2015 has been an eventful year filled with bitterness, surprises and joy for myself. Was it a good year for me? I felt that overall it was. Just like anyone who lives on this planet, we face conundrums or setbacks that may bring us down, but as long as we remind ourselves that problems never come alone. Every conundrum is accompanied with an opportunity for us to grow into better people. Lastly, tell it to yourself, It's just part and parcel of life.
If there are 3 takeaways that I would want my readers to have in this post would be to appreciate the people around you, constantly remind yourself of your life purpose and last but just as important, to be loving towards the people around you.
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2nd January 2016,
More often than not, we are being inserted into situations where we least expect it, making us feeling uncomfortable and depressed about it. Have we ever thought to ourselves that some of these situations was the results of our actions? Many people would say that they can change the outcome of these situations if an opportunity to go back in time was given. How true and easy will it be? Ask yourself, would you have the sufficient benevolence lacked in the past to make it up to make the change and the courage to let go some of the feelings now? If your answer is a yes, then I believe you are ready to make that change.
Now, as I reflect upon my year 2015, I would like to touch on my first point - to appreciate the people around you. I vividly remembered the friends - primary, secondary, polytechnic and army - that have been through thin and thick with me for the past few years, if not, the past few months. Be it what were the events that connected us together - group projects, gatherings, work. I want to sincerely thank you all for the efforts placed to work with me, for I know that I am not an easy person to work or deal with at times. Thank you for your kind patience. If there is ever another chance to work with you all, I would love to be more vocalize in my thoughts process.
As I progress along year 2015, I learnt that appreciation can come in two forms - vocal and actions. There will be one group of people that would thank people through words while the other, would find ways to appreciate what you have done through actions. In any case, I feel that I belong to the latter one. It does takes some time for one to learn that I do appreciate what you have done for me at times. From the bottom of my heart, thank you.
Moving on to my second point - to constantly remind yourself of your life purpose. Enrollment into national service in year 2015 was one thing I dreaded the most despite being clearly aware of the importance. Perhaps, it was the loss of freedom which I cannot get used to it at that point of July 2015. Training was more of mental strenuous than physical as without a clear drive or motivation during the first few weeks. I asked myself, "What is it that I want or hope to see on the planet I live in?" The answer was, "To make a positive change in peoples' lives". Then, I looked at how unmotivated and dejected I was during that point of time, I knew I could change nothing unless I started with myself first. So, with the change in outlook and perspective on my loss of freedom, I started to be more optimistic during training and it's true, everything was much more enjoyable - the nonsense you talked with friends, the buddies you have made and the knowledge you have learnt.
So, always have a clear purpose in life. I lost it during my enlistment into national service, but I am glad I found it back. If you want to make changes, you will need two powerful tools: power and knowledge. Power can make things happen alone but may not be for a better cause. Knowledge can help you conceive a better solution to conundrums in the world alone but your ideas might never happen or be heard. Henceforth, power and knowledge together when used in the best way possible can create extraordinary outcomes.
Moving on to my last but just as important point - to be loving towards the people around you. Time is never enough and it was so god true when I enlisted into national service. Just like the saying goes, "you never know the value of what you have till you lose it". This always happens to us. Now, with the back of your mind aware of how limited time can be, isn't it important that we show love to our loved ones and friends? We may have forgotten to show love for our family in the year 2015 due to hectic schedule, but now is the start of a new beginning - the year 2016 - we should or can start to be more loving.
Wishing everyone a blessed 2016 ahead, may all of your goals and dreams come true!
- Benjamin Ang
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