There shouldn't be a clear definition of happiness for everyone. I can also see that people are happy with different things, different standards, while others may not feel the same. It would be great if everyone was happy all the time, wouldn't it? That's what I would wish for actually, like if I had to make a wish for mankind, it would be for everyone to find peace and happiness.
It's very weird. The previous semester was the hardest I had in NTU I think, cause I took double lab anticipating that online lab would be better than doing physical lab. I wouldn't say I was wrong, but it was excruciating how much procrastination I had which resulted in me doing 2 lab reports in 2 days, eventually overshooting the deadline for the experiments by 1 day. It was an unique experience, if I were to find positives. Quantum Mechanics and Condensed Matter Physics was, again, destroying me like Electromagnetism. Just that this time, there wasn't Covid here to save me by giving all students a S/U option. All in all, suffering. It was suffering, more suffering. Not suffrage, suffering. Did I mention I suffered a lot? Yes. I came into this course thinking "Hey I'm kind of interested in Physics, science is cool, I like cool stuff" but now I'm here hating myself.
Anyway, I digress from academics. In this semester, I started to wonder if my chase for GPA was really going to be worth it in the end. It was so tiring, my body was both mentally and physically fatigued from the constant struggle to maintain a number. I dreaded work, I mean who doesn't right? Oh wait, people who actually loved what they do. I, unfortunately, am not one of them. So I thought to myself, is this the right way to do things?
Reading articles about people dying unexpectedly on the news has got me to take my life more seriously, and yet less seriously at the same time. You never know. It could be me, or people around me. It's unhealthy, but realistic, to accept that this can be your very last moment on Earth. Maybe it has warped me a bit. Or a lot. I take enjoyment of things more seriously now I guess. I don't want to do things that make me unhappy. Who wants to? I want to do things that fulfill me. Something that makes me happy, even for a fleeting moment.
Alas, as a uni student, what is indulging yourself? Every time I do that, I feel guilty. I feel guilty for watching Hololive videos after school. Playing Destiny 2 means lesser time for revision. Skipping tutorials cause I don't want to travel 3 hours. Should I have just cut them out and studied? Was it even worth the pain? Will I even get improvements from putting in effort? All these questions left unanswered. No one will know, not even me. How much is too little, too much? I could be studying every single moment I'm awake technically. But why don't I? I'm here to study right? Getting a degree with good results, that's what I'm here for.
I don't know what's the balance. I have met many different types of people in uni and have thought a lot about it. Some are here to get results, will fight tooth and nail over it, results first, relationships later. Some are here for the degree, get through it unscathed, that's a win (I feel like I'm this group right now). Some are here to fool around, find relationships, and somehow still do better than me (yes I'm salty). The major overarching theme is that I feel very detached from people. There isn't any warmth in my social circles, regretfully. I don't trust people around me as much as people I know 10 years ago. I really can't tell real people from fake ones. The line blurs so strongly, and the blade cuts so deeply. I thought that I have good friends in uni, but some moments of confrontation have led me to think: maybe we're here not on friendly terms, but business terms. We are here for mutualism, not here based on our own friendship or will. You don't give me your lab report, I won't give mine. I'm not a first choice for anyone neither. My social relationships have not given me much happiness at all in this place. I only think about whether I will one day be lonely when people just start leaving me if my use to them have vanished.
Anyway, I'm not sure when this started. But I have felt more inclined to stay at home through these years. It could be me being lazy, or introverted (actually, KY told me recently that he thought I was extroverted, which reminded me of how different I act to different people. Am I extroverted or introverted?) but I have a small feeling of dread when I have to go out. Even with friends. I just feel so comfortable at home. I think it's a bad mindset. But I feel like a lot of my sources of happiness comes from just relaxing at home, watching Youtube videos, playing games. Like a useless, antisocial NEET. The indulgence I was talking about earlier. Is it destroying me? Maybe my social life. But I feel happier. After school, I don't want to revise in school. I just want to go home. A magnet is at home, pulling me back. Ah...
All the jibber jabber and I still have not found my theory of happiness. Maybe I did? Is it just to place my happiness first? What about everything and everyone else? Do I really need the short term happiness, or should I put myself through all this suffering for my long term happiness, which by the way, is just arbitrary. I can be unhappy in the future. No one knows. It's maddening isn't it?
Aiya, why think so much? Just spend only, buy all the games you want. Spend your money on virtual currency to roll for virtual waifus. Play, because if not now, then when right? Relax la brother. Give in to hedonism. Enjoy your life.
If only I can do that without feeling guilt.
Side note: KY had told me how he is in Poly right now. After graduating from JC. What a madman. Meeting with my primary school friends over fish and chips for dinner had made me feel warm inside. Even though the numbers slowly decrease over time, talking to people who I genuinely care for, after such a long time, has brought some happiness for me. Maybe this is my theory of happiness. Reminiscing over memories, that I've clutched in my hands like as if I never ever wanted to grow up.
Wishing those good days never ended.