achievements

After looking at my friend’s list of achievements in his life, I realized that I didn’t lose too much to him. But.. somehow.. he seemed much more achieved in life. Why? I realized.. in the first 20 years of my life, I took part in more things and achieved more. I excelled in everything—琴棋书画— the equivalent of everything that an educated Chinese child should know. However, 小时了了，大未必佳 (to excel as a child doesn’t mean one would be as great in later years). Indeed, ever since I entered university, everything stopped. All my performances/competitions stopped the very moment I stepped into NUS as a student. I quit everything when I was at my peak. I stopped playing the piano right after I passed Grade 8. I quit playing Go/Weiqi right after I returned from my first international competition in Thailand. I stopped dancing after winning countless trophies (and $$). I stopped drawing after I won the silver and bronze medals in international competitions. Even Olympiads and other international competitions in Maths/Science found their way out of my life as I grew older. Countless talents, countless achievements.. but those are part of the past. 20 years of glorious past, 20 years of limelight. Rather short, given that I will probably live much longer than that. Oh well, instead of wondering why I gave up all those at that time, I’ve decided that.. I’m happy where I am now. Being a normal person.. I do miss the adrenaline rush of competitions, and the limelight of performing on stage at times. But at least, I’ve experienced all those before. Nothing lasts forever. Nothing is eternal. The only exception is God’s love. ^_^