Baggages

Yes, we all have lots of baggages collected over certain periods of time in our lives, just that you might not actually realise that you have been lugging them along for so long.

Being a Singaporean Chinese, the Lunar New Year is approaching and it is when we end the year and welcome the start of another year on a joyous festive note.
Everybody should be wrapping up what they call the "spring cleaning", before the LNY Eve approaches. During this period of time, while everybody is busy cleaning their houses spanking clean, some of us are still struggling with our baggages that are perhaps long due for the thrash can. And some of these baggages can actually be quite new!

These baggages are of different sizes; big & small. And they hold emotions, memories, experiences and occassionally, lessons that we can bring along in life.
These are what makes us carry the baggages along into different stages of life, and in some way or another, affecting the way we live our lives. One may deny that such actually affect his/her life, but the fact is that subconsciously, it is. Some of us may realise this, some of us may not; in fact at times people are still living in the shadows of their past. Certain things that people do, say, are skeptical of and/or hang on to, are due to what has happened to them before, perhaps for an example, in a relationship. A thousand things can happen in a relationship and certain fateful event leaves behind a scar. Unknowningly, this becomes part of the baggage. With this baggage, this traveller is constantly being reminded of the scar each time a trigger is pulled. Thus, casting a shadow over the area, turning it into a dark alley which we are always warned not to walk into, for there are dangers lurking around. As time goes, decisions are at times made to detour around that dark little alley.

But this is not the case for every individual, especially for those who are able to put the past behind them (of course, this is not an easy task). Not in the sense that they totally have forgotten about the past, as nobody can forget the past for we are no computers where we can just hit the "Delete" button and viola!, it is gone forever. I am sorry but none of that is going to happen, ever.
Simply to say, this can actually be the most simple action on this beautiful world which is to simply pack, lock up and leave the baggage behind without any worries. But hold on, that is something which we always thought of doing when dogged by troubles and hardships! What an irony.

("Moving on!")

Yes, clearing the old baggages in time for the new year for a new start. Too many people have been carrying old baggages around, at times tiring them out easily. How do you actually clear them off?
This, I must say, is very, very subjective to individuals.
Some may take a year or two, while some might just need a month or two! And some might need a bottle or two, maybe three.

In a bustling environment, where speed is essential, efficiency highly sought after and effectiveness is core, clearing away some space is something not to be pushed or hurried. It should be done when one is ready to do so, or in other words, when the time is ripe.
There might be a whole list for to do, or there might not a be need to lift a finger. Who knows. Perhaps someday when one relaxes on his/her favourite couch, thinks about the past and being able to smile from deep within, with a "Thank You" to a particular opposition, for in some way or another, a better person is carved. Or perhaps maybe even after a friendly chat over a cup of coffee, a helium balloon tied to an anchor, will be set free just like that.
However, to do so, one must have the courage to stand in the face of the dark alley.

So go on, pour away the water and let it go.
Let the water flow on its own, to a place where it will finally come to a rest.
That will exactly be when and where one's old baggage(s) will be left behind; starting a new chapter.

Best Fit

It is just like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, in which all pieces fit nicely with another.

In all things we do, we are subconsciously subjected to finding the best fit and without us realising it.
Could it be matching that pair of jeans with a tee shirt or a shirt?
Could it be choosing that dish to go along with the plain rice that you are having for lunch?
Could it be buying that birthday gift for your best buddy?
Could it be looking out for someone that catches your eye?

Be it any of the above or the thousand and one things that's happening in your life, yes, we are constantly looking to find the best fit for all events.

Easier said than done. So how do we find it?
I must simply say, perhaps one of my favourite quotes, "It's all about trial & error."

BUT I am not saying that we enter into anything, having a trial & error mentality.
We should be strong & confident, and most importantly, dare to be wrong and/or fail.
For if we do not, then never would we be able to see the light at the end of the tunnel; as the first step will never be taken.

If you do not try, you will never know what awaits you at the other end of the road.

And of course, certain characteristics have to be there. One has to have courage to take the daring initiative, followed by the patience and determination to persevere as well as the wits to take on the events of life.
Not forgetting the strength to stand back up upon failure.

Failure is a big word; sometimes too big for people to handle, they collapse.
As there's a saying "failure is the mother of success" (correct me if I'm wrong), I totally agree with it.
To me, failure is a learning process and what does not kills us, only makes us stronger.
BUT of course, we definitely must not plan to fail. One should always plan to succeed.
However, not all events carry the same backlash; some so insignificant that one might not even feel it.

Having being able to find the best fit, things will naturally flow smoothly. And it brings alot into life; joy & sorrow. Being best fit, these will be easily overcomed and the bond will be stronger, working towards the common goal and achieving it.
And when one looks back in time, we can only be grateful & thank God that we found the right one, completing the beautiful jigsaw puzzle.

And I'm still looking for that beautiful piece.