Why Do You Live?

Almost everyone had thought of commiting suicide one time or another in life. Yet most continue to live on, as they see new light. Others who weren't so fortunate... Well, may they find peace in afterlife. If it exists, that is.

However, since we can't prove that it does, let 's assume it doesn't. Then, why would you choose death over life, why choose to end it? Is it because of the accident that happened to you resulting in your crippled condition? Then know that many have been born with worse, yet they continue to flare their spark of life no matter how short the time left for it to burn bright. Is the wound to you mental, rather than physical? Say you've lost loved ones, and not just by death? There've been many who lost everyone they've loved in wars, disasters, famine, yet they found others to love and be loved. Is it simply because you cannot find the drive to live? Then what, exactly, rouses your passion?

What has been the drive to survive for living beings around the world? Observing the history of the living, its obvious that many were drived to be immortal. Not in the sense of lifespan, of course, but every animal and plant wanted to ensure its continued existence on Earth through leaving its trace in the form of genes. Yep, if you can't live on as yourself, then live as the on whom you borne.

But in the civilised life of today's humans, that is not what you'd call "the way". Rather, there are some people who were immortalised for their deeds - both good and bad. Just take Mother Theresa and Adolf Hitler for exaxmple. Yet, not everyone can change the world. You can change the lives of those around you, though. How you change it is entirely your choice.

Before that, there's one step you need to start with. Change yourself. Choose to live, not to die.

Are You Beauty?

My face looks terrible. Acne dotted everywhere, the skin looks dark red after regular sunburns, and to top it off, parts of it are flaking! Too bad my skin have to endure this until after April, as my training will still continue under the sun 'til then.

Despite the condition of the skin of my face, I still think I don't look uglier than normal. What would you think under the situation? Scream like crazy everytime you look at yourself in the mirror? Groan at the touch of your zits? Come on, pal - feeling bad about yourself does no good to you. If anything, it'll only make you worse - several studies have already proven it. The more you worry, the worse it goes, you worry even more... It's a negative cycle that'll soon leave you in despair if you don't pull through.

A couple of weeks ago, I read a quote from Hannah Tan, Malaysia's popular beauty icon, which says, "Both beauty and health exists naturally in tandem. Neither can be taken for granted." She also sees beauty as "an inner strength and charismatic persona, rather than what people see on the outside".

Of course, you can argue that she's only saying that for show, but that's beyond the point here. She speaks the truth, willingly or not - true beauty is as it does. If you accept that you are beautiful, then you are, no matter what others think of you. (Don't overdo it to the point of vanity, though.)

Then, there's a story about Beauty and Ugly: that they both went for a bath together, and Ugly delibrately left early, wearing Beauty's clothes, leaving her with no choice but to take Ugly's. Beauty does exist within some of those who wear Ugly's dress; sometimes the Beautiful dress is used as a facade by Ugly. We can't judge truly which is which, but we can choose to wear whose dress, and to be with whom truly within.

There are many beautiful things in the world. YOU can choose to be one with them. Still think you're not Beauty? Think again.