Why I Believe No One Can 'Try To Be Nice'

“Character isn’t what you have, it’s who you are”

                                                                           - Yolanda Foster

I still remember, for the past four semesters, before the first day of school and mayhem. I always tell myself – “ a start of a new semester, let’s not screw this up, be nice.”

And without fail, just weeks in, I find myself to be breaking this rule, promise, oath I set up myself. Call me a black-hearted evil spinster who is just angry and sad. But truth is, as much as I want to, just the sight of some people made me go “oh hell with this nice thing.”

And then I had an epiphany, you can never deliberately ‘be nice’, because niceness comes from within, it comes from the heart. And when we attempt to be nice, or go out of our way to do so, we’re not being nice, we’re just being cordial.

To say it harshly we’re pretending to be nice, and in other words, is being fake.

But it did finally get to me, even if you can't be nice, being kind is something even the worst of mankind can do. Because kindness doesn't have to be deliberately and genuine. Because you see, kindness is genuine in itself, and it is actually something you can do. And I wondered, what took me 4 semesters, 2 years to understand that? From being mean and catty, to cunning and strategic, people in this circle are just hurt. Not mean or toxic.

And no one is truly evil, just hurt. In each of our 19 to 20 years, we go through different things, and for the most of us sad and confused teenagers, we are still getting ourselves into nonsense that we can’t really figure out why.

And in the midst of everything, it is apparent – hurting others are better than being vulnerable. And those whom we call ‘bitches’, should be renamed the ‘most hurt.’ And truth is, I’m not any better. I am, like every other person, gone through the good and bad. And sometimes, it does seem like putting someone else down is the best and fastest option to feel better. 

There are some though, whom we can’t help but to look and sigh, not because they are hurt, but so hurt beyond relief they lose their morals. And they become mean, and they enjoy being mean. The tale gets sadder when they find comfort in those whom they see themselves in. And they get very comfortable in being mean to people together. Sometimes, teamwork isn't for the better. 

Despite all the thing being said, heard and thought, I still do believe, firmly, that people are all good.

#QuickThought

With some people, you could never win. Choose to be humble and minding your own business, they'll say that you're selfish and hateful. Choose to show your things to your friends, hoping to inspire them, they'll label you a show-off. Truth is, with bitter people, the only day you're fine is when you're beneath them. So I say, overwhelm their hate with success. 

x

I'm Blogging on Makers!

So I'm sort of finally back into the groove of blogging(who knows who long that'll last), but I'm also blogging on another platform all the way till August!

MAKERS MAGAZINE! 

Right now, I have a project with a few of my friends - to create a magazine and make the final print by August. Named MAKERS, it's an Indie Lifestyle magazine create for young adults that celebrates the craft of creations and boldness of individuals. So apart from just writing the articles we have a few social media platforms where we connect to you! 

For starters, perhaps the most basic, Facebook!

We throw the word and phrase "That's so Indie," to describe anything that is off the beaten track. With the term so broad now, we wonder, what is the origins of Indie? For all the hipster stuff, click it now.

Posted by Makers Magazine on Tuesday, 5 May 2015

Click on it and give it a like maybe? On our Facebook page, we share original content from time to time, but also, we share pages and posts from around the world that's all indie and interesting! From the latest music festival to useful everyday tips, we got you covered! 

But also, we are on tumblr, where we share original curated content that encourages you to think and be inspired, and let us know what you think and want to see in the final print. More importantly, I'll be managing the page there, crafting most of the content. So let me & us know what you think, cause we really want to do us proud!

                                                                                                             

MAKERS MAGAZINE BLOG 

One of the recent entries I've posted, same for the one we've promoted on our Facebook page in the earlier thumbnail! So do support by checking back between our Facebook and Tumblr page please! We'll be pretty active sharing new stuff on Facebook everyday, and producing original stuff on our Tumblr once or twice per week - this includes vlogs and behind-the-scenes too! A vlog is this next week on our journey finding inspiration. 

SO PLEASE SUPPORT AND LIKE THE PAGE THANK YOU!

Update : Here's the vlog!

How I Forced a Chicken and Duck To Talk

Few days back, I had to go to the Singapore General Hospital, SGH for some interviews regarding my final year project. So naturally, when you see someone at a seemingly administrative table, you might assume they are the staff. But with little sleep, and it being 12+ on a rainy afternoon, in addition to being in an air-conditioned environment. My eyes are open, my mind is asleep.

And while I was looking for respondents, this elderly man came up to me, holding a form - asking me for directions. But the catch is, he can only speak Hokkien - a dialect for those who don't know what that is.

Problem is, A, I can't speak dialects, like super basic of the basic things. And secondly, it's like my first time in YEARS since I last came to SGH. And the spot I was at, took me 15 minutes of going in circles and turns to finally get there.

So in my half-awake state of mind, he asked me for directions. And the conversation got so stupid, I was so embarrassed of myself. 

Elderly Man : *In dialect*Excuse me, how do I go to place X?

Me : *in dialect* Sorry I don't know where that is

Elderly Man : *points to address on the form* I want to go this place

Me : [looked at the form] *IN ENGLISH* Umm, wait ah, I'm not sure also. 

So there were a few volunteers in yellow shirts walking around to help with directions. But at this time, they all went missing! I hurriedly walked around and found one. So I just explained like "I think this patient is lost, can you help him with the direction"

IN MY SLEEPY STUPOR, I FORGOT, THE VOLUNTEER WAS INDIAN. 

I swear the elderly man's reaction was this : 

I think at that point even if he didn't say anything, in his head was like "eh boy, are you kidding, I cannot even speak Chinese you want me to speak English, don't play play pls."

And in that moment, I was like wtf did I just do, omg. I felt like I was getting a chicken and a duck, put them next to each other and ask them to talk. 

This is awkward, ok shit, I'm a horrible human being. I'm going to hell. Halp. But thank goodness, the Indian lady had a friend who could speak the dialect. If not it'll be the fail of the year.