campaign?

Sure, it hasn’t been entirely good to you. But it makes you happy most of the time. You always relish a challenge and it was always giving you new ones to achieve greater heights. You change things and it changes you too. That excites you, doesn’t it? I hope you never forget these feelings.

And if you were reading this to yourself, and all of the above feels remote to you… I hope you will be able to recall how much you love doing this… How much you lived and breathe this during your youth. And through this, I hope you gather strength and courage to keep going. To keep believing in yourself no matter what obstacles you may face. Don’t let anyone diminish your flame of passion and hope.

Yours Sincerely,

22-year-old You.

I’m thankful to be surrounded by really nice people. Truly, I am. Especially the ones who are able to hold onto their humanity even though they are in such an extreme and harsh environment. I applaud their courage and their strength. Their simple presence alone energizes me. They give me strength. They give me hope. They remind me everyday that not everything in this world is dark and evil. Above all, they keep me rooted to the ground; motivating me to never lose myself in this mad rat race.

Such precious moments – the more I hold on to them, the more they seem to fade into oblivion. Simple happiness can be so transient in nature, but perhaps because of that, it’s all the more precious and treasured.

Today, I received kind advice from a senior of mine. Even though it’s been almost 2 years since I’ve last talked to him, he extended words of advice and a helping hand ever so readily. Maybe people would say it might be lip service, but I believe those words were sincere. And even if it really was lip service, it’s in his words that I found strength regardless.  And he inspires me to become that kind of a senior to others as well; to pass the kindness on to any juniors seeking for help in the future and inspire others to do good while pursuing their dreams and passions.

それは思ってますよ。

Tell each other what you appreciate about one another! (:
Too often, we take each other for granted. Too often, we never talk about what we love about one another.

So today!

Tell a friend what you appreciate about him or her!

Regrets.

Everyone has them.

Some of them you wished you had said or did things you didn’t do. Sometimes, you wished you didn’t do the things you did or said the things you said. All the possibilities running through your mind. Maybe, maybe things would be different. Maybe things wouldn’t have to be this way. It could have been better. You could be happier. Things wouldn’t have to change. Maybe you could have done so much better if you hadn’t made that stupid mistake. You wouldn’t have to have this knot in your heart.

But that’s it. You’re always going to left wondering.

And nobody really knows if it would really turn out for the better if you hadn’t taken that step. What if things turn out worse? Have you ever thought of that possibility? What’s done is done. Forgive yourself and let it go. Stop ruminating. You did your best and make what seems to be the most appropriate decision at that point of time. You did your best. But hey, shit happens sometimes. You shouldn’t beat yourself all over it for trying your best. Mistakes are there so you can learn and grow. We can’t go through life making all perfect decisions. Some people take pride in never making mistakes. They hold it to the utmost regard. But they are almost always the most uptight people I have ever known.

I’m not saying: that having that sense of responsibility and taking the time to research in order to reach the best decision is wrong or bad. In fact, I think it’s a good habit otherwise you’ll just be banging into walls unnecessarily everywhere you go. What I mean is when things don’t turn out the way you wanted it to, that you’ve to learn to take it in your stride and learn to be comfortable living with regrets, and not let them get you down any more than it should. Cry, then brush yourself off and learn from experience. And tomorrow, you’re going to be a better man than yesterday.

As I quote from the show HIMYM: “If the eggs are already broken, might as well make omelette.”

Life’s a harsh teacher as it is already. So there’s no need to pump up the pressure even more by being harsh on yourself too. Because if even you are harsh with yourself, then who else would be nice to you? Only you can control your own thoughts and actions.

So heck with it, might as well be happy.

… and I end off with a little remake of an old work of mine as a little note to self: