August!

Yes, it's almost August now, which also means that the new - and final - academic year is about to start. With each passing year, uni life gets a little less exciting. It's like replaying your almost-perfected S.O.P. year after year, although of course, things almost certainly never goes according to plan and new situations push us in new directions.

There's a proposal deadline hanging in the air, but not much inspiration has since transpired to materialise something, anything. For better or for worse, SEP has taught me that the last-minute warrior sometimes produces something vaguely intelligent with fairly little stress; it can be quite a miracle worker actually. Now's the time to catch the last days of holidays to read that book, watch that movie, or slack away guilt-free before the factory-like lifestyle of students kick in again. But, what a joy to be the student instead of the teacher.

My attachment also ended without much fanfare, but I'm glad to have met rather colourful personalities along the way. People are always interesting, but sometimes we get too caught up with our schedules and deadlines to really make time for people that really matter, the ones who provide meaning to our otherwise mundane existence. It's also much easier to stick to one's comfort zone and watch as time pass us by, occasionally amusing ourselves with a spontaneous break from monotony, only to seek comfort in our old ways when the uncertain appears too unruly, ill-disciplined.

Perhaps its most unfortunate to live in a place with virtually no seasons. With the coming and passing of spring, summer, autumn and winter, there is at least a sense of the cyclical nature of time, but also the impetus to occasionally catch a respite and take stock of life. What is the meaning of it? Why are we doing what we are doing? Should I try something new? Alas, living in a tropical climate spares us the need for immense wardrobes, but also denies us of much space to take in the variety and diversity of life.

But it does little good to lament. Make good use of whatever time there is. Life is meant to be lived :)

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