"Life itself is the most wonderful fairy tale."
— Hans Christian Andersen

April 2nd marks the birth of arguably the greatest storyteller ever lived. Born in 1805 in Odense, Denmark, Hans Christian Andersen always considered himself an outsider. And so his plays, novels, and especially his fairy tales are populated by outsiders, some of whom do not live happily ever after.

And that may just be the true reflection of life - that not everyone ages gracefully in the comfort of their own homes, soaked in bliss and surrounded by their loved ones. Often, life is harsh, bitter and cruel. When the essence of survival lies in adaptability, how firm can one be grounded to our beliefs and values in spite of the evolutionising world?

Undeniably, people change through the experiences gained over age. Telling a plain lie might seem like a terrible offence as a kid; one that renders a painful spanking as punishment and hours facing the wall reflectng on bad behaviour. But as one matures, telling a white lie might in turn become a good thing - after all, since the lie is white there must be a reason for telling it, right? Values shift over time.

As a Christian, the Bible is supposed to keep me grounded. But I failed. Life itself is a strife but living a God-fearing life is harder. Temptations in all forms are everywhere. And sadly I can't defend myself.

I think the best i can do now is just to pray.