My Monologue

Anyway

markhsx — Sun, 20 Feb 2011 21:21:22 +0000

I saw a poster in church on my way down the stairs today, and even though it captured a beautiful sunrise, it was the words that really touched my heart. In a time when I’m searching for direction, praying for guidance, and seeking my path in life, these words remind me of what’s important, amidst all the ups and downs in the world and days ahead. I found that they were written by Dr. Kent M. Keith, and placed by Mother Teresa on the wall of her childrens’ home. I believe that of everything we can learn from the life of Mother Teresa, it is her selfless love that continues to shine the brightest in these dark days, as a legacy for us to carry on.

“People are often unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered;

Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives;

Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies;

Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you;

Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight;

Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous;

Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow;

Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have, and it may never be enough;

Give the world the best you’ve got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; it was never between you and them anyway.”

The Journey

markhsx — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 13:38:21 +0000

Perfection – in a materialistic, status-conscious world, it is what we strive for, what we work for, what we sacrifice for. And each of us wants our way – for our world to be perfect, for our lives to be perfect – perfect in our own way. Yet the very notion of perfection is mired beyond face value. The world cannot be a perfect place, simply because we crave the same things for ourselves. Not all wishes can be granted, not all dreams can come true. The fairy tale, actually rather sadly, is what it is – a story told to enchant us. (Perhaps we find true satisfaction in the most selfish of ways – I have what you don’t, I have done what you haven’t, I have been where you haven’t, I have achieved something you haven’t.)

Perfection is overrated. If the world were a perfect place, if our lives were perfect, perfection would only bring so much less of the joy we associate with it, there would be no satisfaction and we would never appreciate what we are blessed with. If perfection is the destination, just like every destination, it will be bittersweet. The destination is, and will always be, bittersweet. When we have reached and seen all there is to be seen, experienced all there is to do, we ask “what now?” And so, joy is to be found in the journey – in reaching out for something greater, in looking forward to something to come.

That is why in so many ways, travelling is my greatest joy, because the world is such a big and amazing place; there will always be more places to see, things to do, people to know. I know I no longer want to strive for perfection, something so futile. The best analogy is found in the words of the Philosopher in Ecclesiastes: “I observed everything going on under the sun, and really, it is all meaningless – like chasing the wind”, and as he concludes, “I know that there is nothing better for men than to be happy and do good while they live.”

So let us enjoy the journey, for that is where we find true joy, knowing that the destination is not singular, but there will be more to come. Perfection is a good direction to have – for us to change for the better, for the world to be a better place – but let’s not get caught up in clinging on to that fantasy. Time is always running out; we should never look back and sigh upon things that cannot be undone. We should enjoy and appreciate what we have been blessed with in our lives, take time to realise that there’s still beauty in this world, and live life to the fullest, making the best of what time we have left.

Before it’s too late, laugh, love, live.

Albums

markhsx — Sun, 26 Dec 2010 20:22:02 +0000

In an address entitled “50 Things”, Ben Jones writes:

In college more than ever before, songs will attach themselves to memories. Every month or two, make a mix cd, mp3 folder, whatever – just make sure you keep copies of these songs. Ten years out, they’ll be as effective as a journal in taking you back to your favorite moments.

I began my attempt at this just this year, and I’ve finished four albums complete with covers. I’ll continue to update this space to share the music of our times.

Boyband Lives On

February 2011

Simply because these songs take us back to a time when true love was reality.

98 Degrees – The Hardest Thing
A1 – Everytime
A1 – Heaven By Your Side
A1 – When I’m Missing You
Backstreet Boys – Back To Your Heart
Backstreet Boys – Drowning
Backstreet Boys – I Need You Tonight
Backstreet Boys – What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)
Blue – Best In Me
Boyzone – Shooting Star
N’Sync – This I Promise You
Westlife – I Don’t Wanna Fight
Westlife – If Your Heart’s Not In It
Westlife – Love Takes Two
Westlife – Miss You
Westlife – Written in the Stars

Songs For A Princess

February 2011

This is the playlist I made for Joanne’s 21st party, her Masquerade Ball.

Kina Grannis – Valentine
Savage Garden – Truly Madly Deeply
Taylor Swift – Love Story
Taylor Swift – Today Was a Fairytale
Kenny Loggins – Your Heart Will Lead You Home
Guy Sebastian – Angels Brought Me Here
A1 – Heaven By Your Side
Boyzone – Shooting Star
Westlife – Written in the Stars
Nsync – This I Promise You
Joey McIntyre – Stay the Same
Backstreet Boys – What Makes You Different (Makes You Beautiful)
Jason Mraz – Lucky
Taylor Swift – Our Song
Britt Nicole – Feel The Light
Taylor Swift – I’m Only Me When I’m With You
Carrie Underwood – Ever Ever After
Jason Mraz – Live High
Eva Cassidy – Songbird
Jonathan Brooke – I’ll Try
Corrinne May – The Birthday Song
Cinderella – A Dream Is A Wish Your Heart Makes (Instrumental)
Disney Princess – If You Can Dream
Sleeping Beauty – Once Upon A Dream (Instrumental)
Jon McLaughlin – So Close
Beauty and the Beast – Beauty and the Beast (Instrumental)
Alan Menken & Stephen Schwartz – Enchanted Suite

Remember December

December 2010

Songs I’ve heard through the holidays – friends, concerts, television, radio.

Queen and Paul Rodgers – We Believe
U2 – One
30 Seconds To Mar – Closer To The Edge
Maroon 5 – Misery
The Killers – Human
Midnight Hour – Running Away
Bruno Mars – Just The Way You Are
Damn Yankees – High Enough
David Archuleta – Crush
Sara Bareilles & Ingrid Michaelson – Winter Song
Mika – We Are Golden
Fefe Dobson – Stuttering
Sam Tsui & Christina Grimmie – Just A Dream
Boyz II Men – I Will Get There
Lady Antebellum – Hello World
Casting Crowns – Who Am I
Mika – Happy Ending

Autumn’s End

September 2010

Love songs – falling in love, falling out of love, love that heals, love that hurts, love now, love then.

Boys Like Girls Ft. Taylor Swift – Two Is Better Than One
Kina Grannis – Valentine
Taylor Swift – Today Was A Fairytale
K-Ci And Jojo – All My Life
Mandy Moore – Only Hope
Colbie Caillat – Fallin’ For You
John Mayer Ft. Taylor Swift – Half Of My Heart
Bon Jovi – Always
Glee – Faithfully
Augustana – Boston
Hayley Taylor – No More Wishing
Sara Bareilles – Gravity

June’s Hillsongs

June 2010

A selection of Contemporary Christian music, songs that can actually be sung in church.

Mighty To Save – Hillsong
I Could Sing of Your Love Forever – Sonicflood
Hosanna – Hillsong
Everyday – Hillsong & Delirious
Above All – Hillsong
Worthy is the Lamb – Hillsong
So You Would Come – Hillsong
Second Chance – Hillsong
My Redeemer Lives – Hillsong
Magnificent – Hillsong
IGiveYouMyHeart – Hillsong
How Great Is Our God – Chris Tomlin
Holy Spirit Rain Down – Hillsong
The Heart of Worship – Matt Redman
Blessed be Your Name – Passion
Beautiful Saviour – Planetshakers
Amazing Grace (My Chains Are Gone) – Chris Tomlin
All Day – Hillsong

January’s Beats

January 2010

A mixtape of the best beats laid down during my army days

Boom Boom Pow – Black Eyed Peas
Lose Control – Missy Elliott
Rock This Party (Everybody Dance Now) – Bob Sinclair
I Know You Want Me (Calle Ocho) – Pitbull
Just Dance – Lady Gaga
Insomnia – Craig David
Sexy Bitch – David Guetta feat Akon
Jump – Flo Rida feat Nelly Furtado
Shut It Down – Pitbull feat Akon
I Got A Feeling – Black Eyed Peas
Down – Jay Sean feat Lil’ Wayne
Sugar – Flo Rida
Tik Tok – Kesha feat P. Diddy
Holiday – Dizzie Rascal
Patron Tequila – Paradiso Girls
Bad Romance – Lady Gaga
Fire Burning – Sean Kingston
One Time – Justin Beiber
Mad – Ne-Yo
Starstrukk – 3oh!3 feat Katy Perry

The show must go on.

My ORD List! (The Civilian Conversion Course)

markhsx — Sat, 23 Oct 2010 02:44:59 +0000

We’ve been caught up in NS for so long, it’s time to live life, enjoy the days ahead, before life gets real again. So these are the little things I wanna do, the small blessings that I wanna appreciate as much as I can before life goes on!

I shall return to this list before I matriculate

Update: 3rd January 2011, after the best two months of my life so far!

Go to ORD Bridge (along the Singapore River)- on ORD day! (051110)
Travel - to Hong Kong with Joanne and Yuhui! (111210 – 151210)
Watch a sunrise - as we took off to Hong Kong (111210)
Read
Visit museums - Tyler Print Institute and National Museum (221210)
Food-trail
Sing (with all my voice)
Photo-trip
Write
Be a poet
Find true love
Drive
Fly
Appreciate God’s creation
Get back on the right path
Find optimism
Physical training
Learn
Have cake and eat it too
Catch up with friends – A December to remember!
Draw - in my travel journal (111210)
Monopoly Deal
Visit places I love
Visit CSC in Jurong Camp
Live