Life is like a Road

Been a while since I wrote something. For once I was not craving anything foody but to just have a moment to write. I have a million things that go through my mind at any one point. Then while at it, I think, will that be blog worthy? Then I have those people who tell me stuff or stories and make sure to note “don’t blog about that”. I wish to say that I don’t blog about everything, unless I think it will influence, inspire or impact knowledge in a positive way to those who pass by my online humble abode. So, in case you’re sharing something that will do either of those then you read my blog and you see it, “I’m sorry, I just had to”.

The other day, the mister and I were driving on the highway. ‘We’ because I am the co-driver, you know we never sit still, we’re always on the look out. Being a new driver on a road can be pretty frustrating though, there’s so much you don’t know about that road, that if you knew, you would reach destination in a jiffy. On a new road you don’t know where the turn in’s and exits are, where the speed bumps, big bumps and zebra crossings are. Every move is a learning experience. Then you record that in your mind and the next time you’re there you manoeuvre like you’re quite the pro. Then other time, given a chance you could drive with your eyes closed or never, but roads never cease to surprise you. You could find that the place you left bumps is now flat but with a bridge built over or some car has stalled or it’s raining heavily and you can’t see clearly. You have to be quite alert at al times while driving, a small mistake could cost you your life or someone else’s life.

So while driving since I diverted from the main story, we missed a turn-in O_O, oh and the mister has never been so frustrated. The ‘why didn’t you tell me earlier of the turning, now we have to go back so far, we need to be alert to avoid missing this turns’. I won’t lie, I was also getting devastated. Not because we’d even missed the turn but because I was worried that he’s too worried about that situation. In my mind (a lot goes in there), there was nothing wrong with that, we were definitely going to get another turning. I was pretty sure the next turning wouldn’t be so far off. Did I make myself look like the good one here? …lol well, not always, I have my negatives. But this time, I was like ‘am sure there’s another turning not so far off, because how did the guys living on the opposite side of the highway get to their homes?’. Then true to the word, there was another turning that got us to the opposite side, to the road that would get us home. Then everything was al-right once again. Despite the wrong turn or rather missing the turn, we got another one that got us right back on track.

Then it got me thinking about life. Sometimes we miss our turn in’s or exits. It could be because we don’t know the road we’re travelling in, it’s a new one and we’ve got to learn it first. We don’t always get it right the first time. For example, for a person who’s just graduated from the University and you’re starting your career. It’s not an easy one, but we all stared there, trust me. It’s like a new road, you know where you want to go, but you need to learn where the turns and exits are, the bumps, the zebra crossing. It’s crazy, it’s scary but the thrill of chasing your dreams is what keeps you going. You could have been on that road for ages and one day, something changes on it, it could be a short cut to home, or a stalled truck, or new bridge…it could be anything. If you are not alert, it could cause you harm or you could lose out on it. If you’re alert it could be a good one for you. For instance you could be in your career for a long time, but one day, you get an opportunity to change your career, life maybe. If you weren’t alert, it fly’s past you and you remain as you were. If you were alert, you get it and it helps you get out of your current situation, it could be to make it better or to evade a problem.

Like vehicles on roads, life is something we can’t avoid. We have to be active in it and find our own special ways of manoeuvring through it despite the different hurdles we have to go through. It could be other vehicles around you competing with you, overtaking, a stalled vehicle, the bumps, the zebra crossing or even the weather (it’s going to be sunny, rainy, foggy, snowy, slippery). But the bottom line is we have to keep moving regardless of the situation to get to our destination.

“Life is like a road. It has bumps, cracks and obstacles, but in the end, it gets you somewhere.” ~ Unknown

In other news, I hope you are having a fab week? Mine’s, well kind of crazy but also full of interesting surprises, that make me want to jump up and down with excitement, but the crazy bit has kept me rooted…lol. I’m just praying that all the things I’ve been working on both in my personal and professional life bring me prosperity in one way or another. Oh not to forget that May is the month of extraordinary giving. The one thing I learnt this Sunday at church is that many of use don’t know how to receive (stop thinking of goodies only). Me being first in line. When someone gives, even God, we should receive and say thank you. Most of us actually say no, shy away or question it. True or False?

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Stuck in a Box?

Yesterday as I was walking home I had one of those moments of deep thought. I was thinking about fear, doubt, indecision and all those things that come to you when you’re supposed to do something that is to some extent out of your comfort zone. It’s like we have as part of our factory settings that function called “FEAR”. This leads you to lack belief in whatever you’re engaging in, doubt that you’ll be able to go through it or even do it, and indecision, you can’t seem to know which direction to take, what to do.

I think this function incapacitates you for a moment. If you allow it, it could be for a life time. It’s like you’re stuck in a box and you think how there’s no life outside it. Or rather how will you manage life outside that box that you’re oh so used to? It’s already comfortable, it’s enough. Then why go ahead and try out something that doesn’t necessarily promise you the comfort of this box? Many of us live inside that box, we do everything in our ability to convince ourselves that that box is all we need and anything past that is not that necessary. But is that the case really?

We humans were born curious but also inherently fearful of things both known and unknown. It’s good when you fear God, but bad when the fear hinders you from exploring your curiosity. It’s that curiosity that will tell you, “that box is growing too small for you” or “there’s something called ‘claustrophobia’ and that box could be the cause”. You know those things that will make you do everything in your ability to want to get out of that box. This box, it’s just not a box. Just think of all those things that you think of or imagine of doing and they make you cringe even at the thought of it. It could be anything.

For instance, the thought of starting my thesis gave me the total creeps. I wondered about the topic, where I will get the research stuff, how I will write it up, how I will defend it, how I will do the questionnaires, how I will analyze them and finally how I’ll defend the final thesis. It was all about the why’s, where’s and how’s. Surprisingly, I am past half the trouble. I tell you the fear is real, up until you remove the doubt and make that decision that gets you out of your comfort zone and work at make those things work for you. That’s just one example. There are so many others things or situations that still get me thinking, “hmmm, how will I even do that or how will I get there.”

Are you stuck in a box and wondering how you could ever kick yourself out of it? Just do it, Nike couldn’t have said it better. Outside the box will at some point become inside the box once you adapt to it. You build comfort over time. Then you’re at your curious stage once again, where you get bigger than the box. It’s a vicious cycle.

I highly doubt there’s a point someone will be completely at peace in their comfort zone, even at the point of self-actualization (recall Maslow’s hierarchy of needs). We’re always looking for more successful, more satisfying, more and more things. Your wanting list grows exponentially. If that’s the case, is it fit to be called a comfort zone? It doesn’t seem so comfortable after all, because even when we think it is, we’re yearning for more comfort as we chase what’s outside our box.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Of Roses and Love

It’s about sharing, being selfless, forgiving and looking beyond our weaknesses and flaws. These are the few things that make us love less or even not like the day that gives the slightest hint of love. Love is a beautiful thing, and it doesn’t mean because I say that it doesn’t have its downside. Oh, it does. Once you expose yourself to it, it’s like you’re lying in the middle of the road hoping no truck runs you down. Or handing out your heart to someone and hoping they handle it with care.

What are the chances are that a truck will run you down but there’s one that will notice that there’s something that’s making you do this, and they get off to find out what it is before taking figuring out what to do with you. What are the chances that they’ll squash your heart, because it either doesn’t fit into their hand well, or it fits well but at first they’ll have some trouble as they could squash your heart a little here and there not because they want to hurt you, but because they’re trying to figure out to handle it, then with time, they know how to handle it with the care it deserves.

Basically, love has it moments. When it’s so rosy, that all you can do is smell it and smile with the world because of how good it makes you feel. When it’s so thorny, that all it does is poke you and make you pout because of how sad it makes you feel.

Love endures it all. It’s in the beauty of the rose petals and the harshness of the thorns that makes a rose what is, a beautiful flower. It’s also through the feel-good moments and the pouting moments, that makes love what is, true love. So you could be smelling the roses or being poked by thorns, but as long as you have love, you’re doing it right. Also remember it’s all about sharing, being selfless, forgiving and looking beyond your flaws.

A rose doesn’t impact anyone unless its shared (given out), it’s not so much that it’s a rose but it’s what it make you feel when you receive it, you won’t see it’s beauty unless you forgive it for having thorns that could poke you and despite its color, shape, number of petals it remains a rose and that’s what people see.

Happy Valentine’s Day Fellas and Ladies! On that note, I got a surprise I wasn’t quite expecting … YUMMERS! Some Belgium Chocolates and delish cupcakes, man got game! I was totally caught off-guard. If I was to give him brownie points for this, he gets 25 points for catching me off-guard, considering he’s the anti-valentines day kind of guy I’m thinking yeah right…lol, am sure he went out of his usual way to make a girl happy, then 50 points for making me feel special.

Lastly, 5 points for no roses, they give me the creeps. I can’t handle that attention the bouquet comes with, unless I don’t have to carry them around or we’re getting them for aesthetics. What do you think of this day by the way. Are you anti or pro Valentine’s Day? and of roses?

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Looking for Inspiration?

We look for all inspiration from what we do, hear, say, see ain’t it? Just like when we pluck an eye lush or see a lonely star (save for a shooting star) or blow the candle(s) on the birthday cake, we actually make that wish hoping with all our fingers and toes crossed that it will come true. At least I genuinely do. I met with my baby sister yesterday (though it happens every other day now that she’s doing something in the CBD as she waits to enter campus and boy isn’t she demanding…lol), a mid my busy schedule *cough cough* I can actually afford to say that without flinching, and I was telling her, “It would be nice if I could make lots of money without having to work so hard.”  Of course we laughed it off, I mean, like seriously?!

Source

So after she lays down her case as to why I should take her for lunch, this was done in a professional way mind you, these kids. We go for lunch, chit chats and all, watch her gobble down everything ha ha, and when I go back to the office, I think of that statement I’d brushed off earlier as a joke. We actually do look for inspiration? In all cracks and crevices, in people and things both existent and non-existent. As we look for it, our hopes are raised for a moment there and we feel like we’re close to grabbing it or getting it right. Then something slaps us back to reality or gets us to strike that iron while it’s still hot. The thing with inspiration, just like excitement, is that it dies out faster than you can squeal, “yaaay”. So you really have to be with it, take it and use it before it escapes you.

How we cling on to that source of inspiration we have instantaneously connected with such that the moment it doesn’t appeal to you as had expected it to you end up feeling disappointed, let down, too expectant and all things related. Like when you get the slightest form of criticism you crawl back into your shell, or when no one gives a helping hand, you feel bad. It’s human, am human, it happens to me. It’s because you are depending on that source to give you the energy to start that thing you’ve been dying to do, or that thing that needs to be done but psyche to do it is negative, more like that spark that will start the fire.

But what’s a spark without a purpose or without anything to fuel it? It will eventually go off or just keep sparking and doing nothing. Give that spark life, something to make it develop into a flame or a fire. You are the one who decides what you want it to be based on what you want it to do. Do you want it to cook, warm you up, give light, burn stuff? That spark is your inspiration, it’s better when it catches you working, then it gives you psyche, and not catching you off guard because then it won’t be of use. It’s the spark that’s the source of inspiration for the fire that follows, and it has to work its way into creating a fire that will last long enough to serve its purpose. This could be by having enough gas, fanning or blowing it so as to expose the fire/heat.

Inspiration is not magic or some voodoo,  it’s there with you, you just need to cultivate it. When you look for it, chances are that it will elude you. So you just do your thing, find within you the energy or zeal to do what it is that you’re dying to do, inspiration will find you. I say this because many times, am caught in the endless search for inspiration, I want to sit there and still find it, of course that never happens. I find that I have to start the task then somewhere mid-way I am so in to it, that the passion and desire to get it done overwhelms me, I equate that to my inspiration. The people that help you while at it, give a hand or two, give you positive sentiments, criticism, that’s inspiration. The abstract things that you place your hope on while you do your task, those wishes, those expectations, the unfounded thoughts, that’s inspiration.

You don’t find inspiration, it finds you!

You don’t find inspiration, inspiration finds you! Feels like a Chuck Norris statement.

Inspiration has its source in the oddest of forms, but as long as you experience it. Isn’t that what matters? Besides that, is there something you’ve been dying to do and you just didn’t have that psyche for doing it? Now is the time to start, then along the way, Mr (Mrs). Inspiration will catch up with you.

Pink always wins me over with her music (kind of relates to what I was saying, but from another perspective) and weirdness. How do you like this one? Can you believe it’s just 15th January, how’s it that time is flying, but when you look at the calendar the days are dragging. Is it just me or have you made that observations? I guess that’s how January rolls, but we need to cramp its style sometime. Maybe 2014.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Simple Pleasures

Thursday people where you at? One of those day’s you are overcome by a sudden rush of happiness that you can’t quite fathom but you can almost put a finger to the things that make you feel such. You know those things that in their simple state, just for being what they are bring you so much pleasure. No, they don’t have to try so hard, they don’t have to change their state to make you feel over the moon. It’s like you loving water as it is, it doesn’t have to freeze to become ice for you to enjoy it or boil to evaporation to show you that it has potential.

Sometimes we take these things for granted. Sometimes knowingly or unknowingly. Why not take sometime to identify some of them and just bring them to light. Yeah, that’s what I thought to myself and I shall do just that. Here a few of my favorite things (reminds me of the old classic “Sound of Music”, I want to re-watch it):

○ Flavored pancakes or french toasts (is it me or or do men make these stuff better, bf does)

○ Carrot bites and their crunchiness (crunch crunch crunch! I see better, kidding, but there’s something about chewing on carrots)

○ Crisps and a sip of Ribena (divine)

○ Nice home cooked meal (I’m not so choosy, as long as it’s delish)

○ Family meet ups (there’s so much to catch up on)

○ Road trip jokes and laughter (Medal goes to the folks, those two are the funniest people I have ever met…not kidding by the way, they complement each others jokes so it becomes even funnier)

○ Kodak moments (just posing for the flash, wasssuuuuup!)

○ Long hot showers (I wish my hair was water friendly, there’s a niceness in the water running through your hair and to your face, for now shower caps will just do)

○ Spongy “melt-in-your-mouth” cakes (And you wonder why I love birthdays)

○ One nice movie (research shows that there’s a high probability that I’ll sleep on the second one…lol)

○ Poker during a power black out (you should try this out, you forget there’s a black out and you curse K.P.L.C less, fun times)

Those are just a few, thought I would list them to just remind myself how lucky I am despite the stresses of life. We have so much more to smile about every other day and we fail to realise that. What are some of your simple pleasures?

Quote of the day

It’s Thursday, that day if you haven’t said your thank you’s or been truthful you get the chance to. Give thanks and be truthful to yourself and to others. Tomorrow is Friday, wooptidooo!

Signing off  ~~~ *Kawi*

Beating Ugly Days

Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all? *bites lip and awaits response anxiously*

Not such a fair response today, says the mirror, you look hideous! Ha ha, don’t we all have those days that you just feel unattractive. Like if you could avoid all human contact and just land on your desk work all day and drop back to your house, that would be awesome.

It always starts once your alarm rings and you have to drag yourself out of bed. Jump into the shower before your brain suggests other things like, snoozing and sleeping a little more like a boss. Then you’re out of the shower and you’re trying to figure out what to wear but it looks like your wardrobe has a malfunction and out of the tonnes of clothes you own, none seems right for the day. Looking at the mirror, your hair is a mess, there’s a surprise zit on your forehead or nose, it could be small but at that point it looks HUGE. More like Gollum’s ugly for those who have watched Lord of the rings, when he says, “My precious”…lol, yuck!

You feel me though, it happens. How to get over such days? I actually figured that day out. Once you realize that that’s what you’re going through, it’s not a sickness but a feeling that’s bound to disappear, you’re good to go. At least you can be sure to try turn it around at some point in the day. Here are some of the tips that I have :

Dressing:

Wear a combination you have worn before. Something that looked good on you once upon a time, that made you look and feel beautiful. You need to have that attire prepared in advance for such days or if not, you should’ve crammed it. That’s not the day to explore the attires you have in your wardrobe, because with that feeling you could just choose the most hideous clothes for real.

Confidence:

Raise your confidence on a scale of 1 to 10, 10 being high confidence to about an 8. Because you really need it, should someone tell you something that would lower your esteem, your tank is still full of esteem. Yes, it’s an ugly day, but that doesn’t mean your confidence has also rioted, make sure it’s on full tank. You are still you, live it up!

Conversations:

Engage in conversations that make you forget how you feel or think you look. Talk about other pressing issues, it could be political, social, economic, technical anything that doesn’t involve you and your current feelings. You could just drag someone else into your ditch if you go on about your feelings.

Thoughts:

You’re beautiful even in your ugly days, you pretty much look the same as the other days just that on this day your hormones are telling you lies. So get off your pity party and re-direct your  thoughts to other sectors of your life where they are needed. Think happy thoughts (like seriously).

Activities:

Laugh, walk, talk, read, work, eat, write e.t.c. Basically do things that distract your thoughts. That keep you away from thinking how damned you are or how bad your day is. Avoid negative energies by all means, stay positive.

Mirror:

Please still look at the mirror. Make sure you’re clean and smelling fresh, clothes are all intact and well-fitting ( just because it zips doesn’t mean it fits…lol) had to put that line somewhere. Hair is well-combed, body is oiled, you know the usual. You’ll be surprised that only you thinks that you’re ugly on that day. That’s the day you get random complements of how nice you look.

Compliments:

Appreciate them, don’t doubt them. If someone tells you you look good, it’s because you look good. Believe them. Don’t also miss out on a chance to tell someone else they look good or they have something nice when they do. Compliments have a way of making someone feel good about themselves. This one could be your good deed of the day.

These are just but a few ways to handle your “ugly days”, they don’t last long. Its life is as short as how fast you snap yourself out of your cranky mood.

It’s Thursday, that day if you haven’t said your thank you’s or been truthful you get the chance to. Give thanks and be truthful to yourself and to others. While at it, have a Thrilling Thursday.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Simple…Gets Me

Do you ever find yourself attracted to the simplicity of the components of the world? To be honest, simplicity totally wows me and certain complexities put me off. I respect the people who’ve did rocket science, seeing as that’s the epitome of all complexities. Maybe, I should just start by explaining what I mean by simplicity so that we can be on the same chain of thought. We don’t want many dangling and cluttering chains now do we? One is good enough for now.

 

Simplicity is the property, condition, or quality of being simple or un-combined. It often denotes beauty, purity, or clarity. Simple things are usually easier to explain and understand than complicated ones. It is also a term used to denote candor, guilelessness, innocence, straightforwardness, and freedom from duplicity. Source

Simple doesn’t mean stooping low or aiming for average, it means that you’re able to enjoy whatever it is you have and make the most out of it in the best way you know. It seems like the easiest thing even by saying it, but I tend to think it’s one of the hardest things to actually attain. And if you do, then you’re definitely doing something right.

Funny how we sometimes get embarrassed by simplicity no? but in complete honesty, isn’t that the moment you’re at your happiest?It’s when you’re completely yourself because you don’t have to pick your brain so much on whatever it is you’re doing or saying, it just flows. Imagine picking your brain literally like with a pin, the harder you think, the more painful it becomes.

Ever  met someone and pull a, “he’s such a simple guy”. I am guilty of saying that so to say. What I mean is that, the person is not too uptight and they’re free around people hence making it easier to deal with them. Now I get why Leonardo da Vinci said that, “Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication.” I can actually relate.

“I was particularly won over by his sweet disposition, by his general kindness, by his simplicity, and by his friendliness” ~ Louis de Broglie, on the character of Albert Einstein

Sometimes you wonder what about you gets other people, I think your simplicity does. Once that’s done, everything else is pretty much a breeze. Making people try to know a lil’ about you by having them crack their brains doesn’t quite cut it. You end up looking and sounding cold when you want in the end is to create an aura of warmth. After all, it’s never that serious and you don’t have to try so hard…you just have to be you and that’s what simplicity is about.

Do what makes you happy not what makes others happy. If they really care about you, then what makes you happy will eventually make them happy. That’s how you measure who’s important and who’s important…lol and no, that’s not a typographical error.

Now that was with regard to people, but while you’re wondering about people, you could also wonder about gadgets. Then still while at it, you could probably compare. You like gadgets that make life much easier, basically that are more than functional. But don’t you like it when the functional bit is displayed in a way that’s user-friendly, in a way that you’ll understand what step to take next? Yes, no? I am one of those people who look for an interface I can understand, that’s simple. I think simple is beautiful, apple products speak for themselves, need I say more? (May God rest Steve Jobs in peace, I hope he turned and smiled in his grave…).

Don’t forget to be true to yourself,  to others and to say thank you. It’s Thursday, that day when if you forget to do that every other day of the week, Thursday’s give you that opportunity to be Thankful and Truthful.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Never Meant To Be

There’s something called ‘accepting and moving on swiftly’. Yes, sometimes you have to create motto’s for yourself to abide by or you’ll forever be caught in situations that leave your heart frustrated but in essence they are completely out of your control. There’s just nothing you can do, if it’s not meant to be, it’s just not meant to be. There’s no better way to sugar coat it.

Credits

Think of it like we are puppets and there’s the puppeteer. Up there the puppeteer manipulates the objects with the bars and strings. Then for this two objects (the puppets), there’s that one bar that totally keeps the them apart so no matter what they do to come together, the efforts are futile. Oh tell me you have not experienced this and you must either be a lucky one or there’s something wrong somewhere.

You know how you meet someone and you hit it off from the beginning. Much to talk about, much in common and all those mush things. I mean, you even end up really liking the person and get ideas. But there’s a problem, in as much all this looks and feels amazing there’s something missing. Well, I don’t know what because at that particular time, you’re thinking it’s something that could actually work out. At the same time, there’s that one thing or two that as small as they seem makes you think nah, let’s give it time and see.

As you give it time and try to work against those odds of being together, you just don’t seem to understand each other at a certain point. It just doesn’t work out because there’s always something going wrong, someone trying too hard, it could be from one side or from both. It’s like the puppeteer is trying to give you signs but you’re trying your best to ignore them. The more you try to be together, the more apart you get for some strange reason. Yes, it’s that bar not the place, but the object that’s keeping you apart. Maybe nothing about you is actually compatible like you thought. You’re just working with feelings and the bar is acting as the middle man trying to prevent you from getting yourself into trouble, from heart aches and other related issues.

I know right, that’s how it makes sense best. Sometimes you just need to obey nature. If it clearly shows you something won’t work and your gut feeling to some extent tells you the same, as difficult as it may seem, listen and obey. I mean even magnets don’t attract everything you know, if anything ” like poles repel and unlike poles attract each other”. Thank God for the options of friends, that’s one of the ways you get friend zoned. Plus I don’t think it’s malice or anything, friendship is a good thing and you know as a person, you can’t be emotionally attached to everyone, it’s only reserved for one person really. So as you can see, the friend zone is not such a bad zone after all. At least you’re indirectly or directly involved in someones life anyway.

The problem with people is when they take this the wrong way and you become enemies, which in my case doesn’t cut it, actually, I would find that lame. If your live by certain codes then ‘it’s never that serious’ does really make a lot of sense. If it’s not working out, just be a normal friends and lead a normal life…the phrase ‘it’s easier said than done’, doesn’t work here because it’s actually easier said and done as well. Did you know keeping enemies is a task all together? It’s actually much easier to keep a friend than to keep an enemy, because with enemies you have to pretend so much. No talking, no smiling, no jokes, no laughter, loads of tension…yikes too much! It’s never that serious.

Oi it’s mid week … a few days to Friday, keep strong! Have a productive week and strive to do something awesome, blessings!

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

Under My Wing

And you wonder what that is about. There’s that one thing or two that you always keep under your wing. That which if you didn’t have you’ll be one sad babe. Sometimes it’s what keeps you going on or sane when we feel like things are falling apart, not going our way or they just don’t make sense at all.

Yes, I’m that babe right there. Positivity is what’s always under my wing. That’s how I make out the things that happen to me. Sometimes I just want to breakdown but then I think there must be a reason why this is happening this way. I’m one of those people who solely believe that there’s a time for everything and there’s a reason why something is happening at that particular time and not another, be it bad or good.

Who’s watched that series touch? (you should try it out, that’s besides the point though). Well mine’s nothing mathematical, definitely no numbers. I still think calculus was invented by sadist. Surely, who makes sense out of it, I mean past getting the solution. At no point in my life have I made use of calculus other than my math class and the exam room. Also, neither do I predict what’s going to happen, but I usually have a hunch for things, I feel like things or people are connected in one way or another. Like what happens to you will affect what will happen to another directly or indirectly. Like one persons blessing could be another persons curse kind of thing. You know that far-fetched feeling of how something will turn out, which I can bet everyone has. Sometimes you can even tell what you’re getting yourself into, but you dive in just because it’s a new experience, different scenario and so on.

When you get yourself into something, you always get into it with the expectation that the results are going to be positive … no? In my case, I usually do. By the time I convince myself that I’m going to do this, regardless of how sketchy it seems I always want it to work out for the best. Question is what if it doesn’t? Because situations change, people change, feelings change, ideas change, expectations change, thoughts change … it’s a dynamic world out there, by all means. So what? Do you sit there and cry yourself to sleep or have a pity party? Ummm no, I think the world has taught me better than that.

Those negative things that happen, try seeing them in positive light. Like maybe if it didn’t happen like that it would’ve deterred something better from happening. Yes, I’m best at consolations. Actually, coming to think of it, I must be the worst to come to with an issue, because I won’t really sympathize with you…lol I’m the kind of person who will give you ideologies. Tell you that it’s a good thing that you actually went through that. Lesson learnt right? Like it or not it is. It’s for you to take it in or just brush it off and probably go through the same thing again and feel the very same way.

There’s a blessing in every lesson ~ India Arie

After all, it’s not always sunshine even Mother Nature knows well enough to bring in the rain. It’s for us to find the good in it (says the girl who doesn’t like the rain). As much as the rains brings disasters it comes with goodies as well else you wouldn’t be munching on those fresh and juicy veggies and fruits.

Quote of the day

Isn’t this just beyond cute? O_o You know, it’s really childish … “cookies”  such a cute representation of all those petty things that we guys fight over … C’mon now it’s never that serious.  (ha ha did I say cute twice? but it really is)

Wonderful Wednesday … 4 day weeks always feel different. I like it how we disregard the other 3 days, like we’ll be doing nothing but just feet up on couch all day and just watch movies #wishes. Enjoy!

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*

On Biting and Chewing

When I was a kid I was a pretty poor eater, believe it or not. As much as I love food right now still a slow eater though, the most dreaded times of the day must’ve been meal times. Sure enough it wasn’t the best time for our then house-help either, because it was a battle of wills. Her putting food into my mouth by force and me reluctantly swallowing it. Day in day out, that was meal time for us. Sometimes she would use some frightening tactics to get me to swallow the food in my mouth and take another bite. It was crazy I tell you, now that I think of it.

Sometimes, I would not swallow the food and the help would just add another spoon full over the one I had, so I would have swollen cheeks and trust me it used to get tiring, so I would just own up and swallow the food all together, plus it became tasteless anyway and spitting it was a crime. finishing the food in your plate was an unwritten house rule. I can bet for most kids it was…yah? That’s my story. Ha ha we’ve come from far you see.

 

Basically I was like this squirrel here, only difference is that mine wasn’t voluntary. But we’re not kids forever, thank God. I grew up and eating became more of a voluntary activity. I would know how much my body needs, how much can fit in my mouth, what I want and don’t want to eat and knowing what’s enough.

Anyhow, what got me thinking of this little childhood tale was a little phrase that I loosely use when I am trying to regulate myself. You know when you have so much yummy food in front of you and you just want to gobble it all up but you have to take a spoon at a time. Ever been in such a situation. Oh for the love of good food, a million times. Sometimes I just serve a huge portion out of pure greed, thinking that I will eat, eat and eat.

Then mid-eating, you get really full, really full that it becomes uncomfortable. The food eventually becomes boring and the thought of it gives you the eew’s and aahh’s, do I have to really eat any more? Ever wondered why they serves small portions in hotels? Now is when it makes sense. I wonder if this is their reason though or they’re cutting through the budget…lol

That’s what life exactly does to us. Sometimes it just presents us with a buffet of food and we’re supposed to serve our plate in portions that will help satisfy us at particular meal times (meal times being the different stages of our lives). There will always be food it’s for us to know how much we want to serve, what’s enough for us and so on. Life gives us so much that we want to just take it all up without even putting some thought into it.

It all looks so edible and like you just can’t get enough of it. So we start-up with so much energy, zeal. And although it’s quite exciting and motivating as we start off, its important to keep the energy level balanced so you don’t fade halfway through, or even earlier. Sometimes we do get greedy or too enthusiastic that we end up taking on more than we might actually be willing to handle. Then with time it starts becoming overwhelming, tiring and you lose the motivation you had when you were starting up. That’s what we call, ‘biting more than we can chew‘.

It’s necessary to know how much we have on our plate, how much we can handle and what where we are willing to say, “you know for now this is enough and I’ll take up the rest a bit later”. When we are handed over a plate in our lives, of course not the real plate, this could come in the form of an opportunity, a challenge, a situation. It is important to pace ourselves.

Look at the situation logically and set realistic goals for yourself. It’s tempting to just take everything at once and try to sort it out, but there is no need to overwhelm yourself with tasks just because the moment strikes.

Set your pace. Everyone is different. What works for one person won’t necessarily work for you. How you take up a challenge is different from how someone else will take it up. You can check out how you’ve worked on previous challenges, what worked and what didn’t. Learn from your past experiences. No one beats teacher Experience. He was actually crowned the best of all times, no one has replaced him yet.

You can psychoanalyse yourself by trying to find out if  you often get motivated and take on too much too soon just because you’re excited about the prospects? Look at it logically and intentionally cut those tasks in half. No one is going to be able to set your pace but yourself because everyone runs on different energy levels.

If you do get overwhelmed and feel yourself quickly fading, take a step back and re-evaluate your priorities. Set a pace that works for you. This will leave you feeling both accomplished and reserved at the end of the day. Lighten up on yourself. Sometimes we often set our sights too high, and in turn bite off more than we can chew. After all, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step, at least they didn’t say that they guy took a step and completed the a thousand miles at once, that would’ve been depressing. So it could be a slow move, but if it’s getting you somewhere, you’re definitely NOT doing it wrong.

Quote of the day

Find Your Calm … Bite off what you can chew and save the leftovers for another meal

—-> Felt like adding, it’s never that serious really. That unwritten rule that you have to finish the food on your plate. It comes a time when you don’t have to it’s healthier to stop when you feel full, store the left overs well and take them up once the other food has been digested.

Signing Off ~~~ *Kawi*