The Essence of Life?

Am writing this from a different PC to usual, mine crashed last week and is in for repairs.

One of the long term friends of our family is a couple who currently reside in South Africa. During my trip back from Cape Town, I stayed a few nights with them. The amazing thing about this couple is that they have been married for 62 years! They have stuck it out through thick and thin, through sickness and health and family trauma. He was abducted during the war in Zimbabwe, he has a long-standing heart condition and she is prone to falls. They are lovely to watch. They still hold hands. Aware that this could easily have been the last time I would see them, I asked them what the secret of their success was. Their answer, ‘they never went to bed angry.’ A simple but profound key; a nugget of wisdom that they consider to be one of the pivotal cores of their success.

Now, I am aware of the pitfalls of oversimplification, but what would your response be if someone asked you for the best piece of wisdom that you had? If you could distil your experiences and examples down into one phrase, what would it be? It may be something you thought up, a core value deep within your system, or it could be something you read, but I guarantee you, that if you think long enough you will find something you can pass on.

Mine, hmmm. I’ll admit it took some thinking-I have sat under the teaching of some great men. I guess for me it would be ‘Get on with it!’ Too many people have a dream or an idea that they never act on. Great people never started ‘great’. They began where they were with what they had (which was often just a great dream). The Wright brothers did not always fly, nor was the mane ‘Gates’ part of every household. If you know what you want to do-then set about doing it. So that’s my current piece of advice. It may change in the future, but probably not too soon. What’s yours?

Back at the Desk

Am back in the office. Worked at the coffee shop over the weekend and started physio again today. It is still a rough period. Had the memorial service on Thursday last week, I spoke, not the easiest thing to do.

The main thing for me has been to find an anchor to help structure my days, I'd be pretty useless otherwise. In this case, getting back into my 'normal' routine has been paramount, while my 'to do' list has helped provide focus and direction. There is much extra to do, there are all sorts of consequences from my mother's death. Things that have to be sorted out. I am, however, not foolish. I know that I will have good and bad days, so I won't try force anything. The list merely serves to show me what I can do when I am up to it, and remind me of what is easily forgotten at this time.

Pain and Sorrow

The recent absence of regular posts this last fortnight was as a result of the untimely death of my mother. She had been having radiotherapy in Cape Town and eventually succumbed to some unexpected side effects. I have spent the last week in Cape Town with my family and we drove back up to Zimbabwe over the last couple of days. There is much still to do, and I will be out on the farm for the next few days.

There is much to celebrate in her life, and much of what I am today is a result of her influence; she is after all the person who taught me to read and write.

Will try and get back into my usual routine after the weekend.

Rain

It rained yesterday, for the first time this season. There is always something refreshing about the first rains, it brings a promise of hope after a period of lack and dryness. It cools the earth and settles the dust of the past months. Things appear cleaner and reveal their true colours that have been hidden under layers of dirt and grime. In a few days, new green shoots will appear in the grass and some flowers will begin to bloom. It is a wonderful time.

Rain in Africa is different to other places. A storm is just that-an intense burst of hard-hitting, large drops that breaks upon you from above. Not for Africa is the incessant dribble that could easily be mistaken for a heavy mist.

It will probably rain again today, the atmosphere is heavy and there are already signs of cloud build-up. There are other clouds though, those that bring a promise of rain but fail to deliver-either because they have not formed properly, or because they are driven rapidly away by the wind. I’m pretty sure you know people like that; those who could be so effective if they had a bit more training, or those who are to windswept in life and unable to settle long enough to do anything meaningful. Men are full of promises, but how many are truly men of their word. Now you firmly have a picture of someone else in your eye (come on I know you do), take a moment to reflect on your own life. Do you bring refreshment, value and life into the lives of others and do you stimulate growth in those around you? If not, determine today the steps you can take to change.

Tags rain encouragement personal development

Mix and Match

Been using Technorati a bit more lately. One of the things that amazes me is the vast difference between top tags and top searches. It almost looks as though people are not writng about what others are looking for (although with 50 million blogs someone somewhere probably has your information). For example, look at the list below from this morning


Top Searches
Jonny
Pinky
Cicarelli
Tom Green
Zune
Paginas Da Vida
Photo
Cherokee
Lindsay Lohan
Assparade
Mark Foley
Tammy
Myspace
Jada Fire
Google

Top Tags
Bush
Microsoft
youtube
iPod
web-20
Iraq
thursday thirteen
Terrorism
Comedy
War
sexy
Islam
Politik
China
iTunes

Not a lot of matches there. Surely, if you want to promote your blog it would make sense to write about something that matches what people are looking for-even if it's just once in a while. A marketer once told me-'find what people want and make it. It sure beats trying to sell them what you have.'

technorati marketing

A Nation in Crisis

The situation in Zimbabwe is worsening as a shortage of chocolate hits the market! One of the major suppliers to the coffee shop is unable to supply the usual quantity of chocolate due to a shortage of raw materials. So far, the general public is still consuming old stock in the shops, but replacement will be another story. It is simply a matter of time before the racks of enticing goods placed by the till to tempt innocent shoppers are empty. For chocoholics, like myself, this is a disaster of monstrous proportions. Unless dire steps are taken, there will be a widespread manifestation of withdrawal symptoms in those who cannot obtain their daily fix; the loss of productivity will take a heavy toll on an already stretched economy. The solution: in the short-term release forex to import the necessary goods. In the long term, plant cocoa trees in appropriate areas in the country to ensure self-reliance for cocoa production. Have you ever wondered why cocoa from North Africa and sugar from Mauritius is taken to Europe for processing and exported back to Africa? Have a beautiful day. I’m off to enjoy a bar of chocolate-while stocks last.

Zimbabwe chocolate humour

Defining Moments

Yesterday I finally made a decision I have been wrestling with for some time. I gave up ballroom dancing. There are multiple factors at play; the primary one being that I just do not feel that it is producing any lasting results in my life and the lives of others, and that I could make better use of the time. Sometimes pruning is necessary for growth. It has been a hard choice. I have just closed the door on three years of competition. It will mean changes in relationships and friendships I have developed as a result. It is entirely possible that this will be a seasonal break, we shall see. It is an interesting time.

The reactions of people have been varied. So many people have come to define me by my dancing that it is hard for them to see me in any other light. I can’t let the definitions of others define my life and values-that has to come from me, and God. In a recent post, Dr John Stanko mentioned coming up with defining values for your life. It got me thinking about my own. I suppose I had never really paid much attention to them. The premise is that if you understand what your values are, you will plan your life around what is important to you. When you are doing what is important to you, you will be fulfilled.
So here is the beginning of my list:

I am a learner
I am a worshipper
I am faithful and loyal
I am a team player
I am a teacher
I am a man of prayer
I am an encourager
I am a good steward of what is given me

It is by no means complete and I will add and expand on it in the next week. I encourage you to start your own.

ballroom
values
personal development