Insight - Commitment or Routine?

Salam guys.

I’ve a story to tell you. I know it should be about Singapore winning the ASEAN cup blah blah blah, but its not. =D

Every morning, at exactly 7 in the morning,(I know, because I’d always look at my watch), or maybe even as early as 6.45, since God-knows-when (I’ve only realised it last year, which goes to show how bloody ignorant I was.), the sound of music (HAH!) from a VERY FUNCTIONING radio (I live on the 12th storey and I can still hear it!) will be heard. What music? The accompanying music to the Chinese art of taichi. YES. Every morning, even on Sundays, without fail, a group of aunties elderly Chinese ladies, and the occasional men, would gather at the park, which is situated right beside my block, to do taichi. If it rains, they will do their taichi at the multi-purpose hall nearby. Day in, day out, these group of people will kickstart their day with the art of taichi.

Why am I mentioning this?

Do you sense the commitment?
Or would you rather take it as a routine?
That these people put themselves through every single day.
With the same tune.
The same steps.
The same people.

Is it because they are too used to it? Or do they actually value the hour they spend every day doing the same thing?

Lets bring the topic closer to home, to heart.

Do you sometimes feel obliged to do something because you’re comfortable in it? Because it’s the safest thing to do? Because its stupid to you and to everyone else if you were to ever take a risk, jump out of your comfort zone.

Have you ever felt that you’ve had enough of something? Enough of school? Enough of that job that pays you mediocrely? Enough of that same activity that you do everyday but never seemed to get anything out of it? Enough of that relationship?

*Would you get involved in a relationship just because it’s the safest thing to do? Would you convince yourself that you’re in love with a guy just because he loves you and would do anything, ANYTHING, just so that you’d be his, making your life a comfortable routine? Would you believe that you’ve forgotten an old flame, just because you’re tired of waiting for a definite answer? Would you say YES to a commitment that your heart was never into, but you were happy to be in, just to see someone change for the better, and stick with it because you’re scared of change and whatever the future holds?

Imagine being one of the aunties (or uncles). Should one day, you suddenly wake up and think, “I’m sick of taichi, how about I try something new today?”. Would you follow that thought, and seek out other morning activities that you can actually do? Or would you hold on to that wonderful thought for a while, until you actually step out of the house, and consciously seek your taichi group, because you’re too scared to venture out and make new friends, seek new opportunities. Too scared to face something that is by far uncertain.

*Writing is a remedy. What I’m trying to convey to you, I’m trying to digest and practise myself.

The question is, are we willing to forego our own safe judgement, and seek the more fulfilling path?

That is why it is so important to let certain things go. To release them. To cut loose. People need to understand that no one is playing with marked cards; sometimes we win and sometimes we lose. Don’t expect to get anything back, don’t expect recognition for your efforts, don’t expect your genius to be discovered or your love to be understood. Complete the circle. Not out of pride, inability or arrogance, but simply because whatever it is, no longer fits in your life. Close the door, change the record, clean the house, get rid of the dust. Stop being who you were, and become who you are. - The Zahir, Paulo Coelho