Wednesday 29 October 2014

The Blogging Challenge.

So, I'm on a 30 day blogging challenge.
I accepted the challenge, because I believe we can do anything we put our mind to. 
I like to stretch myself and see how far I can go. I like to break limits.
I like to do that which most people consider difficult or even impossible, for my Momma taught me that impossible is, indeed, nothing.
And those who know me will tell you that I do like the sound of a challenge. 
So, I'm going to be writing for the next 30 days. 
Nonstop.
After which, we'll go for a 90 day stretch.
Sharing the inspirations and lessons I have learnt and the ones I'm still learning.
I invite you to join me on this journey and share your own inspirations and life's lessons with us. 

Sunday 26 October 2014

Words To Live By. 2


  • No matter how you feel, get up, dress up, and show up.
  • Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful. 
  • Life is too short for long pity parties. Don't attend one and don't host one. 
  • However good or bad a situation is, it will change. 
  • Stand up to bullies. You’ll only have to do it once. 
  • If you’ve made your point, shut up and stop talking. 
  • Be kind. Everyone has a hard fight ahead of them. 
  • Make peace with your past so it won't screw up the present. 
  • Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
  • If you want to be anything, just do it.

Thursday 23 October 2014

Words To Live By 1


  • No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
  • The best is yet to come.
  • Believe in miracles. They do happen. 
  • Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
  • Love yourself first. Then love others.
  • Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.
  • Forgive everyone everything, and that includes you.
  • Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
  • Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
  • What other people think of you is none of your business.

Monday 20 October 2014

Respect.

Trying to follow in my mother's footstep, I have been a woman of principle for many years and I've found that one of the very many good qualities that help people stay both emotionally and psychologically balanced is respect. Respect helps keep the heart free of hate and malice, it is a constant reminder never to judge anyone and it helps keep dignity intact.

So, I have learnt to have and to show respect for the world around me and everyone in it.
Respect for my maker.
Respect for my roots.
Respect for myself.
Respect for my beginnings.
Respect for my imperfections.
But, above all, respect for others.
Respect for authorities.
Respect for everyone, both young and old, rich and poor, educated and uneducated.
Respect for people's time and resources.
Respecting people's right to their own opinion.
Respecting their right to agree with me or to disagree.
Respecting people's right to see things differently, to be different.
Respecting people's right to their individual identities.

On the one hand, I know it is generally difficult to deal with people, because they will be ones whose opinions and ways of doing things will seem apparently wrong or misguided to us. But, I have also come to realise that respect is a debt I owe to everyone and one which I must pay.
Respect for traits I dislike, sometimes is a herculean task. I say traits, because in my life, I am yet to meet one person who I entirely dislike. I always manage to find something nice in everyone I meet and I try to focus on that. However, respecting people who has no respect for others requires divine strength. But, like I mentioned earlier, I must pay my debt.

So, to make things easier for myself, I wake up daily and I chose to advance my mindset, and everyday I make respect a priority. And prioritising respect has taught me innumerable lessons. At first, it was no small feat, but with a whole lot of determination, strong will and time, I am the better for it. I have noticed many positive changes in my life. And, what's more, it has become a way of life. 


My respect for everyone I meet has become my gift to people, it has also become both my weapon and my defense. I have found that it doesn’t give anyone a chance to hurt my feelings, because they lack grounds and reasons to do it. And, even when some people do manage to hurt me, respect for myself has helped me rise above any negative feelings.
Respect is a powerful tool.
It makes one more mature and knowledgeable.

You might not realize this little, but significant truth, but feeling hatred and harbouring a grudge against others is not only a complete waste of time, energy and strenght, it is also one of the biggest causes of stress and frayed nerves. Negative thinking and destructive emotions usually bring sufferings and misery. I have realized that the sooner we all admit and acknowledge this truth, the quicker we’ll learn to live with people in peace and in accord.

I'd love to read your thoughts...

Sunday 19 October 2014

Make these promises to yourself, and keep them forever.

Life is not all rainbows and butterflies. It can be tough sometimes. And you’ve paid a heavy price to get this far, so the best option is to really make it count by moving forward from where you are. Free yourself from the world’s negativity – from the sources of ignorance telling you what you can and cannot do – by promising to look ahead, to live ahead, and to get ahead. In other words, start making positive promises to yourself!

Promise to fight back, to fight harder, to laugh louder and longer and slap adversity back into its seat whenever it dares to stand against you. Promise to be a force to be reckoned with – because you are a force to be reckoned with.
Make these promises to yourself, and keep them forever.

Repeat after me: “I promise…” 

  • “I will not hold the past against myself.” – Your problems, your weaknesses, setbacks, regrets and mistakes teach you if you’re willing to learn, or they will punish you if you’re not. So let them teach you, every day. Take everything as a lesson learned. If you regret some of the decisions you have made in the past, stop being so hard on yourself. At that time, you did your best with the knowledge you had. At that time, you did your best with the experience you had. Your decisions were made with a younger mind. If you were to make these decisions with the wisdom you have today, you would choose differently. So give yourself a break. Time and experience has a wonderful way of helping us grow and learn to make better choices today, for ourselves and those we care for. 
  • “I will own my life and never deny responsibility for it.” – Through the grapevine, you may have learned that you should blame your parents, your teachers, your mentors, the education system, the government, etc., but never to blame yourself. Right? It’s never, ever your fault… WRONG! It’s always your fault, because if you want to change, if you want to let go and move on with your life, you’re the only person who can make it happen. It’s YOUR move to make. It’s YOUR responsibility. Own it! 
  • “I will speak kindly and consciously to myself.” – Wait, what did you just say to yourself? Were they the inspiring, encouraging words you would speak to a friend? Or were they the belittling remarks you might shout to an enemy if you had no heart. Or the negative assessments about life you would utter if you had no faith? All day long we speak silently to ourselves, and a part of us believes every word. So stay mindful, and ask yourself, “If I had a friend who always spoke to me in the same way that I am speaking to myself right now, how long would I allow that person to be my friend?” (Read Loving What Is.) 
  • “I will listen to what my heart and soul is telling me.” – When something feels right, that means it is right for you (at least it is worth looking into). And if you genuinely feel deep down that something is wrong, it probably is. Pay attention to your authentic feelings, and follow where they lead. When you’re following your inner voice, doors tend to eventually open for you, even if they mostly slam at first.
  •  “I will live a life that feels right to me, not one that looks right to others.” – Give yourself permission to follow the path that makes YOU happy. And realize that some people in your life will refuse to walk beside you as you embark on this journey; they simply won’t approve no matter what you say, and that’s OK. Sometimes when you commit yourself to creating your own happiness, it clashes with the perceptions of others. Sometimes when you gain something great, you have to let go of something else. And sometimes this ‘something else’ is a relationship that only wants you to do what they want you to do. 
  • “I will let go of relationships that are obviously not meant to be.” – Most people come into your life temporarily simply to teach you something. They come and they go and they make a difference. And it’s OK that they’re not in your life anymore. Not all relationships last, but the lessons these relationships bring to you do. If you learn to open your heart and mind, anyone, including the folks who eventually drive you mad, can teach you something worthwhile. Sometimes it will feel weird when you realize you spent so much time with someone you are no longer connected to, but that’s exactly how it’s supposed to be. You are exactly where you’re supposed to be. We all are. 
  • “I will not let any situation permanently steal my smile.” – Even when times are tough, take a moment to pause and remember who YOU are. Take a moment to reflect on the things that have real and lasting meaning in your life. And then smile about how far you’ve come. Honestly, nothing in this world is more beautiful and powerful than a smile that has struggled through the tears. Any fool can be happy when times are easy. It takes a strong soul with real heart to develop smiles out of situations that make us weep. No matter how long it takes, it will get better. Keep going. Tough situations build strong people in the end. 
  • “I will celebrate and appreciate the life I have.” – Too many people overvalue what they are not and undervalue what they are. Don’t be one of them. Take a breath of fresh air. The past is behind you. Focus on what you can do today, not on what you could’ve or should’ve done yesterday. Remember, for everything you’ve lost, you’ve gained something else. Appreciate what you have and who you are today. Life does not have to be perfect to be wonderful. Count your blessings, not your troubles. It costs nothing to be positive, and it changes things for the better. Your thoughts are yours to control, so make good use of them to give your actions and your life a powerful advantage. 
  • “I will realize and use my power to make a difference.” – The most common way people give up their power is by thinking they don’t have any. Don’t do this. The world needs you. In a world filled with doubt, you must dare to dream. In a world filled with anger, you must dare to forgive. In a world filled with hate, you must dare to love. In a world filled with distrust, you must dare to believe. And once you do, I promise, you will find that power you once thought you lacked. 
  • “I will dedicate myself to personal excellence.” – Anything worth doing, is worth doing right. And excellence is never an accident. It’s the result of high intention, focused effort, intelligent direction, skillful execution, and the vision to see obstacles as opportunities. It’s also important to note that excellence cannot be judged by looking at where you are at any given point in time, but by measuring the distance you have traveled from the point where you started. It’s about being diligent and making progress – either a step forward or a lesson learned – day in and day out. (Read The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People.) 
  • “I will keep stretching myself beyond my previous level of comfort.” – Just because you’re struggling doesn’t mean you’re failing. Every great success requires some type of worthy struggle to get there. Know this! When you’re struggling, that’s when you’re growing stronger and smarter. The more time you spend there, the faster you learn. It’s better to spend an extremely high quality ten minutes growing, than it is to spend a mediocre hour running in place. Every day, you want to practice at the point where you are on the edge of your ability, stretching yourself over and over again, making mistakes, stumbling, learning from those mistakes and stretching yourself even farther. 
  • “I will embrace the changes I know I need to make.” – Life is a balancing act of holding on and letting go – of staying put and moving on. We strive to make the right choices, but how do we know when it is truly time to move forward with our lives? The signs aren’t always easy to accept, but they are there and you know it. Relationships, jobs, and even the cities we live in have expiration dates. Sometimes we hold on to what’s not working out of fear that we won’t be able to adapt to necessary changes. And thus, the outcome is always the same: more pain, immense frustration, and lasting regret. Be smarter than that. Embrace the changes you know you need to make. 
Afterthoughts.
In a world where vows are often left unfulfilled – where making a pledge means less than it used to – where promises seem like they’re made to be broken – it would be nice to see words come back into power, wouldn’t it? Yet, words can be twisted into any shape, so you must be careful not to be careless. Remember this when you make promises to yourself. Your promises must be backed by devoted action.

The image you have of yourself in the future depends on the actions you watch yourself take today.
Promise yourself and then prove it!
The floor is yours…
Which of the points above resonate with you the most? What promises do you want (or need) to make to yourself? Leave a comment below and share your thoughts with us.
- Marc and Angel

Saturday 18 October 2014

These things should be part of your life's mission statements.

Life is full of constant learning curves and as we all get older, it should be imperative that we continue learning. Changing mindsets, altering approaches, improving attitudes, learning and unlearning certain things. We should be both willing to change and open to change when it comes. 
After many years of life and experience, I have come to the realisation that EVERYONE is both uniquely perfect and uniquely imperfect at the same time. I have become cognisant of the fact that EVERYONE has been both uniquely blessed and uniquely wounded.
 Consequently, we all need to consistently perform repairs and maintenance on our lives and sometimes we might need to possibly courageously consider an Extreme Makeover.

Let this therefore be part of your moving forward mission statement:

To transform the WOUNDS into WISDOM. 
To be COURAGEOUS and STRONG!
To NEVER stop learning (you're just not there yet).
And, above all, to apply the lessons learned in life (including the ones from the University of Adversity) to change, grow, improve, mature, and become a VICTOR instead of a VICTIM.

Friday 17 October 2014

Again, for the Mothers.

Much has been said about the Myth of the Supermom. That nonexistent female who does it all and looks good doing it.

Her house is always clean.
Her kids are always clothed.
Her meals are always made from scratch and always taste as good as they look.
Her hair is always done.
Her kids are always well-behaved.
Her home is always beautifully decorated with handcrafted items she learned to make on Pinterest.
Her husband always brags about her to his coworkers and buddies, even strangers he passes on the street.
Her family pictures always show a perfect family with everyone looking at the camera, everyone smiling, and all eyes open.

As moms, we hear about this woman, we know she's a myth, and yet we wonder... does she really exist?
That friend who was bragging about her latest project... is it her?
The person behind the Instagram photo of that scrumptious-looking dinner... is it her?
The woman you always run into when you're picking your kids up from school, the one with the fabulous clothes and manicured nails... is it her?

Stop wondering who Supermom is, because I've discovered her true identity. You may be surprised to find that she's you. You, in all your goof-ups and struggles. You, in all your doubts and failures. You.

If you don't believe me, take a moment to consider all the superhuman things about you:
You can take a complete shower (hair, body, and shaving) in less than five minutes.
You can distinguish your child's cry from 50 yards away, even with 100 other children's cries competing for attention.
You nourish your children multiple times a day (sometimes it's even with something healthy!).
You somehow keep yourself fed too.
You manage to take care of your children when you're horribly sick.
You allow yourself to be the bad guy because you know it's for your kids' own good.
Your kisses have magical powers that heal boo-boos.
You can go days without putting on a "real" pair of pants, yet when your preschooler tells you you're beautiful, you feel beautiful, even if for a moment.
You can pick one child up from school at 2:50 p.m., make it across town by 2:55 p.m. to get the other child to dance lessons, and get to the next town over by3:15 p.m. to drop off the first child at piano lessons.
You go to bed many nights feeling like a failure, yet every morning you wake up and try again.
You can cook dinner, talk on the phone, and drag a clingy toddler around with your leg... all at the same time. Bonus points: This also qualifies as your workout for the day.
You can function on a ridiculously small amount of sleep.
Not only can you function on little to no sleep, but you also keep yourself and those in your care alive while doing so.
Your kids still love you, despite your screw-ups.

You grew a human, for crying out loud. (In physical body or in heart is inconsequential... either way is an amazing feat!)  - By Lauren Cormier

Feeling superhuman yet? What would you add to the list?

Monday 13 October 2014

Talent, Fame and Conceit.

Talent is God given. Be humble.
Fame is man-given. Be grateful. 

Conceit is self-given. Be careful.

Saturday 11 October 2014

All things are Possible.

All things are possible. If you believe.
Dreams do come true. If you believe.
Believe.
In yourself. In your dreams. 
Have faith.
In God. In yourself. 
Put your hands to the plough. Get to work. Hard work.
All things are possible. If only you believe.

The Good Old Days? Really?

Most of us grew up listening to stories of the good old days, when the world was a kinder, gentler place. The music was better, athletes were tougher, and people were generally honest. 
I have seen and heard a lot of people celebrating the past and past achievements. 
They yearn for the old ways of doing things while being less concerned and even absent minded about the present.
Some people crave the glory of the past while being mesmerised by the uncertainty of the future. 
And so, they fail to take advantage of the opportunities that the present proffers neither do they make adequate preparations for the future. They overlook the favourable circumstances that surround the present and they do not take note of the promises of the future.
They end up thinking that the past was better than the present and they become too scared to take charge of and create their own future. 
This way of thinking is handed down from generation to generation while its purveyors have no idea how insidious and destructive it is.
 People who believe their best days are behind them rarely succeed in anything, and they often struggle with being genuinely grateful for the blessings of today and the promises of tomorrow. Happiness and peace of mind becomes a fathom, depression is more rampant.

To escape this, one must therefore constantly do the following (in no particular order): 
Have faith that your life is a work in progress.
Practice mindfulness.
Believe that the past was neither too good nor too bad.
Be future-oriented and optimistic about what lies ahead. 
Never be afraid of the future.
Appreciate and learn from the past while living in the present and dreaming of the future.
Envision your future. 
Dare to reach out and create the future you desire.
Be willing to bet on yourself and project your dreams, goals, and ideas into that envisioned though yet unknown future. 
Let your faith guide your today and never lose hope for a brighter tomorrow.