It's almost five days since I last blogged. Many things occupied my time and my mind, not that the Js are ever out of my mind though..
But I guess a writer is still a writer at heart. Even though I've spent more than 10 hours writing in office today - a column comprising album reviews and gossips, and a l-o-n-g two-part cover story - I am still here, in the wee hours of the morning.
I would like to digress e a little from Jojo and Jelly both of whom are doing fine, and talk a little about my job.
To think of it, I have never mentioned here about what I do. But friends who read this would know that I am a journalist with a local daily, and I am quite proud of that.
Proud not that I think I am a great writer.. far from it. I am proud because of the nature of the job; proud because of the flexibility and perks I am allowed in this job; and proud because I do have a passion for what I do which sometimes is lacking in people these days.
You see, I write on arts and entertainment - and to be more precies, my beat is mainly the Chinese entertainment scene. Yes, I have met, interviewed and watched concerts and movies (complimentary) of many bigstars in the region. I have spoken face to face with Hong Kong's Four Heavenly Kings - Jacky, Andy, Leon and Aaron, megastars like Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow, a new generation of pop idols and Taiwan's talented singers/song-writers like Jay Chou, Leehom and David Tao.. just to name few.
(as i am writing this, Jelly is chewing on a piece of tissue she found in the bin)
I like my job no doubt. But sometimes I wonder, whether what I am doing is living up to the true calling of a journalist. All the while, I aspired to be a journalist who would present news and opinions in a fair, critical manner that would go to influence and shape the mindset of the public. I was quite close to achieveing that while at news desk a few years back. But I didn't like the hours and the mundane structure, and thought that feature writing is more for me. Sadly there is nothing much in between as it takes a much more senior journalist to be a news analyst. And I knew I wasn't up to there yet.
So I applied to be a feature writer two years ago, and got it! But due to the structure of the desk, feature writer is actually a non-existent post in reality, so I inadvertantly became a entertainment writer. With my command of Chinese language as well as a personal interesting and know-how in this area, I became the desk's unofficial`Chinese entertainment specialist'.
So isn't that great? Well, yes and I know friends and acquaintance who envy my nature of work. It's just that sometimes when I reflect on my current job and, I ask myself how much it is contributing to society and mankind, and more importantly, is it glorifying God.
I guess arts and entertainment have their place in life. Indeed life will be totally boring without them this day and age. However, I sometimes still wonder, rather than reviewing Nicholas Tse's concert in Genting or interviewing Aaron Kwok for his latest movie, or worse still digging up gossip in the Chinese showbiz, I could be actually doing something more significant, more meaningful and more satisfying still.
(Jelly has found my plastic pouch on the low shelf and attempted to chew it but I stopped her)
According to Maslow's `hierarchy of needs', I guess I am in a way trying to reach for the top level - self-actualisation. And somehow, writing about many (pardon me boss and colleagues) rather frivolous things do not give me that ultimate sense of achievement.
But there is another way to look at it. My true calling in life is to serve God and my temporary and part-time calling is my work now. Although we are also told to do our work well and obey our bosses, our secular job could not become more important than our ministry for God.
Which brings us to the `beauty' of my job. Because of the flexibility of time and relatively shorter hours (today's long hours are the exception and not the norm) I get to have more time to be involved in various ministries and take a larger part in doing God's works.
To be honest, I am still very interested in my work although it is not half as `intellectual' as what I would like to be doing. But I guess I am not cut out to be an intellectual too.
Just read this blog and you know what I mean.. I like to write what I like to write. Period. :p
Case close?
So probably I am cut out to be an entertainment writer, at least for now. After all, i think I am pretty entertaining myself. Don't you agree? ;) (yes, it's lame..I know)
p.s. Jelly has been taken out to the garden to `wee-wee' by mom, I need to fetch her back now.
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