DO NO HARM

Conversations with the Mother

 

How conversations with my mother play out:

The Problem with "If Only"s (and "What if"s)

 

Was speaking to one of my clients the other day, where he was talking about the regrets in his life, and how his life could have been much much better "if only" he had done one specific action differently. At the moment he said this, a host of other memories of discussions with other clients and my own personal network of friends started to flood in.

Friendship

 

Life is seldom so ideal for one to have a group of friends they stick with their entire life, ala hit sitcoms "Friends" and the more recent "How I met Your Mother". More likely you would have several pocket of friends who come from the different life stages or settings you are involved in: for e.g your secondary school friends, your army buddies, your work friends, friends from some sport you are involved in etc. 

The Season of Change

It has been an interesting month so far for me. It seems that lately I have been imbued with godlike powers as evident by several requests exumplified below(and of course, the situations have been changed to protect identities, should you need to ask) :

"I want you to change my son's behaviour as I don't think he's making proper use of his time"

"I want you to speak to my wife, so that she does not continue her irritable behaviour"

"I want you to change my daughter, I don't think she is mature"

These are scenarios which rarely make an appearance in the many "counselling" training courses that we attend, in the past I used to think that most of such counselling sessions proceed smoothly, towards the picturesque ending I envision where the client thanks the social worker/counsellor profusely for the help rendered. 

"It's Not easy Being Different"

 

Loofy! Picture courtesy of Farid

My dear wife and I recently purchased a pet Skinny Pig, which essentially is a hairless variety of a Guinea Pig. Contrary to its name, the rodent has no geneological links to the porcine version, although its physical appearance may prove otherwise. Our little Skinny Pig, named Loofy, who initially weirded us out with its very different appearance from the other cuddly and furry animals in the pet shop, eventually warmed us to its timid and adorable disposition and of course, cuteness in appearance and touch. 

 

Who am I?

 

When I say, "I am Fareez", who or what exactly am I referring to? Am I referring to this body? The body's cells die and change regularly, and are formed anew within the course of time. If you replace all the legs of the table one at a time, and then the top part of the table, would it still be the same table? 

General Election Aftermath: A Revolution of Ideologies?

 

The elections are over, results are out, and unsurprisingly, the ruling party has garnered the majority of votes, with the exception of one Aljunied GRC. In spite of the maintenance of a one party rule, results do show a progression towards the multiple representation democracy desired by various segments of society. Conspiracy theories, and calls for a certain MP to be removed from parliament aside, the results of this year's election also assumes the presence of a dichotomy between two groups of persons infused with different beliefs of governance.

The first: being the older group of voters who are loyal to the current patriarchal system of rule, and willing to submit their futures to the ruling political team that has, through a proven history, led the country time and time again through periods of crisis.

The second group, represents the so called disenchanted youth, disillusioned by rising taxes, widening inequalities, difficulties in affording housing,  and express their grievances articulately, (and in some cases, not so articulately). They yearn to be engaged in a more collaborative democratic-styled governance that has been omnipresent in modernised societies in the world. 

The Wood Carver

 

He sits 

Alone on a cliff

Seeking to shape

Realities and dreams

With his little knife

 

Images of splendour 

And the World

That lay before him

 

With tired hands he carves

That which he craves

 

Beads of perspiration

Coat his knotted arms

as a sigh escapes his

Tightened lips

 

The figures he makes 

with care and love

are perfect

and symmetrical

 

But wooden they remain

General Election 2011: 3 Themes

 

 

With this week's excitement with the General Election taking centre stage, I realise that not writing about the elections in Singapore would just be ignoring that big fat elephant in the room (other than all 96 kg of myself of course).

I wouldn't say that I have been following the entire scheme of things very religiously (what with several work deadlines, and an exam on Friday looming), but I have watched my fair share of YouTube videos and have just attended the SDP Rally at Commonwealth today. 

I will not be particularly discussing about specifics aspect of the content (though it may be discussed later, I seriously do not know how my train of thoughts will lead me), but certain key themes stuck out for me in this entire election process:

 

"And then he bit my Butt!"

 

 

My dear grandfather; never fails to retell the story of how my dear brother, at around 4 years old, had wanted to buy a certain Toy Chinese Sword (the plastic kind). Such was his fervent desire to obtain the sword, that he threw a tremendous tantrum towards my grandfather, culminating in a moment where he literally bit my grandpa's backside. 

I am ever so amazed of how my grandfather is able to retell this same story, down to its exact details (with words of exclamation and the final "Ouch" at the end), and tells it as if he is relating this story for the very first time. It is through such conversations that I am able to engage him now that he is over 80 years of age, before he retreats back into silent inactivity and the quiet activity of sitting at the corner of the house, smoking his cigarettes.