0049 - Gintai

Interviewer's Note: According to himself, Alan is currently the only SMRT Train Officer who blogs (he uses the moniker Gintai in his blog, for those who are familiar). Am glad to have met up with him to conduct a face-to-face interview for this. He's a great person to chat with and I look forward to be able to hang out with him again.

Alan Tang / 49 / Singapore / Train Officer / gintai.wordpress.com / @palmuser_alan

What do you live for?
I'm a simple man who lives for simple things in life.

Why?

I belong to a generation that has lived through kampong days where we used to have a hole in the ground, and the night soil carrier would come and collect human waste from it. Back in those days, there were no proper sanitary systems installed for us, nor did we enjoy luxury pleasures. We were poor but also appreciated what we had. Even today, I still do appreciate what I have and live life to the fullest as an independent, non-religious man.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Don't envy people nor compare yourself with others. Appreciate and be grateful with what you have. If people can afford a bungalow, so be it! Constantly being jealous of others' life will only make you feel bitter about yourself at the end of the day.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...envy others. Live your life fully.

Something random you'd like to say?
Sometimes in life, you have to "langgar"! 

0048 - Ren Rong

Interviewer's Note: I got to know Ren online a few years ago. This pretty sweet lady loves the fantastic, the beautiful, and the grotesque. Stories, colours, and middle grey are some of her favorite things, according to her.

Ren Rong / 26 / Singaporean in Los Angeles, USA / Human Being / pupuren.com / @renthesuperglue

What do you live for?
For the day when I figure out the meaning of life, if there is one. In the meantime, I live to figure out what kind of stuff I can make with my hands or camera. Also, for when science advances so I wouldn't have to die.

Why?

Because there are too many interesting things for just one lifetime.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Someone dear once said that creation is about inspiration. Be inspired. Explore the world around you, and the psyche within.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...spend it pleasing everyone.

Something random you'd like to say?
Let go! 

0047 - Edwin

Interviewer's Note: Edwin is the founder/creative director of Bravo Company, a creatively led, independent design studio based in Singapore. One of the studio's works that has left a deep impression in me is definitely their REMEMBERINGS gift collection. It's so simple, adorable and yet meaningful at the same time. 

Edwin Tan / 31 / Singapore / Creative Director / www.bravo-company.info / @bravo_company

What do you live for?
I live for happiness. 

Why?

I believe that besides the need to survive, happiness is the next necessity in life. This can come in many forms: giving love, receiving love, doing things that you are passionate about, doing things that you are good at, eating good food, experiencing new things, hanging out with friends. Sometimes, it might be something naughty. Sometimes, it might be not doing anything at all and just being lazy. 

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Follow your heart. Take a leap of faith. Making mistakes is the best way to learn.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...stay unhappy or bear grudges.

Something random you'd like to say?
Buy a RAID1 external hard drive so you have a backup of your backup.

0046 - Ryan

Interviewer's Note: When you visit Ryan's blog, do take notice of the page titled 'Services' in it. I think that's a pretty good idea - to serve the society with what you can provide. We, as a human race, sometimes need help and encouragements to make our lives better and progress together. So why not start with ourselves? Gotta set up a 'Services' page for myself soon. Heh. :D

Ryan Adnin Firoz / 21 / Singapore / The Persuader / ryanadnin.wordpress.com | facebook.com/ryanadnin

What do you live for?
I live for the smaller things in life. I mean when you dream, dream big, though when you live, live for the smaller things. That keeps me happy most of the time. 

Why?

I live for the smaller things in life because often, when an individual is too obsessed with big concepts, they often start to develop faulty schemas, "I MUST", it is kind of all too absolute. I take a more subjective view usually, "I shall". So even though I dream big, I enjoy the small baby steps I have to take and the small rewards & bonuses that come along the way. 

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Size yourself up well, it is more important than sizing others. If you are a small fish then stay near the shore where the waves won't catch up to you. The big fish will fly as high as the waves can carry them, though when a storm comes, they will still survive when they crash down into the ocean. If a small fish is caught up during a storm and smashes down, you will not be able to recover.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...waste it contemplating over inconsequential decisions.

Something random you'd like to say?
50% of a persons personality is a set point, 40% is determined by activities that can be controlled, 10% is determined by life circumstance. Therefore, happiness can be achieved through making the right choices.

0045 - Ah Sian

Interviewer's Note: Some of the other things I've known about Ah Sian so far - she likes staying home, she's very close to her twin sister, she makes really beautiful art and has the hipster vibe all over her (not sure if she agrees haha). We got to know each other just last year due to certain circumstances and have been keeping in touch, on and off, since then. Looking forward to more conversations with her in the future.

Ah Sian / 21 / Singapore / Illustrator / chewsian.tumblr.com

What do you live for?
My family and all that I create. Draw and illustrate things and objects in and out of this world.

Why?

追趕生命裡一分一秒, 成功了敗了也完全無重要.  

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Be patient and hold on to your dream.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...我问天,我问天 浪费时间的怨天怨地. Work hard and life will turn out to be what you want it to be.

Something random you'd like to say?
Do you like Chet Baker?

0044 - Z

Interviewer's Note: Came across his article 'Dear Designers' (by the way, I personally think this is a must-read for creatives out there) quite recently, and from then on I've begun to read rest of Z. Bryant's blog. Lots of great stuff in there! I've got a lot to learn from this guy, who is a lover of old motorcycles, straight bourbon and brilliant design. Let's find out what he lives for:

Z. Bryant / 30 / Virginia, USA / Digital Director / zbryant.com / @zbryant

What do you live for?
To see the plan unfold.

Why?

If your eyes are open, the world is full of order and beauty and deep down, we know that it will win the day. In the meantime, we have an obligation to seek things like truth and justice and push back against confusion and wickedness. I work and watch and try not to miss the bigger story.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Ostinato Rigore. It means something like 'constant rigor' and allegedly it was a favorite motto of Leonardo Da Vinci. It was given to me by a professor and has come to represent a sort of methodical inquiry. A mantra for the discipline of curiosity. You must ask questions and you must be critical and — most importantly — you must never stop pursuing a new world.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...spend it on yourself.

Something random you'd like to say?
Paper beats rock.

0043 - David

Interviewer's Note: Always had the impression that David is an erudite person. This former platoon mate of mine (during the National Service) is currently residing in UK and I can't wait to have a good conversation with him when he comes back to Singapore (if he does?).

David Chew / 22 / UK (but born in Singapore) / Student

What do you live for?
New experiences.

Why?

Life is short, and can get boring. New experiences help break up the tedium. They're something to look back on, and tell stories about. If life is a collection of short stories - it doesn't need to be prize-winning, but hopefully it won't be so tepid as to be consigned to the clearance pile. 

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Be honest with yourself, even if it's unpleasant. Really consider why you're doing the things you're doing. Treasure the few friends who are willing to say what they really think of you, even if it makes you squirm. 

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...take yourself too seriously; learn to laugh at yourself.

Something random you'd like to say?
Look at the sky - it's never the same.

0042 - Steve

Interviewer's Note: I've been following Steve's blog on the Svbtle network (one of the best network of great bloggers around, if not the best) for quite awhile. Despite being CTO at Twitpic, he writes a great deal about staying away from Social Media and reducing our reliance on it. It's pretty interesting. You should check it out too.

Steve Corona / 25 / Charleston, SC, USA / Author / stevecorona.com / @stevencorona

What do you live for?
Experimenting. When I was 10, I bought an old computer at a yard sale, took it apart, and put it back together. Mom wouldn't let me plug it in, but I did anyways. My life in a nutshell.

Why?
Because being stationary is boring. I love the routine of changing my routine, turning old thoughts upside down, and going against the grain. Like, I don't have any clocks in my apartment because I hate constantly knowing the time. I'm full of crazy ideas and I'm never afraid to test them.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Being lucky is a mindset.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...to go to college. It's a waste of time unless you're going to be a doctor.

Something random you'd like to say?
If you ask a person for their Netflix password when they're writing down their email address, they'll almost always do it. Test it.

0041 - Andrew

Interviewer's Note: Andrew's a design student from Seoul, who was raised in Vancouver and now lives in L.A. You gotta see his beautiful, clean, minimalist website. It's amazingly inspiring. (Well I gotta admit I'm very biased here because most of the topics he touches on in his website are some of my top ten interests.)

Andrew Kim / 20 / Los Angeles, USA / Product Designer / minimallyminimal.com / @pushingatoms

What do you live for?
I live to bring useful, beautiful, and honest products into the world.

Why?
Products can create profound impacts. They can make our lives easier, help those with handicaps, bring happiness, create culture and even become the artifacts of our civilization after we are gone. 

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Cream always rises to the top. If you create something genuinely great, it will become recognized. 

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...do what you don't love.

Something random you'd like to say?
There's a fine line between following your dreams and being ignorant about what others are saying. You must learn the rules to break them.

0040 - Leslie

Interviewer's Note: I've been following Leslie's blog for awhile. His food review/recommendations have not only documented stories of various Singapore's eateries, they have also, I believe, helped many food lovers discover the tastier side of Singapore. If you have the habit of multi-tasking while putting food into your mouth to fill your stomach, I think it's about time you slow down a little and take your time to savour your meals.

Leslie Tay / 43 / Tampines, Singapore / Doctor / ieatishootipost.sg

What do you live for?
To worship God and give Him the glory.

Why?
Because He gave me life and one day I shall have to give an account for my time on Earth.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?
Death is a certainty. Be prepared for it.

Complete this sentence. Life is too short to...
...bear grudges.

Something random you'd like to say?
It is better to have an appetite and simple food than to have the best food in the world and have no appetite.