16. Go to a place you’re not supposed to be and think of a different use you would apply for using that specific place.

The previous installment taught me to think. I will now think of an already existing place and attach a new purpose for the use of that specific place.

Since it is known that I absolutely despise rugby (as stated and demonstrated in installment no. 14 of these wonderful exercises), I shall now come up with 5 different ways that I can re-use my high-school's rugby field for other purposes.

1. Open the field to poor folk on the street and build houses on the land.
2. Open an organisation that supports anti-bullying.
3. Plant trees there instead.
4. Use the field for cricket (or football or anything else).
5. Beat some tracks and open a go-carting business.

There you have it, folks. 5 good ideas that can destroy rugby once and for all. Consider it a favor.






Well, this is the last entry for the year. Thanks for all the reading you have done, and remember:

Cheerio!

15. Give in to your worst impulses for a day and change your mind about viewing them as negative

Today I gave in to my worst impulses. It was fun on some levels, and not so fun in others.

In the last exercise, I derived the concept of "change". This time, I am going to change my mind about viewing my actions as negative, and try to understand why I was like I was. I am going to empathise with my bad behavior.

Now, I shouted at some relatives because they were in the other room talking with me, and I couldn't hear them. I shouted at them when they eventually came close enough to me so I could hear them. Chaos ensued.

I feel bad for the way I treated them, but it was because I was busy working in this one room, and I couldn't understand a word they were saying for the life of me.

Anyways, the second thing I screwed up was to get my relatives involved in a group mess that I was in with my colleagues at the time.
The reason I get others involved is not to complain about what I am going through and vent and vomit all my frustrations, but to get a second or third opinion or even feedback when I need it. This time, I neglected the chance and got into an arguement with the person that was supposed to be helping me.
The trouble was, they always agree with my bad decisions.
I learned that I should not give a crap about what others think or say, and just do stuff myself.

And that was that. Good stuff.


I derived from this exercise the power of thinking things through and analysation and pondering.

Next time, this will be implemented!

Lok'tar ogar!

14. Do something you have no interest in doing

This week, I am tasked this week to do something I have no interest in doing whatsoever. The second application of this task, as demonstrated in the previous installment, is to come up with ideas.

Now, since I live in a rugby-crazed country, I figured that, being the eternal rugby-pessimist that I am, that I am going to invent 5 new rules for the game of rugby (this may include change or replace existing rules). Probably cliched or something, yes, but it is quite interesting to see how much I can mess up this game (insert evil laugh here), given that I hate the ultra-violence displayed and encouraged in this malevolent sport.


Now, here we go:

1. There are no penalty kick-outs. After every single scrum, there is a penalty kick.

2. However, in the place of a penalty kick, for the next 30 seconds of the next round, the cheated-against team may punch the opposing team with their fists to prevent them from scoring.

3. You may not use your arms or hands with regards to the ball. Only your feet and legs to "carry" it.

4. The time rules are changed. It is not limited to only 80 minutes, but the game ends when the first team scores 300.

5. When there are deaths on the field, no replacements may enter. This lasts until the end of the game. Replacements may be made in the next game that the team plays.



This exercise included the concept of "change". This will be implemented in the next challenge I participate in.


Goodnight and good luck!

13. Execute an old idea

This week I'll be executing an old idea and mixing it with the concept of play (derived from the previous exercise), by playing an old nostalgic childhood game.

Back when I was in third grade, there were games installed on the computers that we worked on at school. There was a game called "Final Ninja", and I've been wanting to return to my roots by playing it again.

The levels begin quite easy and gradually become harder as you play as a ninja cruising through a futuristic world, battling various villains and overcoming multiple challenges. The basic controls are quite simple, with the movement attached to "WASD" for left, right, up and down and the mouse for weapons and/or swinging capabilities. The game is an old "Miniclip.com" special, but isn't featured there anymore, since time has passed and everything has gotten older.

The game gets quite complicated and challenging in the later stages, even with it being a kids' flash game. The music is well done, and captures the theatrical side of the story it tells.

This side-scroller is a must-play gem to anyone who appreciates classic 2D online-playables.

Here is a link:

http://www.izzygames.com/final-ninja-t1264.html?gclid=CjwKCAiA8P_TBRA9EiwAJrpHMyumsA1lkyWB7IukesjImzbmb0RVs_pK6mmu8Ki4lc1I1Iq5QIsYzhoCt4wQAvD_BwE




This exercise has given me a few new creative ideas. I will be using this in my next exercise...

12. Reverse an established pattern

Now, the previous week I picked up the concept of sides.

My task this week is to reverse an established pattern, but I will be applying "sides" by watching a tennis match and side against my favourite player. 

So I watched the Cincinnati Masters Final 2018 with Roger Federer against Novak Djokovic for the crowning title as champion of the tournament.

The match was pretty gut-wrenching, as both of the players were challenging each other for the win. Djokovic was unable to beat Federer in this ATP Masters three years prior, and had to be in top form to be able to beat him this time.

In this particular match, however, Federer's consistency in playing was unequal with the strength and ferocity of his opponent. It would seem after the many matches leading up to the final poured out his versatility, and gave Djoko the upper hand, resulting in a 6-4, 6-4 victory for Djokovic.

Novak is the only player to have won all the ATP Masters 1000 tournaments since it started in 1990. This match was definitely a "must-win" for Djokovic, and is an outstanding achievement for the Serbian.

Congratulations, Djokovic! You have earned the title of champion!

This week has taught me to play. Next week awaits!



Some sources:

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2018/aug/19/novak-djokovic-roger-federer-cincinnati-masters-tennis
https://www.supersport.com/tennis/atp/video/998004

11. Do something intentionally Boring

Now, from last week's exercise I learned the value of adjusting from the good moods that I have turned into bad moods. I now take this epiphany and add it to this next exercise:

This week's exercise is more of a simple practice. I am tasked to do something intentionally boring.
Now, don't expect anything exciting in this next exercise, because you won't find it here. If you suffer from a severe case of FOMO, you should leave immediately...


I wore my fringe the other way. Usually it's positioned to the left, but now it leans to the right.

What I've learned from this exercise is the great importance and significance of sides. This will be applied to the next exercise. Oh, what more great adventures await us.

Check you next week ;D

10. Start a good habit by turning bad moods into good moods

The last assignment I've done included reading some material. I've found the concept of turning (turning pages etc.) very interesting, and will be using it as the pillar of my exercise that I'll be explaining shortly.

I was given the task of starting a good habit. So I figured, I can combine this with turning.

This week, I've been giving myself the challenge of willfully turning bad moods into good moods for an entire week.



Monday:

The traffic was intense. This was the perfect day to start exercising my optimism muscles. I put on some calming music in the car, and I gave myself the challenge of not uttering a single swear word for the entire day that I drove and had seen injustices occurring on the roads. I was to absolutely remain calm, and it was way tougher than I expected. Give yourself a moment to reflect on the state of humanity, especially on the roads.


Tuesday:

There was a lot of work I had to do. Again, I told myself to remain calm while doing the work and forced myself not to think and stress about planning and projects that I still had to do. Instead, I focused on all the things I was grateful for and all the good things that have ever happened to me. Brightened my day. I could focus again.


Wednesday- Thursday:

Wasn't a lot of stress on these days. The positive vibes from the previous two days that I had forced on myself worked, and leaked over to Wednesday and Thursday. I was relaxed, focused, and had a cheerful spirit to complete the things I had to complete.


Friday:

This is where it hit the fan again. I started stressing about the next week's work, and my hand-in-dates for the week after that. As you probably have noticed, I tend to overthink things too much. I had to calm myself down after almost having a nervous breakdown. Again.
Positive things were hard to find now. Luckily I managed to keep the good things in life close to my heart. Enough to make it through to the weekend.


Reflection:

Phew. What a week. I can definitely say that I managed to keep the positive vibes going, even through the many perils and evils that I have faced. I know we all do this just to keep going, but I have learned the true importance and power of positivity. (Sounds cheesy, but it's true).




In this experiment, I have extracted the concept: "adjust".

I will be mingling it with my next task: Do something intentionally boring.


Stay tuned for the next episode in the series of my life!