Graduation is 4 weeks away, and a lot of my friends have already planned for graduation trips to Japan and Taiwan. Other friends have already graduated, filling my newsfeed with the cliche photos of graduation caps being thrown while jumping in gowns. Some others are overseas travelling and exploring, discovering themselves. And the rest of them are all flaunting the Pokemons that they’ve managed to catch in a week. Everyone with a reason to celebrate. A reason to smile and spread happiness.

And at the same time, somewhere across the world, someone just became a victim of gun killings. Bombs are going off without warning. Black lives. White lives. Asian lives. All of the fucking lives. Donald Trump is leading the presidency run. Killings everyday. Every fucking day. Hundreds dying at one go. Lives being lost every second. And yet these people seem to have a reason to celebrate.

Sitting in front of our iPads and Macbooks, scrolling through our newsfeed and adding the teary-eyed emoticon (thanks to Facebook’s considerate new Reactions) to the multitude of disturbing posts that we read. Occasionally sharing one or two, with a personal opinion on how unfair the world is and how our hearts go out to the families of the victims. Some even go an extra mile as to change their profile picture. We talk about it, for maybe a day or two.

And we move on.

We find another reason to celebrate. Another reason to laugh. To smile. To be jolly. After all is that not what life is about? Being happy and making the most out of it? Following your heart and fulfilling your dreams? Making the best out of every moment?

We are told this almost on a daily basis, through all forms of communication. Everyone is following at least one of these motivational posts on Instagram, me included (I personally recommend @thinkgrowprosper). It gives us the daily boost to focus on our goals and strive towards achieving our dreams. We all need that reason to celebrate. At least to strive towards celebrating.

Imagine that perfect life, where you are sitting on a beach, with a cocktail by your side, a beautiful woman lying next to you, while reading a book on how you are going to grow your company to the next level. I’m pretty sure it didn’t require much imagination, every sales pitch out there gives the same visualisation of the ideal life.

But while you’re lying in the beach fondling your girl’s ass, people out there are still dying. The killings are still ongoing. Islamic extremists have not taken a break. Gun violence has not come to an end. Racism is still at large. And someone among your friends and family might be the next victim…

Tell me the reason to celebrate now. Give me a reason to rejoice. Try spreading positivity when there is so much grief and despair in the air. Come out of your shell and take a good look at the world. It is ugly. It is sad. But it is ours.

My heart weeps for the innocent lives lost…

I am in a constant state of sadness. I empathise easier, and tear a little easier. This is a drastic personal change, given how unemotional I used to be. But my heart is heavy. I feel the pain and suffering. And I feel helpless that I have to sit here and write this while hundreds out there are losing their lives. I want to find a way, a reason to truly celebrate. For everyone to rejoice. This cruelty must come to an end. And if it is war that we are going into, I am ready to fight the good fight for the rest of my life.

The winter is coming. Brace yourselves.

Keep glitching.