#7 - Being Happy
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Being happy requires external demonstration to be maximised to full potential. I realised it's a process that should not be hidden within the fortress of my heart. Even such a common nursery song delivers the message so clearly. We certainly have been inculcated with the notions of expressing our joy since young. Then I thought hard about this inference and began wondered if this is why Singaporeans like to flaunt their supposed happiness as measured in superficiality and materialistic worth.
We, as Singaporeans, seem to have a reflex inclination to compare and ideally, to emerge the winner. We probe into everyone's affairs to seek opportunities for comparison. Landed residences and condominiums are esteemed over HDB flats; B&W and Mercedes over Toyota and Honda; SAP schools over neighbourhood ones. Once we know clearly that victory is on our side, we delve into a serious comparison to flaunt our superiority.
For instance, most mothers are proud of their children's academic achievements. PSLE results and secondary school postings are the peak periods to source out who is the most 'hao lian', the Hokkien equivalent of a typical show-off, amidst the stiff competition. One will casually enquire about an acquaintance's child's performance and upon receiving the reply, will weigh the comparison meticulously to pre-empt a loss of face. If victory is ensured, one will linger around in utmost interest and await the recipocral enquiry which will signal the launch of her endless references to how lucky her child has been to do better than that.
In Singapore, we place very much emphasis on materialistic possessions, external beauty and the paper chase. Do we really think these fulfilling the criteria of these three aspects will bring us infinite joy? Are they really symbolic of one's achievements in Life itself, or are they merely our poorly wrought tools to mask our incompetence? Should we be proud to flaunt our weaknesses? In comparisons, there is always the better and the worse. Being the superior party once does not mean an eternity of victory and immediate conferral of supremacy. Humans are never perfect. In commenting on this phenomenon, I am comparing myself against other Singaporeans too.
Perhaps we flaunt to be absorbed in our own make-belief. Desire breeds the impossible. If I want to be happy, I will think really hard that I am indeed happy, and I may very well just become happy! Then I must flaunt the fact that I am happy and you are not.
If you're happy and you know it
*execute cheerful action*
If you're happy and you know it
and you really want to show it
if you're happy and you know it
*execute cherrful action*
"
Being happy requires external demonstration to be maximised to full potential. I realised it's a process that should not be hidden within the fortress of my heart. Even such a common nursery song delivers the message so clearly. We certainly have been inculcated with the notions of expressing our joy since young. Then I thought hard about this inference and began wondered if this is why Singaporeans like to flaunt their supposed happiness as measured in superficiality and materialistic worth.
We, as Singaporeans, seem to have a reflex inclination to compare and ideally, to emerge the winner. We probe into everyone's affairs to seek opportunities for comparison. Landed residences and condominiums are esteemed over HDB flats; B&W and Mercedes over Toyota and Honda; SAP schools over neighbourhood ones. Once we know clearly that victory is on our side, we delve into a serious comparison to flaunt our superiority.
For instance, most mothers are proud of their children's academic achievements. PSLE results and secondary school postings are the peak periods to source out who is the most 'hao lian', the Hokkien equivalent of a typical show-off, amidst the stiff competition. One will casually enquire about an acquaintance's child's performance and upon receiving the reply, will weigh the comparison meticulously to pre-empt a loss of face. If victory is ensured, one will linger around in utmost interest and await the recipocral enquiry which will signal the launch of her endless references to how lucky her child has been to do better than that.
In Singapore, we place very much emphasis on materialistic possessions, external beauty and the paper chase. Do we really think these fulfilling the criteria of these three aspects will bring us infinite joy? Are they really symbolic of one's achievements in Life itself, or are they merely our poorly wrought tools to mask our incompetence? Should we be proud to flaunt our weaknesses? In comparisons, there is always the better and the worse. Being the superior party once does not mean an eternity of victory and immediate conferral of supremacy. Humans are never perfect. In commenting on this phenomenon, I am comparing myself against other Singaporeans too.
Perhaps we flaunt to be absorbed in our own make-belief. Desire breeds the impossible. If I want to be happy, I will think really hard that I am indeed happy, and I may very well just become happy! Then I must flaunt the fact that I am happy and you are not.
posted by Lady Lazarus at 10:40 AM
1 Comments:
Amen to that! :) Selah!
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