On being chased down by the deadlines here, translated…
The title of the article isn’t quite right, it should say, “Getting Chased by the Deadlines of the Drafts”.
Before the deadlines, the editor-in-chief would always kindly reminded me, “Please send in your drafts on () day.”. oh-oo, I’d cried out inside, “here comes that cat whip, urging me!”, oops, typo, it’s, Editor Kitty, not cat whip, otherwise, I may be charged with animal cruelty. (Our former editor was Bear-Whip, ooh, wrong again, it’s Editor Bear. It’s, as if, I can feel that strength from my former editor, shock!”, but, as a writer with a sense of responsibility, being pressed to turn in the drafts is like having needles on my back, like I was, already, whipping myself over it (could this be, the true meaning behind me calling them “cat whips” and “bear whips”?), so, I’d do everything I can, ahead of times, and, given the heads-ups, “the draft for this time will be provided on whichever date!”
But the problem is, the thing about inspiration, is that you can’t force it to come to you. Sometimes, the days just, passed, with absolutely NOTHING worth mentioning, it’s just, “being alive”, and, there’s, nothing else much that’s going on; and, if I’d needed to write something, “bland” would be the truthful description of it.
Up to here, I’d finally come to some sort of an understanding now. Bland. From these bland days, trying to adapt, to the life of nothing else going on.
Because of work, I’d gotten the chance, to interview a lot of outstanding people, mostly artists, entrepreneurs, dreamers, and, I’d, listened to them talk about the inspirations of how they’d started at the very beginning, and, the trials they’d gone through to become successful, and, most of their stories are filled with the trials from their separate lives, and, I was able to, write a legend down every now and then. Naturally, I’d, from time to time, go out, on special assignments, that I’d needed to, dig up the paths of someone’s success, but in the processes of interviewing, I couldn’t get the big picture, and after the end of the interviews, I couldn’t find the point, and so, I couldn’t write on anything, because I can’t draw any value from the interviews I’d just conducted.
“I’m sorry, my experiences seemed a bit too ordinary.” the person I’d interviewed smiled, and, with that scent of embarrassment, continued, “It’s too plain, isn’t it? Without ANY concepts, just for the sake of survival.” Wow, you’re, so truthful and blunt, now, it’s my turn, to smile bitterly.
I’d sat here, in front of my case notes, I’m totally stressed now, trying, to rewind through all the moments I’d had with those I’d interviewed, keyed out the words, and the sentences, in the end, the man’s voice stopped, at the moment when he’d told me that it’s too plain. My heart turned, and, my thought processes cleared up. This time, I’m no longer set on painting out that masterpiece of the man, the dramatic twists and turns of his life, and, tossed all of the courage, the drives, to hit the world right in the face out, and I’d come to understand, that the most touching tales, are from people like you and me, working hard, in these, ordinary days.
The ordinariness plagued through the days, filled with, never-ending list of miniscule things to handle, plus the nitty-gritties of life, continue to, “keep on living, fighting, for our survival.”, just being alive, it’s meaningful in itself; because, that, is the simplest motive, and yet, never easy. And, maybe, it’s admitting to how plain, bland, and boring life can be, that there’s that sense of free from life, shouldering the fragility of ordinary living, the imperfections. Life became, real now, and, it’d, added to the passions I feel, for the person I was, interviewing.
feels exactly like that…not my picture
Later on, I actually, finished this, “bland” interview, at another spot.
And now, I’m, remembering the conversations I’d had with the man.
So, this, is the blandness of life, living, from day to day, just, putting one foot in front of the other, keep on, walking, and, it’s, actually, quite boring if you think of it like that, but, if you can treat each day as a brand new experience, then, maybe, your days won’t feel, so boring, so, the important thing here is still, having the RIGHT attitude towards life!
Life, the Obstacle Course 