A Dream come True @Hiroshima

As soon as the super bass sound electrified shivers across my whole body, I could no longer figure whether this dream-come-true was real or not.
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I was quite privileged to be able to join Perfume on their JPN Tour in Hiroshima (their hometown). In the Hiroshima Green Arena on March 31st, 2012, I experienced for the first time the true joy of realizing that a dream, a wish has been fulfilled, enhancing my admiration for not only Perfume, but also for life. From the stage works such as the lasers, the lighting to the friendly, supportive atmosphere fermented by the fans, the concert itself speaks of many slogans: highly technologically advanced,  intensely choreographed dances, casual and lighthearted MC's, the often heard "kawaii" remarks, and most of all heartwarming and touching.  The appreciation that the three constantly displayed throughout the concert constantly reminded me of how even after quite a few years of success, they still managed to uphold a sincere attitude, motivating me to someday reach that stage.
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The moment I heard the split seconds of the effervescent instrumental intro of  Dream Fighter for their first encore, tears of disbelief and gratitude flooded the corners of my eyes; the song that intrigued me into them, and the song's lyrics that I respond strongly to were finally to be performed in front of my flesh, live instead of through a screen. Feeling as if I were in a virtual world, witnessing a virtual event, the salty water droplets proved my experience to be authentic.  These couple drops of tears, like that of any others physically, marked a change in my history. I say, I was thoroughly touched. Thank you, Perfume.
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That night as I crawled into the hotel bed, I thanked the world not for what it gave, but for what it was.

Atopic Dermatitis

I acknowledge the fact that growing up with atopic deermatitis has indeed affected the quality of life, but instead of ranting about it, I'll be examining the positive influences on me as a person.  From not being able to do as much outdoor activities to not being able to eat foods like ice cream and chocolate, the experiences of abstaining from the factors that worsen skin conditions has made me a much more vigilant and perceptive person. With spare time to observe classmates as they run across the field, I have managed to compile my own observations about different individuals, assessing them and relating their movements to different personalities; the intricate conclusions made has raised awareness for me as I developed an acute sense when approaching people. The sleepless itchy nights as a child has allowed me to put up with harsher times, realizing that pain, like the rashy conditions of the skin, doesn't last forever and someday I will simply move on. Though unable to completely delve into a happy situation without other concerns at mind, I manage to appreciate the beauty of nature, and the mosaic fragments of events in life that magically piece together into a harmonious unison. The indescribable connection between me and the flow of life is a gift that not many others possess, and I am truly grateful for it. Of course there are still those unbearable days when my skin gets "crocodily" and flaky, but in fact they are reminders for me not to overlook as to how lucky I am as a person who is capable of walking, eating, and functioning normally.

Dilemma of Complaining

I always come across a dilemma when I have the urge to complain: should I do it? or should I reserve such thoughts to avoid being ungrateful? The emotional need to release one's worries is crucial in maintaining a healthy mental state; however, "indulging" in this activity too often leads to a realization that one indeed is not appreciative enough of current possessions. Once a path is chosen after such ambivalence comes the unsatisfying feelings. Feeling guilty of grumbling too much or feeling like you just locked your emotions in unwillingly. Perhaps acute judgment is required to balance these two components in our lives, but what exactly is balance? That lends itself to another dilemma. Hmm.

Umbrella

There to shelter you from rain. Or would you rather sing in the rain?

Bait

Tantalized, the fish scurries towards the bait as the sunshine streaks down its shiny scales, reflecting its opponents working towards the same goal. Determined, the fish increases its speed, surpasses others, and reaches the prize. Fooled, the fish is hooked, pulled above the ocean, dries, and dies. Like the boring structure and description, many seek for needless shallow desires that gradually segues to death. Until the moment some die, they still do not realize the insignificance of their targets, and live along according to their simple pleasures. An innate luxury? Perhaps so.

Envy

Human beings have a natural tendency to envy others whether for looks, fame, relationships, or etc.. As we feel this certain feeling, we crave and desire strongly for something that we don't have and see in others; we can even feel easily upset or angry because obviously life hasn't treated us unfairly. However, taken back into perspective, this emotion "envy" is actually a glorious form of human race, where we realize that there are people out there better than us in some specific area, and therefore wish to be changed, while subconsciously praising others for their unique qualities. In other words, envy is based on appreciation, but whether we appreciate or not, determines whether it will be transformed into jealously. As complex as this seems, this whole process can take just one second to successfully deprive us of mental "satisfaction".

Face

At some point or another, all of us would have had experienced the concern regarding how others perceive us. This feeling may seem occasional or even frequent; however as a matter of fact, it is always present. We are so accustomed to this, that we do not realize until we carefully reflect our own intentions in each action of ours. Some may deny such logic and express the need just to "be themselves", but when you think about this concept, it is already contradicting itself, since by indirectly stating that by being themselves, they will attract more attention for they're more natural. This is not to debunk such intention, but rather serves as a subtle celebration for human kind as to how proficient we are with making ourselves have the face we want to display.