Yesterday

I was eating my dinner at Macpherson yesterday. At this big hawker centre. The food was great. However, there were some really interesting (?) moments. The hawkers are territorial. We were asked to change seats cos’ we ordered from the drink stall at the other side. And the other side was just less than 1 metre away. Weird. I was watching some funny videos on lao ban’s mac while eating. But what really got my attention was this young boy who (I presume) is the son of the drink stall owner. The way he speaks, the way he behaves is so “un-child”. He is like a xiao da ren. He is not acting his age. As lao ban has said, he is probably forced to grow up quickly due to his life circumstances. Good because he can probably survive in future. Bad cos’ he has lost this part of his childhood. I am just wondering what life is like for him. I don’t know why but I kinda admire him. He must have given up a lot.

Talking about being child-like. My common perception is that to be child – like, one has to be as happy and playful as a child. Be adventurous and curious. I was reading one of those inspirational emails yesterday and I suddenly have new insights on being child-like. I think it’s about being pure at heart. To look at things and issues with a sincere and dan chun heart. I think as one gets older, our pure heart is constantly tainted by bad and hurtful experiences. It is like looking through a transparent glass. Whenever something bad happens, the glass gets coated with a layer of paint. Sometimes it gets so thick, you can no longer see as clearly…as innocently…at things as before. How to regain that innocence? I don’t know. I

think I got to know myself better today.