Everyone talks about how experiencing hardship and overcoming adversity builds character. But when you’re the one actually going through the hardship, it’s easy to forget that. It’s tempting to wallow in self-misery and think that there is no light at the end of the tunnel.

From growing up poor to being cheated on, these are some of the hardships I’ve experienced and the valuable lessons I learned by going through them. Hopefully, they will show you that any hardship you are experiencing now, just might be exactly what you need for your future.

1. Hardship makes you more grateful and a happier person

I grew up poor. As a child, I was scared to fall sick as I knew my parents wouldn’t be able to afford the medical bills. I didn’t have small luxuries like new clothes and toys. Everything was either gifted or second-hand. I remember worrying about money, all the time. 

When you experience hardship, you dream of it ending. And when it does, you never forget the pain you went through to get there, and how grateful you are that it’s over. Gratitude is a huge source of happiness. And isn’t that the ultimate goal for many of us, to be happy?

Back then, we couldn’t afford to eat out so we always ate home-cooked meals. The only time we ate out was on special occasions like birthdays. This means that until today, I feel so happy and grateful every single time I don’t feel like cooking and can choose to eat out. 

Some might say I have low standards but actually, I have extremely high standards. I refuse to be poor again, so I work very hard to earn and save for my future. But to make me happy, all I need is some McDonald’s chicken nuggets or stir-fried noodles from the coffeeshop.

2. The most painful times in life are when you achieve the most progress

My parents couldn’t afford to pay for my university education. I worked full-time while studying for my law degree overseas. While other students were out partying and making new friends, I was busy trying to figure out how to pay my rent and bills.

As a result of all the juggling between working and studying, I learned how to study efficiently and get things done in a shorter time frame compared to my peers. This is a useful skill that I have taken with me through life. 

Perhaps it goes back to the cavemen days when it was all about survival of the fittest. When we are faced with hardship, the brain and body focus on survival. Surviving in this day and age means you make use of resources around you and utilise them to your advantage. 

Many people who haven’t experienced hardship don’t have this skill. So, they really struggle when faced with other challenges. 

Also read:

I Funded Myself Through University Overseas Including My Master’s And This Is What It Taught Me

3. What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger

I started my freelance career while holding down a full-time job. As I worked on my side hustle during my lunch break and on weekends, I remember feeling tired and stressed a lot of the time. But I wanted to break free and leave the job I hated so badly. I wanted it enough to persevere through the lack of sleep and stress.

When you experience hardship, you probably had to sacrifice something. As a result, your pain threshold is likely to be higher than the average person. This means you are more likely to achieve your dream as you don’t mind feeling the pain needed to get it. It’s not about how much you want it, it’s about how much you are willing to sacrifice to get it. 

Anyone can have big dreams and ambitions. You could want something with your entire soul, but are you willing to put in the hard work that’s needed to get there?

4. Hardship teaches you to be compassionate 

This is something that I’m ashamed of, but I had to experience it to truly understand it. I used to be sceptical of people with mental health problems. When people said they were depressed, I used to roll my eyes internally and secretly think they needed to be more grateful. I recommended they go for a run or focus on the positive.

This selfish and inaccurate perspective changed when I experienced mild depression myself. Suddenly, focusing on the positive didn’t help. I didn’t want to get out of bed. It was debilitating and so scary. 

Nowadays, when people tell me they are depressed, I listen and empathise. I realise that while a run may help, many other factors come into play, such as chemical imbalances in the brain, which need to be treated with medication. Had I not personally gone through the same experience, I doubt I would be as compassionate and empathetic now.

Of course, not everyone has to go through something in order to put themselves into another’s shoes. But there’s no denying that hardship broadens your perspective in ways that you will only realise with the benefit of hindsight. 

5. Hardship helps you make better life choices 

My first boyfriend cheated on me. I always say I am so glad that he did. He taught me at a young age about trust and character (or lack of it). I know the warning signs and I also know when to walk away. Similarly, this can be applied to when you make mistakes or bad decisions that lead to hardship. You learn what not to do and become someone who makes better decisions. 

It’s better to learn this skill early on, rather than later when you don’t have as much energy or time. 

These Are The Lessons I’ve Learned From Overcoming Adversity In Life

Looking back at the hardships I’ve experienced in life, I’ve realised that it was in these times that I learned the most. Every single hardship propelled my learning and growth, and overcoming adversity shaped me into who I am today. You can’t control what life throws at you, but you can control how you react to it. You could become bitter or better. I know which one I want!

Cover: Courtesy of Aisha Preece
This article was first published on 1 September 2020 and last updated on 3 July 2024. 

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I Was Stuck In A Job I Hated And Here’s How I Made It Work To My Advantage

The post How Overcoming Adversity Including Financial Hardship & Being Cheated On Made Me Stronger appeared first on ZULA.sg.

Since young, I was told that bin-digging garang gunis and cardboard collectors were poor people who recycled items for extra cash. That their hunchbacks and wrinkled hands were from scavenging through rubbish dumps after they had ‘gone senile’.

As a result, Poor Cardboard Auntie was a moniker I gave an old lady who lived in my neighbourhood. For over 12 years, I watched her rummage through bin after bin—first with quick strides, then a slow hobble.

Even when her spine curved, she never stopped trawling the bins in her two-piece grandma pyjamas. Most times, I could recognise her from afar by her floral lilac shirt and shiny white hair trimmed to a pixie cut.

I remember our brief encounter on the eve of Chinese New Year. At 9.00pm, the streets were unusually silent apart from faint laughter that echoed from nearby apartments, where families gathered for their reunion dinners.

On my way home, I saw her digging trash and offered her a red packet and green tea. She said thank you, and that guan yin ma would bless me.

In response, I asked her if she had eaten because my broken mother tongue couldn’t find better words to break the awkward silence.

That was last time I saw Cardboard Aunty for months, until a few nights ago.

Cardboard Aunty

I was on my usual route home when I saw her hunched over the bin, doling out items and stuffing them into plastic bags. When I offered to carry them, she looked at me in surprise and murmured, “Ah? Hao ah, xie xie. (Sure, thank you).”

Up close, I noticed how tiny and frail her limbs were. She was probably 150cm tall with kind, glassy eyes.

Beside me, there was a white plastic bag secured with a double knot to hold pieces of cardboard and paper she had compressed in the bag. Funny, I thought. What could you earn with torn paper? But I picked up the bag anyway, and she pointed me towards the recycling bin.

Then, she whispered to me to hold the heavy lid up so she could place the bags inside.

“I see them…” she trailed off. “You put rubbish in the small recycling bin, they throw away with normal rubbish.” 

For a moment, she reminded me of my grandma who used to tell me in a hushed voice, to sneak sweets in my pocket when no one was looking.

“I want to save them, so I separate recyclable rubbish and put them into the big bin,” she explained.

“Hen sayang ah (Very wasted).”

With eyes wide opened, she then pointed to the rubbish bin centre nearby, and stuttered, “Ta men… hui shao de (They will burn it)!” before lapsing into silence.

And in that momentary pause, I realised that for all these years, Poor Cardboard Aunty never dug bins for herself. And that ‘poor’ was a word that money can never fully quantify.

Cardboard Aunty was no billionaire philanthropist, but she was able to inspire me to cultivate better everyday habits. To take less than what I receive, and to appreciate what I take.

In our first-world society, we’re conditioned to measure happiness and success with dollar bills. We then use dollar bills to buy things we hardly use to please people we barely like.

But if we stop in our tracks to be more mindful of the present moment, we might find something special in ordinary things, moments, and perhaps people too.

Life Lessons From A HDB Rubbish Collector Auntie

Now, every time we cross paths I ask her if she needs help, or tell her I’m happy to see her. Sometimes, I ask her why’s she digging trash at 1.00am, and she says, “Oh? 1? So fast already?”

I realised she doesn’t always remember me, nor the time. But I hope this story holds onto hers a little longer. Because it’s the least I can do to return the favour of teaching me the value of things that money can’t buy, even if I can only reply in broken Mandarin.

This article was first published on 6 February 2018 and last updated on 6 January 2024. 

Also read:

Life Lessons By My School Teacher-Mum Who Taught For 30 Years

The post Life Lessons From A HDB Rubbish Collector Auntie appeared first on ZULA.sg.

You know the look: A matching two-piece set, a light fabric, usually in floral print.

An outfit that can be worn at home, to the market, to weddings.

To me, ah-ma fashion is as quintessentially Singaporean as the SQ girl outfit—and even though I’m definitely not an elderly Chinese lady, I’m obsessed with it.

Why I love ah-ma fashion

Floral two-piece sets as a skirt suit (left) and pantsuit (right)

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not wearing floral two-piece sets out as everyday wear.

But oh, how I wish I could.

Ah-ma fashion is the epitome of effortless chic. It’s comfortable, practical and versatile. It’s casual, yet sophisticated. Best of all, it’s “I woke up like this”, without looking like you just rolled out of bed.

This is what commuter-chic looks like

It’s not surprising that I love ah-ma fashion. One of my favourite trends of all time is the pyjamas-as-daywear look. Think: button-down pyjamas shirts and pants, kimonos, silk robes… basically anything that will have the person next to you on the MRT wondering if you forgot to change before you left the house this morning. 

And while I have to make sure to style the look correctly with the right accessories, ah-mas never have to worry about that. Because ah-mas are badass and own whatever look they are wearing.

Also read:

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Different types of ah-ma fashion

If you’ve ever seen an elderly person crossing the road or even grocery shopping, you’ll have witnessed their badass side. When they want something, they take no prisoners. Woe to anyone who stands in their way, be it the traffic light or the xiao di trying to sell them fruit at what they deem an unfair price.

I wouldn’t mess with these women

Ah-ma fashion is the perfect uniform to wear while being a boss ass bitch. Why? Because it’s deceivingly nondescript. I mean, how could you say no to an elderly woman in florals, who dresses just like your own grandma?

But not all ah-ma fashion is about camouflage.

There’s no chance of blending in wearing another key ah-ma outfit: the sleeveless midi-to-maxi dress in a tropical floral or batik print. Again, you know exactly what I’m talking about.

This dress packs a punch visually, but the best part is that its wearers seem like they couldn’t care less about the sometimes garish colours. To them, it is all about maximum ease and comfort. It’s cheery, it’s cooling, it’s convenient; what’s not to like?

Different styles of ah-ma fashion

There are also those ah-mas who embrace their individuality by taking their matching abilities to another level. This can take the form of two extremes.

Yes, I’m essentially stalking this ah-ma

Exhibit A is the kind of ah-ma who carefully matches every element of her outfit. Case in point: this elderly lady whom I bump into about once a week on my way to the office. Each time I see her, she is in a different monochromatic two-piece set with matching mules, topped off with impeccably coiffed hair, and a trolley bag. She looks classy, confident; a woman on a mission.

Exhibit B is the kind of ah-ma who mixes prints and colours with wild abandon. A red floral top with striped pants? Why the hell not? These women look cool,  carefree; and couldn’t care less about what anyone might have to say about their outfit, thank you very much.

But be it matching or clashing, one thing is the same: These ah-mas are rocking looks that are iconic to Singapore, and should be celebrated.

Ah-Ma Fashion Is Iconic In Singapore

Ah-ma fashion transcends trends; it shows us older women have no fear. There’s a freedom that comes with having lived and experienced so much in your life, and it comes through in their choice of clothing.

Whether they’re wearing a sleeveless batik dress to the market for breakfast with their friends, or a formal floral two-piece set to a wedding surrounded by their nearest and dearest; they are representing a slice of Singapore without even realising it. It’s time the rest of us recognised it and give ah-ma fashion the credit it deserves.

Cover image (middle): Source
This article was first published on 11 July 2019 and last updated on 4 January 2024.

Also read:

Life Lessons From A HDB Rubbish Collector Auntie

The post Ah-Ma Fashion Is Iconic In Singapore And Needs To Be Celebrated appeared first on ZULA.sg.

I never knew my mother was a teacher until I turned 10 or 11.

I knew she marked school papers till 1.00am and woke up at 5.30am religiously. But, somehow, I only saw her as ‘mum’; the person who cleaned my potty, braided my hair and sent me to school.

Every morning, I watched her pat on her makeup and tell herself “lipstick is what every girl needs to not look like a ghost.” And every night, I watched her prepare lesson plans with English Breakfast tea with Marks & Spencer ginger biscuits on her antique desk.

I eventually learnt she taught English, Literature, and Social Studies. That she met my dad while studying in Canada, came to Singapore, and never left her first job in teaching.

For 30 years, she carried on the same routine, even when she cried herself to sleep from the workload of raising four kids and over 400 students. I never understood why.

She told me never to become a teacher, yet gave up the route to be a principal just so she could teach. By the end of her career, she had taught in four elite schools in Singapore and produced Singapore’s highest O-level English scorers in 2017.

Yet, she never taught me the way I thought teachers should.

Sexuality

When I was 5, mum told me the world wasn’t filled with nice adults. That, if a man touches me uncomfortably on a bus, I should scream, run, kick him in the groin, and alert the driver.

She warned me never to stick to the same routine to avoid paedophiles. So when I walked home from school, I kept a penknife in my pocket because a boy once tailed me home. He asked me where I lived, and I gave him the wrong address.

She told me not to scream “Mummy!” like how “stupid people do in movies” if I lost her in a shopping mall. “Because everyone’s a ‘mummy’. Shout my name instead.”

Where my teachers failed to sex-ed, she explained what masturbation meant in M18 movies. I had nightmares and trust issues for days after, but I have forgiven her since.

Honesty

Mum never scolded me for failing. But when I was 11, she screamed at me for cheating in a Chinese spelling test. “No matter what, you do not ever cheat! At this rate, even a neighbourhood secondary school won’t want you!”

She told me it was important to study, but more important to enjoy learning. But I did not understand her emphasis on Mandarin when she spoke none of it. Or the importance of an ‘A’ in English when she played no part in helping me achieve it.

I resented her each time she compared my grades with her top students’. So, out of spite, feisty me walked into a secondary school of my choice, arranged an interview, and clinched a spot for a direct admission.

Inequality

But, I learnt it wasn’t the grades she cared about; it was the privileges that came along with those grades. Privileges like attending forensic classes, having Macbooks for school computers, better teachers and sports coaches, because better schools could afford them.

Yet, it’s easy for mid to high-SES Singaporean parents to say grades do not matter when they can sponsor their child’s Australian visa or rope them into a family business. They do not realise choosing not to focus on education is a privilege in itself.

And I learnt that privilege was not mine to keep when I saw mum buy food for kids who could only afford cup noodles for lunch. I learnt power was not to be abused when she spoke kindly to waiters and cleaners.

Also read:

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Women

Pictured: with my mum’s precious ‘grandchild’ (our dog).

When I was 13, I learnt what women were expected to be.

She told me to moisturise, use sunscreen, and not “rub my face so hard that I get wrinkles and prematurely age like Caucasian women after pregnancy”.

She said young girls want to look pretty, but Asian women want to look young. So, I had to look after my skin because any plain Jane in school “could become plastic surgeons or doctors and afford expensive beauty treatments to look good.”

I learnt that a woman was privileged if she was pretty, as long as she wasn’t too sexy, and not too dumb. “If you are pretty and smart, you just have to work even harder and cover up more for people to take you seriously. Just don’t be an ugly girl inside and out.”

I still have to remind her turtlenecks are unacceptable in Singapore’s weather.

Judgement

Then, I turned 16. She bailed me out of the police station once.

I was forced to attend school counselling because my teachers insisted I had “something wrong” because I “hung out with friends who smoked cigarettes and had tattoos”. I wasn’t a “good Christian girl” the school expected me to be.

A discipline master screamed at me because I broke the school rule of not braiding my ponytail, so I had to write a detention letter. My A-Math teacher told me to drop the subject because my failure would affect the school’s ranking (and possibly his promotion).

During my O-level year, I asked her for help with Pure Literature. But, she dumped a blue ring folder with exam papers and said, “Here it is. Do it yourself.”

That year, I scored an A1 despite my school’s aggregate of C5. When my mother called my principal to ask why they did not write me a proper testimonial, the school replied, “Because your daughter’s hair was too long.”

She did not assert herself or tell anyone of her profession. She simply hung up the phone and quietly said, “You do not need someone else’s approval for your own success. Remember this.”

That’s when I learnt that respect and self-love weren’t things to ask for; they were things you give yourself.

Marriage

When I was 18, mum told me that feelings weren’t the most important factor in a relationship; money, love, and loyalty are equally important.

She said if I wanted to marry rich, I had to be prepared to share him. But, both poor and rich men could cheat, so I had to pick.

She said to look for a capable, proactive husband; someone with shared interests; who enjoys the same films, food, and places to visit. If not, it was better I dated none at all.

But, most importantly, she told me to first become the woman I would date; to look at my own flaws.

When my sister’s ex-fiancé of 8 years threatened to beat her, mum told him, “I did not raise my daughter for her to get abused by a man.”

So, I walked out of my own abusive relationship and apologised to my ex for causing him pain. A year later, I fell in love with my ‘ridiculously nice but undateable’ best friend.

Gratitude For Teachers

My mother never taught me the way I thought she should. But because I was never raised to believe I was special, I worked harder.

She told me there was no point scoring the highest if you’re rotten inside. She noticed more kids these days crumbling with anxiety; the higher they go, the harder they fall. The only barometer of success is on their report card, pit against someone else’s.

She tells me a teaching career in Singapore was better in the 80s and 90s, with “fewer meetings and admin crap”. Back then, kids were less afraid to make mistakes, and parents were less thankless.

She wishes overworked and underpaid teachers are less inclined to turn to lucrative tuition centres, limiting low-income kids who can’t afford extra lessons.

And that more scholarships are given to poor local students, instead of foreign scholars that come from affluent families and only see Singapore as a stepping stone.

She thinks kids these days need to clean up the school like how students did so in the past; wash toilets and pick up litter.

And if ministers can be highly paid, the country should afford to recruit more teachers so class sizes can be smaller and kids will get more individual attention.

She also understands she is only one person, unable to change the system overnight.

But, my mum’s 30-year sacrifice was not to teach every child to accept how the world works.

She wanted us to realise we have to learn the rules before we break them, and eventually make our own.

This article was first published on 27 September 2018 and last updated on 1 December 2023. 

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The post Life Lessons By My School Teacher-Mum Who Taught For 30 Years appeared first on ZULA.sg.

At last, after a full decade, Attack On Titan has finally come to an end — that’s nearly as long as the lifespan of someone in possession of the nine titans’ powers (FYI for those who may have forgotten, it’s 13 years). 

Across four eventful seasons, we watched the characters go through blood, sweat, tears and inevitably — death. All for the sake of saving mankind. 

One thing that impressed me was how positively women are presented on the show as a symbol of strength. Whether they are part of Levi’s Special Operations team, a Marleyan warrior or even the literal queen, these girl bosses have taught us valuable lessons that we can apply to real life. 

Warning: Attack On Titan The Final Season spoilers ahead, proceed at your own risk if you’ve yet to watch!

1. Historia Reiss: Take on new challenges with stride

Historia finally claiming her name 

As the illegitimate child of Rod Reiss and the last remaining member of the royal family who had to hide under a fake persona, Historia Reiss didn’t strike me as a character that would be memorable. After all, she entered the military service in hopes of dying in battle.

But when she finally went against her father and made the final blow to kill him, Historia gained her own agency. She managed to take on the throne — her rightful place— with stride, proudly declaring to the people: “I am Historia Reiss, the true ruler of these walls.”

Historia wasn’t just a pretty face that the military boys crushed on. Even in the years to come, she played an important role as the queen, maintaining peace on Paradis Island after the titans had been eradicated.

2. Ymir: Your birth circumstances do not define who you are

Ymir revealing that she possesses the the Jaw Titan 

NGL, Ymir had the worst birth circumstances ever — she was a beggar with no home, was forced into a cult and used as a symbol of the founder Ymir, spent 60 years as a mindless titan and accidentally inherited the jaw titan after eating Marcel. Honestly, she was always fated to die someday. 

Surprisingly, Ymir never let her birth circumstances define her. In the manga, she even declared, “I’m going to be living proof that your fate isn’t decided by birth.”

No wonder Historia was so inspired by her — Ymir taught us that we should always make the best of our situation, no matter how bleak it may be.

3. Hange Zoe: Don’t be afraid of the unknown

Hange’s last words to Levi

Hange’s death broke me in ways I didn’t know was possible — this scene had me grabbing at my laptop screen and yelling “why her, Hajime Isayama?!” 

But one major thing Hange taught us was to never be afraid of the unknown. Though she was always described as “weird” for her strange fascination with titans, it was due to this passion and curiosity that led her so far, rising to the commander of the survey corps.

Hange’s death was strikingly impactful — she sacrificed herself to the titans at the rumbling in order to buy time for her team to escape.

Even in the face of death, Hange wasn’t afraid, telling a horror-struck Levi, “my turn’s come at last” and marvelling at the swarm of titans approaching her. 

Hange truly represented the heart of the survey corps — to give their hearts — down to her very last moment.

4. Pieck Finger: “As long as I’m not dead, I can keep fighting until I win”

Pieck fighting against Eren 

At first glance, the Cart Titan seemed like the weakest link out of all nine titans. Minus the creepy long face, all it could do was carry stuff on its back. 

But Pieck trained her titan’s endurance so well that she could stay in that form for two whole months — even forgetting how to walk on two legs after transforming back to human. 

As one of Marley’s warriors, she’s a trained fighter who believes in her own actions and decisions. In the final battle, she was the only one who didn’t hesitate to go for Eren’s head — she saw the bigger picture and acted accordingly.

Brushing off Jean’s concerns, Pieck declared, “if you think that my titan is only good for odd jobs and not fighting, you’re all wrong! With the cart’s endurance, as long as I’m not dead, I can keep fighting until I win.” 

It was physically draining for Pieck to constantly transform back and forth between human and titan, but her determination to not back down no matter what gained my respect.

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UNIQLO x Attack On Titan Features Manga Panels From The Final Season To Give Your Hearts To Fashion

5. Gabi Braun:  We should always have empathy for others

Gabi confessing her wrongdoings to Kaya

When Gabi was first introduced, almost every Attack On Titan fan hated her. She did kill Sasha after all, a well-loved member of the scouts since Season 1. 

Personally, I thought Gabi’s character was written so brilliantly. She was just a child who was handed a gun and told to kill all the “devils” of her race in order to survive. That was all she knew of the world, and did it to survive.

Gabi’s character development had me emotional — being on Paradis Island opened her eyes to the two sides of war. We can’t help but feel sorry for her, seeing as she was simply fighting to be accepted in society.

Gabi eventually realised her mistakes and learned the true power of empathy — that everyone is human and has their own struggles too. 

It was through this understanding that led to her confessing to Kaya, “I’m the devil. I’ve killed a lot of people just to earn praise. That’s the devil within me. There weren’t any devils on this island, just humans. I finally understand how Reiner feels.”

6. Annie Leonhart: Live with no regrets

Annie arriving to save the Special Operations Squad

Level-headed and unbothered Annie made her an easy girl crush on the show. But I admit — I did feel majorly disappointed when Annie refused to join the final battle. An extra strength from someone who possesses the Female Titan would have benefited the team tremendously.

But Annie surprised not just me, but the entire Special Ops Squad when she appeared just in time to save the team from falling to their deaths.

Admitting, “I’m glad I came”, Annie’s last-minute decision encourages us to be brave and live with no regrets. 

7. Mikasa Ackerman: Sometimes we have to pick choices that we don’t want

Levi telling Mikasa that they are the only ones left who can kill Eren

Towards the end of the final season, one decision became clearer and clearer — Eren had to be killed in order for mankind to be saved. Apologies to our morally-ambiguous protagonist. 

At first, this tough decision seemed like something Mikasa could avoid. She tried all other options to save Eren, and even when it came down to killing him, someone else was assigned to do it instead.

Of course, things don’t always go the way we want them to. When everyone else was either preoccupied or transformed into a mindless titan, it was down to only Levi and Mikasa. And unfortunately, the squad captain was so severely injured that he could barely move. 

Mikasa kissing Eren after killing him 

Facing reality, Mikasa broke down and begged to go back to a time where it was just her and Eren in their house. But ultimately, she had to cut off Eren’s head to save humanity, even if it was the last thing she could ever bring herself to do. 

While I doubt we’ll ever face such a drastic dilemma in our lifetime, Mikasa’s strength and bravery showed us that sometimes, the hardest choices are the best ones.

8. Ymir Fritz (founder): Love isn’t always beautiful

Eren telling Armin that he understands the founder Ymir

Learning about the backstory of the original titan founder, Ymir Fritz, was absolutely horrifying. And that says a lot, considering most of these characters had led terrible lives themselves. 

Ymir was a slave to the Eldian King, King Fritz, who burned her hometown, killed her parents and even pulled out her tongue. Even after she gained the power of all nine titans, she became his concubine and served him, then bore him three children.

Ymir didn’t have a peaceful death either. The king ordered their three children to consume her body whole, guts and everything. *Deep shudders* 

From left: King Fritz with his concubines, the founder Ymir and their child

Even in death, Ymir’s soul remained obedient to the Eldian royal family for 2,000 years. 

Eren didn’t fully understand her, but he eventually realised why she still served the king: she loved him. Ymir had nothing her whole life and thought that being in love would set her free, despite how she was treated.

This sick and twisted portrayal of love isn’t something that’s romanticised in the anime. Ymir’s story showed us how love isn’t always beautiful — sometimes it’s manipulative and painful. And in Ymir’s case, it can lead to something as destructive as a long-standing war.

These Women From Attack On Titan Have Taught Us Valuable Lessons That We Can Apply To Real Life

As we watched Ymir finally get her closure after seeing how Mikasa loves Eren but still chose to kill him, we all got our closure of this amazing series too, even if it might not be the happy ending we expected.

Within these 10 years, the powerful women of Attack On Titan have also grown and taken charge of their identity, inspiring us in real-life situations. 

To the characters who have battled against the war to save humanity, died or lived to tell the tale, thank you for the great end to this series. Shinzo Sasageyo. 

All images courtesy of 4anime.

Also read:

12 Attack On Titan Life Lessons That Prove It’s Not Just Another Anime, Like The Importance Of Kindness

The post 8 Life Lessons From The Women Of Attack On Titan, Such As Having To Pick Choices We Don’t Want appeared first on ZULA.sg.

It’s time to move on from action-packed anime like killing titans in Attack On Titan and gang fights in Tokyo Revengers — Spy x Family is here to heal our hearts with its endless fluff and heartwarming scenes. 

For frequent anime-watchers, it’s impossible to not know about this adorable series. Not to mention, every time I open social media, I’m constantly flooded with spoilers about a pink-haired girl named Anya and her unique power to read minds. 

TL;DR: Spy x Family follows the story of an unlikely trio who are forced to play the role of a family while hiding their secret identities. Together with Loid, an undercover spy on a mission, Yor, an assassin, and Anya, a telepath, we can’t help but fall in love with their undeniable charm and unexpected familial bond. Let’s recap the first 12 episodes of Season 1 and uncover some lessons we can apply to real life. 

Warning: Spy x Family spoilers ahead.

1. Letting go and learning from our past trauma is important

Loid having a flashback of his childhood

Loid Forger, who also goes by his agent name Twilight, is undoubtedly the best spy in WISE Organisation. We’re talking about James Bond level here — he’s succeeded in every mission with ease, and vowed to save the world even if his deeds go unrecognised. 

His grand reputation makes it all the more surprising to see him lose his cool when Anya cries during a dangerous mission. Loid is brought back to his traumatic past, remembering how he always felt abandoned as a child.

Loid himself was surprised to suddenly recall his childhood trauma, thinking that he had “left all that baggage behind”. He soon realised that no matter how dangerous his mission was, he shouldn’t have dragged an innocent child into it. 

Loid realising all Anya wanted was a home

When Loid was ready to let Anya go back to the orphanage and find a new family on her own, he soon realised he was doing to her the exact same thing he feared as a kid — abandonment. 

As audiences, we experienced our first heartwarming scene where Anya told Loid that all she wanted was to go home with him. Seeing Loid learn from his trauma and willingly take Anya in shows us how important it is to move on from our past and be a better person.

2. Sometimes we have to lie to keep our loved ones safe

Yor explaining to Loid why she has to lie to her brother

We all know that lying is bad. Ironically, the whole concept of Spy x Family is based on keeping secrets from one another. One example is how Yor had to lie about having a boyfriend to her brother Yuri, as Yuri almost held off a job promotion because he was worried about her. 

As an assassin who lives alone, Yor felt guilty for holding him back. Her small lie to him shows us that sometimes, we can’t help but lie to keep our loved ones safe and happy.

Plus, it all worked out in the end, seeing as Loid needed to secure a wife to complete his mission. If you ask me, this unusual couple sounds like a match made in heaven.

Anya lying about punching Damian

On the contrary, we can’t say the same about Anya’s lie. When Damian bullied her, she punched him so badly that fell over. Her brilliant excuse to the headmaster was ridiculously funny — “I just reached out my hand, and somehow, he ran into it”. The blatant lie was clearly not tolerated by the school. 

While it’s okay to lie in order to protect our loved ones, Anya’s lie didn’t help anybody except getting her out of trouble. I guess she deserved her first Tonito, aka demerit point, even if Damian did bully her.

3. Appearance isn’t always everything

Loid thinking of how he can portray his family as the perfect one

Loid’s mission is of extremely high importance — Operation Strix: marry, have a child and infiltrate Eden Academy to prevent a war between two rival nations. This proved to be much harder than he thought, as his family had to pass a certain level of elegance to enter the school. 

Loid brings them to do prestigious activities like watching opera and going to museums, yet Anya becomes bored and restless. Seeing her unhappy makes him stressed, and come up with different interview responses that Anya and Yor could simply memorise instead. 

An old lady commenting on the Forger family

Yor then suggests taking a walk, where the family unexpectedly catches a robber who stole an old lady’s wallet. After saving her, she looks at them and comments, “you make a lovely family”, much to the trio’s surprise.

It goes to show that appearance isn’t always everything. While the Forger family could have memorised the perfect response for the interview, what made everything even more authentic was their shared experiences together.

4. Always be prepared for the unexpected

The Forger family after changing into their new clothes

There’s no such thing as being too prepared, and the Forger family certainly showed us why. On the day of the interview, their first test came when they had to save a kid who fell into the drain, which ruined all their fancy clothes.

The headmaster was ready to turn them down for their unsightly appearance, but the family surprised us by changing into an extra set of clothes to freshen up. 

Just as we thought it was the end of the test, as unbelievable as this sounds, the Forger family had to stop a bull rampage in the school. The chaos resulted in their clothes being ripped and ruined once again. Even so, the family hilariously had another set of clothes on hand — admittedly, not even I was prepared for this reveal. 

Their actions impressed the headmaster greatly, gaining his respect for them even before the interview. As the saying rings true, first impressions really do matter.

5. Know where to draw the line

Yor comforting Anya after Mr Swan made her cry

During the interview, the Forger family faced another hurdle — an arrogant and insensitive interviewer named Mr Swan. As the only son of the last headmaster, he could do anything he wanted without anybody stopping him. 

It broke our hearts to see Anya burst into tears after he questioned her about her real mother. Since we knew that Anya had a traumatic childhood and changed foster homes three times prior, the question was definitely out of line.

Loid putting an end to the questions by swinging at Mr Swan

Loid’s resolve soon broke when Mr Swan started insulting Yor as well. Despite the importance of his mission, he put a stop to the rude questioning by swinging at Mr Swan, giving birth to this iconic scene. 

Luckily, there was a mosquito on the table and he killed it instead, making the excuse that it was his intention all along. Not going to lie, while I heaved a sigh of relief that Loid didn’t go overboard, I also secretly hoped that he had landed that punch.

Loid drew the line by leaving the interview, declaring that, “if belittling the feelings of children is how this school does things, then I have chosen the wrong school”. A man who knows how to respectfully draw the line? We stan. 

Thankfully, because of Loid’s words, the headmaster realised that Mr Swan was disgracing the school and landed that punch on his face for us. Spoiler alert: Anya does get into the school, so it’s a win-win situation in the end.

6. Go the extra mile for your loved ones

Since Anya managed to enrol into Eden Academy, it’s only fair that she gets a reward for it. With Franky’s persuasion, she asked Loid to give her a spy-themed party based on her favourite cartoon, Spy Wars. 

Initially, Loid declined and was embarrassed to dress up as the show’s main character, Bondman. It’s a funny yet endearing scene, especially since Anya knew that Loid is actually a spy. 

In order to make her happy, he did what she asked, even calling down WISE headquarters to book a castle and use their manpower. This was one of the rare scenes where we see both Loid and Anya bond with each other as a father and daughter.

Loid passing the bill to a colleague at WISE

Of course, even if Loid is the best spy in WISE, he still got told off for the large cost of celebrating Anya’s enrollment. Like the amazing father he is, he simply told the company it was all “necessary expenses”, showing us that it’s worth it to go the extra mile for our loved ones.

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There Are Now Spy x Family Fragrances Available So You Can Smell Like Your Favourite Anime Character

7. Your best is always enough

Yor is a highly-skilled assassin but a clumsy and forgetful mother. Her absentmindedness reaches its peak when she loses sight of Anya while at the supermarket, causing her to be kidnapped.

Yor regretfully breaks down and apologises to Anya, saying that she’s “such a failure as a mother”.

However, Anya touches us all by gently patting Yor’s head and comforting her, saying that she thinks Yor is strong and cool for saving her from the kidnappers. 

When we get insecure about ourselves, take a breather. As long as we’re trying our best, it’s always enough for someone who appreciates our efforts. 

This is reiterated when Yor relays her insecurities as a mother to Loid later on. “Of course, it is wonderful to work on being the ideal figure. However, nothing will work out if you lose sight of yourself by binding yourself to these ideals. So, please, be yourself”, Loid assures.

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8. Apologising for your mistake doesn’t make you the weaker person

Becky convincing Anya not to apologise to Damian

Unfortunately, constantly reading Loid’s mind has a toll on Anya too. Anya faces the pressure to become friends with Damian for world peace, as he’s the second son of Donovan Desmond, the leader of the National Unity Party. 

This means that Anya has to apologise to Damian for punching him, much to Becky’s dismay, who doesn’t think she was in the wrong. She even convinced Anya that there’s no need to apologise because it’s “stupid”.

Damian getting embarrassed after Anya’s apology

Eventually, Anya managed to find time away from Becky to apologise to Damian, even crying her eyes out when she read his nasty thoughts about her. Embarrassed and humiliated, Damian turns red and is at a loss for words, rejecting her apology.

It doesn’t matter whether he accepts it or not — Anya showed us that there’s nothing wrong with being the bigger person by apologising first. Seeing Damian become embarrassed was just another win.

9. What you want might not be what others want

Yor questioning Loid if Anya wants to become an Imperial Scholar

In order for Loid’s mission to succeed, Anya has to become an Imperial Scholar, which FYI, means she has to do well in studies. However, as playful and mischievous Anya is, she dozes off in class and refuses to study, even throwing a tantrum when Loid gets upset at her.

Yor intervened by questioning Loid if being an Imperial Scholar is just what he wants, rather than what Anya wants. After reflecting on Yor’s words, he realises that he was unfairly pushing her for the sake of his mission.

Loid overhearing Anya sleep talking

Feeling sorry, Loid enters Anya’s room with the intent to let her rest. He discovers something that made him more guilty for his harsh words — Anya was studying all by herself, even mumbling in her sleep that she wants to do her best for him.

At times, we often think that what we want is the same as what others want. News flash: it’s not always the case. It’s good practice to take a step back and look at the bigger picture to see if we’re hurting others in the process of chasing our own goals.

10. Our duties and desires are interlinked

Overworked, tired and just want to sleep? Sounds like something many of us can relate to as well. For Loid, this feeling is enhanced tenfold, since WISE is short of staff and constantly piles him with more missions alongside Operation Strix. 

Exhausted and frustrated, Loid declares that he wants to complain to the company and take a long vacation. 

Yet when he turns to look at Yor and Anya laughing together, he remembers his life goal to “maintain a world where children don’t cry and war doesn’t occur”. 

“I don’t have time to stand still”, Loid thinks to himself, realising he values his job even if it’s tiring. Being a spy means that it’s his duty to keep society safe — a duty he wants to fulfil. 

It can be hard to pick our duty over our desire to rest and give up. At the end of the day, if your duty is something that you’re passionate about, it will always be worthwhile.

11. It’s okay to be an unconventional family

Throughout the anime, we’re constantly reminded that this family isn’t a conventional family. The Forger family consists of a spy, a psychic and an assassin who do not know of each others’ identities, but have to keep up the lie so everyone can achieve their personal goals.

“Everyone has a side that they can’t show to others. We hide our real feelings behind fake smiles and false bravado. In this way, the world maintains its illusion of peace,” as told by the narrator.

Despite being fake, it’s obvious that the Forger family functions well together and share a common love and care for each other. Even though it has only been 12 episodes so far, we’re rooting for them to eventually become a real family some day.  

It’s okay to choose our own family, even if it may be unconventional. Every family is different and we don’t have to conform to what society expects as long as we’re happy.

Spy x Family Is Filled With Unexpected Family Bonds & Touching Scenes

As the first half of Season 1 comes to an end, we’re left with a delightful scene of the Forger family playing together with Anya’s new stuffed penguin. From just 12 episodes alone, many life lessons were shared from the characters that we’ve already grown so fond of. Hopefully, we’ll start seeing the trio’s bond grow, more adorable moments with Anya, and inevitably, more lies to maintain world peace. 

All images courtesy of Netflix.
This article was first published on 29 June 2022 and last updated on 21 October 2023. 

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The post 11 Spy x Family Life Lessons Including Lying To Protect Our Loved Ones & Learning From Our Past Trauma appeared first on ZULA.sg.

Since it premiered on 28 January 2022, high school zombie apocalypse series All Of Us Are Dead has garnered 361 million hours of watchtime, topping the Netflix U.S charts by its 7th day. It was with bated breath that I ploughed through all 12 episodes on the edge of my seat, rooting for the motley gang of students to stay alive.

Truth be told, I spent much of the show amazed at Su-hyeok’s tireless legs — if you didn’t notice, he fires so many kicks at the zombies it would make Wong Fei Hong proud. While we await news of a second season (according to Director Lee Jae Kyu, it will centre around immortal and immune humans, with Su-hyeok still firmly Team Nam-ra), here are 10 life lessons with a side of bloodthirsty zombies.

Warning: All Of Us Are Dead spoilers ahead.

1. Nothing compares to the love of our family

So-ju gets shot while escaping from the quarantine camp to search for his daughter On-jo.

There’s nothing quite like the journey that Nam So-ju embarked on to get to his daughter On-jo that shows us the infinite depths of a parent’s love. We heaved a sigh of relief when the father-daughter duo reunite, albeit for the briefest of moments before he gave up his life to buy the high schoolers time to escape.

So-ju finally reunites with his daughter, at least for a while.

This father’s courageous journey saw him climbing over maximum-security walls, dodging bullets on land and underwater, getting shot, and trekking over the mountain to reach his child — his foresight in tying lengths of ribbon along the way later saves the teenagers, leading them to the safety of the quarantine camp.

My heart died a little when I saw the bite on So-ju’s hand, and realised this was the end of the road for him.

So-ju’s act of familial love is just one of many in All Of Us Are Dead that remind us to always treasure our parents and siblings, before it’s too late.

2. Sacrifice is inevitable when it comes to our loved ones

Every relationship demands sacrifice, as we learn throughout this zombie apocalypse. Perhaps one of the most striking examples of the strength we have in us to sacrifice ourselves for the people around us is when Joon-yeong throws himself out of their makeshift cage.

Joon-yeong makes the best of his remaining moments to help his friends get out alive.

The Science Club geek, sans spectacles by this time of the show, clambers out the moment he realises he’s doomed. 

Between distracting the zombies, then throwing them off the cage, and pulling the other survivors in the direction of safety, he was heroic to the final moments of his sanity, as zombies continued to tear chunks out of him.

“Go home! Make it home!” he cried with his last breaths as I wept (inside) with his comic buddy Dae-su, knowing he would never see home again. Even if we learned nothing else, let’s strive to always be strong for the ones around us.

3. Being selfish is a choice that we can avoid

As much as we have the inner courage to be strong for the people around us, we find ourselves often giving in to selfish desires. It’s often a choice, and one that we can choose to avoid, as we learn from repeated incidents in All Of Us Are Dead.

Na-yeon wipes zombie blood into Gyeong-su’s open wound, pretending to care for him, but actually causing him to turn into a zombie.

We could perhaps blame the way Na-yeon was brought up for the way she ostracised Gyeong-su for being a ‘welfie’, or student on assistance. But it was her choice to deliberately infect him with zombie blood just to make a point, and prove she was right about him being infected — when he had gotten scratched saving all of them while they all stood shell shocked in the first place.

Na-yeon locking the door to the supplies room so the other survivors can’t find her — or get food and drinks.

She chose again, later on, to lock the door to the food and drink in the supplies room, even knowing that her classmates were hungry and thirsty. She might have been afraid of their censure, but let’s not forget that it was her actions that antagonised her to begin with. This TikToker suggests she deserves another chance, but honestly, my kindest inkling was to wish she had a less gruesome death.

And who could forget most of all when Cheol-su denied the presence of other survivors, even as the ragged band of students were banging on the doors to the rooftop? We see his moment of hesitation, and the indecision written on his face, as he repeatedly insists he’s alone, and ultimately dooms them. The choice to be selfish is ours, as much as it is in our hands to be selfless.

4. There’s always a light at the end of the tunnel

The saying, “Where there is life, there is hope,” is an oft-quoted phrase to symbolise how, while we live, there will always be a better tomorrow at the end of any bad situation. Amidst the zombie outbreak in Hyosan, there’s always hope for the gang of students to make it through alive.

Nam-ra leaves the group when she struggles to control her desire to feed on them.

When Nam-ra willingly walks away into the unknown, half wild with her bloodlust, we fear for her. Like Su-hyeok and the rest, I held on to the hope that she starts a new life amongst the ruins of the town. 

She makes a fire on the rooftop of the school in remembrance of a happy moment they shared: a literal beacon of hope that her friends make their way back to, and find her happier than they’ve ever seen her.

We find out that she’s found more halfbies, aka half-zombies like herself who retain a human conscience, with whom she finally finds belonging and acceptance. As she leaps off into the bleak winterscape, away from the bombed-out school building, we are reminded that we too, should always look for the light at the end of the tunnel.

5. Wealth doesn’t always bring you happiness

Madonna sang it best, that “we are living in a material world”; yet we see over and again in our lives how wealth doesn’t always bring happiness. This is highlighted in All Of Us Are Dead, where differences in social class did not determine who survived, and who didn’t.

Both Na-yeon and Nam-ra are seen to come from privileged backgrounds, where Nam-ra’s parents had contributed significantly enough to the school for her to be made Class President. In spite of all this, neither of these girls was happy. 

Na-yeon has no friends amongst her class, driving them away with her entitled, antisocial behaviour, while Nam-ra is ostracised and not respected, always hiding away from the world with her music, and focused on remaining at the top of the class. 

Nam-ra’s loneliness is almost heartwrenching when she confides in On-jo, saying it’s the first time she’s ever sat around a campfire with friends, and wishing they would be able to do it again. 

Her happiness in the finale is palpable, even though she had nothing but her newfound group of halfbies. While not the happiest conclusion, the open ending gives me hope that better things are yet to be for her. It also reminded me that we should press pause on occasion, and take stock of what we have, rather than lose ourselves in the endless race to make more money.

Also read:

11 Squid Game Life Lessons Including The Dangers Of Addiction & Not Losing Hope In Humanity

6. We are always better when we work together as a team

It’s only through helping each other that the students managed to get to safety.

It’s especially in this climate where we’re WFH most of the time that All Of Us Are Dead is a timely reminder of how it’s better when we work together as a team. Gwi-nam as the lone wolf aside, the rest of the Hyosan High students only made it out through pooling their wits, talents, and strength to help one another.

The students throw a tarpaulin over the staircase to slow the ascent of the zombies to the roof. 

 “No matter what happens, don’t die, and don’t let anyone die,” Ms Park tells them before she runs out after Na-yeon. Without working together, the group of students would not have been able to battle their way from classroom to classroom, find Cheong-san in the music room, reach the roof, or survive the zombie attack on the way to the quarantine camp.

If you still aren’t convinced, think about when the group got split up on the mad rush up the hill in the rain. Panic ensued, and they lost more of their number.

7. Karma is a bitch

Gwi-nam: the vicious halfbie who never seems to stay dead.

Karma really is a bitch that will always sneak back up on you and take a great big bite from your behind. We’re definitely not advocating that you be the biggest baddest bully in the room a la Gwi-nam, even though it seems like he never gets his just deserts.

Cheol-su gets brutalised by Eun-ji when she meets him again in the quarantine camp.

Look at Cheol-su, who locked himself on the roof instead of accompanying Eun-ji when she walked back into the zombie-infested school to destroy the phones. Twice we see him choose to save himself rather than aid others — it’s no wonder that we watched with just the slightest feeling of schadenfreude when Eun-ji launched herself on him to satisfy her hunger.

Na-yeon met a gruesome end at Gwi-nam’s hands after everything she’d done.

Ji-min clearly isn’t a “no man left behind” sort of comrade, when she freaked out and left Hyo-ryeong, aka pink vest girl, lying fallen on the ground. So when Wu-jin and Ha-ri saved Hyo-ryeong, and Ji-min instead got lost and bitten, it was a solemn reminder for me to never ever be nasty to others,  just in case.

8. Being successful isn’t all there is to life

We mentioned earlier that wealth doesn’t buy happiness; in the same vein, there’s more to life than being successful. Studying for the College Scholastic Ability Test, or CSAT, seemed like the most important thing in life for the high schoolers, but at the end of the day, none of it mattered when it boiled down to life or death.

Had Ha-ri not failed to qualify at her competition, she would never have been back at Hyosan High at the point of the zombie outbreak. Her teacher may have subjected her to a humiliating putdown on the bus, saying there would be no future for her, but let’s admit it: she was every bit the hero Katniss Everdeen was, and she kept herself and her fellow schoolmates alive — which IMO is way greater than making it to a national competition.

Jae-ik questioning Orangibberish on the wisdom of his actions.

Most of all, there’s Orangibberish, whose pursuit of internet fame saw him putting his life on the line to sneak into Hyosan just to create content for his fans, and level up his online personality. Had Jae-ik and Ho-cheol not stopped to save him, it’s most likely that we would have to bid farewell to Orangibberish. Is internet fame or success worth it? I really think not.

9. Life must go on in spite of all its ups and downs

The students prepare for their final showdown against the zombies on the street.

As the episodes of All Of Us Are Dead flashed across my screen, I truly felt like I’d watched the Hyosan High students grow in grit and tenacity. Losing one of their friends never gets easier, but where they initially cowered and hesitated to fight back against the zombies, they fought harder and fiercer to survive with each episode, without dwelling on their losses. 

Cheong-san fought his classmates as they tried to take down his mother, who had turned into a zombie.

Like them, I feel like we need to know that there’s a season for everything: in this case a time to mourn, and a time to fight. Cheong-san delayed their escape when he saw his turned mother, and lost a hold on his sense of reason.

Cheong-san calling for his zombie-mother, trying to get through to her. 

The ensuing altercation with the survivors, and his turning back to yell for his mother, while touching, drew the attention of the zombies, and wasted precious time that they could have spent running away. 

On-jo sobbing when she finds the torch that So-ju dropped on his way to rescue her.

There’s also much to learn from On-jo’s setting aside her grief over losing So-ju, and later Cheong-san, to keep on fighting for her life. After all, they did sacrifice themselves so that she could continue living. No matter what trials come our way, we have to persevere, and never give up.

10. We have to love ourselves, even when it feels like the world is against us

Su-hyeok saves Eun-ji and Cheol-su from the bullies, but she despondently tells him she can’t leave with him, “because if I leave now, it’ll be worse [for me] tomorrow.”

We’ve been championing lessons from All Of Us Are Dead that remind us to keep living, and here’s one final one we all need reminding of: always love yourself, even when it feels like nobody is on your side. I must stress though, that there’s a thin line between that, and being selfish like Cheol-su.

Eun-ji initially sees no point in living when she finds out about the video that’s going to be circulated.

We see it in Eun-ji’s attempt to kill herself in despair, thinking it’s the end of the world to have everyone, including her mother, see a compromising video that was scheduled to be posted online as retribution for telling on the bullies. 

It was heartbreaking to see how she was bullied in school; even more so when her teacher, who should have protected her, told her instead that she was the problem. She eventually gains the inhuman strength to fight her demons, although let’s be looking for that strength from within us IRL.

All Of Us Are Dead Reminds Us Of Our Humanity

All Of Us Are Dead is a social commentary in many ways, spotlighting many problems that plague Korean society and the world today. A zombie apocalypse may not be looming on our horizon, but we’ve only just scraped the surface of the lessons we can learn from this show. 

With halfbies coming together under what we hope is Nam-ra’s leadership, and fan theories running wild speculating that Cheong-san is still alive, we’re keeping our fingers crossed that we’ll have news of Season 2 soon.

All screenshots courtesy of Netflix.
This post was first published by Michelle Put on 17 February 2022 and last updated by Nicole Yong on 5 September 2023. 

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The post 10 All Of Us Are Dead Life Lessons That Remind Us Of The Importance Of Teamwork & Sacrifice For Love appeared first on ZULA.sg.

When I stepped into the cinema last weekend to catch Barbie, I imagined it would be another lighthearted bimbotic chick flick. You know, one of those that makes you feel good and then once you leave the theatre, you forget about it. 

Well, I was dead wrong. It turned out to be a tear-jerking movie that tackles topics such as life, feminism, toxic masculinity, gender issues, and motherhood. And even after the credits finished rolling, the movie had me thinking deeper about the issues addressed. 

While I can’t emphasise enough how wholesome the movie is, below are the lessons I learned, reminding everyone that we are the main characters in our life ‒ and we are “Kenough”.

Warning: Spoilers for Barbie ahead, proceed at your own risk if you’ve yet to watch the movie!

1. You can be anything you want to 

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Fun fact: although Mattel was once criticised for creating Barbie with unrealistic body proportions, they have been doing a great job at being inclusive. 

By coming up with a multitude of Barbie variations that were featured in the movie, such as President Barbie, Lawyer Barbie, and a Nobel Prize Winner Barbie, Mattel inspires young girls to build their dreams, and deliver the message that they can be anything that they want. It’s 2023, and females don’t have to stick to stereotypical jobs, such as being a housewife or mother anymore. 

P.S.: Barbie sleeps on a shell-shaped bed, literally emphasising the saying that goes: “The world is your oyster.” 

2. Women go through different kinds of struggles every day 

Barbie about to get groped by the man behind her
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From getting catcalls to warding off perverts in public, women experience all sorts of struggles every day. When Barbie stepped into the Real World with Ken, she was ogled by onlookers, and even groped by a stranger out of the blue. Urgh. On the other hand, Ken was empowered by the way people respected him. 

The difference in treatment between Barbie and Ken goes without saying that women tend to get the short end of the stick. Hopefully, through Barbie, more people will understand and sympathise with the hardships that women go through.  

3. Life will never be perfect, but your mindset can make it better

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Get this ‒ life will never be perfect. If this sounds like a harsh reality slap, well, it is true. However, it doesn’t mean that we should all go into despair, and wait for the end of our days. 

Throughout the movie, Barbie teaches us that we often underestimate our potential and self-worth, and we become obsessed with trying to be “perfect”. We invest so much effort into attaining this elusive state of “perfection,” believing it is the key to achieving the success and happiness we dream of. Yet, the whole idea of being “perfect” is actually a construct in our minds.

Instead of struggling to lead the “perfect” life, we can simply change our mindset and embrace the present, just like how Gloria told Barbie, “The Real World is not perfect, but you inspire me.”

4. Mothers always sacrifice for their children

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Many times, we take our mothers for granted, and we don’t show enough appreciation for them. One scene that struck me hard was when Gloria told Sasha that she “never got to do anything” because of work and family commitments. 

Mothers sacrifice their free time and social life to provide for the best for their children, and after doing so, they “stand still so [their] daughters can look back to see how far they have come”. 

BRB, texting my mum “I love you” right now.  

5. It is okay to cry out your feelings

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In Barbie Land, the only emotion that the Barbies and Kens are used to is joy, so crying was a brand new concept to them. When Barbie tries to comfort Ken, she tells him, “I cry too. It’s actually kind of amazing”. 

The short and sweet sentiment actually sends a message to those who think crying is a sign of weakness. Instead, it just means that you acknowledge your feelings, and there is nothing wrong with expressing your emotions through crying.   

Also read: 

How Being Flat-Chested Made This 29-Year-Old Singaporean Woman Love Her Body Even More

6. Being old is a gift

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In the movie, Barbie is portrayed as a stereotypical Barbie, which means she has the “perfect” figure, hair, smile, and even feet arches. Life is literally fantastic for her. 

However, when she meets an old lady for the first time in the Real World, she can’t help but break into tears and tell her that “she is beautiful”. Despite having wrinkles and a head full of white hair, the old lady catches the attention of Barbie, who finds the concept of ageing so beautiful and intriguing. 

NGL, most of us freak out when we see the slightest wrinkle form on our face, and we try our best to hide them with anti-ageing skincare just to look younger. But at the end of the day, being old is a gift and a rite of passage in life. The only thing we can do is embrace it with grace. 

7. A person shouldn’t be restricted by society’s standards

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According to Dictonary.com, extraordinary refers to something or someone that is exceptional in character. While most of us are pressured by society to lead an extraordinary life, Barbie taught us that there is no shame in wanting to be ordinary. Think about when our traditional families expect us to do them proud by pursuing “respectable” occupations like doctors and lawyers.    

During the scene when Gloria proposed to the CEO of Mattel to create an Ordinary Barbie, she explained that everyone should be free to do what they want, regardless of society’s “standards”. Chances are, her speech will resonate with many people because we can all relate to moments when we almost lose ourselves in our journey of becoming “extraordinary”. 

8. Men have the tendency to control and rely on women 

Source

Unlike most of the audience who burst out laughing when Ken affirmed himself by saying that he is “Kenough”, I took a while to truly understand what the newly-coined term meant. 

Considering how Ken’s purpose in Barbie Land was to serve Barbie, he never had the chance to search for his calling. So, when Ken realises that he doesn’t need anyone in his life for it to be meaningful, he tells himself that he is “Kenough”, or in order words, enough. 

Before this enlightenment, Ken tried to take over Barbie Land, and enjoyed the success and newfound respect of Barbies who became “servants” of Kens. It is a clear-cut example of how men have the tendency to rely on women to feel successful and respected because they are considered “superior”. 

However, for men who find pleasure in such behaviours, it is time to snap out of their bubble, and reconsider who they really are without women in their life. 

9. Society has set ridiculous standards for women

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Another highlight of the movie was no doubt the powerful scene when Gloria pointed out the ridiculous standards that society has set for women. 

She told Barbie that “it’s literally impossible to be a woman” and continued her speech with examples, such as “You have to be thin, but not too thin,” and “You have to be a boss, but you can’t be mean”. I could go on, but you get the gist ‒ it is as if everything that woman does is wrong. 

10. Patriarchy still exists in many parts of the world

Source

As much as I hate to admit it, the Real World in Barbie is pretty much a reflection of our world today. The board of directors in Mattel only had males, and their secretary was a female, aka Gloria. It seems as if important and life-changing decisions are mostly made by men, and women barely have any say in them. 

While I can’t speak on behalf of every company and organisation, there’s no denying that women are still struggling with gender inequality in many aspects, such as job opportunities and decision-making. Despite the positive changes in society, the shift is slow, and women are still trying their best to eliminate these differences. 

These Barbie Life Lessons Show That Going Through Ups & Downs Is A Part Of Life

Some people might think that Barbie is “just a movie,” but to me and many others out there who felt something in our hearts after leaving the cinema, our lives definitely changed for the better. Humans are meant to live without being judged and having limitations, and it is through the ups and downs that allow us to live to the fullest.  

Cover: Source, source

Also read: 

Barbie Is Slaying The Global Box Office With A $337M Opening Compared To Oppenheimer, Here’s Why

The post 10 Life Lessons From The Barbie Movie That Remind Us Although Life Isn’t Perfect, We Are “Kenough” appeared first on ZULA.sg.

TBH, we are guilty of fantasising about meeting our other half through a romantic situation. While they are better off as fantasies, finding a life partner should happen as naturally as possible… or through an experienced matchmaker like Auntie Sima from Netflix’s Indian Matchmaking. 

After watching both seasons, the Netflix series gave me a new perspective on finding love through arranged marriages in the 21st century, and how difficult it is to find the “perfect” match.

1. Timing can make or break a relationship 

There were plenty of moments when I wanted to tell Nadia that Shekar was the one for her, especially when I saw how truthful and sincere the man was. It was obvious that both had mutual feelings for each other, but I guess Nadia wanted the extra spark which she didn’t see in Shekar. 

Likely due to miscommunication and their geological differences as well, Shekar missed the timing to tell Nadia that he was ready to move on to the next stage of their relationship. In the end, Nadia broke the news to Shekar that she was dating someone else. 

Moral of the story? Never miss out on telling someone your true feelings.  

2. No one can find a perfect match 

Everyone wants a perfect relationship with the right person. So it is not surprising to see some of Auntie Sima’s clients with a long list of criteria when it comes to finding their Mr or Miss Right. Take 30-year-old Viral, for example. 

The pharmaceutical worker mentioned at least 12 criteria for her ideal partner such as “knowing pilates” and “having an occupation as a doctor”. NGL, but even I found those prerequisites a lil’ overwhelming. 

While I do believe that it is possible to find someone who fulfils all the criteria, it doesn’t guarantee that the relationship or marriage will be long-lasting. Perhaps finding an imperfect person is the perfect solution instead. 

3. Your past doesn’t define you as a person

Unfortunately, it is human nature to sometimes judge without fully understanding a person or a situation. As such, it is difficult for people like Vyasar to open up to others, especially about his dark familial history ‒ he was a child of divorce and his father was put behind bars due to a murder conspiracy. 

While many viewers found him endearing and honest in wanting to have a serious relationship, Vyasar didn’t luck out with Rashi and left the show as a single. Hopefully, in the near future, the high school guidance counsellor will be able to find someone who cherishes and understands him.  

4. The right person might only appear after a long time

When I heard that Pradhyuman rejected 150 girls that Auntie Sima introduced to him, I thought he was a playboy who wasn’t serious about settling down. But it turned out that he was one of the most romantic cast members on the Netflix series ‒ he proposed to his then-girlfriend Ashima at the seaside during sunset.

As he met Ashima at a party and not through Auntie Sima, he believed it was destiny which brought them together. Pradhyuman might have taken some time to find his true love, but his story shows that the right person will eventually appear, no matter how long it takes.   

5. Going on a date at a furniture store is a better way of getting to know a person 

Typical first dates usually include catching a movie and having dinner at a restaurant before calling it a night, and most of the time, it is hard to figure out what the other person feels about you. Well, not for Viral as she has her own method of getting to know a person within a short amount of time ‒ by going on a date at a furniture store. 

By doing so, she believes that you’ll find out a person’s preferences and understand their decision-making process. Since we don’t get such experiences on a normal movie date, you have to give it to Viral for such creative date ideas. 

Also read: 

15 Life & Love Lessons From Love Is Blind Japan, Like How You’re Never Too Old To Find Your Soulmate

6. Love can appear at any timeline during your life

Indian Matchmaking isn’t like any other reality dating shows because most of the cast are in their 30s, with some hitting the big 4-0 in a couple of years. This confirms certain beliefs like how everyone has their own timeline, be it in a career or in a relationship, so there really is no point in comparing yourself to others. 

Plus, as a reassurance to those who are desperate to meet their OTP, the show gives faith to singleton viewers that they’ll eventually meet their other half. 

7. Sometimes elders do have better love advice

The feeling of hearing someone saying “I told you so” sucks, so imagine how Nadia felt when she realised that Auntie Sima was right about Vishal ‒ the guy who the matchmaker felt wasn’t a good match for her. If Nadia had followed Auntie Sima’s advice, she might have had a better love ending. 

Nadia also ended things with Shekar for Vishal, so it wasn’t wrong to say “what goes around comes around”.

8. Being single is better than getting married to the wrong person

While the ultimate goal of having a matchmaker is to find a potential life partner, many of the cast also discovered more about themselves ‒ some decided that they were better off being single. 

Rather than settling for the wrong person, Ankita realised that she wanted to focus more on her career. Instead of constantly seeking the one, she believed that her time would be better spent on work. 

Many viewers probably agree with Ankita as there is nothing wrong with taking time for yourself and finding out what you actually want in life.

9. Divorcees deserve a second chance at love

This is the reality ‒ not everyone is blessed with a blissful marriage and divorces do happen. While these divorcees might have not done it right the first time, it doesn’t mean they don’t deserve a second chance in love. 

Rupam, a divorcee with a daughter, showed that she was ready to give love another shot, and wanted to build a complete family for her child. Her brave personality earned the respect of many viewers as it was definitely not easy to show her vulnerable side to the public. 

10. There is nothing wrong with knowing what you seek in a relationship

In both seasons of Indian Matchmaking, viewers saw cast members like Viral and Aprana who had clear criteria and relationship goals because they knew what they wanted to achieve in life. But because of the love life that the ladies envisioned, some viewed them as strong-headed ‒ but IMO, there is nothing wrong with knowing what you want since it is your relationship. 

On the other hand, cast members like Akshay from Season 1 didn’t seem to be sure what he wanted in a partner. As he only requested a wife with the same qualities as his mother, it suggested that he wasn’t ready to settle, let alone start a family. 

These Indian Matchmaking Life & Love Lessons Hit Differently From Other Dating Series

As uncommon as matchmaking is in today’s society, it is not completely unrelatable. Through Indian Matchmaking, the Netflix series allows us to learn about the relationship culture of the Indian community while teaching us important lessons about life and love which we can apply in our daily lives. 

All images courtesy of Netflix.

Also read: 

15 Remarriage & Desires Life And Love Lessons, Like How Marriage Is Sometimes About Status Instead

The post 10 Indian Matchmaking Life & Love Lessons, Like Staying Single Instead Of Settling For A Partner Is Better appeared first on ZULA.sg.

Warning: Tokyo Revengers spoilers ahead.

Calling all fans of action anime like Attack on Titan and Jujutsu Kaisen, Tokyo Revengers is a new anime with violence and heart-tugging scenes that will hit you right in the feels. The story follows protagonist Hanagaki Takemichi, who discovers that his ex-girlfriend from middle school Hina, and her brother Naoto, died in a car crash. The siblings were caught in the middle of a fight from one of the largest gangs in Tokyo, Tokyo Manji Gang, a.k.a. Toman.

After being pushed in front of a moving train, Takemichi suddenly transports 12 years back in time. Realising that he now has the power to change the future, he saves Naoto from his death. The pair then come up with different plans to save Hina, resulting in a variety of alternate timelines. 

Not everyone can get a second shot in life to change the future, which is what makes the plot of Tokyo Revengers so thrilling. From watching Takemichi grow as an individual to simping for Toman’s leader Mikey, let’s take a look back at season 1 and discover some life lessons we can apply to real life.

1. When life gives you a second chance, don’t waste it

Takemichi standing up against Kiyomasa

When Takemichi first discovered he could travel back in time, he determinedly promised Naoto that he would change the future and save Hina. However, after getting beaten up badly by Kiyomasa, he cries and says that the mission is simply “impossible”.

Takemichi then remembers how he was living pathetically back in his life from the future. Because he spent the rest of his school days being Kiyomasa’s slave and running away from his problems, he never grew as an individual. 

This realisation was a wake-up call for him and he decided “I have to change, or nothing else will”. Thus, when his friend Takuya was about to be beaten up, Takemichi boldly stepped up to challenge Kiyomasa so that Takuya could be saved.

Through Takemichi’s self-reflection on this rare opportunity to change his life and how he was about to give up so easily, he eventually faced his bully and stopped running away. 

He showed us that in order to change the future, you have to change yourself first. Getting a second shot in life isn’t something that anybody can have, so it’s only right to not waste it.

2. Protect the ones you love no matter what

Hina slapping Mikey across his face

Hina might not be a main character, but she definitely showed us that she’s more than just Takemichi’s girlfriend. Despite knowing that Takemichi is a delinquent who gets into fights often, she promised to protect him no matter what.

When Mikey and Draken, Toman’s second-in-command, came to grab Takemichi from his class, Hina didn’t hesitate to walk up to Mikey and slap him across his face. Much to everyone’s shock and horror, Hina held Takemichi’s hand and led him away.

Hina pulling Takemichi away from Mikey

Takemichi noted that Hina was trembling despite putting up such a bold front. This small action revealed that she was actually afraid — after all, not everyone can slap a biker gang leader in the face and still survive.

Hina teaches us that even though she saw herself as “just a girl” who can’t fight like boys, she isn’t afraid to risk her life for the people she loves. 

3. Crying is a sign of strength, not weakness

Akkun’s last words to Takemichi before committing suicide 

Throughout the whole season, Takemichi cries a lot. We’re pretty sure there isn’t an episode where he doesn’t cry. He cries whenever he feels like giving up, or when he expresses fear for an undesirable future that he knows will happen. Of course, he constantly gets teased for it, but his crying also became a sign of strength instead of weakness.

In the first timeline where Akkun commits suicide, his last words to Takemichi was how he saw him as a “crybaby hero” he looked up to. When they were younger, Akkun realised that Taemichi would cry but still picked himself back up and “held his ground” — an admirable trait that earned his respect. 

4. “We’ll deal with our problems in our own world”

Draken forcing Mikey to bow down at the hospital

After Pah found out that his friend’s girlfriend was gang raped and beaten up by another gang called Moebius, Toman declared war on them. But when Mikey and Draken went to the hospital to visit her, the girl’s parents assumed that they were responsible for their daughter’s state.

Mikey angrily tried to retaliate, but Draken pushed his head down to apologise, even though it wasn’t their fault. Quietly, he tells Mikey, “you don’t have to bow your head, just have a heart that cares for others. We’ll deal with our problems in our own world”.

From this scene, Draken teaches Mikey to lower his ego and respect the girl’s parents who are grieving. Our personal problems should be resolved on our own if it can be done, rather than involving more innocent people. 

5. Friends will always have your back

Mikey supporting Pah after he was beaten up by Osanai 

Though he has a reputation for being known as the “unbeatable Mikey”, deep down the gang leader is emotional and cares for his gang members. When Moebius’ leader Osanai fought with Pah, Pah sorrowfully apologised to Mikey for losing.

Mikey didn’t hesitate to support Pah and firmly told him “you haven’t lost” because he was still there to fight on behalf of Pah. Even when Pah volunteered to turn himself in for stabbing Osanai, Mikey refused to leave Pah’s side. 

12-year-old Mikey picking a fight with a gang that had beaten up Baji

It’s clear to see that Mikey’s undeniably strong bond with the original founding members of Toman stems from their childhood. When Mikey was 12-years-old, he discovered that a gang had beaten up Baji, who was trying to protect his bike. 

To everyone’s shock, Mikey smashed his bike to pieces — an exaggerated show to let Baji know that their friendship was worth more than his bike. He then went on to defeat the gang that had beaten Baji up.

As Mikey prides himself in being a true friend who gives his all to others, the founding members of Toman protect each other too. Their precious friendship is what makes Toman feel like family, as Mikey makes sure everyone knows that there will always be a friend who has their back.

6. Our negative actions have consequences on the people around us

Takemichi scolding Mikey and Draken

After Pah’s arrest, Mikey and Draken get into a huge disagreement. Draken wanted to honour Pah’s decision of turning himself in, but Mikey believed that they could have all escaped together. Takemichi from 12 years into the future will know that this is a major event that causes the gang to split and Draken to die in the conflict.

Seeing Mikey and Draken fight in front of him, Takemichi angrily shouts at them for being selfish. The pair is Toman’s leader and second-in-command respectively, yet they don’t realise that their actions have consequences on everyone else in the gang.

Because Mikey and Draken only care about themselves, they fail to realise that the gang members in Toman are also upset and fighting amongst each other. Once again, Takemichi bursts into tears, having Mikey and Draken to come to their senses and make up for the sake of those around them.

7. Don’t compare your journey to others’ success

Takemichi crying after Kiyomasa’s gang beat him up

It’s no secret that Takemichi is physically weak, especially when compared to the rest of the gang members. More often than not, we see him in a sorry state covered in bruises, bleeding and crying. While trying to save Draken from being killed, Takemichi ends up being beaten and tied up with duct tape. 

Unable to get up, Takemichi cries and says that “this would’ve been nothing if I were like Draken or Mikey!” 

Hina comforting Takemichi

In his miserable state, Hina finds him and tries to free him. However, Takemichi rejects her help because he doesn’t want his own girlfriend to see him so pathetic.

Hina then reminded him that “you’re just you, Takemichi.” This simple comfort showed Takemichi that it’s pointless to compare his failures to others’ success, as he is able to do many other things that Mikey and Draken couldn’t. Through Hina’s words, Takemichi gained a new motivation to save Draken and change the future. 

8. We have to choose our own battles to fight

Peh-yan beating up Mikey who refuses to fight back

Unhappy with Draken’s decision to leave Pah behind, Peh-yan betrays Toman and starts a fight with Mikey. While most of us were thinking that’s it for Peh-yan, Mikey surprisingly didn’t resist or retaliate.

Instead, Mikey revealed that the decision to leave Pah behind was very painful to him too. He tells Peh-yan to “hit me until you’re satisfied” because he doesn’t want to fight with the members of Toman, his family. Upon hearing Mikey’s words, Peh-yan cries and realises that Mikey was also suffering despite his strong front. 

Mikey could have easily killed Peh-yan for betraying the gang, but he taught us that we have to choose our own battles and not barge head-on into every problem without seeing the bigger picture.

Also read:

10 Jujutsu Kaisen Life Lessons We Can Apply To Daily Life, Like Using Our Strength To Help Others

9. Even the strongest people have their moments of weakness

Mikey reassuring everyone that Draken is fine 

Despite Takemichi’s efforts to save Draken, he still ended up having a cardiac arrest and was sent to the emergency room. Toman members began to panic, especially Takemichi, who knew that Draken’s death will result in Mikey’s drastic change in the future. 

Amidst the chaos at the hospital, Mikey reassured everyone with a smile that Draken wouldn’t die so easily since “he promised that we’d rule the world together”. He calmed everyone down by reminding them that there’s no use fretting when there’s nothing anybody could do then.

Mikey crying at the back of the hospital alone after Draken’s condition stabilised 

When Draken’s condition finally stablised, the entire Toman gang gathered outside the hospital to celebrate. However, Takemichi realised that Mikey was nowhere to be found.

Searching at the back of the hospital, Takemichi finds Mikey crying in relief all by himself. While Mikey always has to stand strong and upload himself as a leader, this scene showed us that he has his weak moments too.

10. Our words have the power to inspire others

Takemichi charging towards Valhalla 

In the battle between Toman and Valhalla, Toman was losing since they only had 150 men as compared to 300 in Valhalla. Outnumbered and beaten badly, majority of Toman’s members were ready to admit defeat.

On the other hand, Takemichi, who was badly bruised, remembers that he’s currently in another big event that will change the future. Desperate to defeat Valhalla, he screams and charges towards them, yelling “I’ll crush all of you!”

From his words and actions, the Toman members began to feel ashamed for complaining. Much to Draken’s surprise, Takemichi’s sudden outburst inspires them to fight on. When times are tough and things may seem like they’re not going well, it’s our words that have the power to inspire others more than we think.

11. Forgive others even if they have hurt you

Mikey reflecting at Baji’s grave

When Kazutora was first introduced, his crazy and violent personality seemed like nothing but bad news. But after watching more and finding out his past, I couldn’t help but feel sorry for him.

Kazutora suffers from the emotional trauma of accidentally killing Mikey’s brother in an attempt to steal a birthday present for Mikey. His innocent desire to make his friend happy as a kid had led to unfortunate circumstances.

From Takemichi’s future, a major event that changed Mikey’s life was when he killed Kazutora as revenge. However, Mikey gained no satisfaction from this murder and spiralled down to become evil. 

Draken telling Kazutora that Mikey forgives him

In order to prevent that future, Mikey had to learn to look past his hurt and forgive Kazutora. During a tough battle with Mikey that almost killed Takemichi, Takemichi managed to shed light on the truth. 

Though it was very hard for Mikey to forgive Kazutora — understandable since Kazutora did kill his brother and childhood friend after all — Mikey looked past it and even said that he would welcome Kazutora back into Toman again. Sometimes, it’s important to forgive others so that we can move on with our lives, even if they’ve hurt you.

12. Be proud of who you are

Draken talking about his family in the brothel 

Born in Shibuya’s red light district and getting a tattoo on his temple at 11-years-old, Draken definitely isn’t your ordinary school teen. During Draken’s childhood arc, we find out that he was born in a brothel by a prostitute, who then abandoned him at 2-years-old.  

Even so, Draken remains optimistic and sees everyone who works in the brothel as his family. He isn’t afraid of inviting his friends like Takemichi and Mikey over to his place, even describing his room as “cosy”. 

Draken doesn’t let his background define him and is proud of who he is. Takemichi realises that by embracing his past and getting along well with everyone, Draken seems “mature despite his age”.

13. Don’t assume the worst out of a situation

Takemichi catching Emma and Mikey hugging

While Tokyo Revengers is filled with bloody fights and brutal murders, there are comical episodes to lighten the mood as well. One such scene was when Takemichi caught Emma hugging Mikey and telling him she loves him, even though everyone knew she and Draken had a romance going on.

Horrified by this discovery, Takemichi, Hina and his group of friends led a full investigation to find out if Emma was two-timing the Toman leaders.

Draken teasing Mikey for hanging out with Emma

Coincidentally, Draken met them while the gang was following Mikey and Emma into a cafe. Takemichi breaks down and panics, declaring that this will be the end for Toman if the best friends were to fight over a girl. 

However, Draken breaks the silence by teasing Mikey and asking “you’re hanging out with your little sister on her birthday?”

Though it was a funny episode that revealed that Emma was actually Mikey’s half-sister, it also taught us not to assume the worst out of a situation without clarifying the facts first.

14. Pursue your passions with no regrets

Mitsuya in his school’s sewing club

As a strong and charismatic captain of the 2nd division, nobody would expect Mitsuya to commit to both a biker gang and his school’s sewing club at the same time. Underneath his bleached hair and piercings, Mitsuya also shows us that we shouldn’t judge people by their appearances.

Takemichi feeling respect for Mitsuya in school

Seeing how he’s living his life to the fullest as the president of his school’s sewing club and a gang leader, Mitsuya reminds us that we should pursue all our passions with no regrets.

15. Share your troubles with the people who are there for you

Takemichi and Chifuyu being held hostage by Kisaki in the future 

While friendship remains a big theme in Tokyo Revengers, some of the characters go the extra mile to protect their loved ones. This includes struggling alone and suffering in silence. 

The season finale ended with a new future where Takemichi successfully became Toman’s 3rd division captain with Chifuyu as his vice-captain. However, they were captured by Kisaki and faced a dangerous situation. Right before Kisaki shot Chifuyu in the head, Chifuyu reveals that he was trying to avenge Baji by taking down Kisaki all by himself. 

Baji’s last words to Takemichi and Chifuyu

This scene reminded us of Baji’s last words to Takemichi and Chifuyu — “I wanted to figure out something on my own”. While Baji suffered alone in an attempt to take down Kisaki, this stubbornness eventually led to his death.

The cycle eventually repeated itself in Takemichi’s new future. Baji and Chifuyu’s tragic deaths taught us that there’s no need to carry a heavy burden on your own. Share your troubles with your peers who are there for you, and hopefully a new solution can be worked out instead.

Tokyo Revengers Teaches Us The Beauty Of Friendship Amidst The Violence

As the screen blacked out and a loud gunshot declared the end of the season, we’re left with so many unanswered questions. Why did Kisaki call Takemichi “my hero” before attempting to kill him? Did Takemichi get shot? What happened to Mikey in this new future? Where are Hina and Naoto now? 

With this huge cliffhanger, Tokyo Revengers fans can’t help but wish that the next season will arrive ASAP. While it’s safe to say that we can expect more fights, violence and evil, Tokyo Revengers also showed us the beauty of strong friendships and loyalty within the Toman gang.

All images courtesy of 4anime.

Also read:

12 Attack On Titan Life Lessons That Prove It’s Not Just Another Anime, Like The Importance Of Kindness

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