(This is gonna be a long entry, not for the faint-hearted.)

Who Am I?

I'm now sitting in the Atrium of my school, trying to study, trying to blog. I'm using a Nokia phone, wearing Havaianas slippers, and a Topman Sweater. Is this me tying into my Fujitsu Lifebook?

Is the above-mentioned description really about Marvin? or is it someone who is trying to be Marvin-like?

From birth, we inherit certain genetic traits, as the doctors claim. To a layman (me), I was born with nothing. No knowledge, no wealth. Now, why do I wanna wear certain brands? Why do I have specific preferences? Why do I think I crave for things at times? I look in the mirror and wonder, is this me, or am I juz pretending?

So who pretends?

Everyone thinks, KIDS. They pretend all the time. Boys pretend to be superman, or some other action hero who thinks he saved the world again in 25 mins (duration of most cartoon episodes), while girls pretend to be that pretty model they saw on adverts.

People in the showbiz, we say they pretend all the time too. Firstly, it is afterall their job, to act in a role, to play a specific kind of character. What about off-screen? How often have we read articles about celebrities pretending to be someone they aint, to boost their popularity? You'll hear people on the streets gossiping, for example like, Zoe Tay is Very "dao" in person, Fann Wong keeps trying to "slang" her English...etc.

Yeah you are right. These people are pretending. Whatever their reasons may be.

Who Else Pretends?

So, do You pretend? I'm gonna list down some of the pretentious things many of us are guilty of. Me especially.

1. Talking to people we don't like.
2. Doing things we loathe.
3. Wanting to look cool.
4. Wanting to sound cool.

(pt 3 + pt 4 = Act Cool)

Actually these points pretty much sum up what I'm trying to say,

"Everyone pretends."

How people view pretending

1. Its so fake.
2. Its so hypocritical.
3. The person pretending has inferiority complex.
4. I cant stand pretentious people.

Bingo. Here and there, some of the perspectives would certainly be accurate. Thats y, most of us consider "pretending" to be negative.

How I view pretending

Pretences are inevitable. Pretences are everywhere. I pretend all the time. Don't you? I try to wear things i saw being advertised, hoping i'd look half as cool when i'm the one wearing them. Thats the effect of media. U noe how many pple these days are obsessed with tanning? Anyone realised "tanning" is a fad as well? Years ago, being white was the in-thing. Alot of us pretend to be physically different.

Pretences are a form of defence. So many times, I pretend to be alright, so I thought I'd be less hurt. I pretend to be tired, so that I have the excuse to not think. I pretend to be blur, so I thought I neednt know about things I dun wanna noe. I pretend to protect myself. Sometimes, I pretend to protect others too.

Change your perspective

Don't fall into the easy pitfall, to confuse "pretending", as being hypocritical. All of us pretend at times. Its juz an issue of consciousness. Many of us are simply oblivious to our own pretences. I'm aware of my own too, and I dont deny my identity. If someone were to walk up to me and say:

"Marv, you are always pretending."

I'd reply:

"Yup, I am. So are you."

I'll leave you guys with a simple quote, from Mother Theresa.

If you judge people, you have no time to love them.


God bless you all. May you have a truly momentous year to come.