Optimism in my perspective

Back in the school days, it is quite often I get a "He is a happy-go-lucky...or the well-liked in class, especially amongst his classmates..." comment on my report card, which I intentionally left out the full picture that I was rather disruptive cracking jokes to girls and I am seen often to be bored displaying symptoms of ADD which requires me to pay more attention during lessons. And the truth of the matter is that my teachers were more than kind with those remarks, yet nothing escapes my sharp observant mom going: "You must be creating a lot of trouble for your teachers!" More often, the truth is found out during Parent-Teacher sessions or when my Principal/VP calls my folks in. Basically the following words were never found in my report cards:


Examples of Positive Adjectives that Describe Children Being Used by Teachers:

Considerate     Well-mannered     Responsible

Fair                  Friendly               Brave

Thoughtful        Thorough             Self-confident

Intelligent         Cooperative         Helpful

Honest             Respectful           Efficient

Talented           Self-disciplined   Sincere

Responsible Hard-working    Dependable

Creative           Generous           Kindhearted

Mature             Curious             Artistic

Enthusiastic

But it doesn't really affect me or how I think, most kids at that age from 8-18 find it cool to be a nuisance to teachers. In conclusion, I was happy and egoistic. And that makes life pretty interesting - confidence in that period helps as nothing seems to get you down. That is till you hit 30 and the pre-mid-life crisis comes.

You worry about everything. About career, about family, about relationships, about marriage, about friends and you start reflecting about what has passed and what goals to set for the next 10 years. And that is when boys start to grow up and become more critical, more cynical. We get more matured about everything except toys, yes even for gals we start to think. Previously as long as we have fun together, nothing else matters. For toys...boys will be boys. Cars, shoes, gadgets... those things become intuitive - can afford, looks good - BUY!

And this is the time when things start to get depressing and you realise all that happiness and egoism start to disappear and realism sets in. We become practical; even buying whiskey has a factor of alternative investing, not that we will ever sell that bottle of 1976, 33-year old Glenddifich or a 40-year old whiskey Macallan. But knowing when you open it up 10-20 years from now, it feels good drinking something which has now doubled or tripled in price and there are only a hundred bottles left in the world. Optimism is now sort of controllable, based on the decisions we make at present time. Happiness doesn't evolve as simply as it was back in the days of schooling when school girls make you happy by just giggling at you.

So I will get off my jaded ass and start to see things optimistically, that we have every chance to make a change, be it as a patriotic Singaporean who doesn't whine or eat sour vine fruits but merely indulging in drinking great reds occasionally and enjoy supporting the Singapore Slingers in their conquest for 5-0 this weekend as we play the Patriots again in Philippines! Next home game is on 22nd Nov against KL Dragons. Go get some joy and optimism infused in your life and buy those game tickets early! Oh and do bring a Singapore flag or wear red/orange, we will beat Malaysia!