So I am less than a month away from my big move to Perth, Australia. BIG move really. I can't help but cringe on the slightest thought about moving to a new country, away from especially my love ones (my dearest family) and my closest friends. I can't help but my heart raced a little when I think about what how I will do in my new chapter of my academic life. I can't help but feel this irrational fear about how my future holds with the changes in medical field. I am scared, no just frighten really.
To many, worrying about the future is really a waste of time. It's unproductive. Every time we use the present to stress about the future, we're choosing to sacrifice joy today to mourn joy we might not have tomorrow. I suppose this instinctive sense of fear stems from the uncertainty. The anticipation of potential failures, the anticipation that we might not do as well as what we are doing now. Yesterday, a friend shared an article written by Regina Brett, who has a column on The Plain Dealer (read here), she wrote an article on "Regina Brett's 45 Life Lessons and 5 to Grow On..."
She wrote:
Do visit the link to see the original article.
After reading this, I looked back at the most fulfilling parts of my life, and I realize most of them came when I least expect them to. They took me completely by surprise. Some moments might have given me some heartache, while others also provided me with new opportunities and provided excitement. For every time I've felt disappointed, there's always other moment when I've felt a sense of wonder and pure euphoria. Looking at that list of life lessons written by Regina Brett, some has popped out at me like a revelation.These are my personal favorites:
"1. Life isn't fair, but it's still good."
I am not blessed with model good looks, yet I am not entirely hideous. I am might not have gone to a great school, but yet I have my Master degree now. We might not be very well off, but we are living comfortable life. More importantly, as compared to many others,I am blessed with a great family and a bunch of loyal and amazing friends. What more can I ask for.
"7. Cry with someone. It's more healing than crying alone."
Recently a couple of closet friends went through a rough patch in their lives. There were lots of heartache. Lots of tears. Lots of cursing and swearing. But, we were there for each other. I had a fair share of my own drama, and I am thankful to have my best friends and close friends in my life. Cause nothing is quite as therapeutic as crying with someone. They just always have their way to some how impart you with crazy life lessons when you least expect it. They will be the one who will help you up again. So cry together.
"11. Make peace with your past so that it won't screw up the present."
Can't even begin how this rings a big loud bell in me. Most people accept that their past is set in stone and cannot be changed. Often than not people let it determined how things will play out in future. This kind of belief leads one to constantly re-experience painful or difficult memories and emotions causing regrets and eventually repression, which ultimately compounds the problems. These painful memories are like untreated wounds left to fester, they simply get worst over time, until we learn to make peace with the past. There were few moments in my life where I was constantly questioning the "whys". And I realised it was only when I go head on with the problem, face it and eventually let go could I then move forward.
"22. Over prepare. Then go with the flow."
I think this is something which I have come to realized over the years. I suppose most Singaporeans are caught up with paper chase or merit chase that we forgot why we are doing this. I've realized that there is more than just preparing for an exam, or for a race. But really, we are just trying to over prepare ourselves for what is to come - and that in itself is a good thing. As aptly put by Louis Pasteur, "chance favors the prepared mind." So it's always good to over prepare so that we will be ready for what is to come.
"45. The best is yet to come"
Enough said. If life is already at it's best, then there's not much for us to live for right?
"50. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift"
Most
people accept that their past is set in stone and cannot be changed,
however, this is a fallacy. This kind of belief/thinking leads you to
constantly re-experience painful or difficult memories and emotions
causing regret and eventually repression, which ultimately compounds the
problem. These painful memories are like untreated wounds, left to
fester, they simply get worse over time… until you learn to make peace
with your past. - See more at:
http://www.thehealersjournal.com/2013/10/09/make-peace-with-your-past/#sthash.1q50Xkc7.dpuf
Most
people accept that their past is set in stone and cannot be changed,
however, this is a fallacy. This kind of belief/thinking leads you to
constantly re-experience painful or difficult memories and emotions
causing regret and eventually repression, which ultimately compounds the
problem. These painful memories are like untreated wounds, left to
fester, they simply get worse over time… until you learn to make peace
with your past. - See more at:
http://www.thehealersjournal.com/2013/10/09/make-peace-with-your-past/#sthash.1q50Xkc7.dpuf
Like what my mum always say, "a step at a time, things will always work out..." Uncertainty is the cost of that deeply satisfying, exhilarating, spontaneous sense of awe. Those are the moments we live for - and I try, and continuously remind myself to just give my best, immerse myself wholeheartedly on the present moment so that i wouldn't fixate on the unknown and let things work out themselves. I say life is one big fancy dress party, and we should live it and enjoy what the party brings!
Till next time! Cheers~
