Of Atttitudes and Aptitudes

It has been an eventful week; with so many things that happened. Maybe with the onset of the full moon, and the alignment of the things in the solar system, this triggers some of 'natural, innate desire' to do things which are simply beyond reason...like how wolves and wild dogs howl at the moon...hahaha.

If only such logic holds water.
We sometimes tread a fine line between reality and illusion; and choose what we ourselves want to believe. This is part of our makeup.

Recently, I have been asking the young minds about how ready they are to go for 'war'. Few, so far, understood the significance of the analogy, and even fewer have bothered to want to apply this to their current situation.

'Wars' can be waged at many levels. (Hahaha...perhaps the total defence campaigns need to be re-looked). One of the crucial aspects of the 'war' the kids are going to embark, is waged in their minds.

While I can teach and equip them with 'physical, practical knowledge' to face the enemy at the end of the year, the challenge is to prepare both their hearts and minds at the same time. Many wage internal battles as they face obstacles along the way...and sadly, at this stage, are not even ready to believe that they can overcome.

I believe that one of the hardest things to do, is to be your own best friend...sometimes, the biggest enemy lies within ourselves. Those who are realistic and pragmatic often point out that I cannot expect too much; that one's aptitude sets the ceiling to what one is able to do. I fully understand that.

The current reality may seem to be that because society has segregated people based on their abilities and talents, we have allowed ourselves to be judged simply based on those criterion. We chain ourselves to this perception.

Yet, time and time again, we know of how the human spirit is capable of far greater things when the right attitude prevails. Armed with a positive outlook, a winner's mindset, and a heavy dose of resilience and courage...the impossible can really become possible.

I am not talking about one dreaming of becoming superheroes who leap off tall buildings and owning extra-ordinary powers. I just hope that my charges will keep on believing in themselves, and pushing and testing themselves beyond the limits that they think they are capable of.

Alas, maybe, complacency has set in.
Many are not 'hungry' enough to want to win.
Many still believe 'this is me...I can only do so much.'
And in an age of instant gratification, they may not have the patience to just keep on trying again, and again, and again...till they emerge victorious.

We all know how easy it is to find reasons (and excuses).
"I am not good/clever/intelligent/smart/strong/fast.....enough."
Worse still, there are others who say, "luck was not on my side".
Then, if this it the way most feel, then even people like Einstein (who was a school drop out), and Edison (who failed thousands of times before his bulb lit up literally) would not have made a greaat impact to the world.


God, keep me rooted to the ground, while I keep my eyes to the sky.
As a man, I am not born to physically fly, but as long as my spirit does, I know I can go anyway.