Random Ramblings #1: Alive and True

Written on 2/05/2010 04:00:00 PM by DJ

What is it like to be alive,
To be true to thy self & thou soul?
For we bury our real selves under guises,
Guises of politically correctness & politeness;

We fear what others might think,
We are slaves to the approval of men,
And often we don't mean what we say,
Or say what we mean.

We're taught to "think before we speak",
but do we think too much and soon forget what we intended to speak?
Do we quench that fire burning in our hearts,
With cold shower of cynic's opinions?

Like how that ol Japanese saying goes,
"A nail that sticks out gets hammered down."
Somewhere in the recesses of our minds,
Do we subconsciously submit to that notion?

While growing up, I always appreciated harmony,
So much so that it seems like I practise self-censorship every so often,
Fearing that indeed if I speak, I'll be hammered down by someone in authority
Someone who's supposed to have a "better" opinion,
Someone more qualified?

Is it really wrong though, to be ignorant and voice out what you feel?
I used to hate people who appeared like empty vessels,
Trying to argue about an issue, while they are misinformed or
With arguments so shallow it's like wading through a swimming pool fit for a foetus.

But at least I salute them for first coming out of their comfort zone,
That comfort zone of sitting on the fence,
And not take the risk of becoming the public enemy or being ridiculed.

And talking about opinions...
When was the last time I really voiced what I felt.
An opinion which ain't just regurgitating what you hear or read in the news,
any 'auntie' can do that.

When's the last time I thought critically about an issue?
To develop my own personal opinion?
And not just opinions, but also principles, convictions.
Where are my convictions, my principles, my morals, my values?

What do I stand for?
What makes me alive?
Am I true to myself?

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