I. Won't. Give. Up.

It has been some time since I visited Jason Mraz's blog.

I decided to check it out today because I was bored and wanted something different, apart from the usual K-pop news feeds and going through my self-replenishing to-do list.

Jason always inspires me. I'm awed by his incredible ability to put ideas into beautiful words, and to turn those words into sweet music.

Sometimes I wish I had Jason's neverending stream of passion - the dude stops at nothing harping on issues close to his heart. But with any good cause, getting support is never an easy task. Support sometimes comes in doses too much to handle effectively, or comes in trickles.

Or sometimes, due to the advent of social media, you may encounter a lot of support online, but no one turns that virtual cheer into physical action. If only a retweet could magically turn itself into an actual vote, eh?

But anyway. Back to the passion bit.

I've always had a list of things to do (yes, another one) that I've never got around to fully complete. It is a list that will not see its end simply because, you don't fight for a cause and somehow end somewhere.

I want to help women achieve equality - in the workplace and in the home. Economically and socially. This alone branches out into several different routes - and I need a focus. Do I join movements like Slutwalk and organisations like Aware? Do I reach out to women who mistakenly believe that wearing skanky shorts equate to power? Do I go into law and try to introduce policies to raise women's income? Do I go local or global?

I haven't quite figured out where I fit here, but I've started with that honours thesis - maybe I will find some direction for this later on.

I also want to help cats. Especially those on the streets. Do I start with the Cat Welfare Society? I've made donations, but then what? In the short term, I'm looking to volunteer at a shelter, but you know how we always have no time. Seven cats at home are keeping me very busy. This will change soon, and I definitely will slot volunteering into my schedule in the very near future (think D-113).

And then there's the music bit. I'm very lucky that my life revolves around music, even though sometimes, in straightjacketed Singapore, you will always encounter naysayers who tell you to "think about your future". I'm definitely no struggling musician (I can't carry a decent note) but I'm definitely in the business of spreading the love of music.

Don't go all snobby-indie on me, now. Music is music - whether rock, Chinese, classical, indie, folk, hip hop and my favourite phenomenon at the moment, K-pop.

The industry is a sunsetting one. But that doesn't mean we sit down and forget everything. Things are changing, and I'm excited. I'm going to learn as much as I can about how to continue sharing the love, while making sure that musical talent doesn't go unappreciated. Japan may be Asia's biggest music market, but there is no denying that Korea is progressing in a way that will keep the music industry alive.

So, off I will go to study this phenomenon in the hopes of contributing something useful that will keep the music alive.

But where do I get the endless passion from? There are days when I stalk people on Facebook and get all depressed at how cool so-and-so looks and how happening this-and-that's life seems. And then I look for some comfort food.

No one gives two hoots about my dreams of making a contribution to this world, they're all too caught up getting married or earning big bucks.

So, after the tub of ice-cream (I am thankful I am blessed with good skinny genes), I will make the decision (again) to stop thinking about how, why and what if. Nothing good comes out of wasting time.

More often than not, it is up to you to surround yourself with positivity. You take whatever's bad in your stride and you push on. Whatever mistakes you made, be thankful for them and learn from them. People may not be there to give you the push you want, but God gave you your sense of self for a reason - you can do it yourself!

Eventually things will work out, but that is only if you make the decision to allow them to unravel.

So, fear not. Dump redundant thoughts in the trash. Ignore cooler-than-thou people on Facebook. Adopt a less standoff-ish cooler-than-thou attitude (I like to recite 내가 제일 잘 나가).

And fight on.

Thank you, Mraz. :)