Just me, my thoughts and the window-sill. Great company. Honestly. Sometimes we forget about the real important things. In the crowds of headlessly running people. Ants of the society restlessly working for a better life.
A career. A house. Money. A family. Money. A car. More cars. More money. It's nice that we've got goals to strive for. Life would be boring without them (wouldn't it?).
But stop for a second. Take a deep breath. Look. See it? Beautiful. Embrace it. Deep breath. Enjoy. Got problems? What problems? Worried? Smile. Difficulties? Opportunities. Still feeling bad? I told you to look around. Look again. It's there. All around. Waiting for you to realise.
Friday, 24 July 2009
Wednesday, 10 June 2009
Monday, 27 October 2008
I C-A-N
Some tears in the eye due to those words. Ain't a big deal for the speaker, ain't a big deal for anyone in this world. It's only me who cares, it's only me whom it hurts.
'Cause what is chess?
A hobby.
What kind of career it is?
An imaginary.
What is to play the Olympiad?
An illegal act against the campus (number of acceptable absences overrun).
What is to miss a lesson?
A big mistake. No attendance -- no knowledge.
Now let me tell you my answers.
What is chess?
My life.
What kind of career it is?
A tough one that is often not sufficient for making a living and a complementary job is necessary. But I chose this life.
What is to play the Olympiad?
The dream that I was fighting for since childhood.
What is to miss a lesson?
A disadvantage for my studies that I have to live with -- for chess.
Everything is just the question of the point of view. We have different priorities: a thing that is so dear to one's heart may look ridiculous to the other. And vice versa.
For me chess holds an utmost importance. But not only chess. There are couple of other goals I'm aiming to reach. I'm interested in my studies and I want to finish university. Successfully. As an Olympic player. Why not?!
It's time to dry those tears and say: I can. I will. I know I will.
'Cause what is chess?
A hobby.
What kind of career it is?
An imaginary.
What is to play the Olympiad?
An illegal act against the campus (number of acceptable absences overrun).
What is to miss a lesson?
A big mistake. No attendance -- no knowledge.
Now let me tell you my answers.
What is chess?
My life.
What kind of career it is?
A tough one that is often not sufficient for making a living and a complementary job is necessary. But I chose this life.
What is to play the Olympiad?
The dream that I was fighting for since childhood.
What is to miss a lesson?
A disadvantage for my studies that I have to live with -- for chess.
Everything is just the question of the point of view. We have different priorities: a thing that is so dear to one's heart may look ridiculous to the other. And vice versa.
For me chess holds an utmost importance. But not only chess. There are couple of other goals I'm aiming to reach. I'm interested in my studies and I want to finish university. Successfully. As an Olympic player. Why not?!
It's time to dry those tears and say: I can. I will. I know I will.
Tuesday, 6 May 2008
Be the chess player, not the chess piece
My essay for the Proficiency-Exam-like writing task: Do your own thinking independently. Be the chess player, not the chess piece. (re-edited version)
Another brick in the wall. Without independent thinking we are only that: homologous, identical, the very same -- just another brick in the wall. We need independent thinking to make our very own choice, our own conclusion, our own goals. Who else would know better what we want, how we want, why we want? If we let ourselves be decided about, we are nothing more but a chess piece on somebody else's board.
In my opinion life gives us numerous occasions for independent thinking. Of course when we are born and small we can't really have our own decisions. A cry out for milk, maybe, but nothing more. But the older we grow the more independence we gain. In primary school we already start to choose which clothes to wear, picking a high school is also in our hands. We talk to the people we like, make friendships with the pals we enjoy being with, dislike and argue with other ones. In our personal life we can and should think independently.
However, we cannot be that independent all the time -- unfortunately or maybe fortunately. Very much depends on one's environment, the social background, for instance. As for myself, I think I'm quite lucky. My parents never tried to make me do anything against my will, I could always decide what I wanted. And fortunately, I've always had my wishes, my goals, my aims. Chess was a great teacher for this ability.
An example of this willpower and independent thinking could be the decision I made after finishing high school. Willpower I mention because in my opinion it's very much connected to independent thinking: we need to insist on our own will, cannot let ourselves be driven away. When I finished high school and told my parents about my wish to go to London for a year, they didn't like it at all. Especially my mother, a flesh and blood teacher. "You will stay there and won't get a diplom. You should go to uni, like everybody else does." Like everybody else does -- but why should I be like everybody? I went to London and I don't regret it: life experience, improving my English, learning to live on my own -- and make even more independent decisions. And now I study here at the uni, not because everyone else does but because I wanted. It's my life, my wishes, my goals -- my thoughts. Always be true to yourself and not to let yourself be pushed but be the one who makes the move: be the chess player, not the chess piece.
Another brick in the wall. Without independent thinking we are only that: homologous, identical, the very same -- just another brick in the wall. We need independent thinking to make our very own choice, our own conclusion, our own goals. Who else would know better what we want, how we want, why we want? If we let ourselves be decided about, we are nothing more but a chess piece on somebody else's board.
In my opinion life gives us numerous occasions for independent thinking. Of course when we are born and small we can't really have our own decisions. A cry out for milk, maybe, but nothing more. But the older we grow the more independence we gain. In primary school we already start to choose which clothes to wear, picking a high school is also in our hands. We talk to the people we like, make friendships with the pals we enjoy being with, dislike and argue with other ones. In our personal life we can and should think independently.
However, we cannot be that independent all the time -- unfortunately or maybe fortunately. Very much depends on one's environment, the social background, for instance. As for myself, I think I'm quite lucky. My parents never tried to make me do anything against my will, I could always decide what I wanted. And fortunately, I've always had my wishes, my goals, my aims. Chess was a great teacher for this ability.
An example of this willpower and independent thinking could be the decision I made after finishing high school. Willpower I mention because in my opinion it's very much connected to independent thinking: we need to insist on our own will, cannot let ourselves be driven away. When I finished high school and told my parents about my wish to go to London for a year, they didn't like it at all. Especially my mother, a flesh and blood teacher. "You will stay there and won't get a diplom. You should go to uni, like everybody else does." Like everybody else does -- but why should I be like everybody? I went to London and I don't regret it: life experience, improving my English, learning to live on my own -- and make even more independent decisions. And now I study here at the uni, not because everyone else does but because I wanted. It's my life, my wishes, my goals -- my thoughts. Always be true to yourself and not to let yourself be pushed but be the one who makes the move: be the chess player, not the chess piece.
Tuesday, 15 April 2008
Untouching the Untouchables
His blood covers the tablecloth. Spreading around slowly but consciously. Overflowing the well-laid plates, staining the shine of cutlery. White's whiteness has gone away: already red, deep red -- evil red. The source of the stream is just somebody's head, a crushed skull. But there is no need to worry: he is not scared any more.
Teamwork is holy. One member relying on another, the group relying on the individual. Like in baseball. If the pitcher fails, the team fails. Catchers, pitchers, outfielders and infielders all work
in a chain, a link. The second baseman doesn't make a catch and the full point is gone. Same applies to business.
Bootlegging booze in the times of prohibition, well, big money but big risk. And if the crusader cop and his squad of 'untouchables' manage to confiscate the liquor shipment... It means that somebody has failed -- and somebody has to pay for it.
Teamwork is holy -- holy as grave.
And here endeth the lesson.
/Click here for the source of the picture./
Wednesday, 19 March 2008
Through the glasses of... - podcast!
Thanks to my great teacher, Joe, now you can LISTEN to 'Through the glasses of... a different person', my latest story.
Can't get enough of it? :) Check out the rest of Joe's podcasts, too! ;)
Can't get enough of it? :) Check out the rest of Joe's podcasts, too! ;)
Wednesday, 5 March 2008
Through the glasses of... a different person
Close your eyes. Walk. Feel. Experience. It's dark in here -- very dark.
Find the handle. It's right there in front of you, you just need to guess at what height. You push it and enter the room. Pass your hand over the wall. It runs into something hard. Made of wood, tall and wide. There are shelves in it -- you can feel them. You go further. Step cautiously. You bump into a table. Yes, it's obviously a table. And chairs, there are chairs as well. You touch them -- so now you see them.
You continue to pace carefully. The material of the floor has changed -- it's different to walk on it. Harder and you can hear the knocking of your heels. You touch the wall. It's cold. You make a few steps ahead. You stretch out your hand. Your palm perceives an object. Smooth down your hand on it -- see it? A cooker. And there is a cupboard nearby. A tap. You feel it's a tap.
Look for a glass. Not so easy if you don't remember where you put it. You find it. Now try to pour some water into it. Reach out for the tap. Empty space, empty space -- finally something. You feel the metal tube of the tap. Now you only need to drag your palm further and open it. Got it.
You move further gingerly with the glass of water in your hand. Again there is a door in front of you. You go through it. Soft breeze touches your face. It brings you the scent of spring flowers. A pretty warm weather, you can feel it on your skin. Hear the birds singing? What a beautiful day. Just it's dark out here. Still dark. Very dark.
(Click here for the source of the picture.)
Find the handle. It's right there in front of you, you just need to guess at what height. You push it and enter the room. Pass your hand over the wall. It runs into something hard. Made of wood, tall and wide. There are shelves in it -- you can feel them. You go further. Step cautiously. You bump into a table. Yes, it's obviously a table. And chairs, there are chairs as well. You touch them -- so now you see them.
You continue to pace carefully. The material of the floor has changed -- it's different to walk on it. Harder and you can hear the knocking of your heels. You touch the wall. It's cold. You make a few steps ahead. You stretch out your hand. Your palm perceives an object. Smooth down your hand on it -- see it? A cooker. And there is a cupboard nearby. A tap. You feel it's a tap.
Look for a glass. Not so easy if you don't remember where you put it. You find it. Now try to pour some water into it. Reach out for the tap. Empty space, empty space -- finally something. You feel the metal tube of the tap. Now you only need to drag your palm further and open it. Got it.
You move further gingerly with the glass of water in your hand. Again there is a door in front of you. You go through it. Soft breeze touches your face. It brings you the scent of spring flowers. A pretty warm weather, you can feel it on your skin. Hear the birds singing? What a beautiful day. Just it's dark out here. Still dark. Very dark.
(Click here for the source of the picture.)
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