We are afraid of the wrong things, and for good reason. The only things that we are more afraid of than the things we don't know and understand are the things that we are told are bad for us. Even more than that, what makes us shake in our boots is things that we have experienced that still haunt us.
For people my age (21) that spectrum is huge. It ranges from drug usage and heartbreak to the fear of being like our parents. At the make or break point of our lives we are at the point where we have experienced enough bad things to make us live in a more cautious manner but still there is so much that we haven't done that scares us.
And telling the wrong from the right is probably the biggest challenge. Once you can do this it is almost safe to say you have made the transition to being a mature adult. So until we have reached that point we should be scared of the unknown.
So what are the wrong things? Do we listen to our parents? Maybe the rest of our family? Or possibly our friends?
Well at the end of the day it is your life and you are the person that has to deal with the aftermath of every decision. So I would say find your area of common ground between what you hear, what you know and what your gut feeling tells you.
And by all means be scared, fear is your mind's way of telling you that you should be careful.
Monday, March 21, 2011
I will be one with the Absa Cape Epic!
With 6 days to go till the Absa Cape Epic the excitement is building! I never thought I would be saying this but I am officially a cycling fanatic.
Working closely with the riders and the crew of the race has a way of turning even a 'sport sceptic' like myself into one of those people at the sidelines that scream frantically when an athlete passes.
So for those of you that I have realised how amazing the race is (not even mentioning the participants)here are the days you do not want to miss:
27 March 2011- The race kicks off the a prologue in Tokai Forest, part of Table Mountain National Park.
31 March 2011- the time trial in Worcester.
3 April 2011- The final stage of the Absa Cape Epic ending at Lourensford Wine Estate.
Share in the legend and join us. I will be in the media room, making sure you are updated.
Working closely with the riders and the crew of the race has a way of turning even a 'sport sceptic' like myself into one of those people at the sidelines that scream frantically when an athlete passes.
So for those of you that I have realised how amazing the race is (not even mentioning the participants)here are the days you do not want to miss:
27 March 2011- The race kicks off the a prologue in Tokai Forest, part of Table Mountain National Park.
31 March 2011- the time trial in Worcester.
3 April 2011- The final stage of the Absa Cape Epic ending at Lourensford Wine Estate.
Share in the legend and join us. I will be in the media room, making sure you are updated.
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Why is everyone so stressed?
Everyone in Cape Town is stressed out!
It's like you can feel it when you look at the old man in the sports car standing next to you at the robot trying to clinch some sort of deal over his BlackBerry so he won't have to downgrade and possibly drive a Cherry QQ.
It's like you can see it at Pick n Pay when a mother walks past with a carefully selected trolly of items, each checked for the lowest price in its category. Her eyes hav bags under them and she need a new hand bag.
So after you read this you think, as I thought that it must be about money. Yes money is a huge part of the stress but another factor is time. We have so much more things we have to do in the same amount of time.
We have to work twice as hard to go on holiday half as many times, and with half as many friends as last year. Our jobs have been merged, you are now doing things that are not included in your profession because we all just figure we have to do what it takes. Outside the work place parents have to protect their children from more and provide them with more. And in one in every two households a single mother under the age of 22 has to wonder how she will manage to take care of the future of her child and her own.
So faster pace, more work and less money- anyone feel a crash coming? No never, we don't crash, we just keep doing what we need to do, the race is far from over and the stress is only beginning.
Another assignment, sure. Petrol price hike, why not? We take all of these things in our stride instead of trying to change them. Then we wonder why we are so stressed- it is because there is a thin line between greed and happiness and we are walking on it.
Why not live with less this year? Why not stay at home over the holiday time with your family? And why on earth do you need a new car or a touch screen blackberry? Sure your children can eat bread everyday....they are kids.
So why are we all so stressed...because we allow these things to consume our lives, to dictate who we are. Each person needs to look in the mirror and say "I am more than this" and consider the things you stress about very carefully- is every single one of them worth it?
It's like you can feel it when you look at the old man in the sports car standing next to you at the robot trying to clinch some sort of deal over his BlackBerry so he won't have to downgrade and possibly drive a Cherry QQ.
It's like you can see it at Pick n Pay when a mother walks past with a carefully selected trolly of items, each checked for the lowest price in its category. Her eyes hav bags under them and she need a new hand bag.
So after you read this you think, as I thought that it must be about money. Yes money is a huge part of the stress but another factor is time. We have so much more things we have to do in the same amount of time.
We have to work twice as hard to go on holiday half as many times, and with half as many friends as last year. Our jobs have been merged, you are now doing things that are not included in your profession because we all just figure we have to do what it takes. Outside the work place parents have to protect their children from more and provide them with more. And in one in every two households a single mother under the age of 22 has to wonder how she will manage to take care of the future of her child and her own.
So faster pace, more work and less money- anyone feel a crash coming? No never, we don't crash, we just keep doing what we need to do, the race is far from over and the stress is only beginning.
Another assignment, sure. Petrol price hike, why not? We take all of these things in our stride instead of trying to change them. Then we wonder why we are so stressed- it is because there is a thin line between greed and happiness and we are walking on it.
Why not live with less this year? Why not stay at home over the holiday time with your family? And why on earth do you need a new car or a touch screen blackberry? Sure your children can eat bread everyday....they are kids.
So why are we all so stressed...because we allow these things to consume our lives, to dictate who we are. Each person needs to look in the mirror and say "I am more than this" and consider the things you stress about very carefully- is every single one of them worth it?
Fish falling from the sky...never gona happen?
So is fish falling from the sky the most impossible thing that could ever happen? It is pretty damn close. I mean really what are the chances of you walking down your own road, as you always do and a half dead hake falls on your new shoes?
As impossible and unrealistic as it sounded to me I thought I would have a look and see if this has ever occured.
What I found was interesting. In 2000 there was literally a rain fall of fish over a farming community in Ethopia. Although the event scared the local farmers, who were all of strong Christian faith, members of the community questioned the explanation.
Scientists explain 'animal rain' such as this as the result of tornadoes, severe storms and water spouts, but then why are there no other elements of the environment raining down? Such as the frogs, twigs and small organisms that were with the fish before it was so unexpectedly plucked from it's environment?
Where am I going with this? That although we think that we know what to expect from life fish rain from the sky, not always literally, but the impossible can and does happen and when you expect it the least.
Always be prepared- had those Ethopian farmers known what was coming they could have seized the oppertunity and collected fish for their family. Does this sound like your life? Missing out on things beacause you didnt see them coming?
And finally- never estimate the world we live in. You might just walk down your own road today and something you didnt expect might just be in your path- hopefully it is better than a fish.
As impossible and unrealistic as it sounded to me I thought I would have a look and see if this has ever occured.
What I found was interesting. In 2000 there was literally a rain fall of fish over a farming community in Ethopia. Although the event scared the local farmers, who were all of strong Christian faith, members of the community questioned the explanation.
Scientists explain 'animal rain' such as this as the result of tornadoes, severe storms and water spouts, but then why are there no other elements of the environment raining down? Such as the frogs, twigs and small organisms that were with the fish before it was so unexpectedly plucked from it's environment?
Where am I going with this? That although we think that we know what to expect from life fish rain from the sky, not always literally, but the impossible can and does happen and when you expect it the least.
Always be prepared- had those Ethopian farmers known what was coming they could have seized the oppertunity and collected fish for their family. Does this sound like your life? Missing out on things beacause you didnt see them coming?
And finally- never estimate the world we live in. You might just walk down your own road today and something you didnt expect might just be in your path- hopefully it is better than a fish.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The beauty of change
How many of us can say that in any point in our lives we have really changed for another person? How many of us think we have changed only to look back and see the same old you?
Well not to long ago that was me, swearing that I would change, that I would be better and I would bring love into people's lives that would make their lives as complete as it would make mine- but alas now that I look back there was no change, there was just me using the same amount of energy to convince everyone (including myself) that this time it was not the same.
As sad as that realisation was it was nessesary- it made me see what I was doing and what I had to do should I really want to change my life.
And change is hard! Much harder than I had expected! It was not just my habits that had to change but who I was as a person, my character, my personality. And now half way through I am looking back and starting to see the change, starting to love the change. I have a long way to go but the first step is always the hardest and I have done that. Now you ask what if I should fail? Well then I just have to get up and start all over again- the beauty of change, of becoming a better person is worth it.
Now I feel I deserve the things in my life, deserve the smiles that greet me everyday and deserve the love of a person.
The beauty of change is simply amazing!
Well not to long ago that was me, swearing that I would change, that I would be better and I would bring love into people's lives that would make their lives as complete as it would make mine- but alas now that I look back there was no change, there was just me using the same amount of energy to convince everyone (including myself) that this time it was not the same.
As sad as that realisation was it was nessesary- it made me see what I was doing and what I had to do should I really want to change my life.
And change is hard! Much harder than I had expected! It was not just my habits that had to change but who I was as a person, my character, my personality. And now half way through I am looking back and starting to see the change, starting to love the change. I have a long way to go but the first step is always the hardest and I have done that. Now you ask what if I should fail? Well then I just have to get up and start all over again- the beauty of change, of becoming a better person is worth it.
Now I feel I deserve the things in my life, deserve the smiles that greet me everyday and deserve the love of a person.
The beauty of change is simply amazing!
What colour is the wind?
The wind, like life is something that cannot be categorised in one colour. Both of them, as unpredictable as they are have the power to turn our seemingly normal existence into something that we struggle to recognise.
Now some of you may beg to differ- surely there must be black wind. Tornadoes and hurricanes that are by definition destructive, but even these are events that have been labeled by us as negative.
The wind has so many different colours- just like life we cannot draw the line between black and white and so much is left as grey. There are your bright colours in the middle, life's treasured moments that will always be there to inspire us. Some are coloured red for love and passion while others hold blue, tranquility and contentment. And some days are just brown- just another day that will pass us by, not different to anything else in our lives.
So the trick is to find the right combination in your wind and your life. Phrases like paint with all the colours of the wind (Vanessa Williams- Pocahantas the movie) and the colour of love (Boys II Men single)come to mind as I realise that these people have done exactly that.
So today I am starting my day off trying to incorporate each colour into my life...trying to live each day in red, yellow, blue, red and any other colour that comes my way.
Now some of you may beg to differ- surely there must be black wind. Tornadoes and hurricanes that are by definition destructive, but even these are events that have been labeled by us as negative.
The wind has so many different colours- just like life we cannot draw the line between black and white and so much is left as grey. There are your bright colours in the middle, life's treasured moments that will always be there to inspire us. Some are coloured red for love and passion while others hold blue, tranquility and contentment. And some days are just brown- just another day that will pass us by, not different to anything else in our lives.
So the trick is to find the right combination in your wind and your life. Phrases like paint with all the colours of the wind (Vanessa Williams- Pocahantas the movie) and the colour of love (Boys II Men single)come to mind as I realise that these people have done exactly that.
So today I am starting my day off trying to incorporate each colour into my life...trying to live each day in red, yellow, blue, red and any other colour that comes my way.
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