Val the data analyst!!!!

ISTJ - "Trustee". Decisiveness in practical affairs. Guardian of time- honored institutions. Dependable. 11.6% of total population. ISTJ responsible, planner, private, loner tendencies, perfectionist, organized, detail oriented, organized, would rather be friendless than jobless, realistic, observer, clean, focused, does not talk about feelings, finisher, punctual, private, does not appreciate strangeness, not adventurous, not spontaneous, follows the rules, dutiful, avoids mistakes, conventional, likes solitude, insensitive to the hardships of others, prepared, anti-tattoos, things rules are important, cautious, security seeking, prepares for worst case scenarios, logical, analytical, does not accept apologies easily, hard working favored careers: data analyst, scientist, researcher, engineer, financial planner, statistician, office worker, government employee, lab technician, nuclear engineer, office manager, biomedical engineer, account manager, ceo, investment banker, analyst, academic, systems analyst, pharmacy technician, network admin, genetics researcher, research assistant, strategist disfavored careers: entertainer, artist, filmmaker, musician, actor, fashion desinger, singer, music journalist, comedian, massage therapist, photographer, dj, model, author, bartender, painter, school counselor

My true passion is to be a Journalist (or so says Jung)

ENFP - "Journalist". Uncanny sense of the motivations of others. Life is an exciting drama. 8.1% of total population.

Free Jung Personality Test (similar to Myers-Briggs/MBTI)

ENFP 

outgoing, social, disorganized, easily talked into doing silly things, spontaneous, wild and crazy, acts without thinking, good at getting people to have fun, pleasure seeking, irresponsible, physically affectionate, risk taker, thrill seeker, likely to have or want a tattoo, adventurous, unprepared, attention seeking, hyperactive, irrational, loves crowds, rule breaker, prone to losing things, seductive, easily distracted, open, revealing, comfortable in unfamiliar situations, attracted to strange things, non punctual, likes to stand out, likes to try new things, fun seeker, unconventional, energetic, impulsive, empathetic, dangerous, loving, attachment prone, prone to fantasy

favored careers:
performer, actor, entertainer, songwriter, musician, filmmaker, comedian, radio broadcaster/dj, some job related to theater/drama, poet, music journalist, work in fashion industry, singer, movie producer, playwright, bartender, comic book author, work in television, dancer, artist, record store owner, model, freelance artist, teacher (art, drama, music), writer, painter, massage therapist, costume designer, choreographer, make up artist

disfavored careers:
data analyst, scientist, researcher, financial advisor, business analyst, govt employee, office manager, mathematician, investment banker, office worker, computer tech, it professional, network engineer, strategist

The List that Matters.

It's been some time since I last blogged. No particular reason except that perhaps my mind has been so filled with various commitments and responsibilities that the seemingly simple act of penning down mindless rants and chatter on an online post became an almost alien act to me.

Yes, that's right. Blogging an alien act to me. 

Me, the person who once settled down nicely with a cigarette, a cold beer and some chill out tunes to write whatever I had on my mind to blast out my fucked up thinking onto a digital space. 

What in God's name happened to that person?

That person grew up. Or at least, the person writing this now sure thinks that she did. It's been awhile since I didn't have a care in the world. At the moment, life seems almost too real, too solid and too "smack me hard in the face bitch, and you still won't wake up" to be a dream. I suppose that once, I was this young naive thing who had big plans to be a famous writer one day where life could revolve around my lush green garden by the lake, an easel and the metallic scents of oil pastels wafting in the air. Oh wait - then again, that could've been a scene out a movie that I really liked and just can't remember the name of. I am still hopeful though, that the dream does become a reality. Somehow, that plan came crashing down when I realised that I live in a concrete jungle surrounded by two large construction zones (one, btw, is an unsightly bunch of cluster living homes that I have no idea why the authorities approved its being built because it looks like an eyesore in the cosy Siglap neighbourhood). But, well, I'll bitch about that another day.

Memory, though, is another skill that I seem to have lost touch with lately. Short term, long term. I know I fall into the category of those who can recall moments of yesteryear (God, how I hate having to use terms like yesteryear on myself) and soon before I know it, I'll be a toothless 60-year still coming to terms with reality pounding hard at my keyboards. 

But then again, let's not fast forward too quickly into the future while we still have much present to live through.

So, that last point brings me back to the MAIN point of this post. Which was, strangely enough, inspired almost by a movie that I watched today: "Battle of Seattle". It was a movie about the civil unrest that occurred during the 1999 WTO protests that took place in Seattle (this post ain't a review, so check it out yourself at: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Battle_in_Seattle). 

Anyway, long story shot, I found myself transported somehow into a scene in my recent past. I was sitting aboard a tram along the end of Swanston, near the City Baths, and the tram conductor announced a slight delay due to the war protests on the streets. I looked out. There they were. Everywhere and all over at once. I remember that it was a scene of peace and democracy - people marching for what they believed in, and all driven with the same belief that they, as an individual and collectively as a group, could make that tiny bit of difference. It seemed far stretched, but at that time, I was impressed. I lived in Singapore a long time. Men with helmets on horses and loud white and black POLICE vests were foreign to me. Where I'm from, such acts of unrest would be frowned upon and strongly discouraged. But here, the people on the streets didn't look at them with disdain. Instead, there was a sense of mutual understanding: You do what you have to do, just don't break any laws, and we'll let you make your statement. 

For that, I understood and I respected what they had to say. Their silent message of freedom without the use of force. Without the threat of power or authority. Amazing. I was utterly astounded at the freedom these people are given. And that was when I knew (and I was reminded of this again today) that one day I would have to make a difference - be it big or small, I knew that I had it in me somewhere to do it.

That was back in 2003, or 2004. Somewhere along the lines where the media trashed John Howard and George Bush for the Iraq War. 

Now, the global scene is different. But my dreams, they're still the same. And so, I thought to myself tonight, while I'm at it with the sudden small burst of inspiration, it's time to pen down MY own list. Things I want to do, things I have to do, things I aim to do. And all before my short, little life comes to a resounding finish. I have written down a task list that I will promise myself to do, and it is here for everyone and no one to see. :) Here it goes...

My Before I Go List

1. Learn how to whistle properly

2. Sky dive

3. Adopt a child (or contribute significantly to a child's growth and welfare)

4. Go on a mission trip

5. Drive a manual car

6. Drive a manual car without stalling for at least an hour (ha-ha)

7. Sew my first dress

8. Be part of an activist group (not sure if this will EVER be possible but.. hey, it's only 2009)

9. Teach

10. Donate blood again

11. Run for 30 kms

12. Have all the people I love gathered before me

Finally, to end off, if there was anyone who is reading this and who happens to be in touch with any humanitarian organisation that wants/ needs volunteers, I'd love to get in touch and find out if there was anything that I could do. I guess I've reached a point in my life where I feel the need to give back. :) Until the next time I get into a writing frenzy. -adios