Lets appreciate this- The classic quote is never really poured much thought into after the initial glance and perhaps a second-or-more superficial musing. But really, behind the numbness that was given to it because of the regular mentioning of the quote at instances when the true expression of such a sigh really needs a more worthy context, there lies a great message behind these words. And yes, it does speak for itself. Life is short.

'Short' perhaps by the way we define it to be. As men and women that look back, and forget the countless of details that drift away to a banished horizon, recalling only the moments of importance and significance, able to only contemplate the ones that store themselves fondly in our minds, not being able to enjoy the full memories, simply because the unnaturality of it all destroys the flavour of the nostalgia.

'Short' because we never have enough. Because the longings and waitings, the wastages and creations, the firsts and lasts, all provide for the craft that illustrates our existance.

'Short' as we have to give time to live life. To give time to the efforts we make, to give them into the failures we create, to give time and look at it after it ends to experience the final emotion that either regrets or celebrates.

This time that we give... did we ever question who crafted this time? Have we ever asked who made this substance? Do we ever care about the person who gave us this time so that each and everyone of us can possess this time?


Life is short - only when we look at it from time.

Below is an extract taken from my reflections of this thing called service learning at my school. Basically, it is volunteerism that will help the community at large. My service learning team went to an Old Folk's Home to do short performances and interact with the old folk.

"Initially, I was somewhat skeptical about doing this as a ‘service learning’ as I felt that the ‘service’ aspect about it was not great. To me, some small, inexperienced performances displayed in front of the old folk were just a waste of their time, and an ‘eye-opener’ for us. However, through the interactions with the old folk, I realised that our presence could actually make a small difference. Observing the lives of them and understanding the dread of the monotony and boredom they had to endure through each day showed me that a slight difference in the situation that we were capable of doing could brighten up their day. A small piece of entertainment and a show of concern could actually splash some colour into these repetitions and rituals they had to go through. Looking beyond the apathetic feelings I assumed the old folk would have when we sang for them, I could place myself in their shoes and realize that just a bit of difference could make them happier. And we were able to give them smiles for that moment. But that led me to realise something else, that our acts, our concern and our performance was only momentary. We were just small sparks of lights that faded away almost as fast as we came to them. This implicitly taught me the sincerity and understanding that we should give to the elderly, continually. As much as the SL process taught me the circumstances of the old folk that I did not want myself to be in, the true message that this conveyed was that humans want security. A pretty far-fetched conclusion that can be perceived through the lines of observing children leaving their parents in a safe, secure and comfy place so that they would not get hurt and yet would not give them responsibility for the taking care of their parents. A silent portrayal that can be observed through the implementation of Community Involvement programs at certain period of times so we can satisfy the innate want to show that we have emotions and feelings about the ‘less fortunate’. A sad tale that can be seen by the way we try our best to do the CIP and reflect on the things we have learnt from it to get in touch with the human side of us. Of course, the final and most important thing that I have learnt is the importance of caring and giving concern for the elderly as it is necessary. Perhaps, it’s not something I have learnt as its already something everyone knows about. But definitely, I have gained a more profound understanding of what such means, and the true implications of it. "


Other people are the significant majority in this world, relative to oneself. One's presence is only a mere breath into the vast atmosphere, a slient drop in the deep oceans. One would be overwhelmed if he tried to argue this - perhaps not by those whom he lead, perhaps not by society which he accumulates a degree of respect, but just by his stance, he would probaly be defeated. So by that knowledge, other people will more or less get realised to be on the piority list for us at some point in time. Defintely, there will be some point in time when we figure out the others that populate the world as well actually exist. We do talk about caring for others. There is mention about rights and needs for those who don't get it because it is supposed. Once in awhile motions to make the place a better place and stuffs will be raised to the floor. To stablise things and to provide a systemised approach, there have been created bodies to expect coordinated efforts. There have been formality and analysis so as to deliever justice.

But maybe. Care does not need to go through that big of a process? Maybe concern need not be passed through such a big hurdle? Perhaps understanding the other party is not so complex, not so hard of an effort to try. Well, yes there is a form of complexity. Compassion is defintely more than putting coins into begger's bowl. But that is a complexity to be grappled by the heart - it is a complexity that is intricate to the will. Do the constructs of psychology, sociology and antrphology actually surface to help in the situations? Will the academic portion of relevance actually do relevance to the situation at hand?

Not for myself alone
I guess its a motto I respect.

Because it recongises that before everything, humans have to give a damn about themselves.

Every man in this world have needs. To take a very big step back and observe the whole situation, theres no barometer by which one can measure how much one needs as compared to another. Its not a matter of degree of needs - a rich man would have needs as much as a poor man. A child would have as much needs as an adult. A person living in the slums would have as much needs as someone who holds a decent income and stays in a HDB. Its just the different sorts of needs each class has.

This same concept probaly applies in the area of those we label the 'less fortunate' versus us. The less fortunate, as in say mentally disabled children. But of course, this is but a labelization that was commited upon society's consensus. Does a proper rationalisation of both groups actually agree that we are the more fortunate batch? Perhaps it depends on the way you look at it. Is fortunate-ness the attatinment of happiness, and the gain of contentment? If so, the former are defintely the more fortunate batch. Because of a lesser demand, less 'worthy' expectations, their contentment is found relatively easily. But maybe one would like to consider the mental faculties, the ability to reason and the power to rationalise as needed elements to satisfy a joyful existence. If so, then we are the more fortunate batch. Then again, humans have also sought for happiness in the first place. Perhaps not similar a kind of happiness, maybe not the same a kind of contentment - but its only a different fashion. In the end, its still a felt emotion.

But what is it that we attach to our demands and expectations that allows the spawning of this other perspective? A complexity? A complication? A devotion towards the issue that intensifies our worries? An attention to the matter that blows up our conclusion? A concern that keeps bouncing back to the situation so that we can consider its past and its future and strive on towards the greater futures beyond them? Somehow, there is a need to provoke a mental anguish. To suppose a more stretched out view of the circumstance...

Oh wells. Somehow lost the inspiration... I had a whole lot more on this topic while on the ride and walk home, but lost the train of thought over dinner.


"When I was young, I used to admire intelligent people; as I grew older, I admire kind people." -- Abraham Joshua Heschel

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