The Story So Far ... From Flag to Flag

Needless to say there have been a lot that has happened since I last wrote on here. What was once an object of exhilaration, me finally making the shift back to an Android based phone; namely the HTC Incredible S from the dreaded iPhone 3GS, became but a footnote in the whole chronicle of my life when compared to other events of significantly greater importance. Namely that of my change in status.

And no, I have not joined the ranks of the living-impaired and am currently either writing this as a spectral entity or a necrotic fleshed zombie with gestating maggots ready to pop. Most definitely not a change in that status, at least I hope, not for the foreseeable future. You see, I just tied the knot. Just being the operative word, with the religious ceremony having transpired exactly 1 month and 24 days ago. Contrary to what most people have recounted prior to my marriage, things have been going rather well, and if I were to exaggerate, amazingly well. Sure there are a few hiccups here and there, most definitely differences in some aspects of our mindsets and approach towards the completion of certain things. However, these are the aspects that make it all so amazing. The fact that two people of dissimilar backgrounds, genetics, life experiences, goals, familial influences, socio-economic statuses could come into a union and strive towards making the union excel, not for the sole primary purpose of their own selves but in the hopes of being able to create a better life for a generation to-be of which all hopes are then placed upon. This is what makes such unions truly a fulfilling experience. Can't wait till I have my own next-generation to lead. And yes my dear, should you read this, that is definitely a hint. Then again, this may be just my wide-eyed, idealistic naivety at embarking on this new stage of my life.

This is not to say that being married frees up a lot of ones' time. Quite the contrary. In fact one could even say that this would be better termed as a challenge on ones time management and of prioritizing their goals for respective aspects of their lives. One that I honestly find to be quite a contest of discipline and self-regulation between my needs, my wants and the idle things that occasionally meander into my thoughts. Definitely a case for saying that marriage has the potential of turning delinquent young boys into responsible men. That is, given that the challenge would be met with a positive mindset and provided that National Service had not already achieved said result already. Though I do admit being in the line of work that I have been embarking on for more than half a decade that the social problems presented do attribute some of their causes to a dysfunctional family unit either born from an improper creation or through sheer neglect. Needless to say, having seen, heard and experienced some part if not the bulk of their stories, I am steadfast in both desiring to assist them in the alleviation of their issues as well as to prevent any such occurrences from transpiring in mine.

Time is such a precious, intangible and irreplaceable commodity of which the bulk is spent either sleeping or working. Both of those taking up at least 14 hours in a 24 hour-day. Not going to cite any studies here as I don't want to turn this into an academic paper. And to those who deem themselves fortunate enough to knock off work after spending 5 hours or less in the workplace, do note that the time you spend at home, cafe, libraries or anywhere else preparing or completing items related to work, counts as work too. I'd know, having worked in one such profession before. And if you're taking up higher education for the purposes of gaining competence and mastering of the subject matter, to challenge yourself beyond your normal scope of ability or simply for a chance at acquiring a more substantial income then you would realize that the first line of this paragraph is but a gross understatement of how valuable time would be to you. I sense this too. Given that I work the normal eight hours per week day with additional occasional weekend work hours and full day events, have new family life commitments, inclusive of setting up of my home and a coming reception and on the education front, I've got a survey to roll out and gather data for (pending approval and hoping to receive it at the soonest), a dissertation proposal to write up, a presentation on an aspect of Neuropsychology to do up as well as a written paper on that same topic and deadlines are coming fast for all them. Needless to say that I am feeling stressed but it's the good kind of stress, one which psychologists term as eustress. I would merely describe it as the good feeling you get attempting to surmount a challenge. And overcome them I definitely will.

Those who know me know of my passion in writing and of the challenges I face in recapturing that habit. As the loss in time I have to pursue such an act of attaining or at the very least progressing towards competence and mastery has really affected my performance in all aspects of my life. This is the other aspect of stress that I'm sure most people would be familiar with. The bad kind. One which psychologists would term as distress and what I would describe as a god awful shitty feeling. In a bid to overcome this, I had created a travel blog and another blog with the purpose of commentating on socio-political happenings in my nation. The former I would expect to update on a more occasional basis as I do not foresee myself going for travels that often, whilst the latter appears to bring with it a tendency of being saturated with potential things to write about. Especially given that my country's General Elections have just officially begun and the hustings well underway with the Polling Day set on 7th May 2001. Though temptations may make we wish to act the part of a citizen journalist and post updates on thoughts and sentiments be it from myself or from the public, I'm afraid that the current constraint on my time and the importance of other matters may, most likely, lead me to not placate this particular want. Though I am determined to continue to write in whatever way, shape or form. Still these are avenues in which I'd hope to, at the very least, lead to experiencing a sense of competence and mastery of something which I professedly love to do.

PS: I started writing this short piece on the 29th April 2011 at around 3:00 pm, admittedly with frequent interruptions and only ended it on 30th April 2011 at 1:24 pm whilst I'm manning the station for the Handicaps Welfare Association's Flag Day. It shows that there's still a thick crust of rust for me getting my thoughts out into writing.

PPS: Oh and if you see the Handicaps Welfare Association's donation tins going around - Do not vote for us but please give generously!