Archive for June, 2006

All the lonely people…

Sunday, June 25th, 2006

Have you heard about the story about “the missing piece”. It basically goes like this, a circle missing a wedged shaped piece that rolls around trying to find its mate to be complete. I guess there are many renditions of this story and I’v also heard one using a doughtnut but getting back to point, this story is very profound. I guess every one of us is some sort like a the circle, forever looking for that one thing to complete us, to make us whole. We have that longing in our heart, a sense of incompleteness; it’s funny how everyone has it, as if life isn’t complete without that something or someone. Nothing to say here, I just wanted to share this thought to the far ends of the world, from an incomplete circle to another…

The Masks We Wear

Friday, June 16th, 2006

Chinese_mask2_1

Who are we really actually? Everyday, we wake up and perform tasks like our jobs, go home, eat dinner, watch TV, and go to sleep. Then tomorrow, we repeat everything again. We say we are different, that we are our own individuals having different personalities. Yet, we run our everyday life with little or no difference from others. Personality is just an illusion. Probably, humans just made it up so that they can use it to blame their shortcomings. We say things like “no it just no in me to do it”, but seriously, who are we kidding?

In reality, what we really do is wear mask, think of it like role playing. When we go to work, we put on a “job” mask. Think of it like stamping the word “accountant” in red big bold letter on your forehead. Then when you go home, you wear the “dad” mask, becoming the great guy that your kids love. You also alternately wear the “loving husband” mask while you spouse rotates mask that are labelled, “mom” and “loving wife”. There are sometimes you also put on the “me” mask when spending time alone (your so-called personality, that when you think about who you are). The thing is that we act differently with every different mask we put on. A person can be really agressive at work, be the “fun guy” while hanging out with friends, and yet be the caring and loving husband and father at the same time. Who we are changes with the different mask we put on. We often say that our personality changes when time goes by, but in fact it changes so many times in just one day!

There’s no such thing as a personality, being that you are what you are, a rigid thinking that this is who you are and cannot change it. It’s funny how some people are afraid to change as they are afraid they might lose themselves. Then, if you look at the countless times you change masks in a single day, it’s suprisingly liberating to know, that your so called personality is more fluid and flexible than ever. We are constantly changing, so used to it that we don’t really feel the difference when we are at work or play.

When it comes down to the crunch, what’s important is not the mask you wear but how well you can change mask. Ever seen that China circus act of a guy that can change his mask really quick? Yes, that’s a great example of adaptability. Like this, once you come back from work and open the door to your house, you must already be wearing your “family” mask. Imagine what will happen if you still have your agressive “job” mask on….ohhh….disastrous! =)