| The Untold Story: First Aid |
[Nov. 23rd, 2010|08:12 am] |
It was about a week into my new lifestyle and we were about to have a little test on how well we could perform first aid. I didn't think much of this the night before but one section of the test proved to be a real defining moment for me. Of course, within the context of this lifestyle, first aid was of utmost importance and I did prepare myself for the assessment.
One segment of the test was designed to see how competent we were in evacuating our buddies if they were hurt and the scenario given to me was that my buddy injured his leg.
I knew for sure that the tester was picking on my weight.
My buddy was nearly 60kg, a good 15kg heavier than me. Additionally, both of us had our gear on, which was at least 5kg per person.
I smirked at the tester, as he looked on, waiting to be impressed.
I bent over, placing an arm between his legs and one around his neck and using a quick burst of force, I tried to lift him up upon my shoulders. I couldn't. My buddy let out a bad word, ironically, as encouragement. I tried again, this time using all my energy, shouting out as a heaved him on my shoulders and I ran the length of the basket ball court before we both stumbled at the end.
That was the last time I was mocked about my weight because I proved to everyone that it's not all about being physically tougher, it's about how much heart you have. |
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| The Untold Story: The Last Smile |
[Nov. 10th, 2010|04:31 pm] |
Our training intensified and we were missing home. It was that one thought I had of home that made me smile, knowing that it wouldn't be too long before we could return home.
That was when I was caught smiling.
A superior called me out to him and he ask me, 'What was so funny?'.
In response, I told him nothing.
'Wipe that smile off your face.'
I tried for a little while because this situation was getting a little humorous. Alas, I found myself smiling still.
I was then made to run one round around the block for that smile.
When I returned, I resisted smiling at him, even though I knew that this situation was more of a joke than anything else.
'Don't let me see you smiling ever again.' He said and dismissed me.
I was upset that I wasn't allowed to smile and for anyone else, that might have been their last smile. For myself, I knew that I would never allow myself to change my own personality just because of a few words. That was an important lesson for me. That they could control my body, my time and many things about me but they can never take away those things that mean a lot to me. They can never take away my personality.
That was not my last smile. |
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| The Untold Story: T.K.K. |
[Nov. 7th, 2010|12:39 pm] |
It was the first few days in and we were gathered in a hall, much like the ones that you've been in during your secondary school days. They gathered us for a talk by a man with the initials 'T.K.K.'
The atmosphere was a little dead, like we have been subdued and captured, which was true to a certain extent. Those men proudly showing off their three chevrons stood above us, much like prison wardens, as we sat there, waiting for T.K.K.'s arrival. I remember carrying a notebook with me and as T.K.K. arrived, the hall broke into an untold silence.
He addressed us, welcoming us to our new home for the next few months and encouraged us to fight the good fight. Several faces started to cringe when he said that. You could tell that everyone was largely unimpressed or indifferent.
He reached a climax in his speech, by telling us to look after one another. Then it struck me that meritocracy has indeed taken over all of us. He said that we must be useful and that if the person beside you dies, he wouldn't be very useful, isn't it? If he loses an arm, or a leg, wouldn't that make him less useful? This made me write down in my little black notebook 'T.K.K.', assuming that I would remember what T.K.K. stood for after that, 'should just die...'.
He invoked that very thought that I did not wish to accept, that we have ceased to be human. That we should not take care of one another because of friendship, trust, 'leave no man behind', but because he will be useful to us. I just couldn't bring myself to listen any further.
I kept these words very close for those few months, and alas, it really came to be.
I am still, to this day, deeply disappointed because it is true, isn't it? That we judge our fellow human beings on how useful they are and disregard their circumstances. Isn't that why those in our grandparent's generation suffer? As well as those who are handicapped, sick and even those who aren't as intellectually capable as us. They have been deemed as a burden by our society. When we walk pass them, we stare. When they approach us for help, we just walk right pass them.
Meritocracy, well done. |
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| The Untold Story |
[Nov. 7th, 2010|12:12 pm] |
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The following is a collection of stories that have contributed to changing the way I look at things. |
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| Love, Respect and Security |
[Oct. 16th, 2010|12:39 am] |
That's it. That's all that I need to provide.
A taxi driver once told me, 'Kid,' he said, 'if you really love your girlfriend very much and treat her well, no matter what happens she will never leave you.' This alone was a very gripping statement. He continued, 'Even if there's another man who is richer, smarter or more attractive, she will never leave you.'
Wise man, he is.
The foundations of a good relationship is love. Love isn't a bunch of 'is not this or that', nor is it the actions that people do. Love is that little bit of yourself in the other person. When you say that you love somebody, you have given a part of yourself to him or her. It is because of your presence in the person, there comes sacrifice and commitment. When you love somebody, you treat that person the way you would want to be treated, with respect.
For a relationship to take off, it requires a great deal of respect. I heard on the radio the other day that scientist discovered that marriages are the most stable when couples learn to compromise. It's this very action of giving and taking, which requires a great deal of love and sacrifice, garners respect for both parties. Respecting the other person's actions, decisions and opinions even when you don't agree, applying this to all matters within the relationship. Knowing that you will respect your partner and wouldn't intentionally harm him or her, there develops a sense of security.
Finally, a relationship matures and blooms when there is commitment through that sense of security. From here, many things can be built. Both parties can see a future together and they will work together towards it. It's with this sense of security, that promises can be made and through this commitment, where both parties will know that these promises will be kept.
It sounds easy, doesn't it? My girlfriend always says to me when we share a drink, 'cheers to love, and all the pain it requires'. True enough, we have been through rough patches because I have, more than once, shaken that sense of security and at times, respect. But I know deep down that as long as we do not shake the foundations that hold us together, we will not be broken. |
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