That Momentous Present

It's been a while since I've updated the blog. It is for a good reason though. I really love to share my trash, about the silly thoughts and ridiculous feelings I have on people and events around. It is a very profound algorithm, having to go through that short thinking process when an incident of the least importance in my life shoots pass at the moment, and enabling myself to generalize and make sense of it to my friends and most importantly, to myself.

I went for the stage musical "Rent" the other day. I didn't do much reading up on it before going for it. I must admit, the sound system and acoustics in Kallang Theater was not very conducive for me to pick up the words and story. I wished they were singing half the speed and “vowelized” more with exaggerated mouth contortions. And plus the fact I was sitting 3 storey up and looking down at everybody's forehead, it didn't help to know that the size of the actors were the size of my thumb held up in front of me. … Oh well, for 120 bucks and a lousy theater, what can we expect? I thoroughly enjoyed the second Act, where topics about love and human relationships were constantly serenaded. How fiercely they sang about the youthful passions and struggles in life and the courage to stay undecided, and be proud to pursue your dreams.

I was reminded a very simple lesson in life recently, by someone who's slowly and surely accelerating in importance to my life. Inspired by his "Car Park" theory, I likewise am going to allocate one very unique and special lot for him. The lesson is to focus on the present. The thought of it was so logical and obvious, and yet, it had simply slipped out of my mind over the years. Perhaps studying Computer Science had warped my thought patterns so much that I could instantaneously think up multiple scenarios and results, all possible assumptions and contributing factors to various branch of decision making, in that snap of a finger. This had perhaps been a stumbling block to me and had complicated my life more than I should allow it. I could cut it all down you know, and to simply concentrate on making the best of that momentous present. We can't control the future and we can't change what's past. But we can determine quite well and to turn things right for that second. We really ought to do this.

This is perhaps another lesson that I've learn from "Rent". A person who is full of self awareness, and not being afraid to admit his insufficiencies in life, to acknowledge his fears and its uncertainties, is indeed a rare beauty. We don't have to be absolute and definite all time. And when we do concede to those ambiguities in life, it is not a weakness, but a silent built-up to embrace them wholeheartedly at our own pace.

The story runs a lot deeper than the time I could spare to read up on it. I would rather put down my own understanding after watching than to follow the mainstream critiques. Then again, we should not have too much absolute, right? Having different perceptions and opinions is still the one common dignity in life.

Semplice Simon