iSad :(

We lost Steve Jobs today. Remember these posts?

"Death is very likely the single best invention of Life" 

Steve Jobs’ declining health was well-known as he battled severe health issues for over a decade, including pancreatic cancer and a liver transplant. 

The third part of his speech which focuses on death is very touching especially today.

RIP Podfather.

don't play small

There is no passion to be found playing small - in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living. I've always believed the greater danger is not aiming too high, but too low, settling for a bogey rather than shooting for an eagle. We need to find the courage to say 'NO' to the things and people that are not serving us if we want to rediscover ourselves and live our lives with authenticity. We gain power in our refusal to accept less than we deserve. Remember, the minute you settle for less than you deserve, you get even less than you settled for.

Living with integrity means: Not settling for less than what you know you deserve in your relationships. Asking for what you want and need from others. Speaking your truth, even though it might create conflict or tension. Behaving in ways that are in harmony with your personal values. Making choices based on what you believe, and not what others believe.

May you never settle and deter your progress in life, but rather make choices and decisions that launch and give opportunity for new growth.

The person who wrote this should be PRESIDENT!

Dear President Zuma,

Please find below our suggestion for fixing South Africa's economy. 
Instead of giving billions of rands to the government that will squander the money on lavish parties and unearned bonuses, use the following plan. 
You can call it the Patriotic Retirement Plan:

There are about 10 million people over 50 in the work force.

Pay them R1 million each severance for early retirement with the following stipulations:

1) They MUST retire.
Ten million job openings - unemployment fixed

2) They MUST buy a new car.
Ten million cars ordered - Car Industry fixed

3) They MUST either buy a house or pay off their mortgage -
Housing Crisis fixed

4) They MUST send their kids to school/college/university -
Crime rate fixed

5) They MUST buy R100 WORTH of alcohol/tobacco a week.....
And there's your money back in duty/tax etc

It can't get any easier than that!

P.S. If more money is needed, have all members of parliament pay back their falsely claimed expenses and second home allowances

Also.....
Let's put the pensioners in jail and the criminals in a nursing home.

This way the pensioners would have access to showers, hobbies and walks.

They'd receive unlimited free prescriptions, dental and medical treatment, wheel chairs etc and they'd receive money instead of paying it out.

They would have constant video monitoring, so they could be helped instantly, if they fell, or needed assistance.

Bedding would be washed twice a week, and all clothing would be ironed and returned to them.

A guard would check on them every 20 minutes and bring their meals and snacks to their cell.

They would have family visits in a suite built for that purpose.

They would have access to a library, weight room, spiritual counselling, pool and education.

Simple clothing, shoes, slippers, PJ's and legal aid would be free, on request.

Private, secure rooms for all, with an exercise outdoor yard, with gardens.

Each senior could have a PC a TV radio and daily phone calls.

There would be a board of directors to hear complaints, and the guards would have a code of conduct that would be strictly adhered to.

The criminals would get cold food, be left all alone and unsupervised. Lights off at 8pm, and showers once a week.  Live in a tiny room and pay R1,000.00+ per week and have no hope of ever getting out.

Think about this (more points of contention):

COWS
Is it just me, or does anyone else find it amazing that during the mad cow epidemic our government could track a single cow, born in Rivier-sonder-End almost three years ago, right to the stall where she slept?

And, they even tracked her calves to their stalls. But they are unable to locate 200,000 illegal immigrants wandering around our country. Maybe we should give each of them a cow.

the rest is just sand

A philosophy professor stood before his class and had some items in front of him. When class began, wordlessly he picked up a large empty mayonnaise jar and proceeded to fill it with rocks about 2" in diameter.

He then asked the students if the jar was full. They agreed that it was.

So the professor then picked up a box of pebbles and poured them into the jar. He shook the jar lightly. The pebbles, of course, rolled into the open areas between the rocks.

He then asked the students again if the jar was full. They agreed it was.

The professor picked up a box of sand and poured it into the jar. Of course, the sand filled up every empty space.

"Now," said the professor, "I want you to recognize that this is your life. The rocks are the important things - your family, your partner, your health, your children - anything that is so important to you that if it were lost, you would be nearly destroyed.”

"The pebbles are the other things that matter like your job, your house, your car.

"The sand is everything else. The small stuff.”

"If you put the sand into the jar first, there is no room for the pebbles or the rocks. The same goes for your life. If you spend all your energy and time on the small stuff, you will never have
room for the things that are important to you.”

"Pay attention to the things that are critical to your happiness. Play with your children. Take time to get medical checkups. Take your partner out dancing. There will always be time to go to work, clean
the house, give a dinner party and fix the disposal.”

"Take care of the rocks first - the things that really matter. Set your priorities. The rest is just sand."

patience rewards

A little girl visited a farm one day and asked to buy a large watermelon. 

“That big one you got in your hand costs 3 dollars,” said the farmer.

“I’ve got only 30 cents,” replied the girl.

“30 cents will buy you a small watermelon,” replied the farmer. “What about that one?” he asked, pointing to a small watermelon in the field.

“Okay, I’ll take it,” smiled the little girl. “Here’s your 30 cents but leave it on the vine. I’ll be back for it in a month ;)"

Pretty smart little girl. She knew her patience would be rewarded. By waiting one month, she could have a big, ripe watermelon for the price of a little green one.

give a 100

A boy and a girl were playing together. The boy had a collection of marbles. The girl had some sweets with her. The boy told the girl that he will give her all his marbles in exchange for her sweets. The girl agreed.

The boy kept the biggest and the most beautiful marble aside and gave the rest to the girl. The girl gave him all her sweets as she had promised.

That night, the girl slept peacefully. But the boy couldn't sleep as he kept wondering if the girl had hidden some sweets from him the way he had hidden his best marble.

Moral of the story:

If you don't give your hundred percent in a relationship, you'll always keep doubting if the other person has given his/her hundred percent.. This is applicable for any relationship like love, friendship, etc. Give your hundred percent to everything you do and sleep peacefully....

thank you Norma Jeane

I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.

I believe that everything happens for a reason. People change so that you can learn to let go, things go wrong so that you appreciate them when they're right, you believe lies so you eventually learn to trust no one but yourself, and sometimes good things fall apart so better things can fall together.

This life is what you make it. Not matter what, you're going to mess up sometimes; it's a universal truth. But the good part is you get to decide how you're going to mess it up.

Lovers, well, they come and go. And babe, I hate to say it, most of them - actually pretty much all of them are going to break your heart. But you can't give up because if you give up, you'll never find your soul mate. You'll never find that half who makes you whole and that goes for everything.

Just because you fail once, doesn't mean you're going to fail at everything. Keep trying, hold on, and always, always, always believe in yourself, because if you don't, then who will, sweetie? So keep your head high, keep your chin up, and most importantly, keep smiling, because life's a beautiful thing and there's so much to smile about.

♥

“Love is patient; love is kind. Love envies no one. Love is never boastful, nor conceited, nor rude; never selfish, not quick to take offence and is not resentful. Love takes no pleasure in other people’s sins but delights in the truth; it is always ready to excuse, to trust, to hope, and to bear whatever comes. Love does not come to an end. There is nothing love cannot face; there is no limit to its faith, its hope, and endurance. In a word, there are three things that last forever: faith, hope, and love; but the greatest of them all is love.”

happy right now...

You know how when you were a little kid and you believed in fairytales? That fantasy of what your life would be- white dress and a Prince Charming who would carry you away to a castle on a hill.

You would lie in bed at night and close your eyes and you had complete and utter faith. Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, Prince Charming, they were so close you could taste them.

But eventually you grow up. One day you open your eyes and the fairytale disappears. Most people turn to the things and people they can trust.

But the thing is its hard to let go of that fairytale entirely because almost everyone has that smallest bit of hope- of faith- that one day they will open their eyes and it will come true. 

At the end of the day faith is a funny thing. It turns up when you don't really expect it. It's like one day you realize that the fairytale may be slightly different than you dreamed. The castle, well, it may not be a castle. And it's not so important to have happily ever after, as long as it’s happy right now.

See, once in a while, once in a blue moon, people will surprise you, and once in a while people may even take your breath away. 

(Grey's Anatomy)

the power in struggle

A man found a cocoon of a moth. He took it home so that he could watch the moth come out of the cocoon.

On the day a small opening appeared, he sat and watched the moth for several hours as the moth struggled to force its body through the little hole. The moth seemed to be stuck and appeared to have stopped making progress. It seemed as if it had gotten as far as it could and it could go no farther.

The man, in his kindness, decided to help the moth; so he took a pair of scissors and snipped off the remaining bit of the cocoon. The moth then emerged easily. But its body was swollen and small, its wings wrinkled and shrivelled.

The man continued to watch the moth because he expected that, at any moment, the wings would enlarge and expand to support the body.

Neither happened! In fact, the little moth spent the rest of its life crawling around with a small, swollen body and shrivelled wings. It never was able to fly.

The man in his kindness and haste did not understand that the struggle required for the moth to get through the tiny opening was necessary to force fluid from the body of the moth into its wings so that it would be ready for flight upon achieving its freedom from the cocoon.

Freedom and flight would only come after the struggle.

By depriving the moth of a struggle, he deprived the moth of health.

Sometimes struggles are exactly what we need in our life. If we were to go through our life without any obstacles, we would be crippled. We would not have been as strong as we are.

Give every opportunity a chance, leave no room for regrets, and don't forget the power in struggle.

de moi à toi

Remember when we pondered over how the slipperiest ice is usually right in front of us? Hope you paid heed to my advice. Nothing like a little table salt to conquer and prevail.

But when the cold wars have thawed out and the ambience is still chilly, the best way to keep warm in winter is la chaleur de l'amour.

Oui!  You read right. Unexpected, unanticipated, long-standing or familiar; liaison amoureuse will leave you feeling warm and tingly long after the fire coals have burnt out. Talk about chaleur enflammée!

Pay attention sweethearts.

Dans ce monde plein de douleur et le chagrin, peut-être une fois dans une vie, vous trouverez quelqu'un qui vous fera vous sentir belle. En vérité les meilleures choses dans la vie sont gratuites.

Il n'y a qu'un bonheur dans la vie, c'est d'aimer et d'être aimé. La passion est dans toute l'humanité. Tout est magie dans les rapports entre homme et femme.

Il donne la vue de nouveaux à oublier le passé et oublier vos problèmes. Magiques!

Excusez-moi for addressing you in French but you have to agree, the topic of discussion calls for it.

If you have someone in your life that makes la vie all feu feu then count your blessings and hold on to them tight.

L'amour fait les plus grandes douceurs and I wish it for each and every one of you.

Bisou bisou.

:)

choice, chances and change...

Transitions in life are usually marked by major events: birthdays, graduations, weddings... But the greater transitions often come out of smaller moments, when we stop and look at who we are. because each time we see how far we have come, we also see how far we still have to go. 

In order to fully transform, we might need to free ourselves of everything we’ve been holding on to, to send us on our new path, the right one. Sometimes in life we hit a crossroad and are forced to choose which path we want to take. And there's no way of knowing if our journey will lead us to pleasure or pain.  

But if at the end, you find the person you have become is not the person you want to be. You can always turn around and try again. 

[Gossip Girl]

"Life is like photography... You develop from the negatives :)"

He who sows the wind, reaps the storm.

They say it's easy to forget your troubles when the weather's warm. But all it takes is one icy breeze to blow reality right back in your face. Yes folks, it’s frosty out there and I don’t mean the weather. 

This winter, even though we bundle up, a cold shoulder can freeze us out. Sometimes a ray of sun shines in and gives us hope. But in life, you may stand down but you can never give up. The bitterest feuds are always labours of love... And our most dangerous enemies are the ones we never knew we had... So if you want peace, always be prepared for war.  

The best-loved maiden in town would perish with anguish should she hear all that her friends say in the course of a day. We cannot control the evil tongues of others; but a good life enables us to disregard them. Remember the bitches are only powerful when your back is turned and real friends… don’t carry knives.

And when all is said and done, I know just what will cheer you up and help you thaw out… Karma :)

We sow what we reap... We reap what we sow. The rule of cause and effect. And we are ALL under this law. There’s no escape for them.

Everybody gets what they deserve.
So sit back and enjoy ;)

xoxo

All love begins and ends with her

I learnt firsthand today that a mother is the truest friend we have, when trials heavy and sudden, fall upon us; when adversity takes the place of prosperity; when friends who rejoice with us in our sunshine desert us; when trouble thickens around us, still will she cling to us, and endeavour by her kind guidance and counsels to dissipate the clouds of darkness, and cause peace to return to our hearts.

No matter how much we argue at times, I know no one can ever take my mother’s place in my heart. She has always told me to do the right thing. My greatest teacher, a teacher of compassion, love and fearlessness. Forever ready with the best advice and wisest of lessons. She has taught me so much.

Interestingly, today happens to be her birthday, so ofcourse, my post is dedicated to her (and all mothers out there).

I was in tears all night lastnight because yet again I was handed a colossal dose of betrayal. Its so true what they say, “Fake friends are like autumn leaves, found everywhere.”

But one tight hug from Mum this morning along with the prayers she blessed me with, made it all easier to handle.

Everybody knows that a good mother gives her children a feeling of trust and stability. She is their earth. She is the one they can count on for the things that matter most of all. She is their food and their bed and the extra blanket when it grows cold in the night; she is their warmth and their health and their shelter; she is the one they want to be near when they cry. She is the only person in the whole world in a whole lifetime who can be these things to her children. There is no substitute for her. Yes, a mother is she who can take the place of all others but whose place no one else can take.

You are the world to me, Mum. Happy Birthday. I love you.

this too shall pass

I’ve decided to stop posting everyday. Truth is I hardly find the time and I don’t want to post things just for the sake of it.

Life is crazy hey.

One minute I’m loving it. Next minute I’m stressed. At times I want things to stay just as they are. Then I want drastic change. Happy. Sad. Content. Unfulfilled. Pleased. Disappointed.

I don’t what’s going on anymore. How to feel. What to think.

On the one hand, you have complete strangers who stop what they doing to help you check the roads and guide you through traffic. They remind you of all the good in the world and leave you smiling and feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

Then you have friends whom you trust and love, that when push comes to shove, will drop you for an iPhone. And your head is like: “Screw you!” but your heart is not wanting any animosity.

So basically everything comes down to the crazy. Torn between two conflicting emotions. Which one do you go along with? Which one will pass and which one will you regret?

I guess the basic rule is: never speak in anger, don’t let your emotions control you and always think with a clear objective mind. Learn from the past. Trust your instinct.

If you're in a bad situation, don't worry it'll change.  If you're in a good situation, don't worry it'll change.  ~John A. Simone, Sr.

Nothing’s constant. If you make a mistake, you can move on from it, you don’t need to trap yourself in a world of "what ifs" and regrets. And because everything changes, don’t tussle to keep things the way the were. No good will come from being stuck in the past. Change the way you perceive the situation by embracing the new.

Because everything doesn’t just happen for a reason. Everything happens for a GOOD reason. God is All-Wise and All-Just.

And I will be the first to admit I find it difficult to stay optimistic at times, especially when the people who are supposed to hold you together, crush you.

But I know when I stop feeling miserable and stop missing the people I thought they were; I will experience an incredible sense of freedom. Liberated from all the selfishness and lies and deceit and superficiality and overall toxicness that they hide beneath their façade.

Before I go, I must thank the handful of friends who proved their dependability and allegiance to me in the sweetest, cheekiest manner yesterday. I love you guys.

closeness between people

Intimacy is a four syllable word for, "Here's my heart and soul, please grind them into a hamburger, and enjoy." 

It's both desired, and feared.  There are some things you can't escape. And other things you just don't want to know. Difficult to live with, and impossible to live without.

~Grey's Anatomy

friends

I believe that we don't have to change friends if we understand that friends change. No matter how good a friend is, they're going to hurt you every once in a while and you must forgive them for that. True friendship continues to grow, even over the longest time apart. Sometimes people come into your life and you know right away they were meant to be there to serve some sort of purpose, teach you a lesson or help figure out who you are or who you want to become.

A simple friend has never seen you cry.
A real friend has shoulders soggy from your tears.

A simple friend doesn't know your parents' first names.
A real friend has their phone numbers in his address book.

A simple friend brings a gift to your party.
A real friend comes early to help you cook and clean.

A simple friend hates it when you call after he has gone to bed.
A real friend asks you why you took so long to call.

A simple friend seeks to talk with you about their problems.
A real friend seeks to help you with your problems.

A simple friend wonders about your romantic history.
A real friend could blackmail you with it.

A simple friend, when visiting, acts like a guest.
A real friend opens your refrigerator and helps himself.

A simple friend thinks the friendship is over when you have an argument.
A real friend knows that it's not a friendship until after you've had a fight.

A simple friend expects you to always be there for them.
A real friend expects to always be there for you!

damned if you do, damned if you don't

Once a man and his daughter were travelling with their bull. On the way, the man said, ''My dear, please sit and ride on the bull during this journey.''

She obeyed and mounted the bull while her father walked alongside.

The village folk and other strangers bitterly criticized: ''What a selfish woman! She is young and healthy and yet she chooses to comfortably ride while forcing the old man to walk.''

Hearing this, the man changed his mind. ''The people are mocking you. It is wiser that I sit and you walk.''

So saying, the man sat on the bull's back. Further along, other strangers came with sharper comments, ''Oh look at this mean, bully of a man. He's fat and robust, and evil too. He enjoys the ride while forcing this young and gentle lady to walk on foot.''

Hearing this both of them climbed on the bull. At least, this would ward off the criticisms. But they were gravely mistaken and no sooner had they come to the next village, people sneered and jeered. ''Look at this nasty couple. Both of them have mercilessly climbed upon the bull. They'll kill the poor creature!''

Now there was only one option left. They dismounted and allowed the bull to walk freely. They accompanied it on either side. While they walked, they met new people with new bitterness. The people laughed at them, shouting: ''What foolishness! They have taken a bull as a vehicle and neither of them is using it.''

Straight away the man told his daughter, ''Come let us do what we think is right, and live the way we want to. The world will never appreciate or see what we do as correct.''

In this world, even if we perform a good deed not everyone will like it and support it. This is the line of thinking our world works on. It is crooked from both ends and whatever you do, the world will never see you straight. Do what you feel is right. Because you can’t please everybody!!! Only you know what your true intentions are. Keep them pure and sincere and you will be rewarded justly.

“Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven.”

The heart's own dew.

Unless you have been very, very lucky, you have undoubtedly experienced events in your life that have made you cry.  So unless you have been very, very lucky, you know that a good, long session of weeping can often make you feel better, even if your circumstances have not changed one bit. 

Crying doesn't indicate that you're weak. Since birth, it has been a sign that you're alive.

There is sacredness in tears. They are not the mark of weakness, but of power. They speak more eloquently than ten thousand tongues. They are sometimes messengers of overwhelming grief and unspeakable love. They are words the heart can't express.

Let your tears come.  Let them water your soul. Our very own holy water.  They heal us as they pour out.  Let your tears flow and where they go, let your sorrows follow.

Perhaps our eyes need to be washed by our tears once in a while, so that we can see Life with a clearer view again. The soul would have no rainbow had the eyes no tears.

Heavy hearts, like heavy clouds in the sky, are best relieved by the letting of a little water.  Tears are the safety valve of the heart when too much pressure is laid on it.

What soap is for the body, tears are for the soul. 

Those who do not know how to weep with their whole heart don't know how to laugh with it either.

being grown up

Remember when you were a kid and your biggest worry was, like, if you'd get a bike for your birthday or if you'd get to eat cookies for breakfast. Being an adult? Totally overrated. I mean seriously, don't be fooled by all the hot shoes and the no parents anywhere telling you what to do. Adulthood is responsibility. Responsibility, it really does suck. Really, really sucks. Adults have to be places and do things and earn a living and pay the rent. It can't be avoided. Either someone makes us face it or we suffer the consequences. Kind of makes bikes and cookies look really, really good, doesn't it? The scariest part about responsibility? When you screw up and let it slip right through your fingers.

We're adults. When did that happen? And how do we make it stop? 

(Grey's Anatomy)

fire at one end and a fool at the other

Would you still be smoking if it did to your outside what it's doing to your inside?

thrown off balance

OK I’m a little freaked out. The other day (02/06/2011), I came across that Bob Marley quote and shared it with you guys. I had read it before and I even mentioned how surprised I am that I hadn’t shared it with you already. 

So today, I’m looking through my posts and I see that I had in fact posted it up before. On 06/02/2011!!!

Not only that! I had actually titled both posts with the same heading!!! Which is creepy cuz I spent hours thinking of a nice one that day.

And they’re both lime green in colour…

And did you notice 02/06 and 06/02?

OK you’re probably laughing at me but I’m very perturbed.

O_o

shake off the shackles

A parable is told of a farmer who owned an old mule. The mule fell into the farmer's well. The farmer heard the mule 'braying' -or-whatever mules do when they fall into wells. After carefully assessing the situation, the farmer sympathized with the mule, but decided that neither the mule nor the well was worth the trouble of saving.

Instead, he called his neighbours together and told them what had happened ...and enlisted them to help haul dirt to bury the old mule in the well and put him out of his misery.

Initially, the old mule was hysterical! But as the farmer and his neighbours continued shovelling the dirt a thought struck him. It suddenly dawned on him that every time a shovel load of dirt landed on his back, he should shake it off and step up! This he did, blow after blow.

"Shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up...shake it off and step up!" he repeated to encourage himself.

No matter how painful the blows, or how distressing the situation seemed the old mule fought "panic" and just kept right on shaking it off and stepping up!

It wasn't long before the old mule, battered and exhausted, stepped triumphantly over the wall of that well! What seemed like it would bury him, actually blessed him...all because of the manner in which he handled his adversity.

If we face our problems, respond to them positively, and refuse to give in to panic, bitterness, or self-pity, the adversities that come along to bury us usually have within them the potential to benefit and bless us.

incase you boys weren't confused enough...

• Don’t flirt with us and then say you don’t like us

• WE HATE BEING LED ON! We lost interest quickly if you lead us on but never take action.

• Don't play hard to get. Girls hate it when guys ignore them.

• If you don't call us, then we will spend hours thinking about why you never called, and we will waste a lot of time thinking about it, eventually coming to the conclusion that we don't like you anymore.

• If you tell us you’re going to call tomorrow morning...then call tomorrow morning!! We will constantly be checking our phone; afraid we’ll miss the call, and obsessing over it... Do us and yourself a favour and call when you say you will. We will take it out on you if you keep us waiting. Because one, it sucks and two, we don’t like to be messed with… And if you don’t know when you’re going to be able to call. Then don’t tell us a time, don’t tell us you’ll call... surprise us instead. We’d rather be surprised than be kept waiting around.

• We like it when guys are willing to have an actual relationship. Most girls don't like pimps or players, just guys who like ONE girl only.

• We love it when you stand up for us, but not when you stand up against us.

• Don't flirt with other girls.

• Don't talk about the way other girls look. Actually, don't really talk about other girls in general, unless we're all friends. If I don't know her, I don't want to hear about her.

• BE HONEST! Don’t lie to us. We have our ways of finding out the truth… always.

• Don't make promises you can't keep.

• Don't ONLY tell us what we want to hear. We HATE that.

• Just accept it. Girls have ESP. We'll know if you're lying

• When a girl is mad at you, just say sorry. If you're wrong, apologize. If you're not wrong, apologize!!!

• If we pretend you don’t exist, cry and yell at you, and give you nasty looks plus shoulder shrugs it ALWAYS means YOU DID SOMETHING WRONG. (Apologize now!!!)

• We like you to kiss our hand and cheeks and forehead (esp. forehead!!), not just shove your tongue down our throats. We do like to breath. We like our hands to be held and our waists to be touched. Waist, not butt. Hands, not boobs. Held, not fondled.

• Butts are flabby. Get over it. Not everyone is J-Lo. Guys should not determine their feelings on a piece of ass.

• WE LOVE WHEN YOU SMELL GOOD!

• Girls love it when relationships are romantic.

• Do chivalrous things when we least expect it (eg. holding doors for us).

• We LOVE it when you get nervous around us. It's adorable! Don't think you have to be Mr. Cool Guy all the time.

• Ask us about how we're doing once in a while, and at least pretend to be interested. We get really happy when you show any sign of interest. Don't just do it and then never do it again.

• If we're upset and we're crying, just be there, don't try to give us advice, psychoanalyze us, or pester us. Just give us a hug and let us know you're there.

• If we're not talking to you, we secretly want you to talk to us first.  Always message us first. We don't want to message you first, and if we have to, we will automatically think that you don't like us, wonder why you didn't message us, and feel desperate.

• DONT WAIT FOR THE GIRL TO MAKE THE FIRST MOVE IT’S PROBABLY NOT GOING TO HAPPEN!!!!!

• Keep up the conversation on phones and in person! Don't be awkward.

• Every time you smile at us, it may mean only a little to you, but it means the world to us. Don't take the little things for granted.

• Don’t ask, “Can I kiss you?”.It’s like “Uhhh…. Yeah. Sure…” and it’s a total turn off.
  Besides, if you don’t ask them, they can’t say no!

• Don’t say  “Thank you” after you kiss. I mean like… WTF???? We don’t, or for that matter, won’t say thank you back.

• We’re allowed to be late, you’re not. 

• Remind us why you like us. It’s really refreshing.

• Be nice to our family, but don’t make it seem like your in love with our sister/brother (….HMMM….)

• No bad comments about our bodies. It’s one of the worst things you can do. And if you want to get anywhere… not smart.

• Don’t ditch us for your guy-friends. Especially if we already had plans. If you already have, expect the same you did to us. Karma… is a bitch.

• Don’t act like a jerk around your guy friends or our friends then be nice to us later… not cool. 

• Girls like it when you chase them.

• Being a bit jelous/protective is awesome, 'cause it shows you care.

• We can tell if you are fake laughing.

• Treat us like you would like to be treated.

• Even if we act like we hate you, we usually don’t... but please apologize so we can love you again.

• Don't be an ass to us. Because that'll get you nowhere.

• If you forget our birthday, we'll probably forget your name.

• We will never ever look like Barbies. If you expect us to... then you better show up looking like Ken.  

• DON'T TRY TO MAKE HER JEALOUS! I cannot stress on this ENOUGH! If you do try, we will get pissed off at you, dump you, and move on without looking back ONCE.

• When you compliment us, we aren't sure how to accept the compliment without leading you on or reject the compliment without hurting you.

• We will always feel bad if we don't like you back. Not all girls are bitches, no matter what you may think. We hate to reject you.

the calm will come...

A little girl walked to and from school daily. One morning, though the weather was questionable and clouds were forming, she made her daily trek to school. As the afternoon progressed, the winds whipped up, along with lightning.

The mother of the little girl felt concerned that her daughter would be frightened as she walked home from school. She also feared the storm might harm her child. Full of concern, the mother got into her car and quickly drove along the route to her child's school.  As she did, she saw her little girl walking along.

At each flash of lightning, the child would stop, look up, and smile.  More lightning followed quickly and with each, the little girl would look at the streak of light and smile.

When the mother drew up beside the child, she lowered the window and called, "What are you doing?"

The child answered, "I am trying to look pretty because God keeps taking my picture."

May you always have the strength to face the storms that come your way with a smile!

take it with a pinch

We know too many people in our lives...

We care about and love them so much,

That we don't want to lose them...

But suddenly...

We are betrayed, disappointed and maybe hurt...

Wondering... 

''Why is this happening...?''

For a while we lose our faith in people...

Promising ourselves not to trust anyone anymore...

Then we move on...

Meeting new people...

And the same process keeps continuing again and again...

Not because we're dumb or weak,

but because this is the way of life...

There is a lesson behind every pain...

a message with every person we meet

a purpose for everything in life...

We cannot change facts,

but we can change ourselves...

Never blame anyone who's somehow touched your life...

Some give you happiness;

Some give you experience;

And some give you a lesson!!

Always have a unique perspective...

They are like salt.

Its presence is not felt but

Its absence makes all things TASTELESS...

always holding yours...

A little girl and her father were crossing a bridge. The father was kind of scared so he said to his little daughter: "Sweetheart, please hold my hand so that you don't fall into the river." 

The little girl said, "No, Dad. You hold my hand."

"What's the difference?" asked the puzzled father. 

"There's a big difference," replied the little girl. "If I hold your hand and something happens to me, chances are that I may let your hand go. But if you hold my hand, I know for sure that no matter what happens, you will never let my hand go."

In any relationship, the essence of trust is not in its bind, but in its bond. 

So hold the hand of the person whom you love rather than expecting them to hold yours...

keep it coming...

Is the glass half-full or is it half-empty?

I think it's actually a floating line. A barometer of need and desire. It's entirely up to the individual. And depends on what's being poured.
Sometimes all we want is a taste.
Other times there's no such thing as enough- the glass is bottomless. 

And all we want, is more.

(Grey's Anatomy)

as you sow, so shall you reap

‎A son and his father were walking on the mountains. 
Suddenly, his son falls, hurts himself and screams: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!"

To his surprise, he hears his voice repeating, somewhere in the mountain: "AAAhhhhhhhhhhh!"

Curious, he yells: "Who are you?"

He receives the answer: "Who are you?"

And then he screams to the mountain: "I admire you!"

The voice answers: "I admire you!"

Angered at the response, he screams: "Coward!"

He receives the answer: "Coward!"

He looks to his father and asks: "What's going on?"

The father smiles and says: "My son, pay attention."

Then the father explains: "People call this ECHO, but really this is LIFE.

It gives you back everything you say or do.

Our life is simply a reflection of our actions.

If you want more love in the world, create more love in your heart.

If you want more good in your community, improve your competence and goodness.

This relationship applies to everything, in all aspects of life.

Life will give you back everything you have given to it."

 

Every action has a reaction…good actions produce good reactions and bad actions produce bad reactions!

Lost time is never found again.

A couple of hundred years ago, Benjamin Franklin shared with the world the secret of his success.

Never leave till tomorrow, that which you can do today.

This is the man who discovered electricity. You think more people would listen to what he had to say.

I don't know why we put things off, but if I had to guess, I'd have to say it has a lot to do with fear.

Fear of failure, fear of rejection, sometimes the fear is just of making a decision.

Because what if you're wrong? What if you're making a mistake you can't undo?

The early bird catches the worm.

A stitch in time saves nine.

He who hesitates is lost.

We can't pretend we hadn't been told. We've all heard the proverbs, heard the philosophers, heard our grandparents warning us about wasted time, heard the damn poets urging us to seize the day. 

Still sometimes we have to see for ourselves. We have to make our own mistakes. We have to learn our own lessons. We have to sweep today's possibility under tomorrow's rug until we can't anymore. Until we finally understand for ourselves what Benjamin Franklin really meant:

That knowing is better than wondering, that waking is better than sleeping, and even the biggest failure, even the worst, beats the hell out of never trying. 

(Grey's Anatomy)

Do not fear mistakes. You will know failure. Continue to reach out.
Happy Youth Day  :)

Gratitude is the best attitude.

Maybe we're not supposed to be happy. Maybe gratitude has nothing to do with joy. Maybe being grateful means recognizing what you have for what it is. Appreciating small victories. Admiring the struggle it takes simply to be human. Maybe we're thankful for the familiar things we know. And maybe we're thankful for the things we'll never know. At the end of the day, the fact that we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate.

(Grey's Anatomy)

too close is comfort :)

At the end of the day, when it comes down to it, all we really want is to be close to somebody. So this thing, where we all keep our distance and pretend not to care about each other, is usually a load of bull. 

We pick and choose who we want to remain close to, and once we've chosen those people, we tend to stick close by. No matter how much we hurt them, the people that are still with you at the end of the day - those are the ones worth keeping. 

And sure, sometimes close can be too close. But sometimes, that invasion of personal space, it can be exactly what you need.

(Grey's Anatomy)

Beware my inner bitch

Oh what a shitty weekend. Fake people. Judgmental people. Downright evil people. What have I done to deserve this torture?

It seems some people don't understand the concept of private conversations. They can't keep their mouths shut so end up hurting other people just for their two minutes of gossip pleasure!

And what's wrong with those other people anyway?

Shouldn't you know your friends better? Shouldn't you know who to trust and what to believe?

Oh and how dare you condemn someone for things they may or may not have said when they were hurt and angry? Especially when YOU caused that pain.

And what makes the entire situation even more ludicrous? What was said was all truth! Spoken bitterly, quoted spitefully, but all TRUE.

So please don't yell at me because I had the balls to point out your faults and now your ego is bruised or you're panicking that people will see the real you is actually a FAKE.

And thank you "friend" for using a heart to heart for your personal vendetta. Clearly your immaturity exceeds your intelligence. You've done a splendid job of portraying just how untrustworthy you actually are.

I'm SICK of highschool drama. Not knowing who to trust. All the backbiting, backstabbing, jealousy, PETTINESS, grudges, insecurities, bickering, tears, abuse, LIES and drama. I left this crap behind me when I matriculated and ain't nobody bringing it back.

So snip snip snip. I've cut you out. Go tattle on someone else's tales. Get out of my life. Good luck with yours.

be the butterfly..

Sometimes reality has a way of sneaking up and biting us in the ass. And when the dam bursts, all you can do is swim. The world of pretend is a cage, not a cocoon. We can only lie to ourselves for so long. We are tired, we are scared, denying it doesn't change the truth. Sooner or later we have to put aside our denial and face the world. Head on, guns blazing.

De Nile. It's not just a river in Egypt, it's a freakin' ocean.

So how do you keep from drowning in it?

(Grey's Anatomy)

power through...

Pain. You just have to ride it out, hope it goes away on its own, hope the wound that caused it heals. There are no solutions, no easy answers, you just breath deep and wait for it to subside. Most of the time pain can be managed but sometimes the pain gets you where you least expect it. Hits way below the belt and doesn't let up. Pain, you just have to fight through, because the truth is you can't outrun it and life always makes more.

(Grey's Anatomy)

Alone, most strangely, I live on...

I always said I’d be happier alone. I’d have my work, my friends and my family… but someone in your life all the time? More trouble than it’s worth.

Apparently I got over it.

There's a reason I said I'd be happy alone. It wasn't 'cause I thought I'd be happy alone. It was because I thought if I loved someone and then it fell apart, I might not make it.

It's easier to be alone, because what if you learn that you need love and you don't have it?

What if you like it and lean on it?

What if you shape your life around it and then it falls apart?

Can you even survive that kind of pain?

Losing love is like organ damage. It's like dying. The only difference is death ends.

This?

It could go on forever…

(Grey's Anatomy)

"Where you used to be, there is a hole in the world, which I find myself constantly walking around in the daytime, and falling in at night.  I miss you like hell."  ~Edna St. Vincent Millay

attitude is everything

How crazy was the storm Tuesday night/Wednesday morning? Hope you all kept warm and safe.

Here's a little inspiration for you :)

There once was a woman who woke up one morning, looked in the mirror, and noticed she had only three hairs on her head.

'Well,' she said, 'I think I'll braid my hair today.'

So she did and she had a wonderful day....

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and saw that she had only two hairs on her head.

'H-M-M,' she said, 'I think I'll part my hair down the middle today.'

So she did and she had a grand day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that she had only one hair on her head.

'Well,' she said, 'today I'm going to wear my hair in a pony tail.'

So she did, and she had a fun, fun day.

The next day she woke up, looked in the mirror and noticed that there wasn't a single hair on her head.

'YAY!' she exclaimed. 'I don't have to fix my hair today!'

Attitude is everything. Be kinder than necessary, for everyone you meet is fighting some kind of battle.

Live simply, Love generously, Care deeply, Speak kindly and Pray continually. Life isn't about waiting for the storm to pass... It's about learning to dance in the rain. It's not what you gather, but what you scatter that tells what kind of life you have lived. Life is too short to wake up with regrets. Love the people who treat you right and pray for the ones that don't.

  

"Everybody wants happiness, nobody wants pain. But its impossible to get a rainbow without a little rain..."

redeem, regenerate, rescue

In keeping up with environment week, here are some facts on recycling:

• The average American uses 300kg of paper each year – 100 million tons of wood could be saved each year if all that paper was recycled.

• Americans use 2.5 million plastic bottles every hour. About 80% of what Americans throw away is recyclable, yet their recycling rate is only 28%.

• Every month Americans throw out enough glass bottles and jars to fill up a giant skyscraper (think: Empire State Building), but all of these jars are recyclable!

• Plastic bags and other plastic garbage thrown into the ocean kill as many as 1,000,000 sea creatures a year! (Great Pacific Garbage Patch)

• Recycling one ton (about 917 kg) of paper saves 17 trees, two barrels of oil (enough to run the average car for 2000 km), 4,100 kilowatts of energy (enough power for the average home for six months), 2.5 cubic metres of landfill space, and 30 kg of pollution.

• The 17 trees saved by recycling one ton of paper can absorb a total of 113 kg of carbon dioxide out of the air each year.

• If all of the newspapers in America were recycled, we could save about 250 million trees each year! Every year more than 900 million trees are cut down to provide raw materials for American paper and pulp mills.

• Recycling one aluminium beverage can saves enough energy to run a 100-watt bulb for 20 hours, a computer for 3 hours or a tv for 2 hours. Recycling 125 aluminium cans saves enough energy to power one home for 1 day.

• You can make 20 cans out of recycled steel with the same amount of energy it takes to make 1 new one.

• It takes approximately 1 million years for a glass bottle to break down in a landfill. Glass never wears out - it can be recycled forever. Recycling glass saves 25-32% of the energy and 9 gallons of fuel (oil) for every ton of glass recycled.

• Plastics require 100 to 400 years to break down in a landfill. Recycling 1 ton of plastic can save 1-2 thousand gallons of gas.

• Recycling all of your home's waste newsprint, cardboard, glass and metal can reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 400 kg a year.

I know most of these facts are about America, but just because it’s not our country doesn’t mean we should ignore it. It’s their country, but our world.

The Great Pacific Garbage Patch

Did you guys know this even existed? I only heard of it yesterday!!!! 

The Pacific Trash Vortex, is a gyre of marine litter in the central North Pacific Ocean located roughly between San Francisco and Hawaii. The Patch is characterized by exceptionally high concentrations of pelagic plastics, chemical sludge, and other debris that have been trapped by the currents of the North Pacific Gyre.

The exact size of the patch is unknown, as large items readily visible from a boat deck are uncommon. Most debris consists of small plastic particles suspended at or just below the surface, making it impossible to detect by aircraft or satellite. According to sampling it's roughly twice the size of Texas and is 80 percent plastic, and weighs in at 3.5 million tons!!!

Some of these long-lasting plastics end up in the stomachs of marine birds and animals, and their young. Besides the particles' danger to wildlife, the floating debris can absorb organic pollutants from seawater. Aside from toxic effects, when ingested, some of these are cause hormone disruption in the affected animal. These toxin-containing plastic pieces are also eaten by jellyfish, which are then eaten by larger fish. Many of these fish are then consumed by humans, resulting in their ingestion of toxic chemicals.

No country with a seat on the United Nations has claimed any responsibility for the patch, and therefore have not taken action to clean it up.

"If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us."

Some people claim the patch doesn’t exist at all- a legend like sea monsters of old. But I think it does and I think it’s DISGRACEFUL.

Totally feel depressed now…

think globally, act locally

It's environment week and you all know I'm a firm supporter of going green. Remember when I talked about saving the planet? Well I've done the research for you and have found a few of the easiest simplest ways in which you can make a difference.

• My number one favourite thing (as mentioned before) is the Carbon Free campaign. You purchase a Carbon Free card to have an indigenous tree planted in a protected sanctuary. You then get the GPS co-ordinates of your tree’s location so you can monitor it and watch it grow. With your card, you can also participate in additional programs to accrue points through retailers and suppliers. These points can be redeemed for additional trees.

Did you know that ONE indigenous tree can produce oxygen for EIGHTY people?

• Turn off lights and electronic devices when you’re not using them. It’s not about simply turning the off switch. Many electrical appliances continue to use a small amount of energy when turned off. This energy will add up over time. Switch it off from the power outlet.

Did you know turning lights off when not actively using them, would have a reduction of up to 25% in the amount of electricity used everyday?

• Insulating your home will keep your house warmer in the winter and help to cool things off in the summer.

Did you know that heating and cooling can make up to 50% of your energy bill each month?

• Switch as many bulbs as possible in your home to compact fluorescent bulbs, or LED bulbs. A while ago, Eskom sent around a bunch of volunteers to people's homes to swap their existing lightbulbs for these energy efficient ones. It was a great initiative! Fluorescent bulbs generally last up to seven years each. LED bulbs last even longer and use even less energy. They are also really going mainstream nowadays, which means they're cheaper and easier to find than ever.

Did you know lighting can make up to 25% of the average home’s electricity consumption?

• You can save water and energy in the bathroom by installing low flow showerheads, upgrading your toilet to a low flow model and insulating your water heater and pipes. You may associate a low-flow showerhead with one that reduces your shower to a frustrating trickle. Thankfully, technologies have improved so that you can enjoy a high pressure shower while saving water at the same time!

Did you know 41% of our indoor water use in the home goes toward flushing the toilet and 33% goes to bathing!

• Reuse and recycle. Buy products made from recycled materials. Reuse something for the same purpose for which it was originally intended or for another purpose. Give your unwanted items to others or to welfare organisations. The ways in which to reuse and recycle are endless and all beneficial.

Most people are worried about the environment but don't think they can make a difference. We seem to feel overwhelmed by the extent of environmental problems and can't do anything to help because after all, "you are only one person." You might not know this, but it's doing the little things every day in your home that makes a huge impact on the environment. It’s the cumulative effect. You can make a big difference even though you are only "one person."