The Concept of Perfect − 19 January, 2007
We were all in the living room on New Year '07's Eve, ready for bed, sleeping bags spread out on the carpet. My cousin was telling his sister about an audiobook he was listening to, that had a segment where the narrator asks the listener to imagine his or her personal concept of what a perfect day would be like. He asked her to describe her perfect day, and with some thought, she did. I thought about my perfect day, too, and how it keeps changing everytime.
When I was in pre-med, the hiking days (Mt. Siniloan in Laguna, and the beaches in Ilocos) were perfect. So were the days spent preparing for Science Fair (courtship of guppies, centripetal force, competition in fighting fish), and for miscellaneous performance art programs, whether for class, or for University Week. (Ifugao rain dance for Filipino class, 'Ulan' by Rivermaya for Art class, string quartet 'Minuet' for the Science show). Learning how to draw from watching Rei, Chris M, Abigar prepare visual aid for reports were also components of my perfect day.
When I was in Med school, Wednesdays were my perfect day. No class (for independent study), so my dormmates and I would go swimming early (6-7am) in the morning, then go to the library as soon as it opened (8am). Thursday nights (long walks after class and homework, 4-6pm) were nearly perfect too. Then of course, when I became a Clerk on 32 hour shifts, a perfect day was sleeping in all day, just sleeping in, doing nothing else. Ditto for my Internship year! haha. When my patient got well, or thought I had some special healing gift or another, that felt good too.
My perfect day has undergone various metamorphoses.
Today was one of the "simple life" ones. I happen to think today was perfect because I had a warm new semi-trench coat, the buses were on time six times (3 buses to the bookstore, 3 buses back to the apartment), and I'm about to start my dance workout (I got the video for $5, and I saw it at the aforementioned bookstore for $14).
The concept of perfect is a dynamic concept. It's not unattainable. Never think of it as a musty old dream. Live life, love life!
When I was in pre-med, the hiking days (Mt. Siniloan in Laguna, and the beaches in Ilocos) were perfect. So were the days spent preparing for Science Fair (courtship of guppies, centripetal force, competition in fighting fish), and for miscellaneous performance art programs, whether for class, or for University Week. (Ifugao rain dance for Filipino class, 'Ulan' by Rivermaya for Art class, string quartet 'Minuet' for the Science show). Learning how to draw from watching Rei, Chris M, Abigar prepare visual aid for reports were also components of my perfect day.
When I was in Med school, Wednesdays were my perfect day. No class (for independent study), so my dormmates and I would go swimming early (6-7am) in the morning, then go to the library as soon as it opened (8am). Thursday nights (long walks after class and homework, 4-6pm) were nearly perfect too. Then of course, when I became a Clerk on 32 hour shifts, a perfect day was sleeping in all day, just sleeping in, doing nothing else. Ditto for my Internship year! haha. When my patient got well, or thought I had some special healing gift or another, that felt good too.
My perfect day has undergone various metamorphoses.
Today was one of the "simple life" ones. I happen to think today was perfect because I had a warm new semi-trench coat, the buses were on time six times (3 buses to the bookstore, 3 buses back to the apartment), and I'm about to start my dance workout (I got the video for $5, and I saw it at the aforementioned bookstore for $14).
The concept of perfect is a dynamic concept. It's not unattainable. Never think of it as a musty old dream. Live life, love life!
