sailing; qualities i admire; friendship
had a really great 2-hour long chat this evening following a nice dinner consisting of pizza and ice cream on waffle. (yeah sinful though it may be). Covered many issues:
1. sailing
Now i realise, when i've stopped sailing for quite a while, how significant a role sailing actually plays in my life, particularly these 2 years. some of the most significant moments are when i'm out sailing. Like on that one day -- the worst and toughest day of my life, when I was sailing in the Laser Radial Open in Dec last year alone, and the winds were so strong, the waves so big, that I capsized every minute, and the fight to achieve a good result actually became a tough fight to finish all the races that day. which in the end, i didn't. i hated myself for giving up that day, though upon hindsight there's no way i could have continued on in that condition, i hated sailing that day. Looking back, i was a stronger person that day. And i'm glad to say I've faced the toughest day in my life on my own. The wind screaming in my ears, the sail so overpowered that i'm constantly teetering on the edge of capsizing, the big waves that threaten to throw the boat and that very fragile balance between capsizing and heeling, the desperation, the pain all over my body, the effort it took to finish that race, the tears. I'm glad to say I've experienced all these, and experienced it alone. sometimes it helps to remind yourself that there's a bigger world out of your comfort zone, where you've to struggle and search for an inner strength against forces you cannot control.
2. qualities I admire most in people
First and foremost, courage. Courage in overcoming odds, facing adversity, continuing on no matter how hard that is. Courage in standing up for what you believe in, and in standing up for the people who matter to you. Courage in pursueing your dreams, in not escaping and facing problems head on. Talent is over-valued in society, while courage is under-valued. Talent is something that results from a combination of circumstances, and though you might have to work for it, courage is something that takes great character to have.
Second, nobility. Nobility = greatness of mind and of heart. Being able to sacrifice yourself, self-interests, for the sake of others. (e.g. Schindler). Also, being able to forgive, and let go of past hurt done to you, however deep that might be.
Third, fighting spirit. Never giving up, and carrying to the end, what you set out to do, however hard that may be. And importantly, being able to stand up again from mistakes, stepping out of the shadows of failures, instead of constantly wallowing in despair and self-pity. Even if you give up for that time, you eventually take up what you did not achieve the previous time, and finally accomplish that goal.
3. Friendship
A fundamental building block of friendship is Trust. And to be able to build mutual trust, both people should open up their inner selves (maybe not completely, but at least gradually) to each other. if you forever close off yourself to your friends, you're not trusting them. how can a friendship be built upon one-sided trust?
--
And I realised one thing today. Your positive mood / feelings can influence people around you for the better. :)
1. sailing
Now i realise, when i've stopped sailing for quite a while, how significant a role sailing actually plays in my life, particularly these 2 years. some of the most significant moments are when i'm out sailing. Like on that one day -- the worst and toughest day of my life, when I was sailing in the Laser Radial Open in Dec last year alone, and the winds were so strong, the waves so big, that I capsized every minute, and the fight to achieve a good result actually became a tough fight to finish all the races that day. which in the end, i didn't. i hated myself for giving up that day, though upon hindsight there's no way i could have continued on in that condition, i hated sailing that day. Looking back, i was a stronger person that day. And i'm glad to say I've faced the toughest day in my life on my own. The wind screaming in my ears, the sail so overpowered that i'm constantly teetering on the edge of capsizing, the big waves that threaten to throw the boat and that very fragile balance between capsizing and heeling, the desperation, the pain all over my body, the effort it took to finish that race, the tears. I'm glad to say I've experienced all these, and experienced it alone. sometimes it helps to remind yourself that there's a bigger world out of your comfort zone, where you've to struggle and search for an inner strength against forces you cannot control.
2. qualities I admire most in people
First and foremost, courage. Courage in overcoming odds, facing adversity, continuing on no matter how hard that is. Courage in standing up for what you believe in, and in standing up for the people who matter to you. Courage in pursueing your dreams, in not escaping and facing problems head on. Talent is over-valued in society, while courage is under-valued. Talent is something that results from a combination of circumstances, and though you might have to work for it, courage is something that takes great character to have.
Second, nobility. Nobility = greatness of mind and of heart. Being able to sacrifice yourself, self-interests, for the sake of others. (e.g. Schindler). Also, being able to forgive, and let go of past hurt done to you, however deep that might be.
Third, fighting spirit. Never giving up, and carrying to the end, what you set out to do, however hard that may be. And importantly, being able to stand up again from mistakes, stepping out of the shadows of failures, instead of constantly wallowing in despair and self-pity. Even if you give up for that time, you eventually take up what you did not achieve the previous time, and finally accomplish that goal.
3. Friendship
A fundamental building block of friendship is Trust. And to be able to build mutual trust, both people should open up their inner selves (maybe not completely, but at least gradually) to each other. if you forever close off yourself to your friends, you're not trusting them. how can a friendship be built upon one-sided trust?
--
And I realised one thing today. Your positive mood / feelings can influence people around you for the better. :)