After engaging in my annual war with dust for control over any surfaces in the house (which I gave dust 364 days in advance to prepare), I eventually maintain my defending champion title, but the victory was almost Pyrrhic. Dust quickly penetrated my defenses and made me a living wreck, virtually sick but not technically sick. I have now a running nose and feel like shit even though I don't think I am actually infected.
Nonetheless, whilst in that epic war, the lunar new year songs kept playing and advertisements proclaiming wishes of good fortune kept coming. And the economist in me questioned:
If everyone wished each other for good fortune, such as 恭喜发财, would that in effect mean anything at all? If everyone became rich, that would only result in inflation and no one will benefit from any gain in real income! $10 would probably become the new $1 if everyone wishes came true.
I pursued the idea further. So what wishes are more logical and sustainable to dish out? How would I know if a certain wish would be in effect something that actually helps not only the individual, but also society?
(This also led to a spin-off discussion of how wishes actually show how individualistic we are. We only wish for the person's welfare, but never keeping in mind that of society's. Of course, this argument would not hold if the said person being wished 万事如意 wishes to contribute to society)
And I eventually came to a conclusion, wishes for goods/services/anything that is not "economically defined" scarce will be the best wishes to make in benefit of the society. For instance, health. Health may be argued to be scarce (places to exercise is scarce, healthy food is also scarce), but I think we can somewhat agree that we can be healthy together. If we want to wish 马到成功 or 万事如意, we should add a modifier clause: only if you intend to help society.
No worries, this argument is flimsy at best. I will still wish you 恭喜发财! (:
Happy Chinese new Year!
I suffer from this. But it is also from this that I try to attain perfection (or at least my own standard) in whatever I do.
I have been ingrained that there's always a "right way" to do something, such that I shy away from trying out other methods.
This cripples me, especially in my foray into music.
I have met people who told me to follow tabs, I find such form of learning guided and hence more comforting to me.
Then I start to hear the term "play by ear". I know the phrase very well, I understand the purpose, I understand the flexibility. But I am unable to execute it, at least in my quest to learn an instrument. It stresses me when I have nothing to follow, with the worry that my own concoction would not be good enough for other ears to hear.
It's like, I both want my own style, but I still need a guide. But, I still have to try. Pain pain pain.
New Year Resolutions
Note to self:
1. 30 Cheap And Amazing Date Ideas For Couples
2. Trampoline Park
3. Use less "swear" words
4. Watch my tone: speak in a less condescending tone, sometimes good intentions may be masked by bad publicity
5. End my URECA with a bang!
Shall sticky this post for constant reminder (:
To continue my Harry Potter geek-fan-mode,
was thinking about which spell can be applied into our lives, and no points for guessing what it is.
Let's list down some facts:
1. The patronus charm can only be cast by good people (we are good, ain't we. good in every sense of the word =P )
2. It can only be cast when you think of happy things, things that provide you with joy.
When we are innately happy, or choose to remind ourselves of gleeful moments, we are inevitably protecting ourselves from harm: physical, mental and emotional.
3. It is one of the few ways to repel dementors, which in Harry Potter is, to me, an embodiment of fear, grief and sadness.
In dark times, sometimes when the situation in front of us seems to be hopeless and we feel useless, we must draw upon positive experiences to harness the strength to break free from those crippling feelings.
4. It displays your inner self, symbolised as an animal
Each of us are different in many ways, and this is evident in our actions and our beliefs. And who knows, a potential partner would have the same animal (but of the different sex) as you a la Snape?
Many at times we face grievous situations which would immediately draw a teardrop out of your eyelid, or cast despair over our souls and weaken our resolve to accomplish whatever we set out to do. However, many of us do not realise, or do not practice, casting the simple (although in HP's world the spell is said to be difficult xD) spell to protect yourself. Do you succumb yourself to the Dementor's kiss, or do you summon your courage and survive to fight another day?
I love drawing lessons and analysis, albeit far-fetched sometimes, from things I read and see and listen. This is one of them. And I hope we can all start of our Semester two on a high note. There will bound to be tribulations that we will face, and the journey will only get tougher and rougher. But keep up your determination and pride, and I hope to see you at the end of these trials!
Once again, thanks to your support! And yea, Yufei! Haha no worries I didn't neglect you (:
P.S. Mine is a stag. Is yours a doe? Find out! :O
