My arrogance has prevented me from cultivating many relationships. Recently, I received a few emails from people I knew from school and university. They all shared with me the same message: they have all had, or had since quite a few years back dating back to university days been diagnosed with depression or other mental health challenges.
I never knew that, and I would not have even guessed. For one, I didn’t know what depression was and so even if I paid attention, I could not have been aware of the symptoms others exhibited.
However, the main reason was most likely because I didn’t pay attention at all.
Even if not overtly, inside I was definitely arrogant and basked in the glory of my achievements. Anyone who “couldn’t pull themselves together” and make the grades in addition to excelling in a full basket of extra curricular activities and competitions was a “loser” in my mind. They did not have the competence to multi-task and multi-achieve, and thus I was far more superior. I was too full of myself, my own perceived problems and my own conquests, to have any capacity to consider others around me.
Looking back, I realize I did not know how to make friends, or keep them. I thought meeting up for coffees and lunches were all there is. I did not care or ask the classmate sitting next to me for four years in university, “How are you doing?” Instead, it was a nonchalant “Hey” and a half-hearted acknowledgement when they responded. I did not bear in mind how my friends who had gone overseas to study were doing and what form of culture shock they might be going through. I spent too much time eyeing their Ivy League education with green envy.
I was overly guarded; worried that someone else might steal my grades, my awards, my scholarships, my best debater trophy, my job offers that I had to protect myself. I climbed the mountain on my own instead of sharing information and what I know so we could all do better. It was a constant battle. No one was unconditionally truthful and giving to anyone.
It was the same in the corporate world when I started working. Maybe this was why I could only pent up stress inside me for fear that others would mock me for not being able to cope and maintain my brilliance. Although I did not maliciously intend to hurt anyone or stir up politics behind people’s backs, just perfecting my responsibilities were not enough. We had to pre-empt to avoid getting hurt, thus one must protect, establish walls, and guard. I was thankful no one messed up my backyard, but when others had a cyclone go through theirs, what did I do? I pretended I didn’t see so I would not be curled into drama that would damage my reputation. It was self-preservation.
It was fear of losing. It was dread of being hurt.
No one gave to me, and I gave to no one. When someone gave to me, I received with utmost precaution and suspicion that there was a conspiracy I did not see.
For this reason, encountering the blogosphere was a refreshing eye-opener. Here, no one placed menacing German Shepherds at their front doors to conceal information. Rather the opposite, everyone gave. Through cyberspace and email correspondence I felt the sincerity these blog owners had. They had succeeded, they had help along the way, and now they want to help too. They want to help so bad it would pain them more that I did not sponge up their advice and suggestions to grow my blog than it would had their own blogs flopped.
I am touched at how kind the blogosphere is. It has massaged my wounds and assured me that there are good people in this world.
It might just be me being emotional but I can sense tears welling up my eyes. I feel absolutely sorry for not having paid more attention to my friends, my classmates, my acquaintances, my colleagues, and everyone else who have passed through my life.
I’m sorry I never cared. I’m sorry I never took the time to care.
Thank you to everyone who wrote to me and shared their stories, especially to those who I have known for so long personally, and yet, never took more than one look at you. Thank you to every blogger whom I have come to know (you know who you are!) well, sharing experience and just chatting.
I have been humbled.
I am sorry.
Is there someone you have overlooked today? Please share in the comments, and call them to show them you care.
i like the analysis you made nochnoch
so insightful 🙂
Hi Farouk
Thank you for the encouragement!
Noch Noch
Noch Noch, You are without a doubt, a special spirit. I love this post because ot not only is spoken so sincerely from your heart, but it is so much more a reflection of each of us to some degree in some areas of our lives. We are all works in progress and to follow the work you do under the hood of your own life so openly here is heart-warming, inspiring, authentic, honest and beautiful. Life is about evolving into an increasingly beautiful soul. All the oversights, greedy, selfish little things we did and didn’t do is all part of the process. Recognizing it is the first step. I love your challenge to us to reach out to those we may have overlooked in our lives. I’ll definitely take this challenge to heart and see if there’s someone (or many people) I’ve failed to recognize or appreciate fully.
Thanks again for the inspiration, Noch Noch!
Hi Ken
Thanks for reminding me that life is a process, and that the oversights and greed etc are part of it, and that I have to go through it to learn and become a better person. It puts life into perspective instead of dwelling on the bad things I did. I must learn from it and move on. I appreciate that you take time to read about me here on my blog, my thoughts and all, and to also respond to it. And thanks for taking up the little challenge – I hope whoever it was took it well 🙂
Noch Noch
your english is really good, how do you learn it so well ?
Hi James
Thanks! I learnt it in school 🙂
But my Chinese is very bad!
Noch Noch
Thanks so much Noch Noch for caring to share with us your touching story. Everything happens for a reason, and it takes courage to break the cycle, speak up, and do better. As we travel, we stay connected with love ones letting them know how much we care about them, need them, and love them. Love ones are precious and our time with them are finite. You are an amazing spirit Noch Noch, and we are so grateful that you are sharing your gift of writing with us.
Hi Josephine
Keeping connected with our loved ones is hard as we travel and move around, something that I need to work on. You point out well that our time with them is limited and we must treasure it. Thanks for coming by and sharing your thoughts here. I’m happy to hear you like my writing. Every little encouragement for me I put in a glass jar to remind myself and motivate myself to keep writing, especially on the bad days!
Noch Noch
When we look back at the life we have lived. Sometimes it can hurt us really bad, when we realize just how off course we were. As long we learn from our mistakes and accept what happened then it gets easy to carry on with life.
Noch Noch, let me share with you a quote by Maya Angelou, that came to my mind as I was reading this article.
“I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.”
Now we know better, huh? 🙂
Veeh.
Hi Veeh
Ah yes – now we know better. And we keep doing better. Thank you for the quote. It’s so crisp but so true. Learning from our mistakes is the key, learning, and moving on
Thanks for sharing your beautiful soul here!
Noch Noch
Your experience (and attitude) reminds me of myself more than 10 years ago. I used to work in New York City and I didn’t realize how full of myself I had become. Like you, I thought that whoever wasn’t ambitious and making their dreams happen was also a “loser”. I ended up hurting one or two people close to me. I realized slowly that not all people have the courage to do so. Most are governed by fear. We are lucky to be able to pursue our dreams and we just to have to be patient and sympathetic with those who want to “play it safe”. I guess we all make mistakes and continue to learn as we go along.
Hi George
Nice to meet you and thanks for stopping by. My fiance also told me to learn some patience and be more sympathetic – I used to lose my temper at bad service and yell at the hotel receptionists, waiters what not. My fiance said some of them have not had the experience I’ve had and I should not judge them. Depression has really humbled me in this sense, and allowed me to see more than just my little world and bubble. From your website and sound of things, seems like you have reached greener pastures and found what you love doing after NYC. So good to see that. Gives me more fuel to carry on!
Noch Noch
Hi Noch Noch,
Great post! Great picture of the sumo wrestlers btw. 😉
I too have had familiarity with your thinking and experiences. When I was very young, I was very self-centred. I guess this is what all Aries have to learn. We have to learn to think of others instead of placing ourselves first all the time. But the good thing is that once we have realized our mistakes, we can change. Then it is just a matter of being vigilant so that we do not fall back to our own ways of thinking and acting.
For me I used to give while expecting something in return. You should be familiar with this haha! But eventually, I came to understand what Kahlil Gibran’s Prophet meant by love. Although my greatest lessons in life came as a result of painful relationship experiences, I was able to apply the insights I gained to all other areas of my life.
When it comes to giving and caring we should do so sincerely and wholeheartedly or not at all. We should give what we can and not more than we can manage because this will only build expectations and resentment.
Thank you for sharing this lovely article!
Irving the Vizier
Hi Irving
Haha – i know what you mean about giving while expecting something in return :p
We Aries are quite self centered. I think partly because we want to do so much and so high energy that we forget there are others around, not in a bad selfish way, but that’s just the way we are sometimes. So I’m learning to be conscious of that and like you say, once we realize it, we can improve
And yup, I like the sumo wrestlers. I had so much fun watching them in Tokyo!
Thanks again for always leaving a comment on my blog!
Noch Noch
Hi Noch Noch, thank you for sharing your inspirational story with us. But, I believe that it’s never too late to learn from your mistakes. It’s better to learn a few years later than never at all!
Btw, Veeh mentioned the quote by Maya Angelou and I totally agree with the quote: “I did then what I knew how to do. Now that I know better, I do better.” Do what you think is the best everytime. And when you know more, you know the even better way, do it. And you’ll never go wrong!
Cheers, Amanda
Hi Amanda
Hello there! Happy to see you here. I’m still amazed at what you do with your blog. You sound so wise and I feel ashamed I’m only learning some of the things you write about given that I’m twice your age!! But age shouldn’t matter – it’s the attitude
And yes, we need only to learn from our mistakes sincerely. Life goes on – better
Thanks again for coming here
Noch Noch
Hi Noch
Hey everything has a reason, and everything has an element of cycle (time factor) in, perhaps in that season, it was a season of self-preservation (which is pretty different of being all high-and-mighty-arrogance, which doesn’t seem to be the case in your kind spirit).
Perhaps you didn’t realize it, yes?
I might not even classify it as mistakes, but perhaps, now in a way, you empathise and ‘mourn’ a little for the time and possible friendships you had ‘lost’ along the way…but it’s not too late, you’re still young. You can make a difference, the way you’re doing now.
Reach out. Connect. Love.
You’d be great! =D
Hey Nigel
Howz going? I like that little tag line towards the bottom “Reach out. Connect. Love.” Do you do copywriting as a side job? Haha, it just sounds like a great service / product tag line to use
And you are right. I can still make a difference, now that I’ve learnt. Enough mourning…
Noch Noch
Hahaha! I should consider…. I love copywriting by the way, it’s a lovely art!
Yes, with awareness and insight, and lots of love, we can make a difference today, right now. It’s okay, it’s a brand new you and a brand new start – it should be fun!
brand new start sounds good to me 🙂
NN
It’s a brand new start! You’d do well, Noch. =)
🙂
Hi Noch,
Wonderful message you’ve got there!
But who isn’t self-centered at least in our beginning? We are born believing that we are at the center of the universe and the world rotates around us.
It’s only when we stumble and fall as we take our first steps, or as we begin to witness pain and suffering surrounding us, do we begin to understand that humility, love and compassion are the guiding lights in this life…
Take care 🙂
Vlad
Hi Vlad
I do wish the world revolves around me :p
but indeed it’s when we start feeling pain and it sends messages to us, that we know that the world is much bigger than we imagined. and it also says to me, my problems are not that much of a problem
Noch Noch
Thanks for sharing your truth, Noch Noch. It’s beautiful– you’re beautiful.
thanks Therese – what you do for others on your website is very inspiring and beautiful too, and loving that smile in the photo!
Noch Noch
[…] this me? Sounds about right. Hugely competitive, and extremely impatient. Bossy and control freak to say the least (ask my […]
Beautiful post NochNoch, and no doubt a cathartic one. For us to win, someone must lose. Someone must hurt. Someone must be made to feel subpar.
In a world that’s trying its hardest to pit us against each other, the competition that truly matters is the one between who we are and who we want to become.
[…] for a Masters in Law degree while working full time. I was in my mid-twenties — my omnipotent, invincible years and at the peak of my career. I hosted a house party for friends just because I could and wanted […]
You know, a difference I’ve noticed between living here in Huancayo and living in Canada is that people are not only more open here, but they also gossip more openly here. =) It’s painful to hear so often about abuse or death, but what’s refreshing is knowing about it and knowing the truth of life. We tend to hide things and keep to ourselves in North America — the consequence is that there’s this need for perfectionism because everyone else seems perfect.
Thanks for such a humbling post, friend! I’m glad we’re part of each other’s online life! =)
Hi Samantha
What a great point – we all try to be perfect and for some reason we think this is expected of us. So if we crumble, we hide, for fear of judgment and mockery. I’m learning to not hide anymore. I’m not perfect, and it’s okay!!! In fact, I’d be pretty boring if I was perfect, won’t have anything new to learn or experience!
Thanks for coming by, and yes indeed, so glad to have “met” you online
🙂
Noch Noch
[…] Forbes published an article I wrote a while back on why I think Generation Y and Millennial are more prone to depression and anxiety issues. My umbrella argument was that we lacked a purpose in life and was too used to instant gratification. In response to this phenomenon, I suggested the way that we could avoid walking into that rut and one way was to increase our self-awareness. […]
NochNoch
I am a grown, middle aged man. And this post made me cry. I am not kidding. This has to be one of the most genuine, heartfelt blogs I have read in a long long time. I too have depression, about 25 years now. I too remember well all the times I hid behind fear and arrogance and insecurities when people tried reaching out to me. It took a long time for me to forgive myself for that and treat people better. I have also known isolation so deeply it almost physically hurts. I suppose that is karma.
Please don’t stop writing and growing and sharing.
Hi Jim
I am very touched by your message and really appreciate you sharing your true feelings and experience with me. Your encouragement gives me a boost to keep writing. I am undergoing some mood swings lately and not keeping up with my blog, but I will keep writing. An I hope you will keep reading. Please take care and thanks again for beig strong for us
Noch Noch
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