Editor’s Letter
What is life without a little spontaneity? I once brought my son to Jump Street where adults also get to let their inner child out to play. In my mind’s eye, the picture of us as we gleefully bounced up and down the trampolines without any care in the world always brings a smile to my face. That was an unplanned move and we had so much fun in the process. It’s so easy to get caught up in daily routines and schedules—after all, planning things to a T is what productive people crave. But we can learn to spice it up a little by being a tad more spontaneous, especially while we’re working.
And so we decided to put where our mouth is by having some spontaneity in our July issue. It’s a wellknown fact that stand-up comedians are masters at improvisations. In “Not Just a Punchline” (page 24), we profile comedian Arwind Kumar, whose alter ego Makcik Rosmah with her riotous curls will make you laugh even as she dispenses some ‘good auntie advice’—albeit with a sarcastic wit. Despite a humorous disposition, Kumar said in his interview with Koyyi Chin that his alter ego was manifested from social anxiety after being traumatised by bullying incidents at school. It is almost common for comedians to use jokes as a kind of coping system for anxiety, as psychoanalyst Sigmund Freud theorised that humour can give a person a feeling of control over a situation where they feel powerless. Having said that, the social activist has created another platform called Soulfuel Sundays where he tackles heavier topics such as rape, sexual harassment and bullying with a sense of gravitas in place of his usual humour.
Did you know that July 2 is World UFO Day? Chong Jinn Xiung decided to delve into his fascination with the unknown with a titillating report on the alien phenomenon (“The Sky Isn’t the Limit”, page 32). Now some of us may not be lucky enough to spot any alien spacecraft nor traversing the skies ourselves anytime soon, but we do offer some alternative ways to simulate the feeling of flying, thanks to “The Tatler Guide to Staying Above it All” by Coco Marett (page 168). Meanwhile, Kristy Or explores the dance culture of voguing by tracing its history and evolution in “Life’s a Ball” (page 144).
Ending on a high note, we are delighted to have Daiyan Trisha gracing our July cover. Blessed with a melodious voice, the multitalented singer, songwriter, poet and actress is a big believer in being open to trying new things. Looking at how far she has come and building her brand to what it is today, she is like an unstoppable force but still grounded with the values that her parents had instilled in her. I wish for nothing but the best for her.
I hope you enjoyed the Spontaneity issue and see you next month!