The purpose of this website

I seems natural to have opinions about things, especially when you have been reading somehow critically for some period of time. The brain, surrounded by a galore of knowledge, before ossified by age or convention, exudes its perennial plasticity by associating those new ideas, finding new interpretations, devaluing some discovery, and sometimes — when the owner is sharp enough to recognize its contributory power — inventing original ideas that could benefit humanity. To say that is not hubris, but the truth.

I was surprised knowing that there are bibliomania out there who — at least allegedly— don’t hold opinions. They only read, read and read… And somehow, with all the knowledge and vicarious experiences one has accessed to, all the dimensions and worldlets one has transversed and marvelled, not even a modicum of awe and intellectual transcendence could have inspired them to fill in the emptiness of society. These inquisitive minds, love books for their own sake. But I feel sad for them for not sharing the riches beyond their personal desires or obligations: some read as a hobby; some read carelessly; some read because someone told them to, not because they choose to.

Or maybe, some might want to speak up, but refused so for they are unsure about themselves?

The last one really resonances with me. I have thought of creating a blog (this one) and a YouTube channel (which bears the same name as the blog) for more than a year now. The creation of those websites is the only thing a have done after a long stretch of time. Why did I do so? Because I feel that I’m not smart enough, not erudite enough, to write. Weeks after learning a new idea, it was debunked by a video I watched, or a book I’ve just read. And almost instinctively, my brain reactivates its blitzkrieg against my foolhardiness starting a blog or YouTube channel. “Your essays will look jejune and hollow” it hollered. If my hopes were elevated ever more slightly, all the self-denying voices would emerge from the recesses of my subconsciousness to start the sacrificial rite over again. Perhaps they fear that any laxity could induce an ego-domino-effect, thereby returning to square one.

But enough is enough. You know that you like to intellectualize during conversations, why not just extend your enthusiasm to a wider audience? I’ve seen Nadira Ilana entwined her playwright and directing capabilities with her passion for books to contribute something to Malaysian politics. Why can’t I do the same with my writings? I knew firsthand the utility and growth potential of writing when I was a featured writer in TLMUN Herald, isn’t blogging just a natural continuation of my personal goals and grandiose ambitions?

I will read—as I have always been doing — and I will write. Not on my personal journal, but on a public blogging website. I don’t want to regret for not blogging in my 30s. I don’t want wait until the right timing arrives (There’s none. Because we are always uncertain about the actual outcome of our decisions, particularly big ones like this). I must wield the power of words to change the world, and now, you are witnessing my first footstep in this exciting adventure.

~~~

To those who are familiar about psychology/self-help books, you would probably know that habit is a powerful tool that if used carefully, could lead to productive results. With reference to this, before publishing this piece, I would like to conclude it with a coda — a robust system to assist my intellectual journey. The entirety listed as follows:

• General knowledge acquisition (Topics of personal interest and university courses)
• Critical reviews on those materials (on my personal journal and through conversations if I’m lucky enough)
• Blog one piece every month (big, overarching ideas. Must be ambitious)

Whether it is about my writing skills, blog management, should I care about the readers for the time being, the question of when should I officially start my YouTube channel, and other unforeseeable pesky little problems, we can smooth out the kinks along the way. The main point here is to incorporate the system into my life.

See you on my next piece.