The list usually looks like this:

1. Sleep less, be more energetic

2. Live a life withe more discipline.

3. Read more…

You get the idea. It’s easy to gloss over. Notice the words less, more, try.

So this year, I thought – well, definitely time to start translating into action.

The theme of 2012 will be action. Executing ideas. Doing.

So let’s see…

Instead of a list, this will be my one and only goal for 2012.

Follow a weekly schedule:

As they say – another year, another chance.

Happy 2012 everybody.

The laughter, the songs, the camaraderie – so simple.

I wish life was like Hwa Chong.

But along this road, I’ve sat in the bus, dozed off and realised that I’ve reached KAP. Good morning, Mcdonalds hotcakes.

I’ve also sat in the bus, plugged in and realized what the heck, let’s go all the way to woodlands.

And then there were those days, the satisfaction-pumping days when the bells rang just as I ran into the flag-raising area. What a pleasant surprise, I made it!

For all the ups and downs, those were two best years, best friends, wonderful memories.

04S7A, that GCK story remains as mind-blowing as ever. Grin, what in the world were we thinking?

OAC, all the nights when we were chased out of school by Uncle Chong and had to climb out of school gates. Grin, o’ the adventures.

I heart MAF. RIP Prince, though I never loved you that much, you were a part of the 2 years that flew by and where I yearn to go back to ever so often.

Once a year, I relive the two years in one night.

How does one do that at the age of 50?

You’ve gotta give it to the passion, dedication, perseverance – the sheer sweat and tears that went into Jacky Cheung’s Half Century Concert.

The jazzed up performances hide a man whose strengths lie in the classic ballads. The adrenaline-pumping dances hide a man who is half-century old.

Even if you’re not in your comfort zone, even if you don’t enjoy what you do, you give it your best shot. Pay attention. Make yourself proud.

Because you will never know when the day comes that your body won’t do as you will it. Because you never know who you want to make proud. Because you may never know, that one day you’ll fall in love with what you’re doing, and who you’re doing it with.

What is motivation? An intangible shining light that many aspire towards, perhaps often use as a crutch, to skive, to fulfill their sense of self-entitlement. Yet so intrinsic to the human spirit. Some say, don’t be silly – be practical. It’s survival. Think less, do more.

Liberate yourself from practicality, and let the moments enrich your senses. Perhaps life would be easier.

明日、また頑張りますね〜

anticipating the king

Admire the dedication

I readily accept and cling to original intentions, knowing full well that the process of creation and ideation requires the opening of the mind and perhaps, even crazy thoughts.

I ask for formats and previous versions- worrying that my writing style and ideas do not fit in with the way people around me are used to working.

In a way- that was how I studied in school- 10-year series, past year papers. I had forgotten what college had taught me- to produce on a clean slate.

And when you merely accept, the soul is in a precarious state. You’re not excited anymore, because you’re not creating anything new. You become lazy and apathetic. You may become good at something- but you’ll probably become a task master at best.

Given a clean slate, what is my opinion and what am I capable of?

It is one thing to analyze a given idea, a written paper- it is quite different to be able to see beyond what is given.

I often find it convenient to accept completed work because it has been accepted, cleared, approved – by someone up there. Yet, have I cleared myself? Have I questioned it deep enough?

If you think something else is necessary- and worth throwing weight behind it- change it! Work it until you are happy with it – your own work. Independent of format, independent of what had been accepted in past years.

The goal this week: to take the mind beyond the eyes.

On the way to the market – we met with a strike. As such, we had to turn back.

A part of me wanted to keep going – “let’s just go and see.”

Yet, I knew that the risk was not worth it.

And so, I spent a day in Sucre – met a Netherlander on the bus, some random conversation – not going to the market.

When I was going to leave Sucre – the plane had a technical difficulty and refused to take off.

As such, I reached Santa Cruz one day too late – hence, amboro out the window.

Time and time again – when you force things to go your way – they just don’t happen. That’s how stubborn life can get.

Sometimes – deliberately orchestrating an event backfires. Till today, almost 100% for me.

A lame excuse for being laissez-faire, that I do not deny.

Yet – when things go right – such as Hong Kong, where randomness leads to awesome spontaneity, you can’t help but look back and think – “wow, just wow.”

If only life need not be planned, if only randomness and spontaneity works for all situations – unfortunately, or fortunately, that is not the case – both because it means we need to work hard.

And working hard only makes success even sweeter.

Now, onto waking up on time tomorrow at 730.

It then occurred to me, that my life was being digitized at a rate which I am slowly, but surely, unable to manage.

Photos are taken and uploaded, but time is hardly spent to look at them. Until they disappear and you try to find them.

I have come to realize that storing them on blogs, social media, photo-sharing platforms was such a precious move, because I’m now scouring the web in hopes of picking up the photos which I lost – the pieces of my life.

不想做一个没有过去的人。Yet, why spend the effort to document your life?

I guess for me, I define myself very largely based on encounters, experiences, and the resulting introspection.

Without photos/ videos/ journals, I forgot to slow down and take some time to smell the flowers. It’s very easy to continue moving, without stopping to ponder: am I going in a direction which would make me happy? Am I moving with a purpose? Even if there’s no purpose, is that intentional, or a lack of mind? It’s not so much the documentation, but the reflection process that is closer to the heart.

If nothing else, my last year has shown me that no matter how much you see the world – it’s the people you do it with that matters.

To all the friends – Thank you for all the laughter, long chats, debates, support, care and concern. If there is one thing which I can wish for in the new year, it would probably be honesty. To become a person who is better for society and everyone around her. To walk out of a bubble.

To the family – Thank you for always being there. Blood is thicker than water – Appreciate it!

To the host families/ internship mentors/ working partners/ random conversations all around the world – I believe things happen for a reason. Our paths crossed, and hopefully, one day they will again – this time with more stories to share and ideas to change the world.

And one day, may we all soar high in the skies - spirits wild and free.