Is it worth it?

Yesterday when I was in school, there was a talk given by someone (I think it was the owner) from 77th Street.

She talked about money, or rather entrepreneurship and about grabbing opportunities. She recounted about her days when she wrote down her goal of being a millionaire by 25.

There's nothing wrong with that, of course. She told the audience how she took every opportunity to learn and do whatever she could to earn money, taking 3 jobs and waking up at 8 am every morning.

Eventually, her store was a success, having 13 outlets in Singapore and ohers also abroad.

She did everything she could to achieve her goal, which was commendable. Every one wants to get rich, but are they willing to do what she went through?

Whenever you do something, you have to ask yourself if it is worth it. Since everything comes with a price, are you willing to pay that price?

Are you willing to do whatever it takes to get it?

Or maybe, is it worth it?

She had to sacrifice her time, but now, she has the money and the time to do work to give back to the community (which she did anyways).

She said that money was not the only thing in life, but was an important medium through which you can make things happen (thats not what she said exactly but it was what she meant)

Since now that she is often free and gives back to society I guess I can't complain that it wasn't worth it.

But many people still sacrifice their relationships and health for their work, and thats really not worth it.

The Science Project

I should have never pitied the Band people...It seems now that I am as busy as them...Working 3 to 4 days a week on the science project.

Some stay back for music (choir, band) others physical training (uniform groups) and us, Science.

All those hours spent in the name of Science.

When I asked people if they wanted to do this Project, they declined, stating that they would be busy next year.

I had to turn to friends, then.

Indeed, it would take up a lot of our time. But still, it was an interesting experience.

A Problem:
If it took 10 years to create the glowing orchid...and by a person with a PhD...in a stocked lab with sufficient chemicals...

how long would it take for us to create the glowing grass...in a lab that isn't even air conditioned, much less mention the amount of chemicals...

Our own bio-fertiliser we will create, but we're not even sure if we will do the job of creating the grass...or just be advisors to secondary 2 pupils?

So much time, so much effort, for this project?

Are the rewards sufficient?

Is the recognition sufficient? Or will it be given to our Juniors?

Will we be an inspiration?

Is it worth it?

Happy People

Hi Friends,

Ok, lets face it. Some people are born happy. They are always much more cheerful than others. They do not make enemies, and can seem to tolerate everything else.

On the other hand, some people are always not happy. They are pessimistic and negative by nature. They are easily irritated, or break down often. They cry, or they are easily hurt.

You can't really help it. You're not in charge. If you are one of the happy go lucky ones, probably you wouldn't be bothering to read this. Except for some of my friends of course. These (happy) people do not philosophise about life. They have no need to seek a God, or search for one. The only time they do actually need one is when they are scared of ghosts.

The thing is, the Purpose of Life, isn't about living in joy and happiness all of the time. It is about Growth. The sad things in life are the ones that really make you grow. Not the happy ones. Our lives are probably a mix of happiness and sadness. Its what makes a movie interesting. Variety makes a dish interesting.

I wanted to explain today, why some people are mostly happy all of the time. But, really, I can't. Its just them, their personality and their way of thinking. It makes them unique, and we are all unique. Sometimes, we have to learn to accept ourselves. We have to learn and know that, we cannot be happy all of the time.

When we are unhappy, we can think about happy times. We can, talk to friends. We can, take a walk. When we are happy, we learn to cherish it. This is called life. Its full of ups and downs. We cannot stay the same.

If peace is what you want, then the Serenity Prayer is a good guide to follow.

God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change; courage to change the things I can; and wisdom to know the difference.

Be glad that you are you, and learn to accept your life. Sometimes, we have to believe that Fate is at work, and we are not always responsible for everything in your life. You may be the Captain of Your Ship, but not the God of the Seas. So why bother struggling? Just fully accept the sadness, and if you need to cry, do it.

Free Will Vs Fate

Hi friends,

This is a common topic debated about. If we believe in Astrology and Tarot or any sort of divination, then, obviously we are supporting fate. But the strange thing is that, since this fate is unavoidable then why should I do anything about it?

Others for example Christians believe in the purpose that God has given them. In parts of the bible it is written that only some can believe and hence some go to heaven and so the others will go to hell? Then why believe?

Or, let us consider the Prophecies. It was prophecised that Judas would betray Jesus. Then obviously Judas did not have a choice. Or how about Judas' parents? They did not have a choice of getting together, since they had to give birth to Judas to betray Jesus. Then what is Judas' purpose in life? To betray jesus?

Ok, so we do not have free will then. But if we do not have free will, and everything is predestined, then how can we take account of our actions? After all, I had to do according to fate. Then why punish me? it was fated and predestined! So if we do not have free will, then that is ridiculous too.

If Jesus knew that judas would betray him then why take him as a disciple? I wouldn't if it meant putting his soul in danger. It would be a terrible thing to do. I would not sacrifice a soul to prove a prophecy.

My view is this. There is no prophecy that would definitely come true. Our actions all affect the future, and since that is so, the future is always in motion. There can be various scenerious that may come true and a prohecy is only one of these. We should not take all these things in serious consideration, but should in fact focus on the moment.

However, when we try to make a prophecy come true, we might end up hurting more than helping others. Therefore, we should just try our best to do good, and should give our best at every opportunity rather than give up, just because a prophecy predicted it would happen that way.

Our Gifts

"Mr. Gray, the gods have been good to you. But what the gods give, they quickly take away..."

"The ugly and the stupid have the best of it in this world. They can sit at their ease and gape at the play. If they know nothing of victory, they are at least spared the knowledge of defeat. They live as we all should live--undisturbed, indifferent, and without disquiet. They neither bring ruin upon others, nor ever receive it from alien hands. Your rank and wealth, Harry; my brains, such as they are--my art, whatever it may be worth; Dorian Gray's good looks--we shall all suffer for what the gods have given us, suffer terribly."

-The Picture of Dorian Gray


We have been told multile times, that all of us are unique, we have our gifts and talents. However, these talents come with a heavy price. If we misuse them, we shall all suffer greatly.

Everything comes with a price. If you are born into a noble family, then, you will be always be hounded by the media. Every action that you do can be broadcast across the nation. You have to think twice about what you do. You cannot act rashly.

If you have smart parents, then you will be expected to be smart as well. You will be expected to do well in school. You may be given extra tuition.

If you are very good looking, then you will have even more of a temptation to fall in love and date at a younger age. You may succumb to pressure. It might affect your studies and so on.

If you are the Head of a country, a great responsibility is placed on your shoulders. Every decision you make may affect the fate of the country.

Thus is the price which comes with every gift. With knowledge, with power also comes such.

We might or might not have chosen our gifts before we were born, but it doesn't really matter. What matters now is that you are living your life. Every person has their own problems. I have never seen a person without problems. In fact, most of the spiritual leaders or writers are those people who have had the most problems. Thats why they can write and tell others about it.

Naturally speaking we should use our gifts for Good. But what the hell is good? Can anyone define it? Not really. Because, sometimes, we have to go against Love, Truth and Compassion to serve the Greater Good. But then again, who is capable of defining the Greater Good?

Should we then, sacrifice 100,000 people, to end a war? Or save a country? Is the ending of the war really the Greater Good? How about the death of so many people?

What is Good?

The Picture of Dorian Gray, if you haven't read it, goes like this. A very handsome young man made a wish, that his portrait would age, instead of him. And it came true. He indulged in many sins and deadly pleasures, but still remained as beautiful as ever. However, it was his portrait which changed. It became old, it became sinful, it became ugly. He went on to murder, but still he remained as young and sinless-looking as ever.

In the end, he died when he stabbed his portrait, because he became paranoid and sick of his own life. He was tortured by his gift and the Past. Similarly, we are tortured by our gifts.

Is there no escape, then? (Thats for you to think about, I'm not answering that question :)


Your Friend,
Aaron

P.S I hoped that you have had a Happy Halloween yesterday. I know that some of you rejoiced over your results, some of you were disappointed, either by your results, or your parents' reactions. But, nevertheless, think about it. What is there for you to be upset about? You can't control how people react.