Tuesday 23 August 2011

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/SEAsia/Story/STIStory_705011.html


I would like to share a story that has left an impact on me.


A few years back when i was serving my National Service, i was being deployed to Sumatra a western island in Indonesia on a rescue mission. A partial part of Sumatra was affected by massive earthquakes and tsunami, millions of people are affected, many lives lost and some homeless.


While flying on the chopper, i looked down at the island it was terribly wrecked. There were many missing casualties that we have to search for, many were trapped under the collapsed building, some were swept away by the tsunami waves. Through this mission i thought to myself that how lucky we Singaporeans are living in a small countries that won't be easily affected by natural disasters as Singapore is surrounded by our neighboring countries.


We were around Lake Toba, which is well known as the largest volcanic lake in the world. Suddenly i felt a little tremor. I thought it was just my mind playing tricks on me, but the tremor gets heavier and harder that they sounded for evacuation. My team leader hurried us to get on the chopper for evacuation as the disaster site is getting unstable and dangerous. We managed to get on the chopper and flew off. While on the chopper i heard a massive explosion "boom"! like an atomic bomb that just dropped onto the ground. I look out of the chopper''s window and saw the super volcano erupted, a moment of guilt and irresponsibility haunted me ever since that incident happened. 


THIS IS A FICTIONAL STORY CONTINUED FROM THE ARTICLE ABOVE.

Saturday 13 August 2011

The story behind every song

"Turbulence - Bowling for Soup


I overheard this song through the radio when i was working at a retail store during the holidays.
Basically when the intro of the song is played, which is just a simple few notes of the acoustic guitar it somehow took my attention away to stop everything i do and just listen to every second of the song.


As i was working at the retail store during the long vacation, many things happened.
Things just can't go on the right track for me, which i also brought my emotions and thoughts to work that affects my 100% performance at work.
With motivation and encouragement i had from many close friends, i manage to continue and carry on with my 2 months contract job.


The lyrics of this song clearly explains my thoughts and the situation I'm in during the 2 months vacation.

"Its so hard to figure out, which way to turn. There's no going back now, all your bridges burned"
this is the first verse of the song, it explains the thoughts i had where i can't find a right direction of life and i've been thinking too much about the past which caused me to be unsure of my directions in life.

"Storm clouds all around you, but a blue skies on the way."
this is the pre-chorus of the song, which is also a very motivation phrase to me personally.
I'm feeling down most of the time during work where the storm clouds represent my emotions but i never thought that there's always happy moments up ahead of me which is also the blue sky.

"And we're all just passengers tonight, and we're all just traveling through our lives. We will reach our destination, so just hang on for the ride. Say a prayer and close your eyes, it's just a little turbulence."
We are all traveling on a very long journey, a journey of lives where we are all passengers. But every journey comes a point where its our destination which is our goal. So say a prayers and hang on, its just a little turbulence which affects our mind a little.

Last but not least.
"take a look around you, look how far you've come. Your whole life in front of you, you've only just begun. We've all got our problems, but they're just bumps in the road. If you only keep on fighting, there's no where you can't go."
This second verse really keeps me going on and tells me not to give up. Every journey, be it our lives or a bus ride, there's always bumps and unstable roads, but if our minds are strong like the engine of the car, we can definitely over come the humps and slopes of live.





Tuesday 2 August 2011

My Memorable Childhood "Bicycle"

Bicycle.

It started out one day when i was at the age of 5, my mummy bought me a bicycle.
A young and innocent toddler, of course i have no experience in riding a bicycle, therefore my mum bought me a bicycle that comes with styrofoam tires with two support wheels screwed at the rear wheel.

I rode the very same bike until i was at the age of 7, the bicycle has worn out and one of the support wheels came off and was unable to be fixed.

Instead of crying and pleading for a new bicycle, i rode my old bike with one support wheels.
Of course depending on the support wheels for two years balancing the bicycle, i would depend on them a lot and felt uncomfortable riding with only one support wheels, i just continued with what i have.

The playful me, still young and naive, went downstairs at the playground to play.
I brought my bicycle along with me, riding around the estate.

I was so not used to balancing the bicycle with just one support wheel, i fell badly and scarred my arms and knees. But that did not stop me from riding my bicycle.
So i kept on riding the bicycle until the last support wheel came off and wasn't able to be fixed, it eventually turn into a two-wheeler.

With my perseverance and courage, i hopped on my bicycle and started riding it.
Without knowing and realizing that i do not have my support wheels on, i rode my bike smoothly like an adult.

Through this childhood experience, i've learnt that Perseverance and Determination is a key that will lead you to success.