crazy but not lazy

Sat's papers got a few write-ups and interviews on endurance athletes. reading them gives me great admiration for these athletes and put me in self-doubt whether i could finish the ultra within the stipulated time. but well, just have to face the challenge. pre-race jitterly perhaps, LOL

In one of the articles, there was this part that said this,

"Over the years, psychologists have identified common personality traits - including persistence, endless curiosity, a lack of fear of failure and a sense of boldness- among endurance athletes"

haha, suits my personality traits.

but it got me to reflect, when we (students and staff and me included sometimes) are being stereotyped or when we are faced with some seemingly perceived injustice and biasness, we tend to get entrenched in this downward spiral. Our perception of things, people and situations get negatively affected. We become oblivious and blinded by these surface issues and perception that we forgot to reflect and examine the underlying factors and reasons that caused these issues. We started to point at the circumstances, people around us, other than ourselves. Actually, think of it, when we point our finger at someone or something or some where, the other fingers are pointing at ourselves.

The only way I feel to get out of this so-called "vicious cycle" is really change. and change is the most effective when it starts within ourselves. it is difficult to change others, but it is within our own means and control to change the ways we perceived and react to situations, people and issues. And if we can make that first step to manage and change ourselves, then we have step out of the vicious cycles. But making that first step to change ourselves is the toughest, because it means for many of us (and many a times), letting go of our big ego (face) and eating the humble pie. So, i see many of us choosing the easy way out by continuing to point at the whole world instead of themselves.

like I told one student off last week, "you are given a life and what are you doing with it? have you seen people of your age worse off than you and they are treasuring the every last bit of their lives, living it to the fullest and leaving a legacy behind?" I have seen and spoken to them and I was moved to tears.

So, people,
stop whining that the whole world is unfair and is biased and blablabla and for god's sake, live and treasure what is given to you. How we choose to face the world and people around us is the choice only we ourselves can make.

Make the choice now.

Phew! finally get out of my system.haiz, it just pains and saddens me when I see people (esp students) wasting their time and lives away.

funny, i tend to be very introspective in the wee hours of the day. am I reading too much into things? mmm...my body clock is haywire. 8-P

"You get out of a valley sooner when you manage to get out of yourself;
At work, by being of greater service,
And in life, by being more loving."

- Spencer Johnson "Peaks and Valleys"