thoughts
Showing posts with label thoughts. Show all posts
friendly reminders
Where you are is where everyone is.
You're not sure about your career, or you're struggling with your studies, or it's been a series of bad days. If you think you're alone in feeling this way, you most likely are not. Stress, anxiety, fear, loneliness, or whatever it is, can feel crippling. But each time I voice it out, thinking that I'm weird or alone for feeling this way, the only thing that ever happens? It resonates. Invites a chorus of "I feel the same way." So take this as a sign for comfort. That everyone, at some point, has felt what you're feeling. Many – in fact, the people around you – still do. Yet here we are. Here we all are.
my heart, as explained by metaphors
1. A messy bedroom I distract myself from cleaning
2. A marathoner with an ankle bruise
3. A compulsive liar
4. Exposed brick.
5. The scent of cinnamon.
6. Maggie Rogers' album, Heard it in a Past Life.
7. A coffee shop which only opens on Easter weekend.
8. A department store with 16 different aisles, open 24/7.
9. The smile I make after blowing out birthday candles.
10. A glass of wine I pretend to like.
this is the angriest i've ever been.
I am so angry I could burst.
Into tears. Into screams. Into marching for a strike.
I haven't been writing. All my words run dry. The world is crashing, burning around me. So it seems they just no longer matter.
My planet tumbles into a slow collapse. A baby stops breathing, suffocated by smoke. Animals go extinct, as rainforests catch fire. Oceans die. Riots erupt.
How dare I write about anything else? My favourite romantic comedies? The tea I drink in the morning, the "sunlit corners of my bedroom"?
Who the hell cares? What have I to offer from living in this bubble?
WHAT THE HELL DOES ANY OF THIS MATTER?
I haven't been writing. All my words run dry. The world is crashing, burning around me. So it seems they just no longer matter.
My planet tumbles into a slow collapse. A baby stops breathing, suffocated by smoke. Animals go extinct, as rainforests catch fire. Oceans die. Riots erupt.
How dare I write about anything else? My favourite romantic comedies? The tea I drink in the morning, the "sunlit corners of my bedroom"?
Who the hell cares? What have I to offer from living in this bubble?
WHAT THE HELL DOES ANY OF THIS MATTER?
this one is for...
Celebrating Father's Day in Australia. Extending the warm greeting to all fathers out there, I'd like to say a Happy Father's Day...
To fathers who have lost children.
Children who have lost fathers.
Those who have strenuous relationships with fathers.
Those who live a distance from their fathers.
Father figures – stepfathers, godfathers, adoptive or foster fathers.
Those who never knew their fathers.
Those whose fathers weren't present.
Those abandoned by their fathers.
Those who have been hurt by their fathers.
Those yearning to be fathers.
Fathers with chronic or mental illnesses,
fathers with disabilities.
Fathers with financial struggles.
Stay-at-home or single fathers.
Fathers who served and never made it home.
Those separated from their fathers,
or fathers separated from their families and children as a refugee/asylum-seeker.
I'd like to address this and many more – you are heard, you are seen, and you are not alone. We stand with you, we hold your hand, if this day, for any reason, feels tough for you.
We send you love, warmth, and comfort, whatever your story may be. Our arms (or at least, my own) are outstretched to hug you in solidarity.
This wasn't a poem. Just a short little note I felt was important to put out there.
From Melbourne, Australia, I send you a Happy Father's Day,
wheverer you are, whatever you've been through,
however way this day may affect you.
---
This post was inspired by Mari Andrew's piece on Mother's Day:
an afternoon at the sydney harbour
A roll of clouds blanketed the sky when I arrived at the Sydney Harbour. I leaned against a railing and found myself lost amidst a beautiful view.
The sound of birds, the chatter of strangers, the rumbling of gentle waves. My eyes went to the ships as they glided to and fro. Boats and ferries, pacing like watch guards, moving from one end of the bay to the other.
Center of the scenic, overcast view is where the Harbour Bridge stood, a majestic metal arc elegantly sitting in its rightful throne. To the Opera House a few feet from where I stood, I whispered, "You must get tired of this already."
a day in my life | part two
The words appear on your screen and sound all too familiar. "Yes, mom," you think, "I promise I will try my best not to get killed by a psychopath today."
You don't reply, but you understand. The responsibility to be safe is a large part of living abroad. It causes you to adopt certain survival tactics.
Small things, like keeping your earphones off as you walk to remain vigilant, or moving briskly enough to get home as soon as possible, but slow enough so you don't appear too scared. Having the common sense of not passing though dark alleyways, staying away from quiet parks, or ignoring every drunk man that tries to capture your attention. Small things.
a day in my life | part one
7 AM. Your eyes flutter open, you check the time, and turn your head to the cold side of the pillow. Your class starts later, and you have no early morning plans. The bed feels eight times nicer than it did when you slept into it the night before. The world is silent and undemanding. You wrap a blanket around you. You wish to go back to sleep.
But you thought too soon.
At 8, you awake, startled by the sound of the garbage truck that pulls up—8 AM, on the dot, always on time—each morning. You retrieve all your thoughts as you stand up from the bed of your empty apartment. You move your body a little to shake off the remaining slumber. Stretch as if you're going for a jog. Then not go for a jog.
You pour yourself tea, as you do every morning. As the water rises to a boil, you place your hand above it, to catch the warm steam that escapes the kettle's mouth.
The teabag sits for a minute or two, the water slowly changing colour to accept its presence. Your hands wrap around it like a tiny cup of warmth. You hold it close, you take a sip, you breathe. People think you wake early just to drink tea. You don't tell them you have a garbage truck to thank.
writing vs blogging: why they're different, and why i only care about one of them
I hate the word "blogger."
There, I said it. If blogging crimes were a thing, I just committed one. Escort me to my cell.
What has happened to me? Am I leaving my blog? Have I outgrown it? Have I become too full of myself? The answer to all of this is no; despite how inactive I've been, I still fully intend on keeping this blog. (At least it saves future me the energy of telling life stories to the grandkids—I'll just send them a link and they can read all about it from their portable holograms.)
But I've been on the Internet long enough to recognize that there is a difference between writers and bloggers. Not all writers are bloggers, and, much to my dismay, not all bloggers are writers. Even though the two may correlate, writing and blogging, I've found, can be two very different practices.
i'm an introvert–and i'm not always proud of it
"You should play with the other kids, honey!" my mother suggests.
I shake my head, refusing the offer. "I don't want to look weird."
I shake my head, refusing the offer. "I don't want to look weird."
why "aspiring" is not good enough
That word is "aspiring."
i need a minute (or two)
As I opened a new file and thought of what words to start this post with, my mind whispered, "Try not to sound so overly sad." And to that voice I replied, "Screw you. I can allow myself to be sad if I want to."
twelve things january taught me
January is known as the month of Resolutions and Dreams and New Beginnings, but if I were to label it myself, Unpredictability would be a better word.
A weekend trip, a packed suitcase, and a rude awakening, my January has indeed been many, many things. I think it's been many things for a lot of people. Regardless of what you do or where you are, being pulled away from the Happy Holidays into the gruesome forest of reality is no seamless transition.
celebrate little achievements
I've been thinking a lot about the idea of "goals" and success, and how the whole January-1st-on-a-Monday situation has propelled us into this strange, whimsical start-of-the-year optimism.
And the race to fulfill all the New Year's Resolutions begins.
Maybe you met with some people over the holidays and hey, someone just got engaged! Or a quick scroll through Instagram tells you about that promotion your friend just received. Not to mention the overly concerned relatives who are always a little too curious about your love life; as if we'd all die without a relationship status.
Maybe you met with some people over the holidays and hey, someone just got engaged! Or a quick scroll through Instagram tells you about that promotion your friend just received. Not to mention the overly concerned relatives who are always a little too curious about your love life; as if we'd all die without a relationship status.
Be it comparison, peer/parental pressure, or by any other reason, everyone's been at that point in their lives where they feel like they haven't really achieved anything, have they? It's only natural, and I get it. Some 20-year-olds are still in uni, trying their best to make ends meet. But some 20-year-olds are married. Some other 20-year-olds own Google. (Probably.)
A lot can be said about "goals" and success, but the pattern is that it's always rather distant. Never quite within our reach yet. Consequently, we find ourselves stuck, thinking, I should've made it by now.
why i like rainy days
pluviophile (n.)
a lover of rain; someone who finds joy and peace of mind during rainy days
Twenty days away from my departure and each day, I grow increasingly reminiscent. Over everything. The objects in my house, the laughter of my family, the silence of my bedroom, the sounds coming from my kitchen. Maybe once you listen to something repeatedly each day, even the noisy clatter of pots and pans and kitchen utensils start to sound like a harmony in formation.
The 2nd day of January, my Christmas decorations are still hanging, left untouched. The tree no longer lights up and the tinsel looks pathetically outdated. With the right light, they still glimmer, but displaying their red-and-green holiday cheer when the holidays are almost over, their festiveness now only makes them look lame.
It's the first Tuesday of the year. I'm sitting in my living room, minutes until noon, when the sky had decided to unleash its melancholy. Initially I was reading a book; a story about someone who suffered amnesia. Yet in all the "joy and peace of mind" the rain seemingly brought, I couldn't concentrate. I looked up, and around, and outside, and then in. I realized I didn't want to read. I want to write.
come what may
Warm greetings and holiday cheer seemingly wrap everything in place.
Grey skies and cold nights, here are December's final days.
Sweet treats and carefree laughter from the many lucky souls,
who, on this festive season, have finally found their ways back home.
---
Here we are, finally; in the time warp that separates New Year's Eve and Christmas Day. The very last week of 2017, where all that's left to do is hold onto whatever fond memory the year has given us, and to whatever hope we can find for the year that's about to come.
It's also in this week that the topic of "New Year's Resolutions" would frequently come up. Sometimes big, specific goals are planned (like buying a new home), other times, people aim for milestones (like getting married or graduating college.) This time, however, when it comes to resolutions, I – a person who'd normally enjoy meticulously planning every detail of my life before it actually takes place – surprisingly have none.
When we make resolutions, we envision a better version of ourselves. For some, better is healthier. For others, better is wealthier. Then, throughout the year, we push ourselves to continually try and close the gap between where we are and where we want to be. But unlike the brave people who decide that 2018 will be a year they lose weight, get a promotion, travel far, or find true love, in facing the new year, I find myself with an attitude that is whispered in three small words, "Come what may."
"What is meant for you will reach you, even if it's placed beneath two mountains.
What isn't meant for you will not reach you, even if it's placed between your two lips."
When I found this quote several days ago, I didn't know it was something I desperately needed to hear. After a lifetime of placing high expectations on myself, my soul, it seems, has learned to finally yield.
Being the type of person that I am, it is surprising for me to be able to leave a year and enter the next in a state of total surrender. Okay, seriously, what do you want?, I'd keep asking myself. At the end of the day, my answer stays the same: I want nothing that God doesn't want me to have, and everything within what He's given me the capacity to receive.
There are about three days left of this turbulent year, and about twenty-five before I start a new life abroad. For both cases, though, I'm simply trying my best to make a graceful exit. During these moments of in-between, I'm left to do what I can and hope that it's enough; to be mindful of the paths God is calling me to take, to carry myself with strength whenever it's needed, and to leave the year with as much peace in my heart as I can.
Today, with only a few sleeps away before the conffetti-and-fireworks rage that comes after the countdown, signaling "the start of a new chapter" for many of us, I tell myself to pause and reflect. I tell myself that there are decisions we could never undo, the same way that there are moments we couldn't step back into. But we are also not a product of our mishaps, the same way we are not defined by our shortcomings. Through it all, I stand firm with my belief that everything happens for a reason. And unlike human emotion, reason sometimes takes a little longer to unravel.
Perhaps that's what I'm coming to realize; that not having a carefully-designed Pinterest board made of dreams for 2018, is not the same as giving up. It's also not to be mistaken with me being too pessimistic. I have no resolutions simply because I am certain about absolutely nothing. I have no resolutions because I don't know what lies ahead, and I'm not in the mood to pretend like I do.
So instead of dreaming about a better life, distant in the future, I'm only committing to endurance. If 2017 has taught me anything, it's that with just enough time, a lot of things can fall apart, but a lot of things can also be rebuilt. But at whatever point I find myself, be it in the deep waters, or high on a mountaintop, it is endurance that'll make sure I keep going.
So I say, come what may, in my both nostalgic and hopeful misery.
So I say, come what may, for this is an ode to a future's mystery.
So I say, come what may, for a heart takes more time than a broken bone.
So I say, come what may, for I am never certain, never perfect,
but also never, ever alone.
---
After writing this, I understand that this might not make sense to a lot of you, but despite it being a little personal and sentimental, I hope this short piece has helped inspire you in any way. Please bear with me if it's a little dry; I haven't written a piece in so many days.
What you might not know, though, is that to this, I ended up writing another piece; an epilogue or poem, of sorts. It's titled "A Town of Memories" and you can read it here.
Also, I've been diving into the act of writing letters. I don't know if it's just a phase, or if it's because Christmas just leaves you with a lot of emotions. Either way, writing long, unsent letters have been pretty therapeutic, and I'd suggest any person who likes to write to do the same.
And where have I been?
Elsewhere, really.
I hope I see you soon.
midnight thoughts
Restless is a word I'd use best to describe how life has been. I don't know if I think forming words can somehow bring more clarity, or if turning to writing can somehow make it all better. But I can try.
When I say "restless" I know it sounds like I'm becoming too busy; saying yes to too many tasks, or overworking myself to the point of insanity. Well, that's not entirely untrue, but unlike a college student, most of my unease doesn't feel physical at all. I can walk and sing and write stories just fine. I find time to read books, and I submit myself to sleep. Even though sleep doesn't help much when it's your soul that's tired.
---
forty-eight
forty-eight
Maybe it's that anxiety of only having around 48 days left of living in the city and the house that I've been in my whole life. I know; everyone gets through this, Jo. You're not the only person to start a new life outside of your comfort zone. Just relax. Besides, 48 days is still quite far away.
Is it, though? Should I be bothered knowing that I could still vividly remember the lunch I had with my mother 48 days ago? And how I'll still remember this day, just as vividly, when I'm sitting in the airplane up in the clouds somewhere, 48 days from now? Don't we often forget how fast time can go, always only realizing it a little too late? Aren't things always gone a little too soon?
One day, I woke up in the morning and spent minutes walking around the living room we never even touch. I lean against the wall and take note of every detail I can think of; worn out curtains, the desk lamp they moved to the corner, the grand piano no longer in use. Spider webs hanging at the back of my father's paintings. A candle holder set that doesn't match the rest of the room.
My head desperately tries, these days, to find things to keep in store. Like an animal preparing for hibernation, it's storing memories like food for the winter. Is this all just a product of my imaginative, over-exploring thought process? Am I losing my mind? When we feel like we're losing our minds, does that mean we're right?
heavy traffic
Rainy days invite heavy traffic to my hometown, and it's unbearable to most of us. Really, what's the point of wiping the raindrops with our windshield to see clearly when our car hasn't even moved an inch for the past 30 minutes. I don't know if it's the weather, or the holiday season. Or if a large number of people has somehow decided to migrate to my city, all at once.
But anyway, when my mind is left somewhat unoccupied, it looks for things to fidget with. It can be in traffic, or in rainy evenings, or the few minutes before I finally go to bed, I just always end up in a state of- contemplating.
Like, gee, do people fail, or succeed, without the existence of adrenaline? Do hummingbirds ever get tired? Why does my eyeliner always get so smudgy after a few hours? Do mystery writers have a life? Is it possible if we stop the production of Miss Universe pageants altogether and use the money to fund education for girls worldwide? Does Santa also deliver gifts to Africa? What does it take to make good poetry? Am I too cold to ever write a nice poem?
You know, simple questions.
self acceptance
If my life was a school and every life lesson was set in a curriculum, Self Acceptance would be my straight-C subject. The teacher I hated listening to, the class I hated to sit in. "Love yourself! Accept your flaws! You are wonderful just the way you are!" A student placed in the middle of the classroom, simply sighs and rolls her eyes. And that student would be me.
It's come to my attention, today specifically, how often I see myself as "too much" of something. I'm too sensitive, too lazy, too unmotivated, too irrelevant, and my my, the list goes on. The fact that I can be too hard on myself most of the time is really no secret, but I don't sulk in it either.
Like I said, I'm the student that sighs and rolls her eyes, and continues to sketch flowers onto her notebook because my God, she'd rather be anywhere else. Truth is, I can't always agree with the notion that "we are wonderful the way we are." Created perfectly in the likeness of His image, as people of my faith would remind me, but despite that, if I'm being honest, I definitely do not always feel so "wonderful."
The downside to being so demanding of yourself, while also attempting to give others your best, is that you put so many expectations on your abilities in the first place that when others place even the slightest expectation on you, you feel absolutely overwhelmed already. It's not a fun process. It's not always so great being the perfectionist that constantly sees themselves as inadequate. But hey, I'm trying what I can. That's as "wonderful" as it gets.
---
Someone once said that it's both a blessing and a curse to feel everything so deeply. As a newly-converted INFJ, it often feels like I now carry the weight of the world on my shoulders; a burden I never wished for, but couldn't let go of. Like when we never intend to hurt people's feelings but always end up doing so unintentionally. Like when we try to let our feelings guide us towards becoming a better person, yet always failing to execute. Experiencing the pain of your best friend like it's firsthand, or feeling a mother's cry before she lets it out. A blessing and a curse. I'd say so, indeed.
Restless is a word I'd use best to describe how I have been. I struggle to read books for too long; I can't go an hour without my mind wandering elsewhere. My prayers sound like badly translated telegrams; I pray for sick relatives and better days but my mouth would often fumble for words. If we look at our world, it seems like there's never enough time to pray for everything that's going on. A new scandal surfaces as you pray for hope in humanity, a new shooting takes place before you say another "Amen". I wonder what God wants us to do at times where we feel most powerless.
At this point, my writing will have already sounded very long-winded and incoherent. Partly I think it's because I've been restricting myself to only writing things that are really good or really important or include really nice pictures, and I've kind of forgotten what it felt like to write for therapy. Letting words pour out from that stream of consciousness and thought, and not filtering so much of what I want to express. To hell with the fear of oversharing, I really just want to write.
Many have urged me to write about politics, or the latest news, or simply for me to offer a glimpse of what's inside my thoughts again. As much as I'd like to, it's still very hard to create anything worthwhile when we feel so uninspired. I'm not always so bubbly, speaking truth in a firm, confident manner. My thoughts aren't always maps with clear directions. If people wish to hear about my thought process, well here it is. More often messy than it is well-worded.
At this point, my writing will have already sounded very long-winded and incoherent. Partly I think it's because I've been restricting myself to only writing things that are really good or really important or include really nice pictures, and I've kind of forgotten what it felt like to write for therapy. Letting words pour out from that stream of consciousness and thought, and not filtering so much of what I want to express. To hell with the fear of oversharing, I really just want to write.
Many have urged me to write about politics, or the latest news, or simply for me to offer a glimpse of what's inside my thoughts again. As much as I'd like to, it's still very hard to create anything worthwhile when we feel so uninspired. I'm not always so bubbly, speaking truth in a firm, confident manner. My thoughts aren't always maps with clear directions. If people wish to hear about my thought process, well here it is. More often messy than it is well-worded.
---
Lastly, friends, I hope you may excuse this tiny mid-week rambling session that's just taken place. I don't know if I think forming words can somehow bring more clarity, or if writing can somehow make it all better. I don't know if these small pieces of thought would mean anything to anyone. I don't know if my words can change the world, or change a heart, but it is more or less the same thing to me. I don't know if any of my random musings resonated with you in any way, but if it did, even just a little bit, then my friend, to me, that means everything already.
So I guess all that's left to say is- Happy Wednesday. Sleep well, take photos, allow yourself to feel, and it's okay to end a long night by watching funny 90s sitcoms. Become as much of yourself as you can, for that alone is a luxury, and smile at strangers even when they don't return it.
For whatever sense this made, may you have a lovely week.
I'll write again soon.
I'll write again soon.
(text written in roughly 3 hours, finished at 1:49 AM, December 6th 2017)
what i really want for christmas
It's happening, guys.
Tinsel, snow, and twinkling lights showing up in every corner. The overplayed (but delightful) Mariah Carey song making a slow and definite comeback. Cold weather and warm sweet drinks. Ugly sweaters and holiday sales. The time of year that makes my heart sing. The start of December; the sign of Christmas arriving.
This year has been crazy (as it always is every year) but thanks to Christmas, we always get to end each year on a sweet note. You know, it's like we can have the most chaotic, unpredicted, ridiculous year ever, but hey, Christmas!
I love the holidays. And I realize that the energy surrounding the season is not just festive, but hopeful. With a good dosage of holiday cheer, people start to feel more optimistic; we put to rest whatever's past and faithfully anticipate what's about to come.
Also, it's a season of lists. And I don't mean the Naughty or Nice type; I mean the Christmas wish list that every child would proudly put up on their bedroom wall. Regardless of where we come from, the joys of December gives everyone a "treat yourself" moment. After such a long year, we feel we deserve to have some things on our wish list. Whether or not we manage to make it come true.
Back in school, I'd wish for a new sweater, a nice pair of boots, or something pretty to place in my bedroom. But as I've grown, it's probably going to be a little different. So without further ado, here's what's on my Christmas list this year:
Back in school, I'd wish for a new sweater, a nice pair of boots, or something pretty to place in my bedroom. But as I've grown, it's probably going to be a little different. So without further ado, here's what's on my Christmas list this year:
- Emotional stability
- Family quality time
- Better self-esteem
- Better writing skills
- Better politicians (and speaking of politics...)
- An end to Trump's presidency (In fact, let's end anything that only decreases our hope in humanity, please?)
- An end to systemic sexism (Is the safety of walking alone without someone catcalling you on the street, or taking into account the stories of victims of sexual assault, really too much to ask though?)
- An end to corruption (a girl can dream?)
- More women in positions of power.
- For people to start sending letters and postcards again.
- The ability to finish all my books in time
- And then for more books after I finish all my books in time.
- A button that turns off overthinking.
- A time machine.
- A ukulele.
- Well, a haircut would be nice also.
- And gosh, this dress.
- For someone to explain to me why there's a song titled "Twelve Days of Christmas"(If Christmas is on the 25th, and the wait to New Year's takes only six, so what does "twelve days" refer to? Who invented this concept and why did they leave such little explanation? How is the partridge on a pear tree supposed to solve anything? What am I missing? Questions left unanswered.)
- For Starbucks to start fixing their broken wi-fi routers.
- For supermodels to go out of style.
- For people who like to cut the line to stop their habit of cutting the line.
- For more trees in the world.
- For elephants to not go extinct.
- For airplane tickets to be free.
- A box of golden retriever puppies appearing at my doorstep on Christmas morning. (make it happen, Santa.)
- A brunch with Michelle Obama. (In fact, all the Obamas.)
- A Friends reunion episode.
- For people to spell & pronounce my name correctly.
- A visa, which I'm gonna need.
- This book, which I probably also need.
- And a cookbook for beginners, (or dummies. Or fully grown young adults who are only starting to spend time in a kitchen and trying to figure out how to properly hold all these kitchen utensils. In other words, dummies.) which I definitely need.
- Clear skin
- A tidier bedroom
- A tidier life, in general.
- But honestly,
- I just want to finish all my books in time.
- The ability to finish all my books in time
- And then for more books after I finish all my books in time.
- A button that turns off overthinking.
- A time machine.
- A ukulele.
- Well, a haircut would be nice also.
- And gosh, this dress.
- For someone to explain to me why there's a song titled "Twelve Days of Christmas"(If Christmas is on the 25th, and the wait to New Year's takes only six, so what does "twelve days" refer to? Who invented this concept and why did they leave such little explanation? How is the partridge on a pear tree supposed to solve anything? What am I missing? Questions left unanswered.)
- For Starbucks to start fixing their broken wi-fi routers.
- For supermodels to go out of style.
- For people who like to cut the line to stop their habit of cutting the line.
- For more trees in the world.
- For elephants to not go extinct.
- For airplane tickets to be free.
- A box of golden retriever puppies appearing at my doorstep on Christmas morning. (make it happen, Santa.)
- A brunch with Michelle Obama. (In fact, all the Obamas.)
- A Friends reunion episode.
- For people to spell & pronounce my name correctly.
- A visa, which I'm gonna need.
- This book, which I probably also need.
- And a cookbook for beginners, (or dummies. Or fully grown young adults who are only starting to spend time in a kitchen and trying to figure out how to properly hold all these kitchen utensils. In other words, dummies.) which I definitely need.
- Clear skin
- A tidier bedroom
- A tidier life, in general.
- But honestly,
- I just want to finish all my books in time.
---
Hope you all have an exciting, joyful, lovely month of December. Remember to stay kind, love yourself, and not be afraid to wish for ridiculous things.
See you around.
how to politically disagree
Feminism. Gender equality. Health care. Climate change. Religion. Racial minorities.
Votes, elections, and more.
Regardless of what country we live in, political issues have been garnering massive public attention. Two years ago, it had been just that. Politics. But these days, they're trends. Neighbourhood buzz, viral content.
In every topic from how women choose to dress, all the way to presidential elections, everybody has something to say. You can blame your president, you can blame the media, or immigration laws, or people from a specific racial group. Yet all disagreements seemingly boil down to one conclusion; nobody's right, and nobody wins.
---
The world is now a jigsaw puzzle of propagandas. Our opinions become pieces that need to be placed side by side; sometimes we get along, but other times, we can't always form a compatible picture. Everyone fights for influence, for being heard, when in fact, none of us has all the answers.
My purpose of writing this isn't to bombard you with some loaded subjects to analyse. I'm also not going to explain every political issue under the sun and try to reel you into my point of view to agree with me. Rather, I simply hope this affects how you approach politics; to add a little softness to the ruthless nature of how we see it.
As a student living under her parents' roof, I don't normally have much to add to political conversation. As a writer, however, my mind is faced with a question. How do we coexist in a world where no one fully agrees to anything?
1. Stay educated.
Ignorance is bliss, but it also doesn't get you anywhere. Stay updated with the things happening in your country. It's not "grown-up conversation", it's information that you've been privileged enough to receive. In an era where all that information can be obtained through a click of a button, it's a waste to choose to neglect them.How you form your opinions is entirely up to you; but without facts, don't be surprised when they're seen as invalid. So read the paper or turn on the news, at least every once in a while. It'll be easier to form healthy discussions when you've already expanded your knowledge beforehand.
2. Learn to listen.
Something I've grown to realise is that sometimes, it's better to be kind than to be right. When you give people a chance and try to understand where they're coming from, it helps you consider their perspective, instead of turning them into total antagonists in your head.The key is to stop seeing everything in a good guys vs bad guys situation. Subconsciously, we tend to label ourselves the "right" ones of the crowd, and the others "wrong". But who are we to be the judge of that? Who are we to call them "biased", when we're all biased at some point as well? Don't we only read the news we want to read, and agree with the people we want to agree with?
Let us try to look past that line we've created. Try hearing people out the way you'd want to be heard. Ask for the reasons behind their argument, and try to learn from their story. People won't remember you for how well you argued, they'll remember you for listening to what they have to say.
When it comes to politics, it's unlikely we'll ever find middle ground. What we can find, however, is a way for communication. When we learn to finally "agree to disagree" and move on, that's how we cultivate tolerance, and mutual respect. Forget being right; just be a decent human being.
3. Express yourself wisely.
Recognise the power in saying something when it's necessary, but also staying silent when it is not. As important as it is to form a logical opinion, it's equally important to know how, where, and when to express it. To what audience do we want to speak? Will our words do more harm than good?In today's political climate, social media has clearly become the outlet of choice. It's easy, quick, and greatly accessible. Even I love to write small pieces of thought myself, as a way of urging people to think about certain events and then further reflect on it.
However, don't forget that the Internet is vast and limitless. It's where one man's opinion can send a ripple effect throughout many others'. (While a person's tweet may not do anything, enough retweets can cause an uprising, and enough opposing replies can turn the digital forum into a battlefield.)
Whenever you choose to state your opinion where it wasn't necessarily asked for, you are already at the risk of receiving negative feedback. Learn to understand this, so you don't act completely appalled by the thought of people disagreeing with you after you explain your argument. Do stay authentic, but know that freedom of speech can sometimes come with a cost.
I get it; we all hate that one uncle who talks too much about politics in the family dinner. Also, when you're below 20–and I speak from experience–there's a certain look your friends will give you when you start talking about anything political. "Heavy subjects" cause unease; they're not appropriate for a social setting.
There is a time and place for everything (see #3), but my piece of advice for you, that I hope you can take and remember is, you are never too young to care. You are never too young to make a difference.
Despite being labeled as "the Instagram generation", I challenge you, friends, to be political.
Be aware of what's happening. Acknowledge your leaders, and question how they're using their power. Speak up for the groups of people whose voices are left unheard. You don't need to have a lot of money, or a skyscraper in your name, or even a seat in the government. Just be brave. Use whatever skills and knowledge that you have, and don't settle for social injustice when you see it. You have a say in what happens around you.
When something happens and we find more news breaking the silence, there'll be thousands of voices that erupt. As tempting as it is to raise your voice in a world that's already constantly shouting, know that a righteous, gentle whisper can be worth a lot more than an ignorant speech. Stay principled and virtuous when representing your beliefs. You do have a voice, but use it well.
And that's how you build an impact. That's how change happens.
From within.
---
For a closing note, I'd just like to clarify that I wasn't trying to talk like I know everything.
Because I don't, and nobody does.
As always, I simply hope this inspired you and helped you reflect.
Hope to see you around.
Because I don't, and nobody does.
As always, I simply hope this inspired you and helped you reflect.
Hope to see you around.
Things I Need to Tell Myself (2)
August 11th 2017.
It was a rainy afternoon in Bandung, and strangely enough, I'd found myself in a peculiar small cafe in the Dago area. Art installations, wooden furniture, and a pleasantly quiet atmosphere made me feel very much at home in this little place I randomly decided to visit.
Alone, I had a table to myself, overlooking a view of mountains, trees, and hillsides from a distance. I'd ordered a warm, sweet drink, and my first thought was, I should've brought my book with me today. Making the most out of the situation, I simply sat still. I admired the sight of nature displayed in front of me, my fingers embraced the warmth of the cup I had in my hands, I felt the gentle mountain breeze sweep through the room, and then I paused.
A lot can happen in a pause. In this case, I paused and I began to reflect. What a whimsical year it's been (so far), and boy, what magnificent hopes and dreams I had for the next several months. Like any writer would, I decided to take note of them; all the thoughts, contemplations, and life lessons that started surfacing in my mind and came to me like that mountain breeze. The list below, unedited, is what I wrote down, in that rainy afternoon.
---
1. The world doesn't stop for anybody. Time doesn't pause just because you need it to.
So embrace this life of yours that doesn't stop moving.
Because it's all you have, and it's all you can do.
2. Hot chocolate is good for the soul, and any health
magazine that tells you otherwise is not worth your time.
3. Find a person who sees all of you and still wants that.
You can't spend the rest of your life only being a part of who you are.
4. The rain is nature cleansing itself.
We (and our activities and cities and "plans for the day") are just standing in the way.
5. Love is simple, life is complicated.
That's why it becomes challenging for the two to simply co-exist.
6. You do not have to look, or talk, or live, or be, like everybody else.
7. Master the art of being alone without being lonely.
8. Different experiences come from different places and different people.
In a pursuit of an interesting life, there is no use only sticking to what you know.
9. Write in a journal but make is as messy as your life feels like.
Pretty is boring, make it annoyingly unreadable.
10. In this world, there will always be art that you cannot comprehend,
the same way that there will always be people that you cannot understand.
---
I'll write again soon.
Would You Ever?
1. Would you ever join a sorority?
-
No. It's not because I have anything against sororities, or "sisterhood", it's just that I would never be that "sorority girl" type of person. I keep to myself, I prefer staying in than going out to parties, I read more than I dance, and I would never fit the mold of the physiques these girls have. It'll never work, and I think there are many other ways to find meaningful friendships.
2. Would you ever get plastic surgery?
- Another no. Not that I'm completely confident, because I'm one of the most insecure people I know. But in my culture and upbringing, it's considered unethical (I'm not even a big fan of the idea of eyelash extensions.) Also, there was some good advice my stepsister gave me a while ago; she said, "If you ever think about getting cosmetic surgery, go online and find a video of them performing it. I bet you won't really want one anymore."
3. Would you ever adopt a child?
- I'm not gonna all Angelina Jolie here, but I have a feeling that later as an adult, if I were ever given the opportunity, I would definitely consider. I've always admired the people who choose to adopt kids or foster them, regardless of whether or not they're capable of having kids of their own. You get to do some good for the world, while completely changing the life of a child. To me, it's profound.
4. Would you ever consider writing a book?
- Absolutely. It's one of my biggest lifelong dreams to end up writing a book. I'm not sure what it'll be; a memoir consisting photos of my childhood and my sarcastic remarks at every page? A self-help book? A story book? The possibilities are endless, and the thought still scares me, but I definitely wish to write one someday.
5. Would you ever stay in a jungle for a month?
- This depends on the circumstances in which I'll be living, to be honest. If it's some wooden log cabin or a pretty, sturdy treehouse, then hell yeah. But if we're talking 30 nights inside a sleeping bag or nothing else in the middle of a forest like some sort of survival game, I probably wouldn't even last the first two days. It's not even because I hate nature. But those bugs! Dealbreaker.
6. Would you ever go skydiving?
- Crazy, crazy idea, but I totally would. I never had a fear thing against heights, and I've always loved roller coasters and all those crazy rides in the amusement parks. So eh, how bad can it be? It's just the totally typical anecdote where people always go "I'd rather jump off a plane" and I just figured oh yeah I would totally literally do that.
7. Would you ever consider being a farmer?
- Yes!! I remember that in the Divergent movies, my top two favorite factions would've been Erudite (knowledge) and Amity (kindness and harmony). The Amity folks dress up in these loose clothes and in general lead very chill lives! They harvest the crop, garden, paint, and are practically living in peace. I don't get why anyone would choose to shoot guns or become a lawyer instead. For me, I was totally sold. I've always loved seeing people who live on farms or grew up in them, and just how they go about their day and do their chores. It's the ultimate feel-good job and lifestyle! I'd totally forget about any big cities or fast cars. Just give me 10 horses, chicken to feed, and plants to tend to and I'd feel like I'm in a dream.
8. Would you ever become a doctor?
- The thing is, I know that this is the ideal career that'll make my parents proud and my teachers proud and everyone who knows me proud. Like I know there's a certain glow that lights up in people's eyes when they find out you're applying to med school. But in reality, the thing that keeps me from pursuing it is my fear of blood. I am not scared of heights, or spiders, or the dark, but give me a fresh wound with the blood gushing out of the cut, and I can very nearly faint. It's not ideal for an aspiring doctor to lose breath simply by the sight of a little cut, so med school has always been off limits. It makes me somewhat sad, to this day, that this trait of mine gets in my way of pursuing what could be a totally different path for me. But eh, I'm starting to learn that life is sometimes just an array of missed opportunities.
You can get to know me better by visiting my About page, or staying in touch through my social media links below! I'd love to hear from you. Have a great week.
Talk to you soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
