Speed Posting
I am a very slow writer, and usually it takes me more than an hour to write a decent-length blog post. For this one, I’ll time myself and see if I can finish in 10 minutes.
In the bus on my way to school yesterday, I was listening to Sufjan Stevens’ “Casimir Pulaski Day” (from the VERY EPIC Illinoise! album). It was one of those rare experiences when a song, on account of its words, incites some strong emotion from me. I managed to control it with a couple of chokes and some funny expressions, which made me feel quite stupid. Fortunately, there were few occupants to witness this.
I recently found myself reviewing artifacts from the past, particularly old Friendster testimonials and videos – short films and what nots – that I have been able to contribute in in some way. In those, I saw old friends, and also saw a little bit of myself (or what I must be like back then) through their eyes.
One that I particularly enjoyed seeing again was the short documentary/interview my friend made, with my help, for her film school requirement. It’s about a simple subject – happiness – but looking at it now, it has grown to be poignant and very commentary. (Or maybe it was just nostalgia kicking in.) Also, in it were a lot of faces I saw much of during that “era” when it was filmed. Quite aptly, I quickly realized how happy I was during those times, being in the company of those people – and I never really reflected upon it then! Hindsight is always 20/20, indeed.
Therein lies the lesson: Happiness, in its highest, most blissful form, is never in the present tense. It is either that it has already happened (memories), or that it is what we hope would happen (ideals).
I failed. 26 minutes.