Examinations; Understanding or Memorising?

Take a Step back, and think.

I wouldn't consider my holidays to be in full swing, nor is it in a total standstill. Due to some unpredicted circumstance, total liberation from school has been delayed, to much dismal reception.

On hindsight, I've never been a real big fan of written examinations, but I mean, who is?

2 hours spent in a cold room with nothing but pen, brain and hand. All those late nights, all those long hours spent memorizing factual information, everything lies within those 2 precious hours.

Make it or break it.

Since the dawn of time (seemingly), examinations have always been the forefront of being an indication of a person's understanding of the subject, well at least in the current trend of society.

What you know, is what you're worth, or so they say.

Sure, education is about understanding and ultimately learning, but really, let us take a step back and reminisce the times where nights of precious sleep was given up due to the following day's exams.

Is this learning?

Often I heard the people around me, even educators, talking about written examinations. Multiple interpretations arise but my personal favorite has to be "exams are just vomiting everything out, and back onto the script, which is then handed in".

An interesting analogy I feel.

The society's indication of a person's worth is limited in terms of measurement standards. The number of As you have in your report card often determines your chances of getting the job you desire.

And to me, that is largely disturbing. The society has "evolved" to such stage that we are so result oriented. So much so that we lose sight of the big picture.

However, this is where the paradox comes in.

Examinations does have its educational uses as well. For one, the presence of exams acts as a spur and a drive for individuals to actually make an effort to learn something. And ironically, being in such a result oriented society, that in itself is a motivator.

It is human nature that when we lose out, we feel horrible and we naturally want to do better, to compete and to excel; nobody likes or wants to lose.

To draw the line between boundaries.

We have to draw the line very clearly between knowing something and understanding it; what you know might not be something you understand.

And for me, education is all about understanding and learning something new. Never mind if you know the exact use of Mandelstam variables or the definition of quantum chromodynamics by the tip of your hands, understanding the theory and the principle behind such complexities in life is what I feel education is all about.

Sure, all hell breaks lose when the storm comes but what happens after that?

Right that's that. Now for a little update on metallic-stains.

Its been quite awhile since the blog's last post (as seen below) largely due to exams and school commitments but since that's (almost) behind, we're back in business.

For starters, I've added a little something to make interaction easier (and faster) with you guys my readers.

Blogger introduced this new feature quite some time ago and thus I'm putting it into use. Here it is,

As seen at the end of every post.

Reactions. That's what the feature is called (its the "yes" and "no" thing beside "Dig the post?") and its basically a "poll" where readers can click, select and express how they feel about the post.

Pretty interesting huh.

With Reactions, it'll be easier to obtain feedback about the post and the blog, and also easier to see if people like (or hate) the particular post. So yea, feel free to use the feature.

Its always a nice feeling to me when I see visitors from all over the world on metallic-stains. Recently I've been observing a flow of visitors interesting countries all over the world and I really appreciate that.

And you guys out there if you're reading this, feel free to comment and a big shout out to all of you.

Also, feel free to follow the blog by clicking on the "follow this blog" feature located on the right tool bar for updates.

Audrey has been busy of late and for those interested, be sure to visit the flickr page (link is located on the toolbar to the right).

Alright, I guess that's that for now. Metallic-stains is back, so be sure to check back for updates and the lot.

Great stuff soon to come.

Stay Gold!

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Now playing: Anberlin - A Day Late
via FoxyTunes

As We Say Goodbye

Another year comes while another passes.

First post of the new year, though I admit, it is a little delayed. I guess its due to the bulk of activities as well as the various colorful new year celebrations which I was involved in over the past couple of days.

A difference in the numbers on your calender? I won't presume its that simple. The start of the new year yields much significance as it indicates changes and growth and more importantly, development.

Well, at the start of a new year, I'm pretty sure that the usual cliche surrounds us; new year resolutions, new year wishes, fireworks and the traditional countdown. From squeezing amongst the thronging crowds in hopes of getting the best view of the fireworks display at the stroke of midnight (from wherever you guys are in the world), to writing up new year resolutions on your personal diary or web blog, I'm pretty sure we've "been there, done that".

However here at metallic-stains, we tend to do things a little differently. So instead of the new year's resolution you may see on numerous sites, I'll be doing up a little "new year's appreciation", something which I think, we take for granted in our busy and hectic lives nowadays.

Such memories and reminisces.

Looking Back At Year 2008

Well, the year 2008 has been a turning point in my life, as in individual and also as a 17 year old youngster (understatement, perhaps?). I've undergone a huge change, at least to me personally, especially emotionally, largely due to certain events which happened during the course of the year.

To put it in one sweet statement; I've climbed and fell as I hit the bottom before reaching for the ladder of life again to climb back up.

Certainly the highlight of the year was my new experience in a totally different educational environment in the form of a polytechnic. I've met new people who have taught me things I would have never known or be able to acquire through the medium of the internet; things that can only be derived from real life experience.

I also found my passion. No, we're not talking about an individual here but my passion for the media. Ironically, I've never thought that this was meant to be until I took my first step into the world of media. It was then that I realized that it was a sign.

Pretty deep stuff there but I guess its the little things like that which defines and crafts the outline for the rest of your lives.

I wouldn't have survived, or kept going, without the people around me of course and this would be a great opportunity to show my appreciation via a couple of mentions.

To Mum and Dad, thank you. Thank you for believing in me throughout the years (especially year 2008) and standing by me even when hope was seemingly lost and even though I rarely show it, I really appreciate everything that you guys have done for me, to shape and guide me onto the right path in life. It is family which will stand by you no matter what you become, or how you end up, cause they are after all, your family.

To God Mum, though you'll probably not read this (due to language constrains and my limitation to articulate in mandarin), thank you for everything you've done for me all these years. From cleaning me up before I could even say "mum mum" (which means food, in baby language. I think) to watching me sling my heavy bag everyday as I head out for a new day at school, you've been there taking care of me and I really appreciate that. Thank you.

To Friends, which play a indispensable role on multiple aspects. I'm sure that everyone around me isn't exactly used to such "statements" from me as I don't often show my appreciation openly but a big thank you as well, for being around me and providing me with the laughs and imparting valuable lessons to me. I thank you guys for being there and being happy.

And finally, to the Readers of metallic-stains, who fuel me with my drive and motivation, I thank you formally for your readership. Your support and feedback structures a irreplaceable position in the foundations of the site as well as within the management team. Without you guys, metallic-stains will not be as it is today and with that, I thank you for everything.

2008 has been memorable indeed.

But what's the use of living in the past with your back facing the future?

One follows another; that's how Time works.

Looking Ahead At 2009

As mentioned in my previous post, the year 2009 will see changes which starts with the very site you're staring at right now. Metallic-stains will undergo a minor management change and content organization, details of which can be referred to in the previous post.

In terms of content on the site, I'm pretty sure that 2009 will see a new influx of experiences and inspirational happenings all around which means that readers will be treated to a feast of content from multiple perspectives and thus, will be able to engage themselves in stimulating topic and share their views in the form of comments or feedback.

In terms of course related work, (a couple of months into) 2009 will see the start of my journey as a year 2 individual. Naturally, I'm embracing newer challenges as well as newer learning experiences. Sure, work might get a little more hectic as compared to whatever previously encountered but what's life without the occasional challenge to strengthen one's resolve and expertise?

2009 will be a tough year for many, due to the evident global economic crisis. Financial activity looks set to slowdown which will incur repercussions for sure on everyone in the society.

But while some see it as a defeat, I see this economic situation as a test. A gauge of the society's ability to make the best out of the worse and recover as soon as possible. Belt tightening will have to be practiced (if not already) but I guess its a form of discipline as well.

As we say goodbye to the old and welcome the new, memories will still put that smile back on your face.

So as we say goodbye to 2008 and welcome 2009, let us reflect on the finest moments of year 2008 and smile for all that's worth.

But a coin has two sides and surely the finest moments will have their negative equivalents. Let us not forget the lessons learn in 2008 and take the valuable experience and knowledge along with us into the new year.

This is a new era, a new chapter in our lives and as we say goodbye, think but don't regret, ponder but don't over analyze and finally, react but be happy and stay positive because at the end of the day, being able to sit back with a smile on your face is the best feeling ever.

I'll see you guys around and once again, Happy 2009!


*The management team of metallic-stains.blogspot.com, would like to extend their thanks to the readers all around the world for continuous support of the blog and also wish everyone a Happy and fruitful 2009.

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Song of the Post



Now playing: Saosin - You're Not Alone
via FoxyTunes

Walking in a (Winter) Wonderland

Beauty of the night.

With Christmas lurking just around the corner, days away, the past couple of days were spent in crowded frequents, comfortable coffee houses (Starbucks) as well as scenic backdrops.

Indeed, the people around are getting into the Christmas mood evidently but it must be said that as compared to the previous year, moods ain't as high up.

Seeing that it was Christmas, I decided to give myself a little treat as well. Took a walk around town and looked around the music store, as usual.

A music CD would make a really good present for myself and amongst the myriad up for grabs, Paramore's CD/DVD, The Final Riot! caught my attention.

The Final Riot!

I must say, the cover of the album is certainly appealing on multiple levels, I'm sure you might agree as well. Kudos to the designer.

At $20.95, the DVD/CD is a steal of a buy. Aside from 15 Live tracks (featuring songs from both the first and second Paramore albums), this 2 CD set also features a live concert DVD.

Think, over one hour of hard hitting tracks from a budding alternative rock group with a dash of energy and stage presence. Certainly something to make you head bang to with addictive tempos and high octave vocals.

Okay don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to push the product here on metallic-stains but for those of you out there interested in the genre or the band, all I'm saying is that its worth the money and time.

Leaving that for now.

The annual season of Christmas is significant for various reasons, to each his own. But it also signals the coming end of the calender year.

And though it may seem a little early, I've decided to talk about a couple of resolutions for metallic-stains.blogspot.com upon the arrival of the year 2009.

This site was founded (or created, rather) a couple of months ago and has thus moved and evolved from its original purpose, look as well as feel, which is a good thing as change often spurs for improvement.

However what better way to mark the start of a new year then to implement further changes and improvements?

That being said, I thought about a change of fundamental posting frequency and classification for the posts you readers see here on the site. Here's the current breakdown;

- Periodic updates
- Periodic narratives
- Occasional articles

As seen, the flow and frequency of posts are rather irregular and unorganized. I plan to revolutionize and implement a change as seen here;

- Updates (Once per week)
- Subject Posts (Unrestricted per week)
- Narratives (Situational)
- Articles (At least 2 published monthly)

To me, the readers are my target audience and thus I feel that you guys have the right to know about the site's composition as well as organization.

And with this new implementation (with effect from 2009), I hope that readers will be able to orientate and adhere to a mode of consistency amongst the posts and publishes of metallic-stains.

So be sure to stick around. Feedback is of course, deeply valued amongst the management team so keep those coming in!

And moving on to the subject for today's post.

Eluding Silence.

The past couple of hours were fruitfully spent, well to me at least.

A little walk around town certainly helps one to think about things not usually considered as well as problems, of course.

Of course there was a reason for the walk but at this point in time, I would leave it undisclosed (but will reveal why in coming posts so be sure to check back).

What if one had everything to loose but, against all odds, chooses to stake everything on the line?

Many a time in the course of life, we find ourselves trapped in such situations which is often thought provoking; if we know we might (and most probably will) lose something, why are we doing it?

I guess situation varies. It largely pivots on the importance of that "something" to the person in question, which will determine how much the person is willing to stake and put on the line.

It must be said that it is human nature to deter from the things we feel less confident in achieving success. Quite understandably so at that for I'm pretty sure that most if not all of us, hate to fail or lose something significant.

We often hear of phrases like "I would give my (something significant) up, if I could have (something even more significant)" and I guess this is why humans engage in this curious behavior of putting all that we have on the line, simply put, we are always looking for something more.

It would be injustice to say that this behavior is due to greed but it does however, work along the logic of that.

We as humans, are always looking for something better, seeking improvement though we rarely identify this need but what if we lose it all? What if everything falls through and all is lost? That is another behavior to consider.

Moving forward, looking ahead.

It is an interesting process when failure exhumes one's period of life. Some individuals are able to get over it quickly while others linger on, in hopes of making amendments for things in the past.

For me personally, I daresay that I once lived in the past but ironically, I'm living in the future now.

Its good to anticipate failure but sometimes you go ahead with making mistakes though know perfectly what you're doing and the repercussions it may cause.

It takes a hurt to learn, sometimes.

So that's that, a little food for thought I guess. Be sure to check back for updates and lots of (Christmas) goodies to come. Watch this space.

Cya'll later

"Your Little Decoy"

*The owner and management team of metallic-stains holds no right, share or commission in the sales of Paramore's Final Riot! DVD/CD. All related references made belongs to its rightful owner. Usage of pictures (excluding the Final Riot! cover) without referencing or permission might result in undesirable consequences*

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Song of the Post


Now playing: Paramore - Decoy (Live)
via FoxyTunes

Use The Force; Harnessing Change

This really just makes us sit back, and wonder if we're truly alone out here.

Sometimes Life grabs you by the feet and what happens? You trip over.

You look back to see what you've tripped upon, you see nothing and thus you move on with your life.

Or is it really how this works?

I guess the situation in our current context would differ vastly from that of mentioned above wouldn't it?

When Life grabs you by the feet and catches you off guard, causing you to trip and fall, will you, will anyone, "move on" just like that?

We cannot hide the fact that in Life, there are bumps, setbacks, problems and dilemmas around every corner, every phase. But let us take a step back and think, is there a greater reason elaborating on the reason for these "inconveniences" in the course of Life?

My last couple of weeks were spent, a huge delegation, to the priority of school work and worldly commitments. My only source of relaxation came from limited sources; music, friends and more importantly, family.

However, I've recently dug into the archives of my rather inadequate movie collection and revisited the epic saga also known as Star Wars.

Being one of my all time favorite production series as well as storyline (not forgetting the mouth watering technological marvels), a hint of nostalgia fitted knowingly into my mind, as I watched the entire series, over the course of weeks of course.

For some, Star Wars may just be another science fiction action series will an awesome (and elaborated) storyline with addictive content and indeed, I can be considered amongst "some". But personally, there is a deep underlying aspect behind this mammoth of a concept that George Lucas had put together.

Amidst a conversation a couple of hours back with my folks (who are, by the way, fans of the series too), this topic of Star Wars' content was brought up. It was mentioned that the storyline and themes of the series were based off those in the real world.

At first, I was skeptical about that claim; how can a movie with flying spaceships, alienated characters and men wielding laser swords replicate the real society? But thinking about it in retrospect, I found truth in that statement.

We cannot hide the fact that there is political tensions in the world we live in and that's the first replication to that of the series. There is an underlying message in the series as it revolves around the accent of politics in the background as a side plot to the main storyline. Manipulation is also evident as a fringe to the story line's themes.

"May the Force be with You"

I'm sure many have heard of this term at some point of their lives, whether its during a geeky online chat or even during your daily trip to the dentist, we cannot hide the influence this phrase has on society, though on a very subtle level.

The Force, however, does exist in real time context; let us view this with a little literal intent encrypted.

As mentioned at the start of this post; if Life grabs you by the legs and causes you to fall, what do you do?

Interestingly, I feel that this "Force" has its truths in this context.

There is no doubt that at some point in our lives, we have always felt like giving up, felt like not making the effort to recover from the fall caused by the bumpy road and as a result, we blame instead of rectify.

Is there a difference?

For sure, in my opinion. When we fall, what do we usually do on first reaction? We think and figure out how we fell. Next, we think about why we fell which will often encompass the negative, but natural, reaction of human beings; to blame.

Individualistically speaking, we react differently from different "falls". This is also dictated via the subject matter in question; "falling" out of love, for instance, will grant a different reaction from "failing" to close a business deal, so to speak.

I now question this intention; what is the purpose of blaming?

Till this day, I cannot safely accredit an answer for that lest the fact of venting frustrations. Naturally, human beings are highly emotive creatures and when we're at a loss, or in a situation of desperation, we automatically seek alternative forms of finding out the "right" solution.

Take this for example;

You enter this wonderful relationship with another individual and the both of you are happy, most of the time. Suddenly, there is a change in things and your partner has to move away, out of the country, thus signaling the end of the union.

You're at a lost, you will thus turn to blaming. Blaming the reality of distance and the fact that he or she has to leave because of that. But have you even thought that there might be another reason, aside from distance (for example), for the "fall"?

Certainly we don't see the un-obvious, for as the term suggests, is not obvious thus often overlooked, but what if there's a reason for everything that happens?

For many, a change in Life is often considered a good example of a "fall".

Like moving to another country for work purposes or as mentioned, getting hurt in a relationship; we often classify these as "falls" thus giving truth that little or no human is comfortable to change.

Fusing both blame and change, we then get this elaborated vicious cycle that limits and weakens the progress of humans individually as well as collectively.

I brought the issue of Star Wars up because I found that aside from the factors mentioned about the emulation of real life aspects, the issue of change and blame is very evident, and in fact, the root of all evil.

Allow me to elaborate.

Remember this little character called Anakin Skywalker? Oh, maybe the name "Darth Vader" would clear off some confused faces (if you don't know the plot, you might want to consider watching the series and/or reading up for a tint of the plot).

In a way, this entire storyline focuses on him; his founding, his development, his manifestation as well as ultimately, his end. A particular quote from the film that I found really insightful;

"Fear leads to anger, anger leads to hate, hate leads to suffering..."

Indeed, for the root of all evils starts from a change, which induces fear into him. This then paves the way for blame to step in as Anakin along the plot, starts blaming for the things around him and his situation, instead of his own wrong doings which is evident in the final climatic scene in Episode III, Revenge of the Sith, where an exasperated Obi-Wan says:

"You (Anakin) were the Chosen One! It was said that you would, destroy the Sith, not join them. It was you who would bring balance to the Force, not leave it in Darkness"

All of this with ultimately led to Anakin's suffering, as he ventures towards the dark side of the Force.

Which brings me to the next point of this topic.

I would largely like to believe that the "Force" does exist in Life, though not in the dramatic form you see in the movie. Everyone has this Force from within themselves, just that few can understand and truly master its potential.

The Force to me, is simply a way of thinking. It can be considered, to a certain extent, the very thing that drives you, the very thing that you live by and the very thing that you believe in.

Very so often during the various movies of Star Wars, we see the Jedi Knights in terrible situations, in need of their lightsaber. Which is when they call upon the Force to psychically summon the lightsaber.

Though this makes a good effect in the movie and fantasy world, I believe that there are real connotations to that subject matter.

Think of your lightsaber as something you need very badly. Something that, in the given situation, you require urgently and the Force as your mind.

Say for example, you really need a car for that Saturday night date you've been planning since first grade. That becomes your "lightsaber".

What do you do?

By using the Force to reach for the "lightsaber", which may result you in getting a part time job to raise the funds, or any action taken to obtain that "lightsaber".

Indeed we can classify the Force as a way of thinking but then again, I feel that subjectivity plays a part in this argument as everyone has different interpretations of the Force.

The constant fear of change, viewed in another perspective is just a way of moving another step up the stairway of life.

With the problem (fear of change) as well as the solution (using the Force) presented, it is now down to the matter of applying the solution to the problem.

Many a time, we are faced with the prospect of change and as mention, are naturally not acceptable to them. So what do we do?

Its all in the mind, I usually assure myself. Even if my "lightsaber" is something deemed too radical or hard to achieve, I'd still use the Force.

In a way, I feel that Life is, blatantly put, Change. Which makes perfect sense as Life encompasses a myriad of problems, big and small. Thus we must be susceptible to change and this can be achieved via the harnessing of the Force, in doing so bridging the gap between problem and solution.

An old quote from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho states (and I'm sure I've mentioned it previously);

"If you want something bad enough, the entire universe will conspire for you to get it"

That, I feel, relates strongly to this "Force", when viewed from a certain aspect. Harness the change, eradicate fears and use the Force to achieve the seemingly impossible.

So the next time Life grabs you by the feet and you fall, learn from that experience and move on with the Force and your "lightsaber" set in your mind. Only then, will you propel up the endless steps of improvement set along the stairway of Life.


*The owner of this blog and author of this does NOT own any of the images you see in this particular post. Any related references made to "Star Wars" is purely nonprofitable and credit is reserved for the creator of the content as mentioned. The author and owner for this post, along with its management team, does not have any affiliations to the company behind "Star Wars".

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Now playing: Cute Is What We Aim For - Lyrical Lies
via FoxyTunes

Discretion or Inspiration? (Part 2)

A place where no one dwells, where nature is untouched, where troubles are non-existent, where dreams live and where hope is alive.

Just a quick mid week update, though the main purpose of this post is to complete the narrative as seen in the previous post.

Life never fails to amaze. Well, at least for me. I've come to realize that there's more then meets the eye to life than "making money and dying peacefully". I mean we see "death" everyday (in the media, for starters) so I guess the society's already shaped and crafted in such a way that we discredit the true meaning of life in general.

Achieving dreams might seem like something out of a novel but I can assure you that it is very real. So real in fact, that even we, fail to notice its prominence.

Its good to dream, its good to aim and its good to plan your life. But what drives it is action, motivation as well as direction.

Dreams and ambitions do come true.

Oh well, on a lighter note, I realize that there is evident change in my sleeping pattern; I'm able to draw larger amounts of energy from lesser amounts of sleep. Something tells me that this isn't exactly what you'll define as a "healthy" lifestyle.

Hmm...

Alright, now for the finale on the previous running narrative. We'll pick it up right where we left; just as the farmer was about to fall asleep (the irony).


"

The morning will bring new hope, the farmer thought to himself as he climbed onto his bed as fell asleep. A soft rumble, barely audible, vocalized in a distance just as the farmer fell asleep...

(END OF PART 1)

-

A cruel dawn broke out against the countryside and though the morning had come, the golden sunshine that the people have grown accustomed to was nowhere to be found. Instead, a huge ominous cloud of enormous statue loomed over the vast fields of the countryside, many of which ripen and ready to harvest.

It was all calm, too calm and then, it was here.

A sudden impulse, and all hell broke loose. The farmer started into consciousness and jumped from his bed. A quick glance outside revealed only one thing as emotion gripped him like a predator on its prey; fear.

So all that talk about a storm and floods were true, the farmer thought to himself as he threw some clothes on, preparing for the worse while he did so.

As if on cue, the first drop of water from the sky descended with the loud complement of thunder in the sky. A light drizzle soon followed, peppering the fields with a dash of water, signaling something of a greater magnitude to follow.

The farmer could hear the light patter of rain falling upon the shack's frail, but sustainable roof; it often leaked. The tempo of the raindrops slowly increased as with the rate of his heartbeat.

-

With rain beating down harshly upon the farmer's already soaked overalls, the farmer didn't slow down for a minute as he repeated a simple chain of actions; pluck, dump into bag, move on to next harvest.

His mind however, was involved in a mix battle of conflict from within, as question after question filled his already troubled mind, deliberating about his actions and the consequence.

As if emphasizing on the already grim situation, streaks on lightning framed the livid skyline, thunder roaring as if in accomplice.

-

Time passed seemingly slow but the rain had only beat down with renewed vigor. And by now, the farmer's fatigue reached an all time low. His movements were sluggish and clumsy.

Bit by bit, his vision clouded. Was it the rain thickening? Or was it just after storm mist which shrouded his surroundings? He mumbled to himself, obviously in delirium and much suffering and torment.

The skies struck once more. A flash of pure energy hit home and the farmer felt the ground shaking, as if shattered by the powerful force of nature itself.

The world around him turned to black.

-

The countryside saw the worse storm that day, one of the most destructive in recent years.

Homes had to be rebuilt, harvest re-cultivated, and hopes had to be re-established. That year also saw the quietest mid autumn festival in the countryside; many lives were ruined and many others stripped of faith.

Few gathered around the traditional mid autumn bon-fire, which didn't looked as impressive as it was last year.

Already the countryside prophets predicted that the torrent of rain that struck the country a couple of days ago was only a fraction of what the year's winter would encompass and rage.

A light chime made its way amongst the small mass gathered there, seeking the last source of warmth before the harsh winter.

Voices were hushed and soft for everyone gathered and prayed softly. There were no feasts. There were no decorations, nor were there any song and dances; everyone provided with whatever little they have left from the storm.

As the Shepherd stepped into the circle that has been made around the minute bon-fire, the voices slowly focused from a distortion of mumbles.

"I heard that a farm on the outskirts..." said one.

"Yes, I've heard it too." Another commented.

"totally destroyed, that one" came the answer.

"The creator blesses them"

The Shepherd's curiosity got to her as she strained to eavesdrop further (no one talked to her as they found no use for her, largely due to her trade).

Sleepless nights had eroded her; her eyes looked tired, her face looked haggard and her hands were shaky. But nothing deteriorated more then her mind. Day and night, she kept thinking about that encounter with that farmer she encountered.

Something. Something made her feel that way, as if a voice was calling out to her everyday. But she failed to verbalize whatever that was making her feel this way.

Unknowingly, the Shepherd has wandered to a desolated spot which looked vaguely familiar to her. A feeling of deja-vu gripped her tightly as she replayed the encounter in her head. There was something about those eyes.

She then saw it. Right there, as if unaffected by the torrent of rain over the period of the pass few days; an apt comparison of the persistent feelings that eluded her all this time.

She knew what to do.

-

A cloud of smoke cleared and the smell of burnt wood was pervading the usually fragrant countryside air.

The farmer was kneeling in front of what looked like the remains of the shack he once lived in, tears welling up in the eyes as he looked in agony.

His shirt was stained with mud for he had fainted just as the rain climaxed a few days back. He had awoken with the devastation before he eyes; his ruined harvest, ravaged fields and more importantly, his destroyed shack.

His parents though, weren't anywhere to be found and he wept at the prospect of them being amongst the charred ruins.

-

The clouds above soon cleared and the countryside saw the first glimpse of the golden sun's rays through the canopy of clouds that raged its anger upon the countryside.

Slowly, golden rays illuminated the countryside, the vast pastures, the lush trees and the green grass, laden with water over the pass couple of days.

A tint of golden fell on the broken farmer as he wept before the devastation, with it, a soft, familiar sound of bells rang from afar.

The farmer doubted his ears but his vision could deceive him no more; a silhouette along the horizon against the setting sun confirmed his thoughts.

She's here, he said.

(End of Part 2)

"

Alright that's all for this part. I must say that a considerable amount of thought was put into this episode so I hope you guys enjoy it as much I writing it.

On a random note, its freaking cold where I am so.

Time for dinner but before I take my leave, I would like to share a particular song, as seen below, to all my readers out there.

Feel free to feedback about the narrative as you deem fit and I'm considering a follow up quite soon.

Cya'll later.

"These words were never easier to say, or her to second guess"

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Now playing: Mayday Parade - Miserable At Best
via FoxyTunes

Discretion or Inspiration?

Was down at the Cathay an hour or so back for a little R&R and guess what I saw.

A beauty isn't it?

Well, say "aye" if you're a car fanatic as you'll probably know where I'm coming from. But that wasn't all...

Oh. My. God.

An ENTIRE row of Astons. Right in front of me. I swear, the radius of a hundred meters around me was probably worth well over millions.

Though Astons aren't exactly my personal favorites, this spectacle would probably wow typical car junkies.

I soon found out the reason for such a gathering.

Apparently, Cathay was gearing up (pun intended) for the premier launch of the latest Bond Movie, Quantum of Solace (out in theaters in a couple of days).

And thus explaining the reason behind all the Astons parked there. Talk about a publicity stunt.

Alright, time for a little update.

I've noticed a trend in my post frequencies as of recent durations. No, blogging hasn't converted itself into a weekly affair; I'm just too caught up with school work and the such. The added disadvantage of not having stable access to the internet during weekdays further amplifies this issue.

But fret not readers, articles and updates will be posted soon and in fact, I'm actually considering registering metallic-stains as an independent domain by itself.

This is very subjective though, due to various factors (ie. costs) and simply due to the fact that the idea came along as a random thought.

Week 4 marks the start of various ICAs and for my readers who require clarification about the abbreviation, its simply your average graded assignment (ie. project presentations, written tests).

I realized that creativity is the essence of success as seen in multiple cases (like Apple Corporation for example). Sure, there's a certain degree of difficulty in being creativity, but I believe that everyone is creative to a large extent thus there is no excuse for success.

On a side note, I never thought that time would fly so (freaking) fast. Barely a year ago, I would be cooped up in my house, viciously mugging and remembering as much detail as I possibly can in preparation of the O level examinations.

There are certain events in life that can literally break or make a person and I guess that this crude and somewhat critical education system that we're currently in does have its positive outcomes as well.

At this point in time, I would like to share a little narrative that I thought about while in the shower a couple of days back (told you guys that one of my main periods of thought occurs during showers didn't I?) and here goes;

"

A cold winter morning blew a bitter chill over the flat country lands. Everyone left in search of new hope when the immerse colds struck. While only a few others decided to pursue seemingly broken dreams in the harsh waste land.

The farmer was one of them.

This plot of land was the only thing he had owned in his entire life and not even the harshest of winds would have deterred his will to stay rooted there. In a way, it was more than just a home to him.

Yes, winter had come early this year in this region but as usual during this period, everyone in the country left towards warmer urban areas, in hopes of new opportunities. Only the old or sickly was left behind, largely reluctant to leave due to emotional bonds similar to that of the farmer.

But the farmer was only 18 of age.

There was something different about him for sure. While others of his age had snubbed the idea of staying in the country, he saw what he needed to do here and has thus decided on his decision to stay.

As the farmer sat down in his small shack shared with his elderly parents, massive sacks of seeds surrounded him. He knew that winter would soon end and it would be time. Time to make a change and time to move on.

The farmer wasn't without ambition; he had big plans for this land he had valued so much over development. One day, he told himself, people will see the value of country lands.

Indeed, he has studied the lands in the country for one too many years and had thought that he knew everything there is to know. But what he didn't learn was that every winter was different from the previous, a crucial detail that he ignorantly overlooked which he'll soon pay a deep price for.

Soft cracks presumed as the farmer diligently separated and sorted out the seeds.

-

Too many bone biting winter chills had passed since the farmer sat in his shack, sorting the seeds out. He knew that winter was about to end, and before he slept that night, he prayed to whichever god he knew, asking for the dawn of a new hope and chapter in his life.

The grim overcast skies of dawn showed no improvement. A crack, however, soon printed itself in the center of the vast greyness. Slowly but surely, it widen and a golden ray of warmth and hope pieced the dull monotony of the country side.

The farmer felt warmth on his face as he stirred in bed. He smiled with his eyes still closed for he knew that the time was here.

-

The seeds were all planted in the vast area of land that the farmer owned and valued more than anything else. And with a satisfied look from his face as he viewed his pass week's effort to plant the seeds, he felt confident about his progress. His aged parents too, felt his confidence and they too, basked in it.

The coming of spring saw the return of the those who left and new faces in the country.

The farmer knew that they wouldn't last the winter as they would probably be too impatient and thus made no efforts to befriend them.

-

A festive-like atmosphere soon filled the country side. The farmer visited the country's market square only to find tents and bonfires being erected and smiling faces filled the streets.

It was a common sight in the non-winter seasons as considerable numbers flocked to the market square to gather supplies, interact as well as soak in the various festivals that spurred the people in the region of the country side.

After a quick visit to the local blacksmith (he needed a new pitch fork), the farmer decided to stop by the animal vendors to check out the livestock, vital to any farm though he never had money to afford a proper investment as such.

As soon as he turned the corner, his eyes met with another; dark brown pupils with beautifully framed eye lashes. Shifting out of focus, he saw the face which the eyes belonged.

The girl was beautiful, easily the most appealing ones he's seen in his entire life. A confused look framed her face as she held an arm to her hips while the other griped a belled staff tightly, as if anticipating an attack.

A shepherd! The farmer had never expected one of her kind in these regions for the lack of need for wool; there was simply no economy here for such a trade to exist as people only came to the country side during the warmer seasons of the year.

The shepherd looked away as the farmer muttered his apologies for bumping in like that.

"Oh, its alright. Can I interest you in some sheep for your farm?"

The farmer wasn't looking for sheep to even start with, probably a chicken or a pig but a sheep had never crossed his mind, and thus decided to dismiss that offer.

The shepherd looked dejected and turned the other way as she slowly walked back to her herd of sheep in the distance.

"But wai..."

She never looked back.

-

Day after day, the farmer headed back to that very same spot in hopes of "bumping" into the shepherd again, largely to no avail. Traders never stayed in one place for too long and he knew of that only too well.

But since that fateful meeting, he felt a strong connection with the shepherd. As if someone had sent her there, only to make him suffer day and night as thoughts of her filled his mind.

On his usual round one day, he decided that he wasn't going to come back tomorrow, or the day after, or even the month after that. In essence, he had given up, physically, though his mind betrayed that emotion.

He look out a piece of paper, wrote a note and hammered it onto a nearby wooden lamp post.

The farmer didn't come back the next day, nor did he the day after or the week after. But in his mind the prospect of the shepherd remained vivid, as if hinting that there was a possibility of hope.

-

As the months passed, the farmer's crops grew but harvest was poor as compared to previous years. Evidently, the farmer was disappointed; it would be a really tough winter this time, to tide through, if they were able to even make it at all.

The autumn months brought about rains to the country side, and by now, people were already evacuating, with rumors spreading of a horrible winter ahead; the worse in the country's recorded history.

Floods were on the feared tongues of land owners and the farmer too, had to be on the alert.

The morning will bring new hope, the farmer thought to himself as he climbed onto his bed as fell asleep. A soft rumble, barely audible, vocalized in a distance just as the farmer fell asleep...

(END OF PART 1)

"

Okay I'll stop here. Hopefully there's a hook factor in this narrative. I'll continue and conclude the story soon. Feel free to share your thoughts about the narrative above. I'm as always, open to feedback.

On a random note, I think people misjudge and misunderstand the term "emo" namely, emo music. I've developed a recent liking for emotional songs, probably due to occurrences as well as being able to relate to a distinct few.

Call me weird.

Alright, its late and time for bed. More content coming soon on metallic-stains so please check back often.

Cya'll later.

"This Heart, it Beats"
----------------
Now playing: Paramore - My Heart
via FoxyTunes

Love will make you Beautiful

Just finished reading another one of Paulo's Coelho masterpieces a week or so ago and this time, as seen above, its a little book entitled "The Zahir".

Its really interesting, in typical Paulo Coelho fashion of course.

Needless to say, the book transformed my ideas about certain themes (which I'll be talking about in this post) as well as galvanized my perceptions on certain issues mentioned.

And in this case, it revolved around the often mysterious yet vital components of life itself; Love and Obsession.

Of course, these weren't the only prominent themes mentioned in the book. Quite a number of other themes and aspects were put into play in the giant blender that resulted in the entire plot of the story.


Well, as typical to my "reviews", I won't regurgitate every single detail and plot of the book (for I strongly believe that everyone has his or her own interpretations to the contents) but will instead, shred some light as well as my personal feelings and comments.


With that, lets start off with the obvious:

The Theme Of Obsession

The plot of the entire book basically revolves around the author's (not too sure if its an actual narrative) wife mysteriously disappearing after mutual disagreements through the rite of their marriage. The author's wife is a war journalist and after her disappearance, many allegations about her pop up; has she decided to cheat on her husband, has she been kidnapped, is she dead, and many other suggestions.

This theme kicks in just as his wife suddenly disappears.

Though they had their disagreements, the author loved his wife deeply and vice versa, though their love is not of conventional fashion probably due to the fact that both of them hold high positions in society (one a journalist, the other a world famous writer).

The reason why I suggested that the theme of obsession revolved throughout the book was that the plot and the entire storyline in itself, talks about how the protagonist struggles to deal with his obsession for the "Zahir".

The "Zahir", derived from an Arabic term, simply put means being visible and evident, or "(beings or things) that have the power to be unforgettable" (as cited from http://www.amorphy.org/Zahir.html)

I guess the author's relation is valid and it hints at the depth and seriousness of his love and passion for his wife.

The obsession however, changes him and in doing so, revolutionizes his way of thinking about the power of love, and evidently, "forgetting your personal history".

The power of love is strong, but the power of obsession? It is unquestionable as the protagonist relates in the book that the obsession led to seeing "Zahirs" (which was a certain something that he saw in his wife) in multiple women after her disappearance.

Though this obsession may be superficially interpreted as; man loses wife, man craves for wife, man gets carried away taking other women for wife, man finds for wife. There is alot in question to this obsession.

I feel that this theme of obsession is very much evident in our modern society, just that its not that obvious as well as the varying degree of such "obsessions".

I can cite examples like young boys having crushes on girls (or vice versa) but we have to look at the varying degree of the entire aspect, are we talking about the same levels of obsession here?

This theme endorses both maturity as well as a certain degree of love which thus makes it prominent in the plot of the story.

I guess its a question of "how much are you willing to give up or how far are you willing to go to satisfy the obsession and love?" though whether the obsession will be satisfied encompasses a totally different thing.

Note that the "Zahir" as mentioned by the author in an extensive interview (as seen here http://www.harpercollins.com/author/microsite/readingguide.aspx?authorID=1858&isbn13=9780060825218&displayType=bookinterview), derails the individual from achieving one's personal legend (with relation to The Alchemist).

That I feel, holds a certain degree of truth, but lets ask ourselves what if we are able to harness and control the Zahir and the obsession to work towards to things or outcomes we yearn?

It is often said and noted that love and obsession comes in hand in hand, which is evident on certain levels but not quite as the book puts out, bringing us to the next theme.

The Theme of Love

"Do not underestimate the power of love"

I guess that's what the theme centers around. Only in this context, the "power of love" is a a new interpretation and meaning altogether.

Though I understand that Love in itself, holds no fixed definition. Ask even the most brilliant of professors and they will still stumble to give you an answer.

The book however, considers Love a "divine power" as illustrated by the experiences amongst the people in the Armenian restaurant as well as through a certain special individual called Mikhail, who links the protagonist up with his wife ultimately.

The protagonist, though skeptical of the existence of this "divine power", upon increasing interactions with the "tribe" and Mikhail, soon realizes its existence and prominence in the world, though it is claimed that this "power" diminishes in the modern society.

I guess Love can be considered something above logic to say the least, but to me, Love is basically part of the human soul.

The pinnacle of emotions, I guess would be a apt comparison; nothing can top an individual's true feelings for another individual.

The society of today has however, corroded the use of "true love" and I find many don't understand or fully grasp the true concept of love. Yes, Love defines itself in many forms but in our society, this is often confused with lust or even sexual connotations.

Again, I find this disturbing as it manifests the true meaning of love, which results in it being used casually.

The theme of Love mentioned here is a strong force though I dare not put a definition to it.


Other Themes and the Lot

One particular other theme struck me hard; the Acomodador.

To put it simply, it refers to the "breaking point" or the point where one totally gives up on a course of action due to a reason or another.

To me personally, I've had numerous encounters with the Acomodador in the past, just that it goes unnoticed. I guess life has its ways to throw someone off the course and when pushed to the extreme end, that individual confronts the Acomodador.

I feel that there's nothing wrong with giving up, as long as you when you're SUPPOSED to give up.

"When there's a will there's a way" may seem optimistic to some, but the fact that when there's a "will" in a particular feat, there WILL be a way (pun intended).

I feel that as long as one puts in his or her best on a particular endeavor, the outcome isn't at all important; its the process that makes the purpose.

Life is a journey and whatever happens in the end (the inevitable truth of death) does not matter but what happens in between will impact oneself. If we were to harp on the end, shouldn't we just sit down and wait for our time to come?

I guess what this aspect in "The Zahir" is trying to put forward could have been illustrated like this:

- Strong motivation to satisfy obsession-> no Acomodador-> Success
- Weak motivation-> Acomodador-> Gives up

The "Zahir" in this plot may refer to someone but naturally, the Zahir can be anything at all so long as it warrants itself as an obsession.

In a way, the Zahir can be treated as a distraction (as mentioned earlier) for one en route to achieving his or her personal legend and as portrayed in the plot, the author's Zahir derails him from his work or his lifestyle.

In my own interpretation of Love (with reference to the book), the Zahir is the ideal partner. It is not metaphorical and it exists but unlike anything physical, it transcribes from person to person until that special one is found.

It takes maturity to be obsessed, of course given then right factors, in the right way, though Love does not naturally constitute to obsession.

Use the power of Love to harness and refine your soul and though it may sound really cliche, Love really is the most powerful emotion. This Love that I'm talking about isn't restricted to passionate love but also family love.

In a way, I guess its up to the individual as to how can he or she use this aspect of the human emotion to strengthen his or her life.


With that, I end my "review" and response to the book. I apologize for the length of the post but I guess I got a little too insightful at certain points; the themes have alot of potential for discussion.

Remember to check back soon for I'll be doing a analysis on the themes used in Hysteria's Call. I also apologise for my lack of recent articles, due to my schedule but rest assured for I'm in the midst of working on an article to post.

But before I end, let me post a question to you guys, my valued readers:

"What Is Love To You?"

Looking forward to all of your comments and feedback!

Cya'll later.

The Rite of Life.

Okay, for a little something different this time, I will be chronicling the day's events (something which I have never really articulated on this page).

I've always stood in favour for class bonding events, such as the "soccer" session we had today; it was really awesome and I'm pretty sure most if not everyone enjoyed themselves. Its good to see you guys in sporting outfits once in awhile for a change.

We should really do this often.

Along my bus ride back from my (second) class with my tuition student, I've come to realise a couple of things that has often puzzle and befuddled me previously. This aspect of which, will be featured in my upcoming article, so turn on your feeds and check back when the post is done!

I also realised that once in awhile, its really really nice to give yourself a good treat. Reward yourself for a particular well done job or even a good deed done; so as long as it remains a privilege, not an entitlement.

Self rewards are only effective if only reserved and saved for deserving moments or milestones in one's rite of life.

And for me, it was a good foot long Parmesan, Cold Cut Trio with no chili and pickles and plenty of sweet onion sauce to top it off. Mmm...

Life is really unexpected and justifiable, and thats what makes it exciting all the more. When life comes round and punches you right smack on the face, clean up the mess, stand right up and stand tall.

And this is why I always tell people to live life to the fullest, for you'll have no idea when you'll disappear. Second chances are few; third tries are scarse. Thus, always make sure to revolve your life around purpose and values.

Having said so much, I think I'd better continue with my narrative as seen in the previous post, call it a followup if you may...


"
The man stands very still now, not knowing exactly what to do.

Thoughts and recollections of the past memories he had with the oasis suddenly exploded in his mind and this was also why the sand around him saw drops of water.

The man dropped to the ground on all fours. More drops of water appeared and the man was not at all surprised for the tears that welled up in his eyes flooded his soul too.

He wasn't sad.

But of those were tears of confusion and indecision. The man felt helpless and desolated.

Perhaps this is the end, he thought to himself and pounded the sand with his fist, letting out a cry of agony in doing so, not being able to mask it anymore.

Was this the end for the man? Has the oasis and the desert given up on him?

Dusk soon settled around the man, who lay broken both mentally and physically, in a pathetic heap on the massive sand dune in which the man climbed the earlier day.

The desert was no place to be at night and the man knows that, having survived being in the desert for what seemed like years to him now. He soon regained his composure and got to this feet.

As he rose, the man saw and took note of the massive sand dune he scaled that very afternoon; that massive sand dune which he stood on and broke down on.

The person I am now wasn't the one who scaled this sand dune, he reflected.

It all suddenly fell into place and the truth hit him like a truck. The man knew what he had to do and as if to reaffirm this, something made him look to the sky.

He saw it and took it as a sign. Desolated and agonized emotions that took their place on his face were replaced by a firm and renergised expression.

It was at this point that he knew exactly what to do for he regained his determination.

He dusked away the remainding sand that settled upon his hair and ragged attire and began his pace. He knows this is the right way to go for the sign has convinced him and one day, maybe one day, he'll realise this reinvigorated goal of his.

The winds blew and the sands shifted, covering the footprints left behind by the man as if to guide him along his way.

Move on, they urge.

And thats exactly what the man does...
"

There is subjectivity in this narrative and I hope you guys will read and understand this both on a literal and metaphoric level. There is no definate answer for it leaves to your perception to decide the flow and the content of the narrative.

I would like to hear about your reactions from you guys, my readers, on the narrative and the whole concept of it.

A little food for thought again then. Remember to check back for updates and articles.

Till then.

Cya'll later.

The Receding Hairline and Frayed Inspirations; What is your Personal Legend?

Quite recently, I read a book, a rather inspirational and captivating one at that, I might add (readers might take a hint from the title of this post). Needless to say, I was heavily drawn into the values and beliefs put out by the author through this masterpiece; it was peculiarly similar to the very values I live by.

To regurgitate every single piece of information and key point in the book would be an infringement of copyright and what’s more, it would be painstakingly long for both the writer (me) and the readers (you) to clearly illiterate the entire story.

But to put it simply, the book teaches people to be conscious of their life and how they live it which then branches out into many different aspects in itself.

Venturing out of your safety zones, becoming what you were meant to be, not afraid to lose it all for your dreams, empowering them and having an open eye are just a sample of what the book brought into me.

Clearly, the book left an impact on me as my way of thinking is galvanized further in terms of my personal beliefs and my goal setting.

So what is this “Personal Legend” as put out in the book itself?

I found the concept of destiny rather amusing and absurd in the past for I personally believe that destiny is in the eye of the user; the people himself shapes his destiny.

Yes, if so I may say, destiny is intertwined with this “Personal Legend” as your personal legend is what you were meant to do when you were first given life. It is what grants you your full purpose of existence and what that will make you satisfied before the day comes (refer to article, Satisfaction; the Delighted Mother and the Inquisitive Child).

There is however, a stark difference my interpretation of the term “destiny” (refer to article, Tales of the Past III; what is Destiny?) as compared to this Personal Legend concept.

You see, to me, destiny is defined as an allocation, a fixed mould in the pattern of life, for what your life would be no matter what you do. Which also means that even if the person doesn’t work towards his goal, he will still get it cause it is after all, what he was meant to be.

Your Personal Legend on the other hand, is vastly different.

I believe that everyone in existence has a purpose that was allocated to him or her when he or she was given life. Uncanny resemblance with what was mentioned about destiny? Unfortunately this is where the similarities end.

Unlike destiny, your personal legend does not provide a smooth sailing path for the person while in pursuit of his or her goals. One of the many significant quotes from the book certainly tugged at my consciousness; “Every search begins with beginner’s luck and every search ends with the victor being severely tested” (Paulo Coelho, 1988, The Alchemist).

The term “beginner’s luck” is often heard in high class hotel casinos or even shady underground gambling dens but in this case, one will not get thrown out or mugged for winning. Beginner’s luck does exist, but is often overlooked and ignored by many.
It is a sign which indicates that one is on the right track to their personal legend as it is the creator’s way of signalling to you and encouraging you by giving you a little bit of leeway.

So why do we ignore such telltale signs?
Many people overlook the fact and existence of their personal legend, in the process numbing themselves to what they were meant to be and thus also restricting themselves to being something they are not.

Most of them give up without even trying while others give up after failures. Only a handful persist through all the challenges and emerge something more; a better, more complete person. Those who give up without trying is oblivious to even the existences of personal legends while those who give up in the process lack willpower and drive to see it till the end.

But who can we blame for such alterations?

The way the society works is similar to that of a dictatorship’s rule and I’m referring that in a metaphorical sense. The society shapes its people’s minds and more rather, sets down rules and stereotypes in certain contexts.

In a way, “protection” may seem the word here, but this also restricts people’s advances on their personal legend in a way. They might not want to venture out into the wilderness and out of their safety zones and fear is an integral part that constitutes to people not fulfilling their personal legends.

I’ve always enjoyed conversing with people, especially with elders. But sometimes I can’t help but wonder if they’ve heard of or even thought about issues like personal legends or destiny.

I sense that the society’s grip on people, especially the elders is strong, partly due to the fact that they’ve been raised that way, and partly because of their mindsets. Yes, many of them have inspirations since young but only a handful of them successfully see them through.

Again, this is a prime example of the case mentioned earlier where people either give up without trying or give up while trying. They are discouraged at the seemingly adamant feasibility of realising their personal legends as they usually find it “impractical”.

But what defines it as impractical?

Impracticality largely depends on the user; if that individual feels its impractical, it is. This is also where belief and motivation comes in. More rather, I find that these individuals give up due to the lack of motivation, the sole principle of working towards a goal or an aim (refer to article, Screaming Fans; The Motivational Force and Ambition) and as their hairline recedes, so does that drive
and inspiration.

I find it sad that people give up or don’t know about the concept of personal legends. I find it sad that we let the environment around us dictate how we should live and what we should or shouldn’t do. But I find it especially sad when people give up hope or on their lives.

“Its the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting” (Paulo Coelho, 1988, The Alchemist). Many a time, I’ve come across people who come and tell me that life is “boring” and that they don’t see the joy in living.

By relishing your personal legend also means making a dream come true. And to those people, who tell me life is boring, I tell them to keep holding on and they’ll find what they’ll need and work towards their personal legends.

As for myself?

I daresay that I’ve found the path to my personal legend and that is the media. Due to its highly personal details however, I will not reveal certain details but I truly believe that this is what I was meant to be doing.

Though it may seem like a bold claim, the feeling speaks for itself. Many challenges are thrown at me, which I hope will make me stronger in the end.
There were times, awhile back, when I wasn’t sure of my personal legend or didn’t know that such a thing existed.

I felt lost, unsure and insecure. I didn’t know what I wanted nor had a clear precise goal in mind. I would give up on things or a particular aim due to distractions for clearly, my drive wasn’t there; I aim not to repeat what I’ve been through.

Yes, sometimes when challenges are thrown at you, headfirst and you can’t handle them, it may seem as if all hope is lost and failure presumes which naturally, isn’t the case here.

Challenges to me are tests. Tests that will make you stronger as it is the creator’s way or ensuring only the finest and strongest succeed in achieving their personal legend. Pass this test and another one takes its place and another and another, until the “victor is severely tested”.

Sure its no walk in the park but when you’ve finally found your “pot of treasure”, satisfaction grips you like a vice and you’ve made it for sure.

So have you found your personal legend? No matter what it is, how harsh the conditions or how impossible the odds are, hope is important for it is what keeps the engine up there going.

Thus let us empower our lives and find our respective personal legends and claim our justly deserved “pot of treasure”


*The above insight contains a only selected number of themes mentioned from the book itself. All references made belongs to the author and its contents*

The Human Behaviour (III); The Influence of Fear

As this series draws to a close, I’ve covered the various causes of Human Behavioural changes and observations to the complexity about this complex mechanism that is within all of us.

Being a conclusive instalment, I’ve decided to tackle an issue on human behaviour that has been brought up in my previous instalments, namely influencing and the element of fear in one’s mindset and how it affects the human behaviour.

Mentioned in the 1st instalment (refer to article, “The Human Behaviour (I); The Social Setting”), fear is an attribute, more rather, that alters the human behaviour in ways often unnoticed from an onlooker’s perspective.

Fear is a scary (no pun intended) attribute that crafts a person’s mindset, which is ultimately, interrelated to his or her behavioural habits.

With reference to the previous instalment, fear causes changes personality-wise and also behavioural wise, for example, in tough and awkward social settings as mentioned.

It is thus no doubt that fear is a powerful tool used by people of power or authority in our modern society to, somehow or rather, “shape” and “control” the minds of its citizens; of which I’ll elaborate more later on.

The second factor in ultimate human behavioural alteration is the aspect of influence.

Mentioned in the 2nd instalment (refer to article, “The Human Behaviour (II); The Change”), the somewhat controversial issue of influence plays a part in human behavioural changes and structures.

Strong influences in the society, culture or even race can ultimately affect human behaviour whether adversely or otherwise. However, influences or rather the act of influencing, is a powerful tool along with persuasion as it is able to shape changes in the human behaviour.

Won’t this be a little scary if its used to “programme” the masses? To have your perceptions controlled through persuasion and influences?

Evidently, I’ve decided to do a final wrap-up on these two simple (but complicated in its own way) aspects as derived from my previous instalments mainly because I’m particularly affected and drawn to the fact that human behaviour can be controlled, shaped, fabricated and even manipulated to such an extent that it changes their entire perception and mindset, which forms a chain effect that in turn, affects the human behaviour.

Sounds like an awful lot doesn’t it?

Sadly in our society nowadays, the image of fear is often anchored to the technique of influence as these two aspects and attributes match side by side, like how a puzzle fits perfectly together.

What this means is that this method, as I would like to call it, is an effective catalyst, a potent mix, to control and shape, as mentioned.

Firstly, let us break down it, word for word.

The term influence is defined as “the action or process of producing effects on the actions, behaviour, opinions, etc of others” (as cited from dictionary.com).

What this means, in laymen terms, is that influence is basically a stage by stage process which coincides with the technique of persuasion as persuasion influences people to believe or even do a particular task or matter.

The term fear is defined as “an emotional response to threats and dangers” (as cited from Wikipedia.com).

Note the word emotional, used in its definition. Fear is often associated with emotions and emotions automatically constitutes into the mind which links to the behaviour.

This is a complex chain but logical in a sense as our behaviour is very much based on our emotions and perceptions. After all, behaviour is what gives humans their character and their unique facade due to the diversity of each and every single human mind.

Putting the two attributes together is interesting and powerful then. Think of the technique of influence as a gun and fear as its bullets; its the same relationship.
Without the gun, the bullets would be useless (unless loaded into another gun) and vice versa, which can be said in a more metaphorical sense in this case of influences and fear.

By inculcating the influence of fear in one’s mind, their actions or behaviour in this case, will be motored on by their “emotional response” which in this case, is fear, and results in certain changes in the human behaviour.
Influencing fear into people thus, is like a “loaded gun” and that means it is deadly and effective at the same time.

Though it may seem common, the influence of fear in our daily lives is so subtle that in many cases, we subconsciously accept these incoming fears and believe them, in doing so succumbing to the influence of fear, which may or may not contain truth, depending on the situation.

Over the pass few days, I’ve tried to observe such examples of the “subtle details” which indirectly, uses fear to influence. I had to find a source and had to observe people’s reaction after exposure to the source and how their behaviour would change in contrast.

And for that, I turned to the mass medium of the 21 century: the television.
The media is actually a powerful influence in people’s mind. From the high intellects, to the less fortunate, these people turn to the most common medium to gain information, exposure and also unknowingly, influence.

It helps conceptualise the fact that most people actually put their utmost trust in the media and the information it delivers.

Thus, as if on express, different influences get brought across very quickly in our modern society and that’s why human behaviour and perceptions can be so easily dictated via the media and its various mediums.

Though my observations in the outside world were in vain, I turned to school and finally found my due observation.

“Bowling for Columbine”, “An Inconvenient Truth” and “Fahrenheit 9/11”. Three
controversial films in their own rights, were shown to the classes, mainly due to educational purposes and also, to stimulate the students’ thinking in such controversies.

These films were very powerful in a sense that sensitive issues were tackled headfirst and information about various conspiracies were uncovered. Persuasion and influences were used deeply in these films too, particularly the influence of fear.
Though it may not seem as an accurate sample size, I did a rough observation on the behaviour of my fellow class and course mates who viewed the film and there was an astonishing difference before and after the film, behavioural wise.

Most of them reacted strongly as compared to their usual nature before watching such films as they were purely convinced. There were a handful though, that were sceptical about the things mentioned and were by far, unconvinced.

They voiced their opinions out after the films as we held a little discussion for each film screened and some of them underwent a distinctive change in behaviour.
Perhaps their believe was shaken or that they were deeply influenced by the speech. But I chose to think otherwise.

“Fear is what feeds the mind of horrors that can otherwise be devised” A quote that I came up (with a little influence from the film, Fahrenheit 9/11) that I feel, captures the essence of the “fear factor” in this case.

The aspect and issue of fear was what my observational subjects were probably exposed to, whether to a large or small extent, which influenced and persuaded them of their thoughts and mindset, thus resulting in the change of behaviour.

Many of the films mentioned have the fear of uncertainly hidden amongst the elaborated words that were flourished in the content which were subconsciously absorbed by viewers. This was probably because most of the films dealt their respective controversies with a certain degree of doubt.

Humans are not comfortable when they’re dealing with things that they are unsure of due to their nature and thus, an apt aspect of fear used.
However, the behaviour tabulated is subjective to individuals as some perceive it differently.

For some, their behaviour “shrinks” which will then result in them retreating and contemplating about what was shown to them. For others though, their behaviour strengthens and they gain a certain boost and motivation to make a change and difference and to evict the horror that they were presented with.

And this brings me to my next objective of pointing out the different benefits of fear.

Yes, fear will often reap negative effects for some, but like the mentioned above, certain individuals see fear as a source of motivation (refer to article, “Screaming Fans; The Motivational Force and Ambition”), which is largely ideal.

The motivation for improvement is fluid as for some, it is hard to find but for others, it comes naturally. By being able to turn negative aspects like fear, into positive aspects like motivation, I find that particularly enriching.

This will also mean a change in behaviour; a change for a better one. Which is largely due to the cultivation of motivation as motivation breeds positive behaviour; a vital aspect for improvement.

But this motivation for change is subjective, depending on the context as not all motivation for changes are positive and good natured. This is also where values and morals come into play as people are tested to tell what’s right to wrong, what’s good to bad.

People thus capitalises on this detail and uses fear as an influence; to gain motivation for change.

I’d like to think of the human behaviour as a litre of water, in a metaphoric sense.
It can take almost any form, as it is easily influenced to changes and it can take any shape, as it is unique to each individual.

Many people don’t pay attention to the delicate details of that “litre of water” and when it changes its form or shape but I find it particularly interesting to chapter its changes and find out about the causes and effects of it all.

Our mind and our behaviour is a very versatile aspect of our “internal motherboard”. Foreign influences (such as fear) can alter its balance and its function.

I hope that we’ll all be able to take full control of our minds and thus, free ourselves from the various external aspects that our mind is faced with which affects behaviour.

“Life is full of daily complexities and mysteries...” (taken from “The Human Behaviour (I); The Social Setting”) and the human mind and behaviour is one such example.

I hope that this series has indeed gained a better insight into such “complexities and mysteries” of life and enrich one’s perception from a personal viewpoint.