No Reserves, No Retreats, No Regrets

My geog prof showed us a disturbing video today (this is the first module that has me cringing everytime the prof says "we're gonna watch a video today"). I think most of us have seen it or some versions of it - "Earthling/s", an inside look on how we treat animals in our modern society. I appreciate that he allowed those who felt uncomfortable, to leave the LT, and allowed us to make our own minds up about what we saw. True, it's never about indoctrination or forcing you to take up a view. It's making available the knowledge and information and allowing people the chance to make their own decision. I stayed even though I had some inkling of what was gonna be shown & I always avoided viewing this kinda scenes of animal abuse etc. shown on youtube/facebook. I mean, who seeks out a guilt trip right? But something the narrator said, "If we all could see behind the scenes, we would all be vegetarians." and there was a trust there, in the moral ...

late'bloom'er: someone whose talents or capabilities are slow to develop. There's a great difference between mouthing something and getting it into your system. This week was crazy - in a good way! It's like my life is getting into motion, just by making a decision. Your outlook changes, you find yourself making more and more decisions that you've put aside for years, and you start hurtling towards that life you find God has been preparing you for. Went for an interview, hoping to be succesful in applying for an NUS entreprise programme - iLEAD, that basically attaches you for 7.5 months to a startup company + a study trip for 2 weeks to Silicon Valley, U.S.A.! Don't ask me how I even got started being interested in business - I think it was a culmination of a lot of things - Starbucks, the Cultural Mandate that Pastor has been sharing with us these few years, and being increasingly exposed to so many real-life crises going on because of mismanagement/corrupti...

i've always toed the line. wear the hats life gives you. censor what you say because not everyone understands. keep it in because not everyone wants to hear it. change because you should be relevant. give because your friend needs a shoulder to cry on. do it because others are busy. but when my finances run out when my strength fails when my heart is sore when i wish to have time aside when i just need someone to take me seriously it's hard to wait and wait for You to come to my defense then i remember how so many times i tested you out of desperation to ask for that one sign that you hear you show up you gave me rest from my tears you held me up from the inside instead of pity you gave me empathy you let me know that it matters to you how i feel even when i complain and am filled with bitterness you never tell me to suck it in or tell me what's expected of me you let me know there's space in you for me a person like me so i can find rest and a refuge a covering for my ...

Soundtrack of 'The Guardian', by Bryan Adams (ohmanohman been searching for this!) Can you lay your life down, so a stranger could live Can you take what you need, but take less than you give Could you close everyday, without the glory and fame Could you hold your head high, when no one knows your name That's how legends are made At least, that's what they say We say goodbye, but never let go We live, We die Cos you can't save every soul Gotta take every chance to Show that you're the kinda man who Never look back, Never look down and Never let go Can you lose everything you ever had planned Can you sit down again, and play another hand Could you risk everything, for the chance of being alone Under pressure find the grace or would you come undone That's how legends are made At least, that's what they say

this school year's really different - have been meeting old schoolmates, co-workers in some temp job that seems like eons ago etc. in part, it's the new school year for the guys in the same batch (no longer!), but guess the only common thing all students have no matter the faculty, is that rush for textbooks. either way, if we play the Meet-a-friend game, I can give you competition YP! ;D > What's in store this term: Modules I'm finally interested in! Passionate Profs. (yay) Field trips in store! Projects (hmm.) Driving lessons Too-e-shen So this morning, I jumped out of bed and decided that Mondays are gonna be my Sabbath day! =) No more Monday blues for me. Jiayou guys for school!

i remember a message from Phil Pringle once, about asking and living by a new name given by God. people's judgments and impressions and emotions - think this is really the season to start learning to live beyond that. 'Joanne' means - God is Gracious. yeah, i'm not all that, neither do i have the means to attain a lot, neither do i have a lot of life experiences. but by God's grace, and at the right time, i know i'll become who i'm made to be.

Fave song in Darlene Zschech's solo album "Change Your World" =) Never give up, never give in Never look back C'mon now my friend You're not alone The hope of tomorrow is calling There's a brighter day On the other side But it's u p t o y o u to put back on your stride So get up, step out, live it Honey, don't you give up It's time for you to start to breathe again For the sun and the moon have never stopped Shining on you my friend I know you feel the world has passed you by But the greatness in you is starting to rise Faded dreams need to be recoloured I know you've had it bad But it's time to dream again Write it down my friend Make it plain oh yeah That desire you hold It will see the light of day What's it gonna take for you to see That's it's only the grace of God that will set you free What's it gonna take for you to Open up your eyes Look beyond the skies Never, never , no never give up!