Ah, I was supposed to study today after classes but I decided to play football manager instead in the library. As usual, I put on music while doing anything really. I needed to listen to some new songs and decided to play the Spotify radio. There were some really good ones but one that stood out was Kiss the Rain by Yiruma. It’s an instrumental piece that is melancholic and beautiful while capable of making me reflect on my life. 

I guess after so many weeks of just pure work, study, work, study, events, I needed this. I needed to recollect myself. It’s been three years since I came to Sydney and study. I don’t now if I have grown much since the little kid that graduated from high school. Maybe I did. Maybe I haven’t. Many heartbreaks and lessons have been learned while I’m on this journey to discovering what kind of man I want to be. The mind immediately goes towards romance when we hear heartbreak but I think that’s a only small part of our lives. Our hearts does what it wants to and yearns for a relationship but I think most of them are misinterpreted signals. I have learned that there is so much more to us than just trying to find someone to be with. 

We sometimes think the world of our loved ones and feel that it’s just two of you against the rest of the world. We often forget that we are surrounded by people and the beautiful creations of God everywhere but we find ourselves alone at times. We are so much more than ourselves as we are connected to this amazing web of people and able to talk and stay alive through these relationships. We are given this amazing gift to help one another and give each other hope. I find that absolutely beautiful. We can’t make it through challenges by ourselves. Don’t let ego and pride take the better of you. Be humble and let those relationships in.

I am thankful for all the amazing people I have in my lives. Since young, I am constantly surprised and encouraged by the humanity people all around me have shown towards me and others. Regardless of which country I’m in, if you take time to notice around you, there’s always a person smiling or offering to help someone. These people, my family and my friends represent the variety of colours in my life. They are the reason why I’m happy and content in the midst of sadness and troubled times. We all have scars and wounds but look forward to the next day. You can never forget your past but don’t live in it. Every day is a new day. Don’t throw away that gift. Live in the present and be surrounded by the different colours. Let them in.

If you are feeling sad, chin up. Smile. The rain will pass. The droplets upon your face are only temporary. I know it sounds really optimistic but I guess that’s just me. I know I want to live my life with hope rather than going about everyday with a tinge of sadness. It’s easier? No? 

I just finished watching season one of Arrow, the more recent TV series that is now airing on the CW network. It’s definitely one of the best TV series I have watched. Amazing. 

Let it be put on record that this post is really not helpful to people that are up to date with their tv dramas but for those that have not watched or heard a single word about Arrow, this is music to your ears. I highly recommend it. My friend likes it so much that he places Arrow in his top 3 alongside Breaking Bad as his no. 1. Arrow is probably not in my top 3 but it would probably make the top 5.

What is Arrow about you say? It’s about a man named Oliver Queen (played by Steven Amell) who got stranded on an island for five years after being shipwrecked. Eventually, he makes his way back home to Starling City with only one goal in his mind. He is hell bent on saving his city following his father’s wishes and atone for his sins. Borrowing a quote from the show, “to do this, I must become someone else, I must become something else”. He becomes Arrow.

As the title suggests, Oliver Queen is a vigilante that shoots well, arrows. It’s a famous character from the D.C. universe that has now made it to TV. When I was watching this, I asked why do they not create a batman TV series instead. I later then realised that some things are meant for TV and some things are meant for the big screen. The character, Green Arrow is ripe and perfect for TV. The casting, flashbacks, story arcs, plot, score, character development, pacing and conflict is close to perfect for TV. The only thing that is lacking is probably humour. For such a dark series that delves into social justice and emotional trauma, I guess humour doesn’t really fit into it. 

At the end of the day, what you get from Arrow is action and fun while you fall in love with all the characters. It’s definitely a much more matured series than a lot of TV series out there. It knows the direction it is taking and every scene has a purpose. If you enjoy watching superheroes and like the Christopher Nolan batman trilogy, this is definitely worth watching for you. Good stuff. 

Most Malaysians would know by now about the missing plane (MH370, Boeing 777) that was flying from KL to Beijing. It has been two days and the plane has not been found. The only signs were oil slicks in the ocean and authorities from around the world are trying their best to search for any signs of life or wreckage. Malaysia Airlines had told relatives of the missing passengers to fear the worst. There is no sadder news than to be told your loved ones might be dead whilst not really knowing if it’s true. You can’t grief and yet you can’t rest. 

When I first heard the news, I felt really disheartened and sad because firstly, any plane that has gone missing is terrible news and there are 239 people on board. Regardless of which country the plane flew from, I felt sick to my stomach because I know out there in the world, relatives and friends are engulfed by worries and anxiety as they wait for further updates regarding their loved ones. Secondly, it didn’t help knowing that the plane is from my home country and that I have also taken Malaysian Airlines more than 50 times in my life. It could have been me on that plane or worse still, it could have been my parents as they do tend out to fly out to China for vacations and trips. Thirdly, as a man who wants to be an aerospace engineer, this news makes me think about what happens if I become one of the engineers responsible for the plane one day and this happens. Don’t get me wrong. This news is not about me. It’s about the perception that I have at that point of time.

The news appeared as major headlines across the world and it’s as though you could hear everyone talking about it simultaneously. I do not know anyone on that plane but I do know lots of people that know people on that plane. That’s how big the news was. Status updates regarding it on Facebook and Twitter came out in droves. Most status updates are genuine kind ones asking people to pray and keep the passengers in mind. What really ticked people and me off were the complete douchebags who tried to grab attention by blaming the plane crash on the government, religion and some go as far as to say because the plane is a ‘Malaysian’ product, therefore, it crashed. This kind of attitude is not only highly insensitive but stupid and idiotic. This news is no laughing matter and yet people do. If you have nothing good to say, don’t say it at all.

Statistically, flying is actually the safest mode of transport but I can tell you most people fear flying because of the perception of it, the perception that plane can go down any time and spiral in flames. Car crashes, accidents, murders, bombings and fires happen everyday and many die but most never make the headlines on news or grab people’s attention. Why? It’s because it happens everyday and therefore there is no anomaly and therefore not worth mentioning or not ‘big’ according to the media. When things like the plane accident happen, it gets to all of us because it reinforces our perception that flying is dangerous and that you can do down any time.

Life is fragile and we all know it. Well, most of us any ways. Some of us think we are immortals and that we can live forever. We can do whatever crap we like and we can get away with it. You want the truth? The crap you do over your life will catch up with you one day. We are not immortals. No, we don’t live forever. We are going to die one day and become ashes. That as much is true. For some of us like me who are religious, we believe that there will be judgement of our life in front of God. For the rest of us, we just stop existing altogether and be forgotten soon. Most of us are unable to accept on a daily basis that we can go any day including today. I read in a book once and I hold it close to my heart because it speaks volumes of our actions. “Only when you are ready to die, would you be ready to live.”

When you live that way, you look at things differently and you try to be a better person. Knowing that we did good, if we go, we go with peace and solace. We know we left a footprint for others to follow. Don’t abandon that ability. Deep down, you are inherently kind. Don’t deny yourself that. Be the good person you know you can be and make a difference in this world. 

On a final note, I pray for all the people out there in the plane. I really hope that they all survived. Until they are found, I refuse to give up hope that they died. I pray for all their relatives and friends that they will stay strong during this time. Life is fragile. Love your family and friends while you still can. Don’t ever give up. Not on yourself. Not ever.