What If?

           What if I had done better in my secondary school years? What if I hadn't been too shy to confess to her? What if I had done the other way around? What if? Just simply what if... Questions such as these are very common in our daily lives but we sometimes aren't aware of it. It is never wrong to think about our journey in life and have some reflections, but it can be saddening when we start to imagine a life we may never have. How many of us actually have the life we hoped for? Expected as such?

          Let us take one question for an instance, what if I had obtained a much better result for the public examination? In my case, Malaysian Higher School Certificate (STPM). Yes, I would end up in one of the main public universities, probably pursuing a course which I set to achieve. A course which may lead to an opportunity of a better career, a better social status, a better life overall. Yes, what I am currently pursuing is nothing compare to that career if I had done better.

           However, all of that are just an expectation of events that may happen if I had chosen a different paths. Expectations of which I hoped it would turn out to be, but not necessarily how it will take place. As I look back at the journey from that particular point of 'What If' till this very day, there were moments that I did not expect,  challenges that I did not hoped for, events that I did not planned for, but memories I will always cherish and remember.

           To overlook all these great moments and memories that had happened with something that will not necessarily occur is only punishing to oneself. To regret a life with another that may not necessarily be better. It is never wrong to look back at these critical points of life and reflect on it, but to have it affecting us so deeply until it inhibits our ability to appreciate the great moments is simply depressing.

           So if we are faced with the questions of What If... Remember that each choice that we made has its own equal shares of challenges and happiness. Though how promising the other choice may seem, ultimately it is up to us to decide how we should live by the choices we made, and how to make the most of it.

    "Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened"

    Dr. Seuss

Princess Mononoke. A classic but epic cartoon!

Ashitaka with his red elk, Yakul

               A brief background on this classical yet amazing piece of art. This is a 1997 Japanese animated cartoon directed by Hayao Miyazaki with it's visuals animated by Studio Ghibli. This particular cartoon won many awards such as Picture of the Year on Japanese Academy Awards in 1998, Best Animated Film on Mainichi Film Award in 1998 and so on.

             One of the great things about this film is how it portrays the struggle of both humans and animals living side by side with one another. As in any other of Hayao Miyazaki's film, there is always an involvement of spiritual beings in the events of the story. In this case, there are different Gods, each representing a specific species of animal and how they lead and guide their own tribe to survival, even towards vengeance. Furthermore, this story also resolves around the two main character which is Ashitaka, human-raised and a cast away due to a curse, and San, a girl who was raised by the Wolf Goddess, Moro. Since both of them were raised from different background, there will always be conflicts that occur between them from time to time as both were exposed differently.

              Other than that, characters in the film has its own share at playing its role as a hero and villain too, regardless whether he or she is an animal or human. Though some of this role may not be obvious, but the nature of this film is that it requires the audiences to take time to go in depth in every aspects of the film. Even after watching this film, I could not take my mind away completely as I was still trying to identify and understand the events that happened. As you slowly uncover the richness of the story, it makes no surprise to you on how this particular film is praised by many critics, both local and foreign.

               In conclusion, every part of the film was well thought and positioned. Unlike other cartoons, this film is not intended to leave its audience with happy endings, rather a better and neutral perspective on how life is and our relationship with the surroundings.