we were once young

i was looking through some photos and was feeling kinda nostalgic. it's amazing how far we've come and the changes we've gone through, be it for the better or for the worse. it's saddening to realize that the same feelings, same treatments would never be experienced again.

there's a speech vividly etched in my mind which was made by a successful man at a graduation ceremony, telling the graduates that their best times of their lives is over and everything would be going downhill from here. he urged them to stop studying and working and enjoy what they love while they still have the chance.

what he said was somewhat true. we've spent the peak of our youth in schools, slogging it out, memorizing formulas, facts, theories, essays, assumptions and dragging fatigued bodies and minds home everyday. we are probably looking the best we would ever look, be the smartest we would ever be, be the fittest we would ever be and the sharpest we would ever be in our lives. it's downhill from here. i would leave this topic here, because i know there's no point agreeing with him and start touring the world, spending all my assets and just die. it's impractical, and life's that unfair.

instead, i would like to talk about how it is still possible to relive memories and create new ones. i wouldn't say the night 2 days ago was the best night i had in years. because it wasn't. however, it was a night which my now very rational, very practical and overly matured mind would never have thought of spending it that way. to stay up, play console games, have a guitar session, driving out to hunt for thrills yet getting more bites than creeps, having prata in the wee hours, and finally getting a shuteye at 7am before embarking on an 8-hour long lecture. it's pretty crazy isn't it. i'm thankful for the company i had, and more importantly, the memories that were created. it's nights like these that digs deep within the close bonds we have for one another. whoever said "bromance" ain't healthy?

i appreciate that i'm not the only one making the effort to hold on to this bunch of close friends. everyone plays their part. definitely there would be signs of people wanting to break away, or just being distracted, but ultimately, when we all sit down and laugh about good old times, there ain't no strangers. these are good guys. as the crowd dispersed, you see who stayed, and who left.

as for another group, i have this feeling of it reaching breaking point. the jester, entertainer, intellect, extrovert is leaving. the vocalist, contributor, enthusiast, spark has evolved and grew wings. the politician, artist, flamboyant, introvert has become more than ever, interested in the non-mainstream. the bubbly, cool, extravagant has always been the most difficult to accommodate and still is. the nucleus, governess, sociologist is starting to lose interest and patience. the balance will cease to exist the moment witty comments and entertaining arguments are short in supply. it's even more saddening to see this happening. sometimes i feel tired being the one maintaining normal functions. even though there have been attempts to take over the reigns, nothing really succeeded. i don't mind being in this role because i would merely be playing my part to maintain the balance. however, the see-saw is tilting too much now. i have no idea how this will eventually turn out, but i hope for the best. i'm sure there would be comments like i'm exaggerating things etc. my answer to that would be to just sit back, flip through the albums, and think - isn't it happening?