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Wisdom of My Friends
“Si Jeunesse Savait et Si Vieillesse Pouvait”. This is something my grandpa #RenéCREMET often said. Like the child may see something and want it, but the parent would say, “No.” Because they know that it may not be good for the child.
It’s human nature: We have this potential of self-destruction; sometimes, without realising it. With the Western lifestyle, we use technology to help us create more - we’re always producing more, we always need more. We don't need to produce so much, or do so much, or get so much. It's a problem if we forget to ask ourselves what we really need. I'm from this new generation after the one of the Baby-Boomer. Our parents realised that things won’t be as easy for us as it was for them. Things are changing: there are more competition in getting a job, the economy is difficult... crisis, depression, inequality… I’m of the generation where internet has been developed. It has become easier to access information, to travel, and learn things. And mobile phones - when I was a child, no one had a phone; when I went to college, everyone owned a mobile phone. What is your view on development? It's tricky: we need to see what kind of development we're talking about. Development is something very complicated. You can share it and spread it to a lot of people, but I don’t know if it should be for everybody. Development to me means sustainability, to create opportunity (you are looking for a seedling for it to become a fruit). You don't actually want to control life - You just want things to be sustainable. I think the intention of religion is to help people develop themselves. And with religion, development is very simple: the development through religion is something you should share with other people, otherwise it's not true development. I want to develop myself in a good atmosphere, good positive atmosphere. Through interactions with people - it definitely helps me develop my personality, my spirit, my skills and everything. As human being, we forget the power of the imagination. Movies, creativity, entertainment, can help generate a lot of ideas. Wellington is so nice for that. There is such a diversity. And I think, through the different generations in Wellington, cultures, good leadership (maybe politicians), people develop some good values and good standards for living together in harmony. I really like the slogan from Wellington City Council: “ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY WELLINGTON”. What does faith mean to you? I would say FAITH is connected with LOVE and HOPE. It's how you can create the momentum that help drive you in your daily life, and realise what you want to do. What I want to do is just trying to know myself better, discover who I am, and why I'm unique. Because I believe everybody is unique. I want to learn how to be a good man, to do good things for people and for myself. It's a very simple idea, but it’s something huge to ask of oneself. Because in the end, we're all just human beings. In life, we are the best as well as the worst, the Yin and the Yang. It's possible to do more good. Faith can help give you a direction and guide your journey. Faith is like your Dream: you know you want to go in the direction of your Dream. It's in your mind, in your heart and in your soul. A big thing I rediscovered in New Zealand is Faith. I realised that I was not happy in France. My faith was very weak. I didn't know what I wanted to do, I couldn't see opportunities. Now I realised again how important faith is. Faith helps human being realise they can achieve what they want in life. It's like you can create, the moment you enter into faith. Obama’s campaign slogan is about faith. “Yes, we can!” It's very simple. It's just about faith. For me, faith doesn't mean religion. I believe all religions carry some virtues, but you don’t need to be a Christian or Buddhist or Muslim. I believe, in religion, you share ideas of development, not only for yourself, but for the people around you. Each culture's got different faith. Mine's been something that's been told throughout my childhood. I used to go every Sunday to church with my mom, as a child; I’ve been baptised; I always went for the Communion. What I enjoyed was to share, once a week, with a small community; And people are self-reflecting on their problems, with prayers, singing, and acting together. It was nice just to meet friends; at the end of the service, to shake hands and say Hello, and for the kids to play a bit. God is perfection to me - an ultimate GOAL. That's why when you do the work of self-reflection, you try to think about the best thing to do. I am impressed by those who have the power of self-reflection. God, incarnated in human flesh as JESUS, was a self-reflecting man, always. Jesus is the definition and representation of the virtue of Christianity. In sharing the virtue of Christianity, you need to love everyone else, forgive - quite a universal message. The Old Testament is like, if you follow the rules set by God, it won’t be easy, but your development will help you and your future generations to come. In France, and for most countries in Europe, laïcité is something very important. I realise the dangers of religion, when we think about science ... Galileo: He had so many brilliant ideas about astronomy, physics --- the power of the church said, “We won’t share your ideas.” It was something pretty bad. Most people understand that we’ve got something wrong with our system in France. But at the same time, it's hard to change things -- because people don’t want to change their lifestyle, what they've got. And so, I think change needs to come through good leadership. “To accomplish great things, we must not only act, but also dream; Not only plan, but also believe.” - Anatole, FRANCE Thomas has left NZ and been living in Denmark with his other half Adika. They are soon moving to Shanghai where a new adventure awaits them.
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For the last couple of months, I've been saying "I need to do better", You know how people make personal goals - this is definitely my goal [- being honest with myself]. I believe I’m a honest person. Sometimes when you’re honest, you’re more blunt. I’m naturally a really blunt person, especially when it comes to my family. And when I’m really aware of my own flaws, I have to be really blunt with myself. People told me to go to Korea, coz they’re [blunt over there] like that. I definitely believe China’s like that. [And] Chinese parents. Last week, I told my advisor, I never said this before, [that] 'I’m struggling with this.” It’s not just [being] honest with myself, it’s being honest out loud. Everyone struggles with not showing weakness. I don’t really care [how I may come across to people]. If I come across as a dork - I’m a dork; if I’m a bitch, I’m a bitch. It’s funny how instantly I can admit the fear of ignorance. That’s another thing I been trying to work on. When I realised my own ignorance, I became scared. For the first time, I really wanted something. I want a lot of things, I realise I can be quite disconnected [from] my emotions. I want something, but I may not necessarily feel it. So, I had a deep self-discovery. Like university for instance: for a long time, I thought my intellect was enough, I don’t need to learn any more; I only realised last week just what it means: university means education - in order to understand other people’s perception, you need to be educated in certain areas. And it dawned on me: I was really stupid, not stupid, but ignorance. The concept of stupidity[...]it breaks out any fears that you have. When I realised how intellectually inept. I started being scared of my ignorance. It’s almost like a child coming to understand the world again. I really want to do well at uni this year. This year is the first time I felt pressure, I experience [it] for the first time. It’s both positive and negative pressure. When I first felt it, I didn’t want do anything - I never felt it before, now I know what it is. Realisation is important. After, I realised: I need to put this pressure into good use. A pressure is like a good motivation. It’s not working for me yet: I freeze in terms of avoidance. But when I’m confronting this pressure, I feel like this is not getting me anywhere. I realise if I really want something, I would stay up 24/7 to get it done. I don’t want a degree, but I think it’ll help a long way in my specific case. If I started something I have to finish it. The only thing that’s [an] exception is [when it comes to studying] Sociology - I don’t see it benefiting my future in any way, because I don’t care about social norms. I’m tired of Marxism - they’re all ideals. I have my own personal ideals. Whether they come to something at the end of the day, it’s not up to me, it’s up the world. I can provoke ideas, but it doesn’t guarantee it‘ll change anything. when I realise that reality, or form of reality, I just realise psychology would be more beneficial. ... The world doesn’t like uncertainties. It likes to know what something is because there’s a certainty to it. For me, to be visually impaired, I actually like [uncertainty]. Because I can’t see everything so it gives me this uncertainty that actually comforts me. My role in this world [this year]. I think it’s a happy role. Meet people, talk all the time. My role in life is just to connect with people. Talking to people will help me find where I fit. My lifestyle for the future is a simple life style: just to have lots of money, and go to cafes and talk to people. For me, it’s such a natural concept, just how disconnected people are, it’s really sad. I would be a professional best-friend to people. Just listening. People don’t know what other people are like. They aren’t willing to break [the ice] to make the first step. I realise I don’t wanna have more friends, you have to segregate your time. I’m trying to be more diligent [with] time [and] with things, one of those things is being on time to see my friends. I think you just have to do it [with] whatever energy level you have. Today I’m hyper, I can see 5 people; tomorrow I’m tired, I can only see 1 person. I’d like to just stay at home, and have people come to me. I love hosting. Anytime anyone needs to be hosted, just come over. I’ve come to terms that I’m quite a nurturing person. I have a strong maternal instinct. As soon as I see children, I just kind of blow up inside. I just wanna feed people, make sure they’re treated well. I [have an] inner instinct of curiosity and to connect with people, find out as much as I can, and analyse them. (I've been watching Criminal Minds) profiling people just to understand where people come from. I like to understand those things, I just want to help that way. I want to be able to help them - in ways (where they will come) to find stability, to help them move on with their lives instead of moaning (about things). Watching a lot of Criminal Minds, you do get [to see] the empathetic side of the criminal, that we are all humans: we start off as humans; and somewhere along the way, whether it’s to do with environment [or something else], the person broke [away] and they became different - which is why we want to be individuals but we want to be common. I don’t pity people. I don’t sympathize. If you kind of just wallow or give them sympathy, it makes it worse. I have it myself. People sympathise with me. I really hated it. It doesn’t help; it puts me off; it doesn’t benefit me; it doesn’t add to a future. That’s cool, but what I’m gonna do with that? My favourite Japanese pop star said in an interview, “I’m always gonna be a child.” That’s why I wanna connect with people, coz children do that. That’s what my parents were nervous about all my life: “She’s one of those kids that could get easily kidnapped.” [When in fact,] I would be the worst person to kidnap: coz I’ll be talking to you all the time and ruin your journey. ... All these thoughts have came to definite conclusion because I took time off last year. The first half of the year, I got a lot of negative backlash [from people] for not doing anything. They don’t understand the concept of taking time. I realise this year I want to live till 100. I’m gonna take as much time as I want, now. I have no regrets if I die tomorrow, because I’m really happy. ... I never appreciated my organic background. When I came to NZ, I became [a] Kiwi and my parents tried to blend in [the organic into Western diet]. I always got the organic, they fuse all the organic. In Samoa, if you want meat, you just kill your own meat. I like that, I like the idea of eating your own animal. You know what went in it. When it dies, you have to really let it go. My uncle in Samoa had all these pigs in the back. One day I heard a gunshot: “Ah I just killed a pig. It’s my favourite pig but we have to eat.” It’s kinda disturbing but there’s that easy switch between connecting and disconnecting. But it’s necessary. ... What’s the one thing you’ll say to your children or grandchildren before you die? “Be kind and forgive. And always connect.” I probably won’t say anything. I’m going to eat, and eat, and eat until I die. There’s not going to be time for tears. Rachel now works for the Ministry to Education full time talking to a lot of people everyday. collecting wisdom
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