As of now, I have completed 1year and 5months of National Service. I’ll be looking forward to embark on a new journey in 5 months time. Indeed, when I look back, I see that I’m a completely different person. Though, Spiritually, my beliefs and views about God have not changed, the way I perceive and react to people and things changed dramatically.
One of the brothers from the NS ministry said this, I quote:”The 2 years or 1 year 10 months will come, but when you hold your pink IC and look back. Will you say that NS made you a better person, or will you say that you wasted 2years of your time?”. What an enlightening statement! The fact is; what ever you say will probably be true. When you hold such a bitter grudge towards your NS stint, you’ll probably be unwilling to grow and adapt to situations.
Personally, I used to hate NS, in my mind I kept thinking:”If I didn’t have to serve, I’ll probably be able to study and do the things I like.”, but during the time I was in it, I got to learn extensively! I see things from a bigger picture now! I grew to see how important hard-work and perseverance was. How working as a team and leading well can make things done faster.Also, in the past when I watched movies like Rambo, Navy Seals…etc I thought those in the front-line of battle were so COOL! But now, I realized that without the Store man and Driver the commandos/special forces personnel will most definitely lose the war!
Not everyone on the stage is the hero, sometimes it’s better to keep a low profile! Fame can ruin a person! Hollywood showed us many examples. It is easy for a man to make a decision, but what comes after it, whether consequences or blessings may not be within his control!
Oh ya! With regards to the recent Hike in Taxi Fares, contrary to what the majority of Singaporeans feel, I thought it was rather reasonable. I know that as a nation, we like to rant and complain, but that will certainly not help. We must learn to look at things from a bigger perspective. Fossil fuel is running out, with floods and natural disaster everywhere; food prices are going up. Logically and naturally, with everything going up, the prices of transport will go up. For more than 10 years Cab fares remained the same till circumstances caused it to hike. It is not right to blame the government and cry father /mother.
Monetary Policies were kept in place to keep Singapore growing at a sustainable rate. Take a look at Japan, Switzerland or even our closest neighbor; Hongkong! I believe that if you really put in the effort, you can survive and even thrive in Singapore!
This brings about another subject, I REALLY REALLY REALLY hate it when people complain, but after their spectacular rants, they are not willing to bring about change or know what kind of measures to take. I also don’t like it when people become lazy without a good reason. It’s practically life sucking!
I think sometimes it’s better to keep certain comments to ourselves unless there is a need or way to make things better.
Signing off,
Elvis Elijah Wan
