Back to the jungle..

This blog has been rather dead for some time, so I figured I might probably just write some random stuff and liven it up a little bit before I book back into camp, which I don't know where yet...

Very soon in a few days time, we'll all have to report back to our new unit. And in just a few weeks time, more will start to experience the NS life in Tekong.

Well, going to NS has made me 'realize' 1 thing.. I use 'realize' because although I have thought about it before NS, my military life has made it even more real and true to me.

Well, this thing is actually just the simple fact that everything, good and bad, will come to an end. For me, there were many times in NS when I was just thinking to myself, "OH man.. when will this end?" For example, during my initial 2 weeks confinement.. I couldn't wait to book out. Also, during the first few nights of my field camp, I was quite sick and had a very bad sore throat, I was wondering how I was going to survive field camp.. But I did, and amazingly my throat condition even managed to become better while outfield. During our situational test, after we had our compulsory 'tekan' session, my commander told us.. "Just keep this in mind, no matter how tough the going is, it will have to come to an end. Use that thought to keep yourself going."

And yes, I find it a very powerful tool - to know that whatever shit we may be going through will have to come to an end. But yet, the other side is true also, that whatever good things we are enjoying will have to come to an end too. Everytime I book out, I wish that the weekend was longer.. and as I lay in my cosy bed for the night, I will always be hit by the realization that the very next day, I would be spending the night in camp. Even now, our block leave is coming to an end... and we'll have to report back to our new unit.

After reflecting through this very simple realization, I've come up with a very simple philosophy. Love it or hate it, you still have to go through some things, so why not try to love what you're doing? Its really easier said than done, but many things, once they're over, you don't have the opportunity to do it again. As I reflect over my primary, sec and jc life, I know that I miss those days. Each phase has a very special meaning to me and has helped me develop as a person. Even now, I miss some parts of my bmt life.

Some say life is short, but really, anything that has a time limit can be considered short. For me, our memory is what makes life seem short. 18 years of my life can just flash by in my mind within minutes, and I think to myself, "Wow. 18 years have past.." We may have a seemingly long future ahead of us, but I can imagine myself when I'm 42 years old thinking, "OK.. Half of my life has just gone by. Time flies... " (The projected life expectancy for s'poreans is 84 i think)

So now, bearing in mind that I'm doing what I'm doing only once and it'll all come to an end, I look forward to treasuring my training and whatever I'll be going through. And at the same time, I hope that I'll not only be able to develop as a person, but I'll be able to find some special meaning within what I'm doing.. So at the end of my life, I'll look back in gladness at all the meaningful things that I have done, and hopefully be able to say, "Ok God, I'm ready for the rest of eternity."