Normal

Normal is a word that I've always struggled to grapple on to. 'Normal' size font, says Blogspot as I type. Heart rate, normal. Normal solution, said my chemistry textbooks. Math said a normal line is a right angle- right being ninety degrees but right also meaning true, correct, and what should be, right?

I think most of us are guilty of trying to be normal and falling in the category of people who do what's expected of them. I know I'm guilty of trying that- trying and failing miserably but trying nonetheless. What is normal, though, and why is there so much pressure to be normal? Robert Frost's The Road Not Taken was probably one of the most read poems growing up, part of the content of almost every English textbook. I remember loving and appreciating that poem. I was so sure that the poem was written for me and that I would never conform to the crazy workings of the world. And here I am today, quite caught between what society expects of me and what I really want to do with my life. I want to say that despite the conflicts and confusion, I've got everything sorted, but I would be lying to myself. I can say that it's a good life, and perhaps the uncertainty makes it all the more interesting. But getting things sorted will make life a little more richer.

For now, I'm learning how to embrace the confusion- because we're all a little crazy anyway, right? It's normal, right? :D

Paradise Found - 2

It was the second time he had brought her here, to this magical land, this other world. All with just one simple touch. She couldn't help but be as overwhelmed as she was the last time. The sun shining on each blade of grass, the beauty of the place radiating in every molecule around her. The feel of his hand and the gentle tug that it held hers with just added to the otherworldly experience that was overpowering her. 

The war at home was nowhere near the end. After years of fighting, after years of oppression, nothing had changed. Her visits to the beach were becoming less frequent. She had reached a point where she could no longer be alone with her thoughts, and even the sound of the lashing waves weren't loud enough to drown the voices in her head. They were there, always, haunting her and mocking at her, reminding her of what little power she had over her own life.

But no. She could not, would not let them win. Her whole life, she had been told what to do, her entire family had been under the control of the Empire. Freedom was just a word in the old dusted dictionary that her father had smuggled into their getaway. She no longer knew what that felt like and almost forgot what it meant.

Suddenly, realization dawned upon her. Along with that came hope.. maybe this new world- his world that he had given her the privilege to peak into- was the only remaining hope. Maybe all this was happening for a reason, and this was a sign, loud and clear.

She looked into his light, playful eyes, and they exchanged a glance that spoke a million words and encompassed an understanding so profound that even the depths of the waters around them wouldn't have been able to match up.

The grand scheme of things

It's so easy to get caught up in the tiny dot that is your life, and conveniently shut out everything else that is relevant about the world. It's the simplest thing ever to focus on the narrowness of your own world. We do it a lot, and we do it often.

Time to step out. Smell some sunshine.

Condescending Growth

The line between condescending and concerned is rather fine. It's important to welcome elements of condescending comments into your life though. It's probably the greatest way to grow- it pushes you to your limits and helps you realize your full potential. Without those few people in your life that don't throw advice onto you in a seemingly condescending manner (honestly, if they're trying so hard to help you, it's unlikely that they're genuinely being condescending), it's easy to get comfortable with your abilities and with your life in general.

So welcome it, take it as positively as possible, and grow.

Ideas are cheap

While discussing potential novel writing dreams with a friend, I voiced that my main barrier was the lack of a concrete novel idea. I have a bunch of these small ideas floating around, which would be great, for, say, a five line long blog posts. Short stories, and even scarier- a novel? Don't think so, buddy. But this friend, being the inspirational angel-like figure that he is (read it and rejoice), said that 'ideas are cheap'. This is an interesting statement; whether I agree entirely or not is another matter. I do believe that ideas are overused though- with so many creative outlets, I'm not sure if there are any original ideas left. And if this means that ideas are cheap, then I stand by the statement. Execution and implementation are the much harder steps in this process. It's so difficult to achieve flawlessness in these two areas.

A good idea wouldn't hurt though, however over/underused it may be. An idea with the potential to build out and to ultimately lead to that perfect execution, and that perfect novel.

Owled

Owled but not wise.
I think I've finally decided on the title of my novel.

... Now for the content.

NewBeginnings101

As much as I amuse myself by referring to life right now as an "unemployment" phase, the more sensible people in my life always remind me that I'm simply "between jobs"; though I would rather say "between countries" (figuratively, of course). Definitely a more dignified way of looking at things, and probably the right way too, seeing that the whole process of resigning and leaving Singapore was relatively smooth. Of course, leaving behind five years of adult life was hard, but let's say I've conditioned myself to not think too much about that. I give myself a cookie when I don't. Classical conditioning ftw.

I wonder if life is just a series of new beginnings, all strung together with random time gaps. Maybe it's how you look at it. For me, a new place is equivalent to a new beginning. I've had to make such a huge leap in the past only for academic pursuits; and now for work. There's never knowing where life can take you, I guess. If anything, I've learnt how to take things as they come. Or so I believe. Haha.