What about now!

We live in this time and at this appointed point in history. Can we truly change our circumstances, or is life pre-determined and destined for what it is.  Every day we are faced with our lives and whether we like them or not, we simply get on with what is before us and do the best we can in the circumstances.  Like a giant merry go round just going round and round.  We talk of making changes and yet 24 hours in a day gives us very little time to truly change our situation.  We remain daily on the verge - of greatness, of happiness, of mistakes, of regrets and of questions.  How do we truly embrace change and implement some changes, which are necessary before its too late.  How do we strip away the awkwardness, or the realities of our lives.  We try so hard to do things differently in the hope that is will kick start a new season, or time in our lives.  But simply put it is so often like a bag of wind because we are influenced by life and how it keeps turning and in the end we default back to the things that we have now and which seem the best for us.  We should not underestimate the power of our words.  We say things and yet when we actually start to implement them in our lives we realise that we can run to where we are and steal a thousand stars, but actually where we are, is determined by the reality we live in, or are stuck in.  It is grace and mercy that gets us through each day, but it is attitude and a whole lot of luck that gets us to greatness and happiness.  No amount of planning and preparation can prepare us for the way life will treat us.  Never let go and live by the mantra that sometimes life may break you, but don't let go, because it will in the end make you whole.  Life is incredibly hard at times, but it makes us feel alive and our memories and hearts dictate the future we can have, so in the end, the best way is to embrace the here and now and stay patient and positive until we die.

Be Strong and Loving

Be soft, kind and loving, but also take no body's shit.  Finding a balance between being a reasonable and caring person needs to be tempered with times, when it is clear that you are not messing around and you are willing to go the full fight, to ensure that you get the desired result.  Lets focus for a second on the component of being soft kind and loving.  We need to strive to adopt these traits in our lives if we are to be a truly good partner and friend to our loved ones.  We need to be consistent and open to attitudes of gentleness and intellectual prowess.  We need to be willing to open up and shares with each other and listen intently to the perspectives of others. But when it comes to business then the scenery is different and we need to be direct and uncompromising at times, to ensure that the company remains secure and relevant to the times and the demands of business.  If we compromise every time we face a tough decision or circumstance and we don't face facts then we will be left behind in the face of change and development and our competitors will far exceed us, to the point where we cannot catch up.  The best business people are those that generate respect, while never allowing the tail to wag the dog.  The lesson to be learnt is to be firm and direct and yet never to forget the qualities of support, teachableness and general good manners.  If you are a person that is able to cut through nonsense and excuses  then do it with dignity and humility.  

On your marks .... set

Someone said that we should stand up to the hurdles that come our way, rather than let them defeat you.  It is how we choose to handle the hurdles, that determines how successful we will be at reaching our goals.  We should do our best with what is in front of us and we may even be surprised at how bright our future can be.  It reminds me that in life and business, it is a bit of a hurdle race where we are knelt down in the start position ready for something new and positive.  The hurdles will look high and intimidating. As the gun goes, we run towards the first hurdle and as we leap over it, we realize that the training and the effort we have put in to getting to this point, will equip us to clear the first hurdle and then drive towards the next and the next.  Sometimes, we go through times in our life when this describes our situation, we have to muster strength and effort to rise and keep our composure, straighten and then rise again.  We may clip the hurdle from time to time, but this is merely the margin between perfect and not quite, where the distinction between success and failure is very near to one another.  Many times what looks like a failure is only inches from success and we will only see it when we have reached the goal and look back at the footage, to realize how close we got to failing, but yet persevered through to success.  What is in front of us is a series of hurdles and our victories may be short lived, but each one should be celebrated and enjoyed, all be it only for a moment.  We need to keep our form throughout the race, because to be successful, requires attitude, proper coaching and  a lot of practice.  It is about reaching for the hurdle, embracing the obstacle and then snapping the leg down to be ready for the next one.  In business you need to be able to recover quickly and have a strong sense of repeating good habits.  You cannot afford to let others cause you to stumble and so to look left and right in a hurdle race, is fatal - your focus on maintaining the same pattern of steps between each hurdle, can make the difference between a first and last place.  The hurdles keep you honest and grounded and teach you that even while you may have conquered eight of the nine sets, if your focus is not there to the end, then the last hurdle can cause you to give up your lead and be pipped at the end.  Run as though the hurdles are invisible objects (like cashflow constraints, growth and risk) that cannot defeat you, but can merely slow you down.  And when you have made a decision to go flat out for your career and your happy future, then leave nothing to chance and run right through the finish line that awaits.

Ponder but Decide!

Decisions are plentiful in our lives and we ultimately take responsibility for each a every one we make.  Some decisions are made easier by the people we ask for advice, because they go directly to the heart of where we are in our life and what is important at the time. Other decisions, are more complicated and require more time and in depth consideration.  Whether we like it or not, our decisions trigger events and circumstances and they afford us hopes and dreams, but also regrets and feelings of disappointment.  Those "I should have" moments. But decisions are personal and they sometimes need to be made alone.  You can have all, the support and understanding of real friends but there are just times, when the only thing that gets you to the next season, is to use introspection and to analyse every part of the decision and take it slowly.  Making a decision when you are unsure or uncertain, is never the best and advisable way and in my view complicates things even more.  You need to have a time when you are settled and stable, when you make life changing decisions.  One also has to remember that decisions made by you have to be lived with by you.  You are not making decisions for the benefit of others, but rather to enhance your own life and then having done so, you can impact others once you have taken the time to make a call, be it correct or not.  Ultimately, having the courage to make a decision remains important, because you cannot go through life by burying the problem, or always going with what is expected or accepted by society, but how you get to the decision is what defines how the decision will impact your end result.

Your time will come!

What COMES around - It is interesting how we try to ensure that this universal principle is taken care of, by either doing things, or saying things, or even thinking things, so that we can ensure that "justice is served".  But in reality, this principle takes care of itself and we only need to concentrate on keeping the circles we are part of positive and speaking good words to others.  There is little point speaking nicely to someone, when you are in their presence and thereafter when their backs are turned, or when they have little opportunity to defend themselves, you take cheap shots at them from a distance.  There are so many way these days, that we can hurt others, through sms, profiles, facebook pics, instagram etc and this makes it ever more important, to make sure that we choose our words carefully and remember, that once they are said, they can only be forgiven, not forgotten.  At the same time thinking good thoughts, prevents us from allowing our mind to take its natural course and think all the bad things and the negative things about life and those we do not like, or can't stand.  Inner peace begins the moment you choose not to allow another person or event to control your emotions.   It is easy to convince ourselves that things are not going well and we feel others are to blame for our perceived unhappiness and we try to share this unhappiness, by making others part of our so called misery.  Instead we need to get on and do our good deeds, they being the things that we need to do, for family, work and friends, and those opportunities to do something more for others that need it.  This distraction is extremely positive in our lives and is time well spent as opposed to time spent on others, who care so little about us.  There comes a time when you have to stop crossing oceans for people, who wouldn't jump a puddle for you.  Let the world and universe take care of people that try to hurt and harm us and give yourself every chance to make your own life positive, plentiful and pleasurable.

A Proverb worth Noting

I was given a very good passage out of Proverbs on Father's day.  It comes from Proverbs and requires our attention. "If  you will receive my words and store my commands inside you, paying attention to wisdom inclining your mind toward understanding, yes if you will call for insight and raise your voice for discernment, if you seek it as you would silver and search for it like for hidden treasure, then you will understand the fear and the knowledge of God.  In a worldly context, how many words do we share and receive, how many times do we inspire others and try to be positive about our futures.  We have received so many promises of good things and yet we store them up without actually living them,  they are easier to just keep locked away instead of letting them out. How much wisdom do we store up and yet we still make mistakes over and over again.  Why do we not simply grab onto the good things we have in our lives and take the hidden treasures we store up into the daily circumstances of our lives.  We can have so much if we exude a genuine desire to understand the meaning of life and where we are heading.  We can afford to seek the good in our lives and raise our voices in thanks to the wonderful opportunities that lie before us.  I hope that this may be a time where you can be clear and conscious about your decisions and purposeful, without expecting to be brought down by the hardships and frustrations of life.  To live with an expectation of greatness, happiness and understanding of a future filled with hope, is truly possible, if we incline our heart's attitude towards it.

Rise and Purposeful

Don't postpone things that are important to you.  Today as the world celebrates Father's Day, there are many dads being remembered, some of whom were taken early in life and surely with unfulfilled dreams and desires.  Though they are remembered fondly, one cannot but think of the things that they were unable to complete, or how many of them had unresolved goals that were left behind.  That makes it ever more important to do things now.  For one day, we make wake up and realise that we have no more time to do the things that that we've always wanted.  Yes, there are practicalities that hold us back, whether financial, commitments and promises and factors like time, physical disabilities or even personal issues, but all of these can be summited and dealt with, as long as we have the support and togetherness of  people that are important to us.  We live in defining times and it is up to us to be definitive in these times.  Either the times will define us and get the best of us to the point that we cannot fulfil our dreams because we have too many complications.  Time will sit back and laugh at the fact that we have not accomplished our goals, but she will continue and not stop for anything we say or do.  Or else we can demand that time fits into our circumstances and we make time work for our benefit by moulding our minds and attitudes to the point where we can fulfil our desires.  Age has nothing to do with accomplishing this feat, it is only the strength of character and the support of the ones behind us, that result in a life of accomplished and victorious moments.

I am a Team

George Carlin said "we drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much. We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom and hate too often.  We have learned how to make a living, but not a life. We have added years to life, not life to years".  Lets face it we need to take stock sometimes of the lives we lead and how we cope with that which is dished up for us.  Traditionally we can make references to not hurting others or having the best intentions, but in reality deviation from the norm is what makes life fascinating and a journey towards completion.  It is no good just being a kiss arse conformist in this modern world - we have to adapt and many times it will feel that it is better to be an individualist, who is willing to buck the system and look for a way forward than to just mark time in the same habits and ruts. It is true that there is no "I" in Team, but there is an "I" in independence, individuality and integrity.  Stick to what is in you life today and remove the things that do not enhance your "I" - the rest will fall into place at exactly the right time.

Always

We tend to sometimes look at things from the perspective of how they influence us and the impact they can have on the lives we lead, and how so many times we are negatively influenced by decisions or circumstances.  But do we need to look at the future from an ultra realistic place,  or can we afford to dream a little and take a more positive stance towards our future.  When things look hopeless, do we simply accept them as such or should we try to show the world that positive thoughts and a willingness to stand firm are the way to go, especially if the cause is truly worthwhile.  Whether we have discussed a path to life or whether we are still unsure but trying to grow the most important things are the love we share and the times we are close to the people that care for us.  We should be grateful for every chance we get to be happy and to deliver on our chosen goals and we have constant battles, to ensure that negativity is put to the sword and removed.  There is much to be negative about in our country, but yet people are making a stand and trying especially today, to find ways to show that we will not lie down in the face of poor leadership, negative forecasts and major corruption and violence.  We must try to fight for the good things that are in our lives and speak about such things, to the point where they will and can become a reality.  Use today as a experience of what things can be like and direct your future thoughts, prayers and motivation into those areas, as far as you can.  When negative feelings crop up inside you, resist them with all that you have that is positive and take a step in to something new.

Is this the end or the beginning of a new adventure?

We all go through stressful times, whether we are younger or older.  Not many are exempt from this, at some stage.  Whether it be exams and the expectation to achieve and succeed and even the pressure to make sure that your future is secured.  It could be a dance competition, or a ballet exam.  It could be a job interview or a very important meeting.  These are all times when the palms sweat, hearts beat fast and we feel overwhelmed.  It is about having perspective for the situation and choosing to face it with grace, good humour and fortitude.  A flower loves sunshine, but it also needs a little rain to help it grow.  Our character may be tested in tough times, but it may be exactly what is needed to get you to the next level, or to a place closer to where you really should be.  Almost all of us would love to wake up each day with a sunny disposition and a carefree existence, but the world seldom works that way.  You could be trying for a particular result for a long time and just when it looks possible or even probable, the perspective changes and the dream is dashed.  But use the rain falling to make yourself open to grow - throw away the umbrella and soak up the soaking.  When life sets a mountain in your path, put on your climbing boots.  It is tough not to be down and have a sour attitude when the world keeps throwing lemons your way.  It is exactly at these times that we need to remember our long term goals and if you have written them down, this would be a good time to take a fresh look at that which you want to attain down the line.  Though difficult, it is best to avoid the "why me" syndrome and look for proactive steps to get your self out a predicament.  Sometimes the only way to make it through a tough time is to knuckle down and work through it.  Just make sure that it is a worthy cause and that you are sure of where you are going and if your remain truly determined then surely nothing can stand in your way.

Say you say me!

Nothing haunts us like the things we don't say.  It can set us down paths, which lie far from where we are meant to be and can take us up hills, which are perilous to climb and which will tire us out so much, that we feel that we cannot continue.  It can take us years to get back to the path that we want to be on or should be on and yet, when we remain silent we stand the chance of enduring an even greater agony like an untold story within us.  It is for this reason that we need to speak and especially in such a way that others love to listen to you and similarly to listen in such a way that others love to speak to you.  It is better to speak and listen with passion, than to die one day from boredom.  So whether your memories are what warm you up inside, or what tear you apart, make time to express the words that fill your mind.  To be normal is just an illusion - for what is normal to the spider is chaos for the fly.  The feeling of expression is worth the risk and sometimes getting the wind knocked out of you, is the only way to remind your lungs how much they like the taste of air. Taking a breath to accomplish a single word of positivity and encouragement is like a fairy tale which comes true - not because it tells us that the dragon does exist, but rather that the dragon can be beaten.  It is not easy to have courage to constantly get up every time you are knocked down, but courage does not always roar like a lion.  Sometimes courage is the little voice at the end of the day, that says i'l try again tomorrow.  It may feel that hell is something that you are carrying with you, but setting a path straight or making something right that clearly needs to be part of your life, is so much more important than a life of bitterness and regret.  It is true that the best people possess a feeling for beauty, the courage to take risks, the discipline to tell the truth, the capacity for sacrifice.  Ironically their virtues make them vulnerable, they are often wounded, sometimes destroyed.  So to avoid that fate be ready and steadfast and let your character, with your words become your destiny.

Because I'm Happy!

HAPPINESS does not depend on what you have, or who you are, it solely relies on what you think.
H - We need to have a habit of happiness in the way we live our lives.  Cultivating a strong belief in this emotion is the only way to grow.
A - it lies in the attitude we have, where we can choose either to be exude positivity and enjoyment of life, or rather to act with cynicism and remain miserable.
P - happiness relies on what lies ahead and so focusing on the past, won't provide any reason to be happy; the past is gone and we can only move forward when we realise the fact that what has gone before, should not determine the approach to the future.
P - practising the emotion of happiness is vital to ensure that it actually becomes a reality; we need to continually work at our emotions and how we conduct ourselves around people that matter to us.
I - introspection is necessary every day to look inside our being and to let go of the things that make us unhappy or that prevent us from enjoying real joy; similarly we need to hold on to those things that do give us a shot at genuine happiness and make sure that we continue to activate them in our lives while letting other things go.
N - never moan about what we don't have, but rather celebrate what we do have and have achieved, this will help us to remain focused towards the daily progress we can have if we are willing to accept who we are and where we are headed.
E - always be expectant that something positive and good is around the next corner, don't lower your expectations because things do not go your way, or because you get hurt and feel uncertain of your future.
S - be sensitive not only to your own needs but by giving to others of your time, love and commitment you will enhance your chances of finding your own happiness.
S - finally smile because nothing shows happiness more than a smile and a genuine one, enjoyed with friends and family and those closest to you. Let your smile signify your happiness and let it be written all over your face.

Speak up man!

Generally speaking men are pretty useless at talking about themselves or their feelings.  No matter how good they look or how super confident they would appear, getting words out of them may be difficult.  How are you doing - "I'm fine" or "good thanks".  Sometimes we feel like a hostage and need to be given enough truth serum or alcohol or we really have to trust the person or conversation for us to tell you what going on with us or within our minds.  "In vino veritas"  could be a solution, but since not all men are alcoholics and prone to spewing truths just because of a few drinks, there would need to be another way.  Statistically, 1 in every 3 men do hit the bottle and self medicate, to help them deal with their problems or feelings.  Others may seek help, but I am sure that the statistic on that may be especially low.  Perhaps the way to go would be to turn to writing, as apparently this can be the best way to get things off ones chest.  From an article I read, they suggested that one find a place where you are undisturbed, and start writing for 15 minutes, don't worry about the spelling, just write and be completely and utterly honest.  Translate feelings into words and give yourself a good spring clean.  It sounds like a fantastic option and will surely help to vent the feelings of anxiousness, anger, frustration and pain.  Just remember to have a plan to destroy the paper and don't leave it around on a laptop, phone or other visible device, that is if you value your life.  Worth a try I guess.  Will let you know!

Three types of People.

It is important never to forget 3 types of people in your life.  Firstly those who helped you in difficult times.  It is important to celebrate them and be grateful for every act of kindness and support.  It may be that they could not always do everything you wanted, or hoped, but as long as they gave of themselves fully to you, then they are worth remembering and being grateful for.  Perhaps it was quite unexpected as to how they appeared in your life and perhaps it is an old friendship,  it does not really matter.  What matters most is that at a time when you needed something important to you, they were there.  It is not even about reciprocity at the time because your needs may be more than theirs at the time, so it is not a question of 'one for one' where you help me and I help you.  Our lives go round in circles and so it is, that when that wheel turns, maybe you will be lucky enough to give them your support and love.  But this is not automatic because we do not know at the time of crisis where we will be.  We may want to help, but the circumstances are not possible and they end up getting support and love from someone else.  That is also fine, as long as when you identify that you are in a position to help someone, that you do so in such a way that it will be remembered forever by the that person. The second type of people are those that left you in difficult times.  This can be for a variety of reasons, like getting too busy, or distances or change of relationship, maybe you no longer have the same interests or values have changed, due to finances or misunderstanding, it relates to choices and the circumstances in our lives at the time.  To forgive and forget is much harder than the words off a tongue, but I do think that forgiveness is often more achievable than forgetting.  Memories run deep and return often and closure is far more difficult than appears, but the reality of life, is that usually when people leave you there may be an opportunity for someone else to be there as support and friend.  It would be easy to begrudge and berate those that leave you, but only do so if you have considered your own actions and choices and how this may have impacted on their decision to leave. Finally, there are those people in your life that put you in difficult times.  It is these people who, once identified, you can and should ensure are cut out of your life.  They will neither help you in difficult times, nor will they even be in a position to have contributed and then left.  They will not enhance your life and they will not populate your life with love, joy, peace, happiness, passion or good old fun.  They will demotivate you, and restrict you and hold you back from everything that you can achieve, because it suits them to do so.  Such people should not affect your life, or be allowed to influence your life because that would be giving them too much credit for  impacting you.  They should simply be released and forgotten and you can move on to a new day, without any fear that the sun will rise and life will continue.

Enough is Enough!

There is a really concerning aspect, which has found its way into our society, namely a complete disregard for basic principles.  Take for example the scandal regarding Nkandla which continues to defy all sense and even the dumbest, most loyal supporter of government can surely see the scam and the fact that there is a massive corruption involved and yet nothing will again be done, about a president who shows absolute disdain for any rule of law.  Unfortunately, as a consequence, too much of society has become like the president and the country is racked with unscrupulous criminals in positions of trust and authority, literally pillaging the country while the majority struggle to make ends meat.  The result is so many sectors are becoming infected with people like the president and they occupy properties without paying their rent, they run business into the ground and then still have the audacity to lay legal claim to assets or salary when they have effectively sponged their way through others finances.  How many lives are affected by load shedding and yet the rates go up and we simply keep adjusting our lives to make sacrifices to send our children to good schools, try to find them jobs and encourage them to remain part of this wonderful country.  When will South Africans stop being so aware of colour and more aware of the manner in which a small minority of greedy, self centred and unlawful people, dictate terms in this country.  When  will the Justice system start to serve the people and take stronger action against bad payers and grossly negligent managers and finally begin to take a more serious view of their responsibilities.  Even some of the corporates have become so arrogant in their treatment of clients and customers and they feel very little for relationships and giving a fair deal to customers that remain loyal and serve them.  I look upon the state of this nation and pity the next generation, our top structures are rotten and unless quality fruit is produced in our country the sick and infected leaders will simply cause irreparable damage.  There is a day coming during this month, when each of us can take a day to do something meaningful. An example would be to help in a community or in a project - maybe a good example would be for our disgraceful president to resign and leave gracefully with his fire pool and all. Whatever it may be I hope that we can educate some of our nation to take example from the basics in life like honesty, integrity and responsibility and this will go a long way to securing a future for this and generations to come.

Eat up Boy and .. Swallow!

Our growth depends not on how many experiences we devour, but on how many we digest.  Let us face facts, the term "growing", is very difficult, in fact far more than meets the eye.  We may talk a lot about growing and yet it is often lost in the discussing and there is much talking about change and how we grow, as we get older and the like, but actually the more things "change" the more they stay the same.  Sometimes we identify circumstances in our lives that we are not happy about and we know that they are affecting us negatively, but we are so stuck in the rut of daily life and afraid to change our circumstances our of fear or habit or uncertainty, that extracting ourselves from the position, is so much more difficult than even talking about it.  So we end up talking over it and continue to talk about it and and and,  but all the while continuing the very thing we believe or think is hurting or holding us back. We hope that our circumstances will get better and that bad things will not happen to us if we talk about them positively.  However, so it is that sometimes the bad things that happen in our lives, put us directly on the path to the best things that will ever happen to us.  Therefore, we owe it to ourselves to take a chance, to take on the bad things, as they appear on our horizon and through our actions we may in fact come through to the other side, more enriched and a far happier and better person.  No doubt that there are aspects of hurt and pain and turning a blind eye to these things would be silly.  It is rather the pain and hurts that we can talk about, after we have taken action, that results in a shift away from one circumstance to another.  I am not saying pain is nice or pleasant, but it certainly means that something is happening and that you are on a route to a different and hopefully happier future.

You take my breath away!

Living in our country under current circumstances can be very draining, harsh and especially frustrating when it is so evident that a small group known as government are abusing their powers and making decisions that will materially affect the next generation and this one, in the most severe manner.  But this is not a political statement (because we all know the president and anyone supporting him or working with him are disgraceful idiots) except to show that there is a whole lot of sh#*% in our lives on a daily basis, let alone dealing with relationships, business challenges and emotional decisions.  We try to distract ourselves with many useless things like worries and over thinking and pressure to succeed and feel part of something and thoughts that we are not good enough or could have done things differently and yet the only real truth, is that we need time to breathe.  We need to learn to take one positive breath after the next.  No matter your circumstance, stopping for a moment and doing whatever you can to slow down or shut off for a few minutes, or hours, or days, depending on your capacity and station in life will give you the time to breathe.  We just need to make time because we tend to leave things in our lives, up to a point where it becomes a near crisis, before we decide to do something about it.  It also implies that we need to breathe for ourselves as these are the breaths that make the difference in your future.  It does not mean that you always need to breathe for someone else, it does not mean that you have to take on every burden every mistake made by someone else and certainly not every negative circumstance that comes across your path.  In order to achieve balance, being the perfect balance for you, at your time, in your life, you need to breathe purposefully and free of any factors that hold you back.  Whether you go to a spa, or to gym, or speaking to someone that makes you smile, even resting at home with a good book or crafting, the process of breathing declutters the mind and soul and makes the possibility of a new day, or a time of recovery and regaining your strength, entirely possible.  Make yourself aware of the process and be a breather.

Our thoughts turn to such things.

How is it sometimes in our lives, that we go through a time when we have memories which come flooding back from all sides of our brains.  Perhaps a discussion with an old friend, or a picture, which we have not seen for a long time and it starts to set off our brain into remembering a series of memories and events in our lives.  It is incredible, the kind of capacity and details that a mind can store and that it seems to have the ability to recall the information some of which has been stored for a very long time.  Apart from asking myself why I seem to be recalling the exact memory at this time, I also try to make sure that if there was a lesson at the time or even a lesson I can think of now, which affects my life then I try to make sure, that I learn from the memory and either enjoy it or remember not to do it over again.  Having a good memory has the problem that you tend to remember everything in detail and this can cause pain, frustration and negativity, so fighting bad memories, becomes a big task on it's own.  The up side is that the good memories remain vivid and they can bring a lot of cheer into your life as you recall them.  Sometimes people catch you shaking your head and they think that something must be wrong, but you are just recalling a memory so good that you are shaking your head in disbelief, that you could have been blessed to have had such a memorable moment in your life. It is a privilege to have a mind filled with good and happy and positive memories and they should be savoured so that they can be used, in the times that are not so good, to keep your mood from falling into depression and from total negativity.  Hold fast and long may your memories not haunt you, but rather bring you peace.

Take Two.. Lets do that scene again!

They say You have the power to say "this is not how my story will end".  Sometimes we are guilty of limiting ourselves by the story we created about ourselves.  This may be as a result of things happening in our lives or because of words spoken directly or indirectly to us. We end up believing the story and as a result our future becomes limited by the very story we are meant to control - that of our life.  Examples like I am not good at maths, or I have never been able to dance or I don't sleep well, or I am a very moody person, or it is hard for me to make friends, or I cant help it that I am overweight.  All these example have one thing in common - they contain limitations which hold us back from the opportunity to go forward and change the circumstances we are in.  It is like we have stood in wet cement, being the thing that has been said over us or to us and we have now allowed the concrete to dry around our feet and we become completely stuck in the circumstance like a statute. Having said this, getting your feet extracted from cement that has dried, is not an easy feat and it takes a certain amount of assistance to extract yourself from the situation.  It starts though with an awareness of the things that were said and which you heard and basically allowed to become part of your own vocabulary and having discovered what it is, you can put yourself in a position to delete the things and rewrite your story.  It will take careful consideration of your relationships and friends, it will probably imply some pain along the way, your feet (mind) may begin to go numb as the concrete hardens around you and you may need help in getting someone to chip away at the base of the statute, so that you can eventually free your self without suffering serious damage.  If you want the story to end differently then you need to build the story that you believe will lead to your eventual happiness and success, for it is only when you are in that position that you can then be the person to others that fulfils your and their dreams.

Keep 'em peeled!

When you spend the amount of time on the road that I do at the moment, you tend to spend it thinking about various aspects of life and you have no choice but to look around you, take in the surrounds  and wonder what is happening in the car next to you, what about the businesses with lights still on late at night, why people are going to gym at 7 pm and what fellow motorists are doing on the road at the same time you are commuting.  A journey home can become a fascinating experience.  It makes you think about the society we live in and the many things that influence us and drive us daily, to makes ends meat and a life for ourselves.  I even catch myself talking to myself sometimes as I ponder how everything is connected and how lives ebb and flow and whether peoples hearts are warm and happy, or if they have things to talk about and share from their daily experiences, or whether they are in a mould of eat, sleep work repeat.  Hopefully today you have wakened in peace and with purpose as I do,  excited to do something positive and memorable and that your heart is not a ghost town, but rather a place of enthusiasm and meaning.  We can all do with keeping to the basics, living within our means and doing what makes sense currently in our lives.  We have today ahead of us and since we can do little with what happened yesterday and tomorrow is a mere possibility, we can have the freedom to know that what matters is how we handle today and the people we spend it with.

Be the Hypotanuse Your were born to be!

What does it take to be an "effective executive" in your sphere of influence or place of work.  It is not necessarily the number of hours that you spend working, because this is not always a measure of effectiveness.  Results is probably a better indication of the effective executive, but this too is not always as clear cut because we often do not work alone and functioning as a team is very often crucial to success because it incorporates elements of different strengths, specialities and skills.  Decision making is a vital part of running a business and executives know how to make decisions.  In reaching decisions you could ask two questions namely, in a particular situation, what would happen if you did nothing? And secondly, would the outcome of your decision outweigh the the risks and costs.  The result is that too many ineffective decisions get made and until action commitments are made the new regulations will not be enforceable.  It is the risk in taking the decision that defines the executive whether there is criticism for a decision or not.  There is a lot of pressure being an executive because you are always judged for your results, but predicting the outcome of every decision is near impossible.  All one can do is to follow the path that you think is best.  You can be wise in listening to the viewpoints of others, but this must be tested against your own beliefs, before you make a call.  Getting feedback is also of great use in improving your skills as an executive and choosing to listen to the advice of key people at the right times, is what makes a success of a business.  There are always restraints and adjustments may be necessary on occasion, yet the only thing that is truly limited is time.  This is such a precious resource and one has to use it effectively because you never know what awaits you daily and how circumstances can change.  Using time as far as possible, is valuable, because we can end up wasting so much time on the process of getting to a decision that there is not time to enjoy the fruit of the labour.  Having said that, it is important not to try to push every decision which you may think important because it may take much more time than we think before we reach the right decision.  The best  executive learns to share the load of responsibility and they delegate well.  Only delegate when someone is better at a task than you are and remember that simply delegating is not what makes a good executive.  It is still important for the executive to focus on what he or she can contribute to the organisation.  There will, finally, be problems in every business and so finding the right person for the position is what produces great results, but problems are there to be taken care of, but problem solving does produce great results, it merely prevents damage.  If you want great results then you have to take advantage of opportunities.

Name it and Claim it!

Isn't it amazing that some days simply can be best  forgotten.  It is like the best thing about them is that they are over.  You may feel that you would rather put an "out of order" sticker on your forehead and call it a day.  Yet at the same time you are going through this rough day, there are others having the best day they have had in years.  They may be getting news of success or promotion, of a medical condition that has been healed, or new work that has come their way.  You may have passed the person in the shops after work who has just been diagnosed with a terminal illness and all this can happen within a very small area or circle of life.  That is why it becomes so important to make each day count.  As long as we can rise daily in the belief that we have a purpose and a place to go whether to work, or school, or varsity, or gym, this becomes the substance and fibre of our lives and we will become more aware of the fact that there are people experiencing a lot worse and a lot better than us each passing moment.  Don't presume that you are better off than the guy paying for his coffee in front of you and don't assume that you are happier than your neighbour - just focus on the fact that you have had another opportunity to rise and work in your current place in life and you have managed to get to the end of the day safe and alive.  Whether tomorrow is better or not as good the unmistakable gift of life is there for all to see and as many as possible to claim.