Unmasking my own self

Today’s Daily Prompt: We’re less than a week away from Halloween! If you had to design a costume that channeled your true, innermost self, what would that costume look like? Would you dare to wear it?

It is always difficult to truly unmask yourself- regardless of whether you are alone or with others. Knowing who you really are can be daunting. Who you are may not be who you want to be. It may also be the opposite of who others want you to be.

But does it matter? A lot of us spend countless hours in front of mirrors just to make sure that we look as good as others expect us to be. Sometimes, we nail it. Sometimes we don’t. Sometimes we are who we want ourselves to be, and we sometimes aren’t.

Our desires change. We change. others change.

Should we go with the flow? Which flow? Why? Why not?

Anyway…

If I’m going to design a costume that would reveal the inner, truest of true me, I’ll probably get dressed in bacon. Not everyone likes bacon, but I do. Bacon can make people happy for a while.

 

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Weekly Photo Challenge: Imagine (Cover Art)

Imagine

I stumbled upon this grafitti on my visit to London a few weekends ago. It depicts two people- one white, pressumably British, male and one woman who is wearing a burkha- holding hands. In light of what has happened and what is happening in the world, I think this is one of the most powerful pieces of art that I have ever seen.

John Lennon’s song Imagine came to my mind when I saw this.

Imagine:

Imagine there’s no heaven
It’s easy if you try
No hell below us
Above us only sky
Imagine all the people
Living for today…

Imagine there’s no countries
It isn’t hard to do
Nothing to kill or die for
And no religion too
Imagine all the people
Living life in peace…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will be as one

Imagine no possessions
I wonder if you can
No need for greed or hunger
A brotherhood of man
Imagine all the people
Sharing all the world…

You may say I’m a dreamer
But I’m not the only one
I hope someday you’ll join us
And the world will live as one

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In response to this week’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Art Work

(Daily Prompt) Worst Case Scenario: Neither Death nor Pain, but…

They say that the worst thing in life is its end. “If nobody’s out to kill you and if you’re not dying, don’t worry”, I heard someone say once. However, it is not my demise that worries me the most. Neither is not loss of possessions and loved ones.

For me, the worst thing that can happen is when I lose my ability to appreciate life and all its ups and downs. In addition, I also do not want to lose the ability to express my gratitude for everything that have happened, will happen and is happening to me- both good and bad. There is a big difference between living and existing. I’d rather live, experience life and be able to thank the people who have made this world a better place, and those who have made me (and others) better. Life is great as much as it is tough.

I want to live, not just exist.

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In response to Daily Prompt: Worst Case Scenario

 

Check out others’ Worst Case Scenarios:

Doom and Gloom: Anglo-Swiss World

Sudden Loss: Life is Great

Excluded: Abodzar

Great Expectations: Creating My Day In Advance

 

Before I fall asleep every night, I spend about 10-20 minutes visualising what I want to happen the next day. I think about what I want the weather to be (I always prefer dry days), what I will eat, drink, read and write. I also think about how I want my colleagues and students to act, speak and think. Afterwards, I think about how I plan to be, speak, act and react throughout the next day.

Notice that all of what I think of are positive things- I think about what I want and not what I don’t want. I focus on happy endings. I learned about this ‘exercise’ from Rhonda Byrne’s book, The Secret. Regardless of what you think about The Secret and its teachings, this particular exercise is useful as it helps put you in a good mood. Focusing on the positive aspects of life, your wishes and your expectations is definitely better than dwelling on what you want to avoid, what you hate and what you do not want to happen.

Throughout the following day, I evaluate my expectations against reality, not by wanting to prove myself wrong, but by trying to prove myself right. I start by evaluating my actions and thoughts. If I am acting and thinking in a way that benefits myself and others without causing any negativity, I would feel great. If not, then at least I can adjust the way I view things and in turn, I can change the way I act. Afterwards, I focus on others’ behaviours. At the same time, I focus on my interpretation of their behaviours- I try my best to see the bright side of every single behaviour.

I also believe that I have the power to change the way people behave and the way they think, particularly in the classroom. If my students are happy, they’ll behave positively. If I explicitly prasie and reward their positive behaviours, they’ll be happy, and so the cycle goes on.

I am aware that things do not always turn out the way I planned them. But focusing on the positive side of everything certainly helps. In addition, I try my best to succeed- that is, I try my hardest to make my expectations my reality. What’s even more important in this exercise is our ability  to realise that we have the power to improve our days- and lives- at any time!

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Thanks for the prompt, Daily Post!