The Fringe Benefits of Failure, & The Importance of Imagination
Saturday, March 20, 2010
It's a Saturday night and I just came back from a wedding. The music was bad (because some uncle took over the band and started singing -.-), the crowd was too packed (imagine sardines in a can), and the carpet was bumpy (because there cables underneath going everywhere). BUT the food was alright : P This is the second wedding in a row that I've attended since I'm home. The first one was completely different -- only family members and close friends/colleagues were invited. Moral of the story: I wanna get married ^.^ HAHA kidding. I am suddenly reminded of My Linh's dream Bollywood wedding. Ruam, FYI, we are gonna be sexy background dancers doing Kuch Kuch Hota Hay. My Linh will be riding an elephant with her beloved groom. I'll help with the catering -- will call Prata Cafe from Bukit Timah. Set!
All that nonsense above has nothing to do with what I'm planning to blog about tonight though. It's just that I can't think of a nice, philosophical, deep and meaningful introduction. Yes, I'm that pathetic : (
I just wanted to share this
link with you -- it's a speech delivered by J.K. Rowling at the Annual Meeting of the Harvard Alumni Association. Now, you may think, wtf, I'm not in Harvard anyway. and screw all those Harvard people. True enough but the point is, she talked about the fringe benefits of failure, and the importance of imagination. I know it may not be the right moment to throw this at you two because both of you did well for A's and I'm really proud of you guys : ) but I think this speech may come in handy someday, somewhere, somehow...and not just to you guys but potential stalkers who may happen to stumble upon our blog.. just when you need that little boost of motivation, you can check this out.
Basically it's about how failure, as unpleasant as it may be, has fringe benefits. Through failure, one can discover how much willpower,how much focus, how much discipline one has to work even harder. It's definitely not comfortable -- Rowling had to suffer through poverty and support her daughter as a single mother while writing Harry Potter on an old typewriter. She also mentioned the power of imagination. Not necessarily the power to create and imagine stories like what she did, but also the power to imagine being in someone else's shoes and emphatise with them.
What we achieve inwardly will change outer reality. And that is what I think makes us so human. If I am confusing you, I think just go read the speech transcript for yourselves : P
Personally, I wanted to touch on the topic of failure. As you all probably have known, I got straight Bs. So? When my sister told me on the phone, I was showering. I asked her, my voice quivering, "no As at all?" and she said, "nope. are you ok?" I couldnt help but cry. Honestly, I am disappointed with myself. I thought I could do better than average. I thought I could ace Math and Art. People have comforted me saying that I dont even need to think about it, I have gotten the Japan scholarship. They're not even asking for my A levels anymore. But me, being the BPL I am, Im still sulking about it. The worst part is, I know I've done my best. And it's freaking frustrating to not see the results when you know you have given your best shot. Maybe Im just not good enough. Just maybe.
Should just focus on the present, on what's in front of me. And right now it's my Japanese grammar books...
Ciao for now!!!
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