Living La Vida Loca
Heya mates! This is an abstract blend of my personal experiences and introspection in these uncertain, trying times. I’ll be talking about family, inspirations, music and everything in between.
If someone asks, this is where I’ll be where I’ll be…Feel free to vibe along with me on this journey of a read with Sure Sure’s rendition of ‘This Must Be The Place’ by Talking Heads. And you’re standing here beside me, I love the passing of time~
Since the reopening of the city last year, my family and I have been keeping healthy with our weekend morning walks. I feel the stare, stop it. I do engage in other cardiovascular activities. As time passed, it provided a source of respite from our otherwise monotonous routine of cooping up at home. These walks provide me with an avenue for deep thinking, as I ponder about anything and everything under the sun, under the sun. Time seemingly comes to a standstill as the crickets’ incessant chirping turn into a melodious symphony orchestra. Ahh, Brief Tranquility.
Whether we’re on the cusp of adulthood, or simply transitioning between different phases in life, there is always this nag to accomplish something, to achieve a goal within a given time period. The accustomed concept of Time is Money comes into play here. I am human, and so are you, or so I think. As such, we’re wired to constantly aspire and chase our dreams, in hopes that we fulfil our fullest potential one day. That’s a great mindset by the way, don’t get me wrong. I am all about that Mamba Mentality, “to be able to constantly try to be the best version of yourself,” said Kobe Bryant. He did exactly that during his twenty seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers. “That is what the mentality is. It’s a constant quest to try to be better today than you were yesterday.”
Yet, in the process of it all, simply enjoy the impermanence of the present. Carpe caseus. Righty O mate, seize the cheese. Oh golly, I could do with some Mac & Cheese, Shiraz and Formula One right about now.
On my walks, the roads are much quieter than before. Yet, they’re very much louder. Don’t just hear, listen. Listen to the cheerful yapping of the cute doggo next door. Listen to the animated morning greetings of the old lady who stays down the road. Don’t just talk, connect. In the hustle and bustle of life, we tend to miss the weeniest bits of it, often the most enjoyable ones- the sophisticated simplicity. Tell me about the peanut butter sandwich you made this morning, I’m sure it’ll be a riveting account.
More often than not, we’re peppered with views, opinions and criticism in this fast-paced, skeptical world. In response, we are constantly seeking. Day to day, literally everyone is skeptical about some form of knowledge claim. Bitcoin was $946 in early 2017, I was skeptical. It hit an all time high of $64,805 just a few days back (that’s a mad 69x!!!), I am still skeptical, well just a wee bit now really. If only I’d bought some Bitcoin at $4.80 in mid 2015…An absolutely staggering thought. Anyhow, this is a conversation for another day.
What we have to do now, is to just take a breather, and brief serenity will follow suit- enough for us to engage in reposeful contemplation. You can view your current state of affairs in relation to your studies/ jobs and the world as worse off than before, when in reality you can also choose to see it in a more positive light. In that way, glimmers of joy will present themselves in the most unforeseen circumstances. There is always beauty in the most unexpected of places. Say CHEESEBURGER!
Somebody once said, that one should look at art and war from a distance. So as if you were in the Louvre, take a step back to observe and admire, quite literally and figuratively. We’re constantly fighting our own battles, be it trying to fulfil your KPIs at work, or just trying to keep afloat amidst all your commitments in school. There is no harm with a little social distancing, mentally. One of my best mates recently shared with me about Jonny Kim- an American Navy Seal, Doctor, and Astronaut. Do give this short interview with him a watch! It’s really refreshing, I kid you not.
If Kim does not serve as a figure of inspiration, at least let him be a source of reassurance. That even an immense guy like him, a man who honestly, is everything I ever want to be, has his moments of despair, of helplessness. That is healthy. It’s necessary.
As with anything in the wide universe, a sort of balance is required, and has to be established. Balance is all about the tiny decisions you make through the course of your life. Be it in relationships, mental health, or studies et cetera, balance is of the essence. Whilst one can plow through in the short term, it certainly isn’t sustainable in the long run. Somehow this reminds me of the Myosin powerstroke cycle in mechanobiology (minor geek moment incoming).
So imagine the musculoskeletal system. Myosin is a common protein found in muscles, and is responsible for muscle contraction and relaxation. When the myosin head is ‘cocked’, it is in a high energy configuration. As it moves through the power stroke, it expends energy, finishing off the cycle in a low energy state. Each myosin protein functions in a cyclical manner, coupling Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) binding and hydrolysis to a conformational change within the protein, in so doing, allowing for the contraction and relaxation of the muscle fibres and in turn, your muscles. This my friends, is a TLDR of the powerstroke cycle.
So be a myosin. Know when your energy has been expended.
Unlearn to learn, disconnect to connect.
Bzzzt bzzzt. Say hi to my mate Maxwell from Kenya!
This was us FaceTiming a little over a week ago. I last saw Maxwell when my family hosted him in 2018, yet we still jabbered on as though we’d met the week before- studies, family, football…you know the drill.
A little bit about Maxwell: He is currently a third year Nursing student, and is raring to graduate and enter the healthcare scene. So pumped for him!
It’s the fleeting moments like this that I’ve come to appreciate more and more as I mature and understand more thoroughly, the concept of mental downtime.
With everything that is going on in the world right now, I find comfort in the knowledge that I can choose to stay gratified and content amidst the chaos. The ideal experience in work and life in general, is often found in the unassuming middle. Enjoy the bits of happiness and joy in your everyday lives, whether bite-sized or vast! After all, we’re all trying to live La Vida Loca, the crazy life!
Alexander SR Pang
ALEXANDER SR PANG 