2014 was such a loaded year, in so many ways, in so many meanings. I'm probably not going to miss 2014 all that much because I believe everything happens in its own time and 2015 will have its fair share of events and memories. So moving on.

Starting the new semester next week. I have had the luxury of a full 2 month holiday and I am not complaining. Well maybe the fact that I have to go back to craziness is a little lot bit daunting after the long hibernation. But life's gotta do what it's gotta do.

I've been watching lots of vlogs on Youtube of late.. and that has made me wonder about why the addiction fascination.

1) We attempt to spice up our otherwise mundane lives through other people's seemingly more exciting lives.

2) We are busybodies wanting a glimpse into other people's lives.

I personally think I belong more to the 2nd category, because I'm just busybody like that. I like to see what people eat and do, and how people live; especially overseas, because it provides a glimpse into their culture as well, although there is of course the danger of overgeneralizing. And, looking at other people's lives also provide some sort of an alternative lifestyle. Like how I enjoy watching travelogues because it allows me to experience another country that I've never been to and/or never will. It's like living through the eyes of another. And I quite enjoy that experience tbh.

There used to be this commercial where this guy is in a cinema watching something, while the other movie-goers are all in deep sleep around him. Turns out that the "movie" was a playback of his life. The bottomline: how boring is your life? I used to think about this commercial all the time.. what if my life story was made into a movie? Would anybody even want to watch it? I don't think so. That realization hasn't really spurred me into doing anything more in my life right now but I would want to be more active in my older years. Not for the eyes of others but to make meaning in my own life and not to waste this life given to me.

And I see the influence bloggers and Youtubers (vloggers) can make in this world. I think if people want to make the world a better place or convey an important message, there's nothing more powerful than social media. Thinking from another perspective, I think it's equally powerful to know that you have a few thousands of followers or subscribers who diligently watch your videos and read your blogs. You'll be more likely to be committed to what you're doing and to be more conscious to practise what you preach. For example, if I announced to my 10 thousand odd subbies that I'm going on a diet, I have technically brought forth 10 thousand odd witnesses and am accountable to them. There is indeed power in numbers and the mass comm.