It just happen to stuck my mind that deep down within each and everyone of us, therein lies a pool of opportunities. We are so shaped by the world we live IN. So much that many of us (our parents, relatives, friends, society) are trapped in that perception that a good living life is to do what everyone is doing, get a "stable" income, and live life NORMALLY.

old thinking: amount of time spent = effort = money.

My parents used to tell me to study hard else when I grow up, I'll be a rubbish collector or road sweeper. I study "hard" many hours a day, for like many years, get a degree, find a stable job, earn a fix amount of salary. I am competent, people say I am smart and capable. I now have a stable income just like everyone else, I save up for my marriage, then for my house, then for my kids, till one day I grow old and got retrenched/retired, depend on my kids and go tour around the world.

the above is what a typical ideal thinking of living life to the "fullest".

Reality :

My parents tell me to study hard for the sake of my future else I'll be a rubbish collector or road sweeper. And when I grow up I realise rubbish collectors and road sweepers earn an income too. I study "hard" many hours a day, for many years, most of the time I don't really LEARN what I am studying but just memorising hard for the sake of the exams and I finally got my degree. I found a stable job, a stable income just like everyone else. My friends started a business and are earning so much more, but well I am just being normal. I saved for my marriage, then for my house, half way through I got retrenched from my stable and I am looking for another "stable" job. I saved my money for my kids and their education, I taught them what my parents taught me. They grow up, I grow old. Now they don't want to stay with me, and refuse to provide for me. I am homeless, not to even mention about travelling the world at my age...

The example here is of course exaggerated but it's to amplify my thoughts on this. I am NOT saying that studying is wrong and useless, knowledge is indeed useful. But our focus on "studying" is wrong, exams are used to test our knowledge, not memory.

Ok, why is the topic on Opportunities yet I am now talking about our way of living? Have you ever wondered why out of so many people here in Singapore, only a small percentage are truly successful and rich? Because they dare to venture out from the box (I'd prefer to call it the sugar-coated cube).

Our society & environment (mostly our parents) locks us up in a box, that is thought to be safe. We are now living in a way that locks up our creativity, our adventurous nature, our ability to utilise our brain. It's ironic that our world is so technologically advance yet our brains aren't. Suicide cases are raising sharply by the years, depression and everything else.. Why? Is it because our society is getting too stressful? I believe that it's stressful because our capabilities are still capped as the way it was many many years ago.