In this life, I firmly believe we have choices. The choices to make decisions that succeed, decisions that fail, the decisions to create a choice and not yield to consequence. I want to define my life with choices I’ve made, not coincidences I’ve accepted. And at the end of the day, the course of our lives will still continue, all the outcomes will still be the same within the grasps of time, but what separates us are the choices we make. This year, I decided that if a decision doesn’t make me at least a bit scared to make it, I am not making the right decision. I feel monotonous. Yet, I feel privileged and empowered, without the steps for fulfillment. With the possibility for failure, rejection and dismay comes the possibility for success, happiness, and achievement – and I accept both odds willingly.
Inspired by – Good Riddance (Time Of Your Life), Green Day
Another turning point, a fork stuck in the road
Time grabs you by the wrist, directs you where to go
So make the best of this test, and don’t ask why
It’s not a question, but a lesson learned in time
It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
So take the photographs, and still frames in your mind
Hang it on a shelf in good health and good time
Tattoos of memories and dead skin on trial
For what it’s worth it was worth all the while
It’s something unpredictable, but in the end it’s right.
I hope you had the time of your life.
#1 by Satish on June 1, 2010 - 8:59 am
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Like.
#2 by Anonymous on June 2, 2010 - 2:23 pm
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Uhm… choices suck. Better to just go with the flow. Status quo.
#3 by Morten on June 2, 2010 - 7:17 pm
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The true challenge in life lies not in figuring out how to live but in figuring out how to live it well. One of the old philosophers (I believe it was Aristotle but I may be mistaken) said a man has not lived unless he dies “full from life” (as in “full from a big meal”. If he dies tired of life he has not lived.
It took me a long time to figure this out but I now believe that to be a true person you have to be happy with yourself and what you do (whatever that might be). If you are not comfortable in your own skin and you are not doing things that bring you joy, you are doing both yourself and the world a disservice. I believe the true fallacy of modern society is the belief that with wealth comes happiness. If that were true the number of people with depression and the frequency of suicide would go up the poorer the country got. In reality it is the other way around. As modern society has made work easier we have fallen into a trap in which we believe work is the way to happiness while in reality work for most people is the way to frustration, failing health and ultimately misery. Of course there are people who love their work but they are in the minority.
The key is what sets those people apart from the rest: The people who truly love what they do, who take joy out of everyday life, are people who made choices based on what would make them happy rather than what would make them rich.
My father always says you should do what makes you happy as long as you don’t hurt anyone else or youself. It is what I live by and it works.
#4 by Angie Lim on June 7, 2010 - 1:08 am
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Thanks Satish, I can always count on your to be one of the first to respond and so succinctly so.
#5 by Angie Lim on June 7, 2010 - 1:09 am
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Thanks for your clever make shift email Mr Anonymous. I have just discovered that the other end of the status quo seems to be much more exciting for the time being and if you let it and take a chance, perhaps you will enjoy it too
#6 by Angie Lim on June 7, 2010 - 1:15 am
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Your father is a smart man. Everything you’ve said is exactly on point with the newly found direction of life I have embarked on just over a year ago when this blog was created. It’s almost as if you just “wake up” one day and think, there is no amount of money that could fulfill me at the end of my time span on earth, no amount of riches, no amount of wealth – the richest are those who have stories to tell, loved ones around and guidance to give to future generations. I want to know that along the course of my life, I enjoyed every step of the journey creating stories, listening to others and helping them create their stories. That to me, is the value of my life.
I am so glad I have finally met you Morten, hope to be able to continue to share stories of our journeys and continue to live in the pursuit of happiness – because after all, life is in the pursuit, not the destination.
pura vida.
#7 by Kris on April 19, 2011 - 1:13 pm
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Hi Angie Lim,
I love your post. yes every thing we do is a choice we should embrace the good ones and learn from our bad one. We all should help others to make good choices in life.
#8 by glass floor on April 26, 2011 - 1:13 pm
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Everyday we we come across choices – and whatever choice you make, you will have to live by it. Life has a lot of choices and some may be easy, some may be not and that’s when it sucks.
#9 by Angie Lim on November 21, 2011 - 12:48 pm
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Some of the best philosophies I like to go by is, living your life like you are writing a book. You write one chapter and then close it to write another. If you dont want to do something anymore, just close that and move on. Its that simple! Thanks for your comment!
Good luck and pura vida!
Angie
#10 by Angie Lim on November 21, 2011 - 12:50 pm
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Hi Kris,
Thanks for your comment! The only and best way to help others make good choices in life, is to lead by example and allow them to realize and embrace decisions on their own. As long as you are doing the best you can do to live your life to the fullest, you are helping others in more ways than you know! Of course, it doesn’t hurt to lend a helping hand to those in need
Good luck in everything and pura vida!
Angie