Fairytales. The childhood obsession that most people eventually
outgrow. Call it the trade-off for maturity, call it part of growing up
if you wish, but deny not the fact that it was the sense of
practicality and reality obtained through years of living in soceity
that convinced, and will continue to convince many more that fairytales
are just.... well, fairytales.
I guess the Black Eyed Peas aptly discribed modern society when they
sang, "......as I am getting older, people keep getting
colder....Where's the love y'all?" However, think me immature, think of
it as perceptual defense, but I confess that I am still not ready to
let go of the notion that fairytales(at least some part of them) exist
in reality. And it is this notion that spurred me on to do a lot of the
things that I do and did. With that in mind, I wish to bring you to the
subtle reason why I row.
For those not aquainted to Tan Jo's life, I am a dragon boater,
currently rowing under the banner of the NUS dragon boat team. This is
the 3rd year I am in to this demanding sport. I train no less than 5
times a week, and I love it.
The only thing that is so real in fairytales is the love. And that's
the very reason for which I row. What makes a fairytale? A
recollection of feats that are impossible in real life? Then I guess
dragon boating can be classified as one then.
Through dragon boating I have experienced how love - for the team and
for the brothers on the boat literally pushes one beyond one's limits.
It really brings me to tears when I think back about how every pull
stronger than my best, every stroke beyond my last, I did it for my
team, for the people rowing around me. My teammates, both ex- and
current have always given their support and love to me and we've been
there for each other and have been through alot of hardships together,
all for the same goal- to pull harder and better. And with that in
mind, I give my heart to the boat, and along with everyone else's hearts, it fuzes and becomes one. I pulled with all my might, in time with everyone else, for everyone else, knowing that they would do the same for me.
Charging down the lanes, fatigue kicking in, the mind telling the
muscles that they can't go on any further, it's the heart that pushes
me on, fueled by love, telling me that for every extra stroke I
put in, my brothers would pull in-sync. And with every pump of the heart,
our strokes take the boat one inch closer to glory; Our love takes the
whole boat one step closer to immortality.
Life is a fairytale. It just boils down to whether you know where to
look for hints of it's presence. I've found one of mine. Have you?
24 men, 1 heart, 1 soul, 1 stroke..
Row. Live.
 | haha, 24men, 1 heart, 1 soul, 1 stroke is actually my team's motto.. thank you;) |
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24 men, 1 heart, 1 soul, 1 stroke..