Dreams

The Straits Times featured an article today on the dreams and aspirations of today's Singaporeans. It was not surprising that the same dreams that we had as a nation in the 90's: the 5Cs: Cash, Credit Card, Car, Condominium and Country Club membership were used as the benchmark for comparison. In the 90's I was a mere student, and the 5Cs were just obscure concepts that we knew and poked fun at.

Fast forward a decade. As a young working professional, this "5Cs" concept triggers an involuntary self-reflection. Is this what I am working so damn hard for? Being tied down to a lifetime of mortgages in an economy where the flavour of the decade shifts from manufacturing to health sciences to financial services to.. [insert new industry here]. Yes, I know the effects of the above are somewhat mitigated in my industry but it does not stop one from thinking, even dreading, the almost certain eventuality of being obsolete in a world that does not cease to change.

We spoke about this. Yes, I do dream about a life like this. However, on days like these, it hits me that I cannot just continue doing what I am doing without reflection because time just slips by as we drone on in our mundane lives. Case in point, 3 months have already slipped by, just like that. As I leave my green & blue the end of this month, I need to satisfy myself that if I have already voluntarily clipped my wings, I cannot have any regrets being housed in a cage.