0007 - Hou Yeung

Interviewer's Note: Our first overseas contribution.. from Hong Kong! Meeting people like Hou Yeung always makes me feel really warm inside, because it's great to be able to meet someone out there who is also passionate about making the world a better place.

Lee Hou Yeung / 24 / Hong Kong / Artist 

What do you live for?

Simply put, I live for my future self, someone who is much more capable and wise.

Why?

I want to be a better son, better brother, better friend, better lover, better artist, better citizen etc. I want to become more helpful, more sensitive, more thoughtful, more disciplined etc. All of these sum up to the future me, in which I am working hard each day to become this person I want to be. Why me, myself and I only? As I know that everyone that I am concern with is 'connected' to me, the better me has become the most direct and simple way for me to work towards if I want everyone's life to become better. Yes, I want to make the world a better place, and this is how I approach my goal for now.

What is some of the best advice that you have been given/want to give our readers?

My best advice to the readers, please take some time and read through Tao Te Ching/ Dao De Jing/ 道德經. Hope you can get something useful there.

Something random you'd like to say?

I know that I don't know that I already know.

0006 - Kenneth

Kenneth Koh / 23 / Singapore / Trying to be a Jack of All Trades / kkyz14.blogspot.com / @kkyz13

What do you live for?

The discoveries, opinions and ideas of what we as a civilization can achieve. We have the intelligence to send man into space, to discover the wonders of optics, form governments, find a blackhole which is invisible to our eyes and build a huge magnetic ring to smash particles together. We as a species made religion, ruled with it, debated against it, and still believe in it in this age. Yet we have wars, opposing viewpoints, and shed blood for a little spot of Earth, killed each other for sport, and no matter how advanced we are, still use rocks as a 

currency. We as a species, is a strange miracle of the universe, who look at ourselves too highly.

Why?

What else is more wonderful than to encounter a new viewpoint or a new discovery? Reading about the various 

philosophy, seeing a new nebula, or improving on the physical world we have, I love humanity so much, though I have my own ideas on how we should be advancing. Selfishness, stubborness, and fear, limits us from achieving the fullest potential of the greatness of our intelligence.

Yet I strongly believe, everyone is right; and everyone's viewpoint is valid when justified. Arguments and debates can be formed from a clash of viewpoint, because of how powerful emotion, morals, and logic can have in us. Like there are different length of fingers on our hands, the world is made of different people, all who can be great. Some things are more illogical, or are born out of bad habit, but even the insane person, have an understanding and opinion of the world, that is interesting to know.

I wish in my lifetime, that we as human beings, can admit to our weakness of being a species divided, be humble to our lack of insight and intelligence but agree to attain a common goal. For the advancement of the species to learn more, to understand more, and to be better than now. To find a way to stop fighting, improve the quality of life in disadvantaged countries, and to have more people working towards advancement for our civilization.

If we were to continue fighting with each other, there will be nothing in the end but bloodshed and sadness; and for what? For a short time of victory and glory in our mortal live? Earth is but a speck of dust compared to space out there. Why do we fight, get angry, and perform disharmonious acts unto others? For a small selfish personal gain? It may be a pipe dream to have a world with no war or conflict, but I forsee it is possible to unite Earth for a greater good.

What are some of the best advices in life that you have been given/you want to give to our readers?

• Listen to your parents: Your parents are more experienced than you, and their words are valuable. They may not have the same idealogy as you, but they have valuable knowledge in nearly everything more than you, or any textbook about life. Honor them properly, never bad mouth them, they put up with everything unreasonable from you since you were born; Learn from them and you will benefit more than any scholar, or scientist.

• Learn from others, and never look down on anyone: Everyone on this Earth has a story, they have their pathways in life, and it is always going to be reasonable in their head. If you don't like them, still learn from them and understand the underlying root of the problem. Never look down upon another, because you are no different from him/her. The difference is in attitude, and we cannot make everyone like one another, but respecting each other's point of view is better than tolerating; Because tolerance can be tested and broken, respect is a mutual understanding that can be reasoned out. Respect the rights of others to believe what they want; and then we can talk about our ideas.

• Learn to accept your weakness and limitations through letting people tell you where you are wrong: This is probably the hardest but most beneficial talent anyone can foster. Let your knowledge and viewpoint be challenged, the resulting debate (don't get angry!) will let you know of the logic loopholes and flaws in your idea, and you refine that idea, or learn an entirely new opinion that you can apply to life. Plus, the person telling you off would probably be happy to share his/her ideas. Remember, you are right and you are wrong; an Egyptian will say France is cold while an Eskimo will say France is warm; no one will ever be absolutely right or wrong. Embrace your weakness than fight and cover it up, only then you truly can be honest.

But most of all, to be humble, all the above are acts of humility, to always give people the chance to voice out fully their feelings. It is better than challenging someone to the death. Remember you are mortal, it is pointless to waste your life on a point of conflict, spread forth and learn from all.

Something random you'd like to say?

http://youtu.be/jYtXoUZbUCQ

I can't say too little, to let everyone understand why we should not fight, not steal and not cause hurt to ourselves.

0005 - Meng

Interviewer's Note: All he wants is a lot of people to feel miserable when he is dead. That's easy. He just has to do a lot of nasty things to a lot of people right before he dies. Heh heh... ok nevermind.

Meng / 24 / Singapore / Superman wannabe / projectmeng.com / @mengozq

What do you live for?

I live to create the element of joy and surprise in the world, starting with Singapore.

Why?

My reason is simple. I am a selfish person. I want to make the world cry after I'm dead. If I don't get to eat anymore ice-cream after I'm dead, no one should be able to get it as well. And the only way to rid all the ice-cream after I'm gone, is if I create them myself when I'm still around.

What are some of the best advices in life that you have been given/you want to give to our readers?

There are too many. One of it is something by Will Smith in the movie, "The pursuit of happyness". 

"Don't ever let someone tell you, you can't do something. Not even me. You got a dream, you gotta protect it. People can't do something themselves, they wanna tell you that you can't do it. You want something? Go get it. Period. "

Something random you'd like to say?

Meng loves you.

0004 - Jolene

Jolene / 24 / Singapore / Part-Time Graphic Designer/Full-Time Friend / @hyperoma

What do you live for?

Being. Making new friends, forging new bonds. Sharing and learning.

Why?

Learning and bonding with people may be one of the best ways of seeing the world. In return, I get to create someone (or "the better me") who I wanna be. Live by living through those I meet, and I will go a happy person.

What are some of the best advices in life that you have been given/you want to give to our readers?

Be still. I haven't earned the future yet.

Something random you'd like to say?

For someone who talks a lot, I am always stumped when posed with this question because I never know where to start. But I'd love a good conversation with you.

0003 - Samuel

Samuel / 24 / Singapore / Übermentalist / ubermentalism.tumblr.com

What do you live for?

The attainment of the ultimate mastery of the mind and heart. To think with logic and intelligence unparalleled, and to feel with the heart unconditionally. To get to the root of humanity's selfishness, ignorance and flaws, to allow those around me to see themselves humbled and flawed, and then to rise to fulfilment.

Why?

The world is flawed; full of evil, injustice, and most importantly, stupidity. The world moves with its people, and it is the flaws in humanity that give rise to the scarring of the world.

The human mind is flawed. It doesn’t matter if it was supposed to be that way, as no one will ever know (or do not have the right to say so). The biggest flaw lies in the fact that people are unable to see themselves as ignorant, selfish, and stupid. Ignorant because we do not know what we do not know, and we can never know everything; Selfish because we are hard-wired through evolution to care for ourselves first, before others; stupid because we do not know everything, and all that we think and feel might be biased, but we fail to take that into account when exchanging opinions with others, and feel that we aren't flawed.

The world has improved: technology, medicine, culture. Technology has made information almost free, and available to all. But what of our minds? The decisions we make are still flawed, we let evil manifest all because we fear standing out, and we still hold on to that illusion that we are superior, intelligent, and special. And what do we do with all that knowledge that is swimming all around us?

Evil might never be prevented, but if the rest of its people refuse to acknowledge, refuse to summon the courage to fight, and refuse to look at themselves honestly without the veils of biases and lies, we shall exist in a world where we dream of heroes to vanquish the evil, and not to look at ourselves as that hero and make a difference.

What are some of the best advices in life that you have been given/you want to give to our readers?

• Know that the failure to stop the perpetration of evil is akin to that very act of evil.
• Ignorance is neither an excuse nor a reason, but a curse that should be eradicated.
• Do not wear a blindfold amidst a crime; open up your eyes and stir up the courage to do what is right.
• If our minds and hearts are closed to the world beyond our consciousness and anything that threatens our beliefs, then we shall be denied of true wisdom.

Something random you'd like to say?

“The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary; men alone are quite capable of every wickedness.” -Joseph Conrad

0002 - Tiffany

 

Tiffany / 25 / Singapore / The Epitome of Equilibrium

What do you live for?

The ultimate balance in life. Where dreams and aspirations comes together with love and relationships. Where there is the courage to live life and let go, yet harbour the fear for loss. The urge to want to change the world, and yet feel compassion for the closest around you. Think big, but not too big, and small, but not too small. A little bit of everything in the right amounts. Where everything is in a state of equilibrium, a brilliant mix of love, hate, peace, chaos, courage and fear.

Why?

Because that is the best way to live, experiencing everything,  the amazing moments, and even the messy stuff. Embrace the chaos, breathe. But yet search for peace within. All this amounts to the most qualitative of life.

What are some of the best advices in life that you have been given/you want to give to our readers?

This is a quote I read somewhere before. Love like you have never loved, dance like you do when no one is looking, and laugh out loud always. Treasure the things around you, yet have an insatiable hunger to see the world, venture into the unknown, and when you have seen enough, come back to your loved ones and share, and then go again. Don't look back, but keep living for the present. This day may be your last, make it the best, and when you do die, you die smiling.

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

...separate raisins from cereal.

Something random you'd like to say?

I'm gonna shave my head someday.

0001 - Desmond

For our first entry, let's begin with the owner of this blog.

Desmond / 24 / Singapore / World-Changer / imprfct.com / @qamuri

What do you live for?

I live to change the world, love, laugh, travel and learn. I hope that whatever (be it a system, a culture or a company) I build to change the world can outlive myself and continue for generations.

Why?

The world is in a bad shape in so many ways thanks to humans. I feel that we, as human beings, the most intelligent species on Earth, should be responsible for the mess we have created. I strongly believe that better systems, better habits and better lifestyles are possible. And there has to be more effective methods to influence people to adopt that.

Some of the issues I'm concerned with are:

• The existing rat-race culture
• Smoking
• Morals
• Global warming
• Education

What are some of the best advices in life that you have been given/you want to give to our readers?

I don't believe in luck. I only believe in keeping doors open, doing the right thing correctly at the right time. Good things will follow.

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

...watch lousy shows on TV

Something random you'd like to say?

I think I know too little about anything to get anything done. But at least I still want to get it done with my limited knowledge.