Dare to Live!

I have always loved writing. Words have always been my escape. Written and spoken word has been my greatest platform, the very canvas that my thoughts and experiences could freely dance upon. I kid you not; I wrote my first short song when I was about 3 years old. Hilarious! Yet, the older I got the more I released my passion and focused on what I thought was more “logical”. Long story short, my manager read one of my poems and nudged me into entering a poetry competition a week ago. I was scared, the task seemed too daunting but I did it anyway (this past weekend) and I absolutely loved the experience. The experience is still very raw in my mind because the auditions were only just yesterday, on Saturday. The anxiety of waiting for feedback from the judges does not even match up to the liberation and enlightenment and joy of unleashing what I had swept under the rug and inter-acting with so many talented artists. I decided to centre this week’s blog on that: taking risks and being a bit more daring.

A risk does not have to be a death defying act or rebellious stunt, there is no scale that has been set out to measure what is and what isn’t. A risk is simply what you fear doing because it is outside of your comfort zone or you are scared of unsettling anyone by doing what you would love to do. How long then will you keep snipping and cutting your creative, frayed endings just to seem proper and collected to everyone else? When deep down inside you have a burning desire to be released and explore a little further.

From starting a business to joining a dancing class, just do it. If you are really serious and committed to living an authentic and fulfilling life you will do it. Forget about your fears for a minute and feed a different entity, feed your dreams. See, at the end of the day you are the one responsible for your life. You reap the rewards, you face the consequences and only you truly revel in the contentment you get from exploring what you desire. Pick up that pen, take the sheet off that canvas, mix your paints, buy those jogging sneakers, join that gym, wake up an hour earlier to read that book, register for that course, buy that recipe book, take that holiday, draft that business plan: whatever it is, just do it! I don’t know what everyone’s dreams are but the possibilities are endless, I simply can’t list them all.

Life is not a confinement that’s fenced with barbwire, holding us captive in cages. It is a giant pool of possibilities and freedom. Dare yourself this week to do at least one thing that you have been aching to do or begin but fear has been holding you back. So what if it does not work out? Experience is the best teacher and you will know that you are a daring and courageous individual with enormous potential.

Let’s have a daring and awesome week! J

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: Dare to LIVE!

QUOTE: “Life is either a daring adventure, or nothing” – Hellen Keller

What keeps you going?

Last week I asked the question: What gets you out of bed? My question this week is: What keeps you going?

When the odds are stacked up against you and life seems like it’s finally turned its back on you, what makes you pick up the pieces of despair and keep going? Having a reason to begin is just as important as having a daily, hourly and per-second reason to keep going. Yes, per second, because giving up is just that easy, it takes a second of throwing your hands in the air and cursing life.

I have been there, an engineering drop out in University, feeling like a failure and wanting to hand in my life at the nearest orphanage or dump site, reality is not that simple though, and thank God it isn’t. I was angry  at my mom for months for calling me a failure and listening to her tell me that I have given up on my life and she is disappointed. I mean, how dare she say that I have given up on this life that I was well, not really fighting for hard enough, but still, how dare she see right  through me into my weakened self that was wallowing in self-pity and laziness? But as they always say: moms always know best and they can never be fooled. I wallowed in self-pity and entertained my anger until I decided to grow up and take responsibility.

You have one life, there are no exchanges or refunds unfortunately. We all have 24 hours in a day and endless abundance from the Universe if we only just believe in ourselves and keep going despite the odds.

Sure, I am not where I had planned to be by the time I’m 22 years old: but I am self-sufficient, I’m working towards a brand new goal and my outlook towards life is way more refreshed and positive.

Look in the mirror and tell yourself you do not want to disappoint the person looking back at you. Your abilities and potential are immense: take the risk of unleashing them. Whether you get your fighting spirit to carry on from books, role models, blogs such as this one or simply believing in yourself: take hold of that and keep running with it. This is a race you simply have to complete or at least run wholeheartedly.

Let’s have an amazing week! :)

QUOTE: “Success is not final, failure is not fatal: it is the courage to continue that counts. " - Winston Churchill

THOUGH FOR THE WEEK:  Keep going!!

What gets you out of bed?

Aaah Mondays!! What gets you out of bed?

Waking up this morning was a mission, a perilous game of "How many times can I press the snooze button?". I eventually rolled out of bed (because that's actually what it felt like). Showered and planned the day's outfit. Call me a girl (eventhough I am one!) but clothes get me so excited! The thought of "what look am I rocking today?"gets me excited. On that note by the way, today im rocking the chiq corporate look: Light turquoise blue shift dress, Black trench coat, black stockings and black heels with a huge "creamy rose"ring for that vintage touch. Your appearance is a reflection of who you are, take good care of it.

On a broader note though it's absolutely imperative that we find a reason to wake up everyday. There will be days when our body's are worn out, the weather is too chilly or our hearts are simply too sore to face the day. It's very easy to entertain these negative thoughts and emotions and its absolute childs play to waste a day. Is it worth it though? Sure we all need some rest but don't let laziness govern your life. Get up and face the day, even if its begrudgingly at first.

Without a sense of purpose of a goal we can never truly appreciate ouir lives. Find something that makes you happy and make it your reason to keep pressing on. Your life has great potential if you simply commit to it. Dreams are what keep reality alive, your hopes and aspirations should be your fuel. No dream is too big or too small. Find yours and persevere towards it. Obstacles are there to test our dedication, they wont be there permanently, so do not ever let humps along the road halt your journey. Start living!!

An awesome Monday and week to all! Let's go.

QUOTE: "Men of action are favoured by the Goddess of goodluck" - A quote from "The Richest Man in Babylon".

Today's thought of the week: Get up and get living! Find a reason to roll, tumble or jump out of bed.

Perseverance

You cannot complain about the shadows when your back is constantly turned towards the sun, life is exactly that. The line "life is what you make of it" means exactly that. You are here now, you and all your weaknesses and fears, scars and painful past - you are here. You and all your confusion and remorse - you are still standing. Within the chaos and trauma you are still breathing. Am I the only weird person who sees a warrior within all of us? That a powerful force resides within our souls that simply wants to survive?

Olympic champions seldom ever rest to get that medal. Why then do we want to savour the succulent fruits of life without lifting a finger or giving up before we reach the finish line? Read any success story out there of some powerful person and it will be lined, grounded and laced with blood, sweat, tears and raw perseverance.

Life has an innumerable number of possibilities and greatness - only if you will turn around and face the sun. It gets hard and we want to give up - we are human. However, whether you are running, walking or even crawling - you simply have to keep moving.

Let's challenge ourselves to making the best of this moment that we are in. Forget about the shackles that hold us to our past and they will release themselves, don't worry about the future ,because if we savour and take care of the present wholeheartedly, the future will take care of itself.

Smile, laugh and dream. Love and appreciate the beauty around you. Commit to your life. :)

THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK: *PERSEVERE - WHOLE HEARTEDLY AND RELENTLESSLY*

QUOTE: "Where there is no struggle, there is no strength"- Oprah

Let's have a good week!