Dedications

This was originally in a form of a powerpoint presentation but I typed it out, tweeked it here and there, personalified it <3

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We convince ourselves that life will be better once we find that "special someone" and be swept off our feet.

Then we get frustrated that "special someone" is with someone else and that we keep convincing ourselves to keep searching.

Then we get more frustrated because all our friends have found their "special someone" and we must deal with the lonely movies and for-one dinners.

We tell ourselves our life will be better when we are not alone, when we have moved out, when we have finished university, when we buy that awesome new sporty almost-sitting-on-the-ground ferrari, when we go on a year-long european holiday, when we finally get on with life, when we retire.

The truth is that there is no better time to be happy than right now. If not, then when? Your life will always be full of challenges. It is better to admit as much and deicde to be happy in spite of it all. Let go off those grudges, take off those rose-tinted glasses and embrace life as it is.

For the longest time, it seemed that life was finally about to start. Real no-parents-nagging no-teachers-screaming-at-you-about-overdue-work life.

But there was always some obstacle along the way, an ordeal to get through, some (or a lot) work to be finished, some time to be given, one (or five gazzilion) exams to get trough. Then life would start.

I finally came to understand that those obstacles were life.

That point of view helped me see that there isn't any road to happiness. Happines IS the road.

The ultimate goal that we set is the destination.

So enjoy every moment. Get over grudges. Hug the nerd next to you. Stop teasing your friend about his so-called girlfriend.

Stop waiting for school to end, to lose 5 kilograms, to gain 5 kilograms, to get fit, to finish those exams, for work to begin, to get married, for that "special someone", for Friday evening, for Sunday morning, waiting for the weather to be better, for spring, for summer, for autumn, for winter, for university, for Christmas, for any other public holidays, for your song to be played on the radio, for your crush to like you back, till you get to hug your pop star, for your 21st, to die, to be reborn... before deciding to be happy.

"Happiness is a voyage, not a destination. There is no better time to be happy than NOW! Live and enjoy the moment" -Unknownn.

Now, think and try to answer these questions (&refrain yourself googling them all):
1- Name the 5 richest people in the world
2- Name the last 5 Miss Universe winners
3- Name the last 10 Nobel Prize winner.
4- Name the last 10 winners of the Best Actor Oscar

Can't do it? Rather difficult, isn't it? (without googling at least xD)

Don't worry, nobody remembers that (unless you are Google).

Applause dies away!

Trophies gather dust!

Winners are soon forgotten.

Now answer these questions:
1- Name 3 or more teachers who contributed to your education.
2- Name 3 or more friends who helped you in your hour of need.
3- Think of a few people who made you feel special.
4- Name 5 or more people that you like to spend time with.

More managaeble? Not so stressful? It's easier, isn't it?

The people who mean something to your life are not rated as "the best"( or the "special one"), don't have to be loaded, haven't won the greatest prizes (unless
you count your heart)...

They are the ones who care about you, take care of you, those who, no matter what, stay close by.

Think about it for a moment. Life is very short.

And you, in which list are you? Don't know?

Let me give you a hand. You are not among the most "famous", but among those to whom I remember to dedicate this message to...

Some time ago, at the Seattle Olympics, nine athletes, all mentally or physically challenged, were standing on the start line for the 100m race.

The gun fired and the race began. Not everyone was necessarily running, but everyone wanted to participate and win.

They ran in threes, a boy tripped and fell, did a few somersaults and started crying.

The other eight heard him crying. They slowed down and looked behind them.

They stopped and came back.. All eight of them...

A girl with Down's Syndrome sat down next to him, hugged him and asked "feeling better now?"

Then, all nine, walked shoulder to shoulder to the finish line.

The whole crowd stood up and applauded. And the applause lasted for a very long time...

People who witnessed this still talk about it.

Why?

Because deep down inside us, we all know that the most important thing in life is much more than winning for ourselves.

The most important thing in this life is to help others to win. Even if that means slowing down and changing our own race.

A candle loses nothing if it is used to light another one.

Dedications to (in no particular order):

Naomi, Dollie, Jess, Oliver, Albert, Eric, Dave, Heeyoung, Louise, Isidora, John, Jon, Ellen, Steph, Kelly, James, Jefferey, Kai, Kelvin, Khanh, Lucy, Lulu, Marcus, Dev,
Max, Megan, Jeremy, Michelle, Moyan, Georgia, Nathan, Natalie, Pei, Susan, Susan, Tas, Tuo, Wilson, Zoe, Jenny, Xiu, to everyone at Landmark Education, Theo,
Kurt, Trisha, Leo, Jonathan, Richard, Andrew, Jack, Saizo ('Sarah'), Pei, Alice, Jackson, Joshua, Ricky, Tom, Bri, Jane, Kathy, Nelson, to all my favorite authors
:3 hahah ...., to all the bands whose songs got me through tough times..... <3