Live rainbow

I've come across so many people who get so shocked when others do not have knowledge of pieces of information that are of interest to the former. Often, their shock encompasses horror, disbelief and alarm. I used to be so taken aback by how worked up people can get.

As I age, I realize that it's because many people choose to live lives of a single hue, while I choose to live a life of a rainbow.

I'm not the Christian who listens only to Christian music. I'm not the artist who despises yuppies. I'm not the designer who finds engineers and scientists a bore. I'm not the musician who has eyes for nothing else.

It is not that I'm not singleminded, or that I'm unfaithful and distracted. On the contrary, it is precisely because I'm singleminded.

I'm singleminded in my pursuit to experience life in all its fullness. Frequently, even when I know clearly the painful consequences, I plunge head-in, so that I experience yet a new perspective and 'colour'.

I don't dismiss people, even when clear warning signs are given to indicate that they are 'bad news'. Even when past experiences suggest that these difficult people are possibly the same as the ones that had come before, I keep my arms wide open.

I was the jovial child. I was the angsty teen. I was the optimistic everything-will-turn-out-fine lass. I was the crybaby. I was the cynic. I was the trusting. I was the dreamer. I was the realist. I was everything.

Only this way, can I truly empathize with people from all walks. Only this way, can I sincerely weep for others, from my heart. Only this way can I comprehend this world in a much broader perspective, rather than from safety of a water-well's bottom.

Not that anything is wrong with people who choose to live monochromatic. We're all shaped uniquely. Some people strive for safety. We all have different priorities.

Why can't we all live harmoniously, recognizing that some people are just meant to be (or choose to be) colourful, and others, monochromatic? Neither is inherently wrong. Why does everyone instinctively gear for war against those who are different from them, even the slightest difference?

Judgment. Discrimination. Pride. Prejudice.

Why?

Copycats - downfall of a civilization

One factor that can lead to the downfall of a civilization/society/empire/nature, is the lack of creativity.

When people cease to contemplate the old ways that were created to suit the old times, and continually apply old ways in changing times, leading to the gradual but definite and unnoticeable degradation of a society.

Art is vital. Creativity is fundamental for survival.

Even cavemen and hunter-gatherers don't rigidly adhere to the old ways, but rather, they apply the experienced, tried and tested methods flexibly to their environment at their point of existence. They adapt creatively. Those who don't, usually die.

Creativity is not stereotypically all about glitz and glamour.

Think.

Random joke

My mom hurriedly wrote a birthday greeting to my 8 year-old cousin on a Red Packet.

This is what she wrote:

Dear Callista,

Happy Birthday!

Aunty Helen

Niece Janice

Managing giving

There have been too many VDPs (Very Draining Persons), and too little VIPs (Very Inspiring Persons).

Indiscriminating VIPs have to learn to exercise well people and time management skills, lest they burn themselves out, or fall into the VDP category.

There's a point when we need to know when to stop for a while because we all have a threshold and a certain breaking point.

Which is why we need rejuvenation, encouragement and inspiration/cheering up from the VIPs, instead of leading a life perpetually hounded and drained by selfish (whether consciously or subconsciously) VDPs.

15 minutes of fame, 1 century of poison

Someone and I were talking about how we both preferred the artistes of the 50s to today's.

I was saying that I feel Andy Warhol has a large part to play for how art in all its forms - music, acting, fashion, design, fine arts, etc. - has become today: meaningless and banal. He was the originator and all-time immense advocator of the theory and prediction, '15 minutes of fame'.

Over time, art has evolved to be about the artists themselves, and scarcely anything about the art itself. Whether it be music, design or fine arts, very often, art has become about the artistes, not the art. Effort and quality of the artwork are less important than if the artistes are gaining attention. It has caused people to be hungry about attention. It has caused people who are not interested in music to become musicians, and self-professed art lovers and connoisseurs who really just want to look good.

Even the truly ardent artistes are often distracted and misled by people's constant attention on them instead of their works, and people's pressure on them to emphasize on themselves instead of their works. Sometimes, the pressure leads them away from their works and talents, and causes them to lose their immense potential to what could have been great works of art.

A bistro opened for business at my alma mater art college months ago. Guess the name of the bistro?

Yes, you're right - '15 minutes'.

I thought to myself, "Seriously?"

Two blogs?

I've been toying with the idea of having two blogs - one for updates on my life, and another for my insights and contemplations.

Some friends gripe about finding not one post updating my life, especially friends who I don't hang out frequently with.

Some others gripe about my posts being too short (note the recent long posts).

So I have a handful of friends who are into activities updates, and another handful who are into mental-growth updates.

Also, often times, I have to greatly limit myself not to be too wordy when I'm sharing my insights, because the 'activities' friends mostly do not like words.

NTU jogging trails

I can't describe how thrilled I was when I found this link that suggests 13 jogging trails in NTU, according to the level of difficulty.

Not that I'm too lazy to find my own jogging trails, but that I'd really prefer to be given a starter first, since I'm not so familiar with the place yet. I don't want unfamiliarity with the place to be an excuse for procrastination, and leading to zilch exercise. There's a canteen within the Hall I'm staying in. Chloe said the food there is good. So, you see.