Giving back – So much more

Do you give back to your community?  Do you try and think about someone else instead of the usual “me, myself and I”?  Do you REALLY make an effort?

I didn’t.

Awful to admit, but it just wasn’t my type of “thing” to do.  I kept convincing myself that I never had the time to do something for myself, let alone someone else.

This weekend I had the opportunity of giving back.  As a team from my place of work, we gathered at our Head Office early Saturday morning.  We loaded all supplies in a truck, jumped in a company car and made our way to one of Cape Town’s teaching hospitals.  There we painted the Men’s Psychiatric ward.  The Ward needed a fresh coat of paint and we were more than happy to help make the environment a bit more bearable for the patients. 

When we were done - a good seven hours later – I had this sense of fulfillment coming over me.  Is this what it feels like, helping someone unknown with a gesture this small?  It felt GREAT!! 

What an amazing feeling it is to give back to the community you live in.
 

15 Minutes of Fame

Andy Warhol, an American painter, printmaker and filmmaker, said, “In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes.”

If I can’t choose the precise 15 minutes I want to be famous, I would prefer to be caught in a moment where I am compassionate.  Why compassionate you might ask?  Compassion is the art of the emotional capacities of empathy and sympathy.   It can also be regarded as a strong part of love.  It is said that compassion is the foundation to the highest principles in philosophy, society and “personhood”.

If I have the privilege of being famous for 15 minutes, I would like people to see what it looks like when you put someone else’s needs before your own.  Hopefully I will be able to teach a few people in the wonderful world we are living in, what it really means. 

Our earth revolve around ourselves, so much so, that we forgot what really matters.  We need to look after each other and genuinely care.

My 15 minutes of fame?  A lesson to the rest of humanity …

Climbing up the Ladder

  During this week I was privileged enough to be informed that I received a promotion!!  (YAY!!)

If you are an employee at my current place of employment, you will understand the MASSIVE achievement it is.  During the almost 80 years of the company’s existence, no one in my department had EVER received a promotion.  I am so very much blessed. 

My new position entails me to work on my very own projects – events, community newspapers / radio stations, social media, website, artwork, campaigns, newsletters, etc.  This makes a huge difference in my professional life, as I am now able to start a full on career in Public Relations and learn as much as possible during this new phase.

It feels like I am turning to a new page in my life - a wonderful, unknown page full of possibilities.  Yes, I am scared, (I mean, this is HUGE) but I feel ready for it.  It’s sink or swim and I am very much ready to swim.

I am not a “baby PR” anymore, but a mature and professional PR!  Wish me luck … I think I might need it!

A skill set called Leadership

Leadership is defined as the “process of social influence in which one person can enlist the aid and support of others in the accomplishment of a common task”.  It can also be defined as “ultimately creating a way for people to contribute to making something extraordinary happen”.

All through history and in all walks of life one can find a leader.  In historical times, leaders were fierce and strong.  They came in forms of kings, chiefs and many more.  Today, our leaders can be identified as presidents, kings, queens, CEO’s and many more.  Even the animal kingdom has its leaders, some more fierce than others.

Some people are blessed with leadership as a skill and others are followers.  Leaders are necessary, as they need to keep the followers on the right path to whatever the aim is.  In today’s world, a leader is not necessarily the strongest or the most intelligent.  A leader is the person who guides.

Being a leader has many advantages, but as the saying goes, “with great power comes great responsibility”.

Life is like a Highway

When thinking of a highway, my mind immediately jumps to the N1 Highway. 

The N1 Highway is a South African National Road, which runs from Cape Town to the border of Zimbabwe.  It also forms the first section of the famed “Cape to Cairo Road”.

I think of like as a highway.  We start out at one point with a mild idea as to what our destination will be.  We sometimes get a flat tire and are stopped in roadblocks.  This can be identified as problems or issues we might face in life.  It is necessary for us to “change the tire” and “stop at a roadblock” to learn some of life’s lessons.  Then we also have to remember to stop for some petrol, food and something to drink.  This can be identified as people who support us, a bit of “soul food” and some “water of life”.  Without petrol we won’t be able to continue our life’s journey, without food we will starve and without something to drink, we will dehydrate. 

We travel on this “highway” of life, until we someday reach our destination.  May you have the trip of your life and may your destination be a wonderful one.

My opinion on Rock Journalism

Frank Zappa, an American musician/singer/songwriter, is of the opinion that rock journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read.  He made this statement on Linda Botts’ show, called “Loose Talk”.

I think Rock Journalism can be defined as criticism and reporting about a specific type of music genre, called “rock”.  Can it be people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read?  In my opinion “rock” is a certain culture.  Those of us not understanding the culture might find it difficult to grasp and we might render journalism on the topic as unimportant.  To the “rock” culture, it means something.  I am no professional, but if someone renders my culture unimportant I will certainly make a fuss about it.

Just as in the case of films, news, celebrates, etc. we need journalists who are able to understand and write about the “rick” culture.  It is important that we all have knowledge of all types of cultures.

Summer VS. Winter

Which season do you love the most?  I am struggling to decide.

When thinking about summer, I think of the following:

1.     Beach

2.     Tan
3.     Swim
4.     Bathing suites
5.     Shorts
6.     Sleeveless tops
7.     Cocktails
8.     Long summer days
9.     Yellow
10.  Watermelon’s
11.  Volleyball
12.  Tennis
13.  Outside braai
14.  Camping
15.  Fishing
16.  Holiday

And many more.

When thinking about winter, I think of the following:

1.     Fire place

2.     Rain
3.     Cold
4.     Blankets
5.     Movies / Series
6.     Coffee
7.     Hot Chocolate
8.     Christmas bed
9.     Reading
10.  Boots
11.  Cocktails – again
12.  Long winter nights
13.  Cuddle
14.  Marshmallows

And many more.

I love both of these seasons for various reasons.  Many people can tell me “Summer” or “Winter”, but I guess I am one of the very few who are comfortable with both seasons. 

List your top 200 achievements

Our lives should maybe not be judged by the number of years we reach in age, but the achievements reach during your life time. 

My Top Achievements will have to be:

1.           Being born a healthy baby

2.           Being the first born
3.           Opening my eyes
4.           Crying
5.           Eating
6.           Drinking
7.           Crawling
8.           Standing
9.           My first step
10.        Walking properly
11.        Making my first sound
12.        Saying my first word
13.        Learning the various words in my home language, Afrikaans
14.        Forming proper sentences
15.        Making my first friends
16.        Going to pre-Primary school
17.        Meeting my best friend
18.        Going to Grade 1
19.        Learning to read and write
20.        Being one of the youngest to be selected to sing in the choir
21.        Successfully completing Grade 2
22.        Starting to play the guitar
23.        Successfully completing Grade 3
24.        Falling “in love” for the first time (Or so I thought!)
25.        Successfully completing Grade 4
26.        Starting to play classical guitar
27.        Successfully completing Grade 5
28.        Realizing the love I had for netball
29.        Successfully completing Grade 6
30.        Playing for the Primary Schools First Team netball
31.        Being selected Number Four in the School’s Tennis Team
32.        Successfully completing Grade 7
33.        Selected for the Primary Schools First Netball Team again.
34.        Being selected Number One in the Schools Tennis Team
35.        Having my first boyfriend (Oh MY WORD!!  Not my finest moment.)
36.        Successfully completing Grade 8
37.        Surviving initiation
38.        Having my second boyfriend (which, by the way was an opener/disaster – that’s why I am listing it! And my friends are STILL making fun of me.)
39.        Being awarded a trophy for best progress in netball
40.        Went from the u/16 E team to the u/16 B netball team in one weeks time
41.        Successfully completing Grade 9
42.        Selected in the u/16 A netball team
43.        Being Captain of the u/16 A netball team
44.        Having my third boyfriend (who was in matric and this relationship was another wake-up call.)
45.        Going to my first Matric Farewell Ball
46.        Meeting my current boyfriend.
47.        Successfully completing Grade 10
48.        Being selected to the u/19 A netball team
49.        Being crowned as Miss President High School Junior (What a surprise!  I just entered for the fun!)
50.        Going to my first Valentine’s Ball.
51.        Going to another Matric Farewell
52.        Going to the Winter Ball with my current Boyfriend
53.        Actually and eventually hooking up with my current boyfriend
54.        My first job at Cardies
55.        Successfully completing Grade 11
56.        Again being selected to the u/19 A netball team
57.        Going to my current boyfriend’s Matric Farewell
58.        Realizing who my friends really were.
59.        Being selected for the Western Cape Netball Team
60.        My second job at Mr. Price Home
61.        Successfully completing Grade 12
62.        Again being selected to the u/19 A netball team, this time as Vice-Captain
63.        Selected as Monitor (a kind-off a Prefect)
64.        My 40-days as Aladdin’s Jasmine
65.        My Matric Farewell
66.        The Namibia Sports Tour
67.        Being accepted at CPUT for the Public Relations ND Course
68.        Successfully completing my first year at CPUT
69.        Making new friends
70.        Successfully completing my second year at CPUT
71.        My third job as Promotions girl
72.        Successfully completing my third year at CPUT with Cum Laude
73.        Going to the Graduation Ceremony and seeing how proud my parents are
74.        Having my fourth job, first REAL one during my third year
75.        Having my fifth and current job, also a REAL one, also starting in my third year.
76.        Successfully completing the first part of my BTECH year at CPUT
77.        Busy with my last year of BTECH at CPUT
78.     Reaching my seven year anniversary with the love of my life
79.        And most recently … getting a promotion at work!!

This is just a few achievements I can think of at the moment.  There are many more!! 

We reach certain achievements every day of our lives.  We are just so busy that we never get the chance to realize this.  We have to make some time, sit down and make a list of what we achieved in our lives so far.  Then we have to thank God for being the One who helped us reach all these wonderful achievements.  Without His help, we won’t be quite the achieving type.

I dare you, list your Top 200 achievements.

When was the last time you tried something new?

This is a great question, one many of us should ask ourselves every day. 

I am a creature of habit and routine.  I have the people I know, the places I eat at, the places I go, the food I know and enjoy, etc.  Is this the way it is suppose to be?  Do we only have these certain things we do and that’s what we always should do?

I actually tried something new yesterday.  I went wine and chocolate tasting at a wine farm in Stellenbosch.  It was SO much fun and I will definitely be doing it again.  I recently found that I love sushi.  Who would have known?!  And other types of seafood I never use to eat.  I visited new restaurants and made new friends. 

I realized that I am in such a comfort zone that I don’t see what is out there enough.  I have so many things I still want to do and try.  (That’s another post worth of information!)  I should learn to stop postponing and just go for it.  I should experience new things, as life is so short.

My question to … when was the last time YOU tried something new?

What motivates me?

Psychology Today identifies “Motivation” as literally the desire to do things and it's the crucial element in setting and attaining goals.

There are also seven rules of motivation.  These rules are:

1.     Set a major goal, but follow a path.

2.     Finish what you start.

3.     Socialize with others of similar interest.

4.     Learn how to learn.

5.     Harmonize natural talent with interests that motivates.

6.     Increase knowledge of subjects that inspires.

7.     Take risk.

I am motivated by success, recognition, reward, results and a sense of fulfillment.  All these play a vital role in my life and decision-making.  I believe that a person needs these motivations to grow, both personally and professionally.  Motivation is what we need to become someone great – a cause, a reason or something we believe in.

Motivation is key in the person we are.  Don’t wait for motivation to seek you, seek motivation.

And now, it’s History

Funny enough, I wanted to become a High School teacher.  If I were to choose a subject which I would have specialized in, it would have been History.

History is amazing.  There were kings, queens, princes and princesses, castles, knights, the dark ages, magic, enchanted creatures, the low class, the middle class, the farmers, the brave, the scared, the wars, the peace, the fallings of empires and the building of new and so many more.

I am in love with History.  There are so many aspects we do not fully understand or even grasp the importance of.  There are so many different types of eras and so many enchantments.  Sadly, the glamour and elegance was accompanied by evil, hate and many a bloodshed.  

I believe that history incorporates so many lessons we can learn, a type of “How not to do it” booklet.  Still it amazes me that man-kind can still be so full of evil, hate and bloodshed.  Don’t we have enough bad examples of how conflict was resolved during the past few centuries?

I guess many people don’t see it my way.  Maybe I might have a warped idea of how things work, but I try to understand.  It will be so much easier if everyone just learned from the lessons that are there, right in front of us.

Here’s to History!!

The 10 most unexpected consequences of being online

What are the 10 most unexpected consequences of being online?  There are quite a few, but here is my list:

1.     Clicking your way through cyber space and actually enjoying it.

2.     Broadening your knowledge.

3.     Creating new dreams and ideals.

4.     Seeing so many places from the comfort of your own room.

5.     Becoming friends with people you NEVER thought you will speak to.

6.     Realizing just how many people you met during your life-time.

7.     Having conversations with interesting people via Social Networking.  (Facebook, Twitter, Blogging, etc.)

8.     Building valuable contacts.

9.     Organizing your social life.

10.  Being able to get your opinions across.

What an amazing tool “being online” became.  So many people use it for so many different reasons.  I feel that using this valuable tool responsibly is the key to a great online experience.

It’s MY Decision

Why do people always try to tell a person what to do?

We all have SO many decisions which cross our paths during our life-time.  I want the choices I make to be MY decisions, not something I was bullied into. 

Here are just some examples challenging me:

As a young, working professional there are some money issues.  Isn’t there ALWAYS money issues?  I know I have to save some money, but geez, there are hardly enough left in a month giving me leeway to go out.  I know this.  Don’t tell me what to do.  It’s MY decision.

Up comes another issue.  I am a young female in a committed relationship.  Don’t tell me all the time that it’s time to get married.  I know this.  Don’t tell me when the right time is.  It’s MY decision

Here we go … the issue of having kids.  So, I plan to have kids when I am 33 – 35.  Don’t tell me it’s dangerous.  It’s the 21^st century for crying out loud.  Don’t tell me what to do.  It’s MY decision.

So everyone is having a good old South African braai tonight at a friend’s house.  Thereafter they are going dancing.  I am not a big fan of having a party at a club or even going clubbing … never was.  Do not force me.  Don’t tell me what to do or what I want.  It’s my decision.

Point is, I try and make the best decisions for myself.   It might not always be the right decision, but at least will be mine. 

The Elephant in the Room

As explained by Wikipedia an “Elephant in the room” is a metaphorical idiom for an obvious truth that is being ignored or goes unaddressed.  It also applies to an obvious problem or risk no one wants to discuss.

The idea of this idiom is that literally an elephant in the room would be impossible to overlook for obvious reasons.  Therefore people who avoid the literal elephant in the room have chosen to avoid dealing with a problem or issue.

My family is the “Family Meeting” type of people.  If something bothers us, my dear Mom calls a “Family Meeting”.  Here we have a chance of voicing our opinion, so I barely deal with an elephant in the room when it comes to family issues. 

Although some of my friends do have issues.  Not everyone is perfect and we know this.  We all are very different and that leads to choices and personality differences.  Do you address the elephant in the room or do you let it pass?  We sometimes have these incidences for example - one of our girlfriends showing us a dress which doesn’t suite her body type perfectly, another with a new boyfriend or girlfriend.  What do you do?  Be honest and hurt their feelings or smile and say it’s great? 

I guess experience and age will show what is better in certain situations. 

THE ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
By Terry Kettering

There’s an elephant in the room.
It is large and squatting,
so it is hard to get around it.

Yet we squeeze by with,
“How are you?” and, “I’m fine,”
and a thousand other forms of trivial chatter.

We talk about the weather;
we talk about work;
we talk about everything else—
except the elephant in the room.

There’s an elephant in the room.
We all know it is there.
We are thinking about the elephant
as we talk together.

It is constantly on our minds.
For, you see, it is a very big elephant.
It has hurt us all, but we do not talk about
the elephant in the room.

Oh, please, say her name.
Oh, please, say “Barbara” again.
Oh, please, let’s talk about
the elephant in the room.

For if we talk about her death,
perhaps we can talk about her life.
Can I say, “Barbara” to you
and not have you look away?
For if I cannot,
then you are leaving me alone
in a room—with an elephant.