Wednesday, May 04, 2011
30DLBL Day 2 – What’s Your Ideal Life?

Today marks the second day of 30DLBL Challenge and also the third day waking up at 7am successfully. I have made a bid to forge the habit of waking up at 7am everyday. So far I can see the benefits of waking up early already, especially in time management. =)

Today’s task is about the ideal life, the life I couldn’t have imagined having.

Day 2 is about possibilities, dreams, your wishes, your ideals, your deepest hopes and desires, your truest passions in life.

In her introduction, Celes talked about how we, as children when we were young, would let our imaginations run wild. We wouldn’t just dream, we dream big. I suppose along the way, we had to conform to societal pressure. We start living others’ dream and stop thinking about what we once dreamt of. I, myself can be the perfect example. Believe it or not, just 5 years ago, I was telling my best friend, Mei Kuan, that one day, she’ll see me walk up the stage and receive an award for the Best Actress. I truly believed in that dream. I wanted to be a TV presenter and I don’t think I’ve told many people this simply because… I find it embarassing. I don’t think it’s right that I find pursuing a dream embarassing. And now I’ve totally dropped that ambition of mine because I don’t think I can do it. I’m contented with my current life, but I find that I’m slowly losing a purpose. I don’t know what I want in life. I always tell myself “I don’t have what it takes to be a TV presenter.” Now I’m stuck believing that’s true. There’s two sides to the coin though. Other commitments and goals have taken over this ambition now. And I’m quite settled in with my current life. Maybe one day I’ll wake up and find myself a new purpose!

That being said, I’m not completely aimless in life! At least for these few months, I have goals set for myself and that’s something commendable! =D These goals don’t exactly represent what I want in life but I feel it’s the right thing to do at the moment.

Back to today’s task, we’re told to envision our ideal life.

What would you do if you can never, ever fail? What would you do if you have unlimited resources, time or networks? What are your biggest goals and dreams? What would you want to achieve in your life? What is your ideal life? What is a life you can look back and be proud of living, and tell yourself “I’ve truly lived to my fullest?”

If I can never, ever fail, I would invest the money and time to groom myself into a better presenter. I don’t think many of you know about this, but I used to be in the school’s broadcasting unit, took part in various competitions (crosstalks, debates, elocution in all three languages) and won. In 2006, I even took up the role as the co-host for the annual school concert. Although I lacked confidence at the time, I was proud to be part of it and I loved every moment of it. I would take part in auditions and competitions, just so I can relish my dream. And to think that I’ve completely deviated from that dream makes me… empty.

If I have unlimited resources, time and networks, I would start an egg-themed restaurant named “Ninja Egg”. =D This sounds odd but, I have had special connection to eggs since young. -.- I love eating eggs, was nicknamed Egg, and always associate myself to them. Kooi Khin and Mei Kuan would be my partner. Together, we would expand the business. They would be living their ideal life, and I would be living my dream. We’d be perfect together.

I’d join singing competitions too! Just because it’s an experience of a lifetime. Okay, maybe I should put this into my bucket list of 101 things to do before I die.

If I can never, ever fail, I’d put my heart and soul into SP Rovers. I want to see the club grow. It changed me for the better and I know it will do the same to the others. It’s one of my biggest regrets not being able to change its current state.

Financial wise, I don’t need to be very rich. Or at least I would belong to mid-high income group. A stable income would mean I’m doing good for my business. =D Most of my income would be passive, as I’d learn how to invest. In the ideal life, I wouldn’t be trading time for money (which many of us do). I’d be living in a condominium or even better, a landed property in Singapore (why not?), my parents and brothers would move in with me if they’re willing to. I’d leave it up to them. My brothers then wouldn’t have to commute between Johor and Singapore each day which sucks their time and energy out of them. I want to be able to give my nephews and nieces a good education. This is what I would do to repay my brothers for supporting my (very expensive) education. And because I’d have unlimited time, I’d teach them personally. I’d spend all my time being with my family to make up for the time I wasn’t with them these three years.

I would travel all around the world. Everytime I visit a new place, I get to learn about its people, its culture, its stories. And before I turn 30 (the age limit for most working holiday schemes), I would go on many, many working holidays. The first would be New Zealand. While travelling, I want to help the underprivileged whenever I can. I would volunteer abroad (Ecoteer). One of the first places I would visit would be Laos. I’ve seen Miao Zhen doing it, and she inspires me. I’d also advocate living a sustainable life.

I hope to learn more like how I used to in secondary school when I had plenty of time up my sleeves. Right now, I have so many things I want to learn but I haven’t gotten the time to. I feel like I’m only living up to others’ expectations. I want to continue latin dancing, relearn knitting, pick up Adobe Illustrator… so much more! I would do all of these if I have the time! I can achieve so much more, if only I am persistent enough.

By then, I would also be healthier and be in a better shape. I would’ve completed a few marathons, all under 5.5 hours (I took 8 hours for my first). I would eat better, totally ridding oily and unhealthy food out of my diet.

I haven’t gotten everything covered, especially in spirituality. Not an idea how an ideal life from the spiritual aspect would be. To be achieve the ideal spirituality, one has to connect to his/her inner self. That means, knowing what you live for and the reason of your existence. Cheemology. I don’t know what I’m living for. The other night I spent around one hour typing random sentences, just to bring myself to a purpose. 80 bullet points later, nope, haven’t found anything. Nothing pulled my heartstring when that’s supposed to happen.

Whoa. I’ve been reading and rereading this article, only to find more things to write each time. It was hard in the beginning. It was even harder when three paragraphs of text went poof no thanks to Blogger’s auto-save feature. At least now I can see what I want my ideal life to be and that’s something to work towards. As for the first dream… I’m not sure. I’ve already lost it and I have put it behind me. Perhaps the ideal life doesn’t have to be perfect, as long as I live with no regrets, that’s enough. That being said, I should stop holding back and start stepping out of my comfort zone.

The Challenge So Far

I went out for a jog today. =) Jurong Lake is such a magnificent place. It’s so quiet and serene. I closed my eyes for a moment and it felt good. I thought about my ideal life. Thought about my life purpose. And thought about nothing. Nothing at all~ Just the “nothingness” I need. =D

My 30-day action plan is working great! I realised I’m more focused with my goals set for the month. I might have to learn to say “no”. I hope that’s right choice.

Project Orion is confirmed! I’ll be going to Setiu, Terengganu for a turtle conservation project this coming June. Excited! The disappointing thing is, due to unforeseen circumstances, Nicholas isn’t going with me. But I see this as an opportunity to step out of my comfort zone! I’m embarking on a 2-week project with total strangers I haven’t met before (except the expedition leader)! Meeting new people plus once in a lifetime experience, I LIKE! Seeing turtles has always been on my wishlist but I haven’t gotten around doing it. Too many wants, too many distractions!

I’m going for a camp tomorrow at Pulau Ubin. Will be teaching a group of secondary scounts pioneering and navigation. Heh heh heh. Quite nervous. I wonder if they’ll be pro-er than me. =.= My 3 years as a Rover < their n years as cub scouts and/or scouts. Nonetheless, I shall enjoy teaching them! I realise I like to be surrounded by kids. Hee. And I like to be called “cher” too. “Cher~ cher… CHER!” XD *syok sendiri*

This is such a long post. I can’t believe I haven’t blogged for years (literally). Alrighty, going to bed! BYE PEOPLE! BUAI~

Labels: 30DLBL