This Blows my hair back

A mixture of all the stuff that amuse me.

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A beautiful poem

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Tussen Treine

Ek het al baie goed verloor En dit nooit ooit weer gevind nie Ek het al baie vir my ma gesê ek is nie meer 'n kind nie Die lewe is te hard en ek verstaan meer die punt nie Ek staan langs 'n groot oop hout, Maar ek het nie meer 'n flint nie Ek kry koud op my eie ek soek net 'n klein bietjie warmte Almal is ryk van die liefde en ek is al weer die armste Sommige dae voel dit as of ek dood gaan van die hongerte Daar is n leë kol in my maag waar ek weg kruip in die donkerte Ek is gebreek van binne soos my al my speelgoed van toe ek klein was As ek vandag weg stap sal al my goed pas in n klein tas Ek soek net n klein tydjie sodat ek die as van my kan afwas Maar die soldate op die muur bombadeer my met die traangas Ek lê onder 'n lappies kombers en probeer nog blokkies aanlas, Maar daar is n kwaai oom langs my bed en hy sê vir my staan vas So ek trek die kombers oor my kop en lê oop voete En stap die lang pad in my pa se groot skoene As ons staan op die einde van die lang pad langs die spoor daars net donkerte daar voor ek staan en bewe dit raak swarter en daar is net stilte wat ek hoor hou my hand styf vas langs jou sy is jy nog lief vir my? sal jy my by die hemel poorte kry? Ons hou vas aan mekaar maar niemand gaan regtig joune wees nie ons skryf briewe vir mekaar wat ons nooit regtig lees nie want daar is altyd een verloorder in Russian Roulette ek moet uitgaan, ek moet werk, maar ek sit vas in die bed ek stap rond en soek sitplek in leë geboue ek probeer myself vind in drank en leë verhoudings ek sit en skryf gedigte, maar word my gedigte digkuns? en ek skree volle bors in die aand met my kop in die kussing ek lê vir ure in die bad met my kop onder die water ek slaap elke oggend laat want die wêreld kan wag tot later ek moet wag, nee, aanbeweeg ontslae raak van my gevoellens so ek stap, ek raak leeg met groot aksies sonder by bedoelings ek sit alleen op een punt van die wipplank ek bid alweer vir een sitvlak maar ek sit lank en ek wag vir iemand om op te spring aan die eenkant maar die vingers van my gevoelens krap diep krap diep in my verstand As ons staan op die einde van die lang pad langs die spoor daars net donkerte daar voor ek staan en bewe dit raak swarter en daar is net stilte wat ek hoor hou my hand styf vas langs jou sy Ek het al vêr gewen en al baie vêr verloor ek het al baie gevoel asof die lewe my versmoor ek het al baie gesit op die bokant van 'n berg ek het al baie gesit in die voorkant van die kerk om my terug na die langkloof en my ouma se plaas ek wil saam my suster die skape in die kraal injaag ek wil sit op my oupa se skoot en stories hoor van die verlede ek wil rond hardloop deur die gras tot ek lam word in die knee Ons staan en luister hoe die Here en die duiwel oor ons stry die hartseer is verby op die ou end is al wat ek wil hoor rol oor jou tong: jy wil by my bly Sal jy my by die Hemel poorte kry?

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[art-of-all-types]

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Found this painting. I love it!

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6 Simple Ways to Enhance Your Sense of Humor | Reader's Digest

Having a good sense of humor reduces stress, helps you cope with pain, creates empathy in social situations, and can even improve your odds of finding a mate. But what is a "good" sense of humor, and how can you improve yours? Read on to find out.

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February 3rd 1960: ‘Wind of Change’ speech

On this day in 1960, British Prime Minister Harold Macmillan gave a speech talking of a “wind of change” calling for decolonisation of Africa. The Conservative Macmillan, who succeeded Anthony Eden as Prime Minister in 1957, gave the speech in Cape Town to the Parliament of South Africa. The Prime Minister condemned apartheid and noted that majority black populations across Africa were claiming their countries for themselves. The parliament reacted frostily to the Prime Minister’s address, with many politicians refusing to applaud at the end of the speech. The Prime Minister of South Africa, Henrik Verwoerd, refuted Macmillan, stating that white settlers brought ‘civilisation’ to the continent. Macmillan’s historic address signalled that the British government would support decolonisation in Africa and the creation of independent African states, in order to secure individual rights and liberties in former colonial states. Macmillan’s speech also contributed to a growing international opposition to apartheid, with South Africa soon subjected to trade sanctions and diplomatic isolation. However, the speech was not followed by aid to black nationalist groups in South Africa, and apartheid in South Africa continued until 1994. Harold Macmillan’s government was rocked by scandal, most notably the Profumo affair, and the Prime Minister resigned in 1963 due to ill-health. However, this speech is remembered as a pivotal moment in the decolonisation movement, as the British government accepted that the British Empire’s days were numbered.

“The wind of change is blowing through this continent. Whether we like it or not, this growth of national consciousness is a political fact.”

(sources: http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/february/3/newsid_2714000/2714525.stm, http://africanhistory.about.com/od/eraindependence/a/wind_of_change1.htm)

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South Africa's National Anthem A proclamation issued by the then State President, Nelson Mandela, on 20 April 1994 in terms of the provisions of Section 248 (1) together with Section 2 of the Constitution of the Republic of South Africa, 1993 (Act 200 of 1993), stated that the Republic of South Africa would have two national anthems. They were Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and The Call of South Africa (Die Stem van Suid-Afrika). In terms of Section 4 of the Constitution of South Africa, 1996 (Act 108 of 1996), and following a proclamation in the Government Gazette No. 18341 (dated 10 October 1997), a shortened, combined version of Nkosi Sikelel' iAfrika and The Call of South Africa is now the national anthem of South Africa. It is the only neo-modal national anthem in the world, by virtue of being the only one that starts in one key and finishes in another. The lyrics employ the five most populous of South Africa's eleven official languages - isiXhosa (first stanza, first two lines), isiZulu (first stanza, last two lines), seSotho (second stanza), Afrikaans (third stanza) and English (final stanza). Nkosi Sekelel' iAfrika was composed in 1897 by Enoch Sontonga, a Methodist school teacher. It was originally sung as a church hymn but later became an act of political defiance against the apartheid Government. Die Stem van Suid-Afrika/The Call of South Africa was written by C.J. Langenhoven in 1918. "Die Stem" was the co-national anthem with God Save the King/Queen from 1936 to 1957, when it became the sole national anthem until 1994. The South African Government under Nelson Mandela adopted both songs as national anthems from 1994 until they were merged in 1997 to form the current anthem. Lyrics Nkosi sikelel' Afrika Maluphakanyisw' uphondo lwayo, Yizwa imithandazo yethu, Nkosi sikelela, thina lusapho lwayo. (Xhosa and Zulu) Morena boloka setjhaba sa heso, O fedise dintwa le matshwenyeho, O se boloke, O se boloke setjhaba sa heso, Setjhaba sa South Afrika - South Afrika. (Sesotho) Uit die blou van onse hemel, Uit die diepte van ons see, Oor ons ewige gebergtes, Waar die kranse antwoord gee, (Afrikaans) Sounds the call to come together, And united we shall stand, Let us live and strive for freedom, In South Africa our land. (English) English translation of Xhosa and Zulu version Lord bless Africa May her glory be lifted high Hear our petitions Lord bless us, your children English translation of Sesotho version Lord we ask You to protect our nation Intervene and end all conflicts Protect us, protect our nation Protect South Africa, South Africa English translation of Afrikaans version Out of the blue of our heavens Out of the depths of our seas Over our everlasting mountains Where the echoing crags resound

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14 Fun Facts You Didn’t Know About Cape Town Cool and quirky lesser-known truths about the Mother City Think you’re clued up on all there is to know about the Mother City? Think again! There’s a whole heap of quirky little titbits of info about our pretty metropolis that you’re unlikely to be familiar with. So, in an effort to keep you on your toes, we’ve compiled an overview of 14 fun facts about Cape Town, at least some of which we’re sure you’ve never heard before. 14 THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT CAPE TOWN 1. Cape Town is South Africa’s tobogganing hub Fancy slipping and sliding downhill in a sled? The Mother City is the place to do it. Although over 300 tobogganing tracks exist worldwide, Cape Town is home to the only one in Africa, aptly titled Cool Runnings after the film about Jamaica’s first bobsled team. If you’re keen on visiting, you’ll find the track just 25km outside of the city centre on Carl Cronje Drive. 2. Two couples get hitched on Table Mountain every month Our precious flat-topped mountain began forming around 280 million years ago, and today, it’s still evolving! The cableway, on the other hand, was erected in 1929 and was originally constructed from wood and steel (sounds pretty dangerous to us, but there have been no accidents on it as of yet). Another fun fact: it’s estimated that two couples get hitched on the mountain every month. Wowzers! And did we mention that the Table Mountain National Park, which spans an area of 22 000 hectares, boasts more plant species than the British Isles or New Zealand? 3. Cape Town was appointed the best place in the world to visit by the New York Times in 2014 The Mother City racked up some serious awards in 2014: our pretty city was named the best place in the world to visit by The New York Times, appointed World Design Capital 2014, featured second in Travel and Leisure’s list of top holiday destinations and deemed the second best African city to visit by TripAdvisor’s 2014 Travellers’ Choice awards. Similarly, did you know that in 2013 the UK publication The Guardian named the Sea Point swimming pool one of the top ten swimming pools in the world? 4. The Castle of Good Hope once had a sea view Cape Town’s famous landmark the Castle of Good Hope is the oldest colonial building in South Africa, having been built between 1666 and 1679. The structure, which was once a fort, served as a welcoming port for sailors travelling around the Cape – an often arduous journey. Despite popular belief, it was not built by Jan van Riebeeck; although, a temporary clay and wooden fort was built during his time at the now Golden Acre shopping centre. Though the years have reshaped the Castle’s surrounding landscape, it is hard to imagine that at one time the star-shaped building had waves lapping at the entry point (the entrance was later moved for this very reason)! Today, the castle exists as a ceremonial base for Cape regiments of the South African Defence Force. 5. Lion’s Head wasn’t actually named for its felines Despite speculation, Lion’s Head does not take its name from being host to some big cats. The story goes that during the 17th century Dutch settlers named the peak Leeuwen Kop (Lion’s Head) and its adjacent summit Leeuwen Staart (Lion’s Tail aka Signal Hill as it’s known today). It was thought that the space between the two peaks is suggestive of a crouching lion. 6. The Mother City is host to the mother of all queer parties Cape Town is home to the largest dress-to-theme costume party in South Africa, the Mother City Queer Project (MCQP), which also happens to be one of the biggest lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) annual events on the African continent. 7. Afrikaans is the most widely spoken language in the Western Cape Despite being one of the youngest languages in the world, Afrikaans is the most widely spoken tongue in the Western Cape, with isiXhosa and English racking up second and third places. Another fun fact about local demography? According the 2011 population census, the Western Cape populace has a (slightly) feminine edge – with 50.9% of us being women. Girl power! 8. The Cape Floral Kingdom claims nearly 7000 plants found nowhere else in the world The Cape Floral Kingdom, which spans 90 000sq km, is the smallest and richest recognised floral area on the planet and was declared a world heritage site by UNESCO’s committee. Of the 9600 species of plant life that are found in this kingdom, around 70% occur nowhere else in the world. These include the likes of the honey buchu, peninsula snapdragon and Good Hope satinflower. 9. The Cape Peninsula was originally known as the Cape of Storms As a result of the terrible tempests that have been known to rock the Mother City’s coastline, the Cape Peninsula was originally nicknamed the ‘Cape of Storms’ by legendary explorer Bartholomew Dias. Later, it became known as the Cape of Good Hope because it offered colonial powers the promise of a sea route to the East. 10. Dr Christiaan Barnard’s groundbreaking surgery was bittersweet While most are familiar with the fact that Dr Christiaan Barnard performed the first-ever heart transplant in 1967 at Groote Schuur Hospital, not so many know that his patient passed away shortly after. Sadly, Mr Louis Washkansky, the man who received the revolutionary cardiac surgery, lived only 18 days post operation due to the onset of pneumonia. The original theatre where the awe-inspiring act took place is today a museum, aptly named Heart of Cape Town. 11. We’re all young here! The 2011 national census reports that almost half (43.2%) of the Western Cape’s population is below the age of 25 – it seems the city is a fountain of youth! If you find the location of this age-defying waterspout, let us know! 12. Cape Town nearly followed in Australia’s footsteps Adderley Street, the iconic Cape Town street that is today famous for its flower and fruit-and-veg sellers, took its name from Mr Charles B. Adderley, who passionately protested against a plan by the British government to turn Cape Town into a convict colony. History books have it that the road was originally made entirely from wooden blocks, but these were ultimately covered over with tar to make the road we know today. Remnants of these wooden tiles can still be found towards the upper end of the street today. So keep your eyes peeled next time you’re in search of a beautiful bouquet in the city centre! 13. Cape Town has the country’s highest number of homes valued at more than R20 million Business Day recently reported that while Jozi’s home to most of South Africa’s wealthiest (48% live in the City of Gold), the Mother City has more “trophy homes” - houses valued at over R20 million. Furthermore, it seems that the most sought-after spot of turf for those living it lush is Camps Bay, where there are 155 properties valued at more than R20 million. 14. Cape Town is the most equal city in South Africa Though the ANC and DA might never come to consensus over who will most effectively run the Western Cape, both the UN-Habitat’s (the United Nations agency for human settlement) 2010/11 and 2012/2013 State of the World’s Cities reports concluded that Cape Town is the most equal of all South African cities. According to the account, which looks at income inequality, the three cities topping the inequality list are Buffalo City (East London), Johannesburg and Ekurhuleni (East Rand).

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Did You Know? – 51 Funny Factoids

From Ostrich eyes and 14th century pigs to French Kissing, cock roaches and the cities of Rome — here are some fun and funny “factoids” that’ll definitely give you one leg up in any Trivial Pursuit game (to say nothing of the social advantages at cocktail parties or other chit-chat events).

We found this on a blog site called Amazing Posts, and we’re reprinting the whole 50 for ya right here :)

51 Things Everyone Should Know

1.The word “queue” is the only word in the English language that is still pronounced the same way when the last four letters are removed.

2.Beetles taste like apples, wasps like pine nuts, and worms like fried bacon.

3. Of all the words in the English language, the word ‘set’ has the most definitions!

4. What is called a “French kiss” in the English speaking world is known as an “English kiss” in France.

5. “Almost” is the longest word in the English language with all the letters in alphabetical order.

6.“Rhythm” is the longest English word without a vowel.

7. In 1386, a pig in France was executed by public hanging for the murder of a child.

8. A cockroach can live several weeks with its head cut off.

9. Human thigh bones are stronger than concrete.

10. You can’t kill yourself by holding your breath.

11. There is a city called Rome on every continent.

12. It’s against the law to have a pet dog in Iceland!

13. Your heart beats over 100,000 times a day!

14. Horatio Nelson, one of England’s most illustrious admirals was throughout his life, never able to find a cure for his sea-sickness.

15. The skeleton of Jeremy Bentham is present at all important meetings of the University of London.

16. Right handed people live, on average, nine years longer than left-handed people.

17. Your ribs move about 5 million times a year, everytime you breathe!

18. The elephant is the only mammal that can’t jump!

19. One quarter of the bones in your body, are in your feet!

20. Like fingerprints, everyone’s tongue print is different!

21. The first known transfusion of blood was performed as early as 1667, when Jean-Baptiste, transfused two pints of blood from a sheep to a young man.

22. Fingernails grow nearly 4 times faster than toenails!

23. Most dust particles in your house are made from dead skin.

24. The present population of 5 billion plus people of the world is predicted to become 15 billion by 2080.

25. Women blink nearly twice as much as men.

26. Adolf Hitler was a vegetarian, and had only ONE testicle.

27. Honey is the only food that does not spoil. Honey found in the tombs of Egyptian pharaohs has been tasted by archaeologists and found edible.

28. Months that begin on a Sunday will always have a “Friday the 13th.”

29. Coca-Cola would be green if colouring weren’t added to it.

30. On average a hedgehog’s heart beats 300 times a minute.

31. More people are killed each year from bees than from snakes.

32. The average lead pencil will draw a line 35 miles long or write approximately 50,000 English words.

33. More people are allergic to cow’s milk than any other food.

34. Camels have three eyelids to protect themselves from blowing sand.

35. The placement of a donkey’s eyes in its’ heads enables it to see all four feet at all times!

36. The six official languages of the United Nations are: English, French, Arabic, Chinese, Russian and Spanish.

37. Earth is the only planet not named after a god.

38. It’s against the law to burp, or sneeze in a church in Nebraska, USA.

39. You’re born with 300 bones, but by the time you become an adult, you only have 206.

40. Some worms will eat themselves if they can’t find any food!

41. Dolphins sleep with one eye open!

42. It is impossible to sneeze with your eyes open.

43. The worlds oldest piece of chewing gum is 9000 years old!

44. The longest recorded flight of a chicken is 13 seconds.

45. Queen Elizabeth I regarded herself as a paragon of cleanliness. She declared that she bathed once every three months, whether she needed it or not.

46. Slugs have 4 noses.

47. Owls are the only birds who can see the colour blue.

48. A man named Charles Osborne had the hiccups for 69 years!

49. A giraffe can clean its ears with its 21-inch tongue!

50. The average person laughs 10 times a day!

51. An ostrich’s eye is bigger than its brain.

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January 22nd 1879: Battle of Isandlwana and defence of Rorke’s Drift

On this day in 1879, during the Anglo-Zulu War, British forces were defeated by Zulu warriors at the Battle of Isandlwana. On the same day, a small contingent of British soldiers successfully repelled a Zulu attack at Rorke’s Drift. The war in South Africa began in 1878 after the murder of several British citizens by Zulus, and Zulu king Cetshwayo’s refused to accept an ultimatum which required the Zulu to disband their army. However, British authorities had been seeking pretense to launch an assault on the Zulu Kingdom to subordinate the indepednent nations into a Confederation of South Africa. The indigenous Zulu warriors had some initial success against the European invaders, whose self-confidence made them unable to understand the Zulus’ fighting prowess. One of the major Zulu victories was at the battle of Isandlwana on January 22nd 1879, where, despite British technological superority, they captured the British camp and killed over 1,300 soldiers. The defeat was a humiliation for the British forces, who considered themselves far superior to the Zulu ‘savages’, as they called them. As authorities sought to cover up the scale of the defeat, they seized on the defense of Rorke’s Drift. The small garrison had come under attack on the same day as the battle, and was successfully defended against thousands of Zulu by 140 British soldiers over the course of 12 hours. They extolled Rorke’s Drift as a heroic display and a lesson in British fortitude, exaggerating its importance to diminish the impact of Isandlwana; 11 Victoria Crosses were awarded to the defenders. Their attempt was successful, and the defence was celebrated by the public, becoming one of the most famous stories in British military history. The Anglo-Zulu War ended in July 1879 when the British captured the Zulu king and burned their capital. British victory spelled the end of an independent Zulu nation in South Africa, and resulted in the division of Zululand.

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10 MIND BLOWING THEORIES THAT WILL CHANGE YOUR PERCEPTION OF THE WORLD.

Reality is not as obvious and simple as we like to think. Some of the things that we accept as true at face value are notoriously wrong. Scientists and philosophers have made every effort to change our common perceptions of it. The 10 examples below will show you what I mean.

1. Great glaciation. Great glaciation is the theory of the final state that our universe is heading toward. The universe has a limited supply of energy. According to this theory, when that energy finally runs out, the universe will devolve into a frozen state . Heat energy produced by the motion of the particles, heat loss, a natural law of the universe, means that eventually this particle motion will slow down and, presumably, oneday everything will stop .

2. Solipsism. Solipsism is a philosophical theory , which asserts that nothing exists but the individual’s consciousness . At first it seems silly – and who generally got it into his head completely deny the existence of the world around us? Except when you put your mind to it, it really is impossible to verify anything but your own consciousness. Don’t you believe me? Think a moment and think of all the possible dreams that you have experienced in your life. Is it not possible that everything around you is nothing but an incredibly intricate dream? Butwe have people and things around us that we cannot doubt, because we can hear, see, smell, taste and feel them, right? Yes, and no. People who take LSD , for example, say that they can touch the most convincing hallucinations , but we do not claimthat their visions are “reality”. Your dreams simulate sensations as well, after all, what you perceive is what different sections of your brain tell you to. As a result, which parts of existence can we not doubt ? None. Not the chicken we ate for dinner or the keyboard beneath our fingers. Each of us can only be sure in his own thoughts.

3. Idealist Philosophy George Berkeley , the father of Idealism, argued that everything exists as an idea in someone’s mind. Berkley discovered that some of his comradesconsidered his theory stupid. The story goes that one of his detractors kicked a stone with his eyes closed and said, “There I’ve disproved it!” The idea being that if the stone really only exists in his imagination, he could not have kicked it with hiseyes closed. Refutation of Berkeley is hard to understand, especially in these days. He argued that there is an omnipotent and omnipresent God, who sees all and all at once. Realistic, or not?

4. Plato and Logos. Everybody has heard of Plato . He is the world’s most famous philosopher . Like all philosophers he had a few things to say about reality. He argued that beyond our perceived realitythere lies a world of “perfect” forms . Everything that we see is just a shade, an imitation of how things truly are . He argued that by studying philosophy we have a chance of catching a glimpse of how things truly are, of discovering the perfect forms of everything we perceive. In addition to this stunning statement, Plato, being amonist, said that everything is made of a single substance. Which means (according to him) that diamonds, gold and dog feces all consist of the same basic material, but in a different form, which, with science’s discovery of atoms and molecules, has been proven true to an extent.

5. Presentism. Time is something that we perceive as a matter of course , if we view it at the moment, we usually divide it into past, present and future . Presentism argues that the past and the future are imagined concepts, while only the present is real. In other words, today’s breakfast and every word of this article will cease to exist after you have read it,until you open it again. The future is just as imaginary , because time cannot exist before and after it happened, as claimed by St. Augustine.

6. Eternalism. Enternalism is the exact opposite of presentism . This is a philosophical theory that says that time is multi-layered . It can be compared to a pound cake (however, unlike the time, a biscuit is not up for philosophical debate). All time exists simultaneously, but the measurement is determinedby the observer . What he sees depends on which point he is looking at. Thus dinosaurs, World War II and Justin Bieber all exist simultaneously but can only be observed from a specific location. If one takes this view of reality then the future is hopeless and the deterministic free will is illusory.

7. The Brain in a Jar The “brain in a jar” thought experiment is a question discussed by thinkers and scientists, who, like most people, believe that human’s understanding of reality depends solely on his subjective feelings. So, what is the debate? Imagine that you are just a brain in a jar that is run by aliens or mad scientists. How would you know? And can you truly deny the possibility that this is your reality? This is a modern interpretation of the Cartesian evil demon problem . This thought experiment leads to the same conclusion: we cannot confirm the actual existence of anything except our consciousness . If this seems to sound reminiscent of the movie “The Matrix “, it is only because this idea was part of the very basis of the story. Unfortunately, in reality we have no red pills…

8. The Multiverse Theory Anyone who has not spent the last ten years on a desert island, has at least once heard of “ the multiverse ”, or parallel universes . As many of us have seen, parallel words, in theory, are worlds very similar to ours, with little (or in some cases, large) changes or differences. The multiverse theoryspeculates that there could exist an infinite number of these alternate realities. What’s the point? In a parallel reality you have already killed the dinosaurs, and you are lying underthe ground at a depth of eight feet (because that’s what happened there.) In the other you might be a powerful dictator. In another you might never have even been born since your parents never met. Now that’s a memorable image.

9. Fictional realism. This is the most fascinating branch of multiverse theory . Superman is real. Yes, some of you would probably choose a different story, for argument’s sake, Harry Potter might be real too. This branch of the theory argues that given an infinite number of universes, everything must exist somewhere . So, all of our favorite fiction and fantasy may be descriptive of an alternate universe, one where all the right pieces came in to place to make it happen.

10. Phenomenalism. Everyone is interested in what happens to things when we aren’t looking at them. Scientists have carefully studied this problem and some of them came to a simple conclusion - they disappear . Well,not quite like this. Phenomenalist philosophers believe that objects only exist as a phenomenon of consciousness . So, your laptop is only here while you are aware of, and believe in its existence, but when you turn away from it, it ceases to exist until you or someone else interacts with it. There is no existence without perception . This is the root of phenomenalism.

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THE AWAKENING

There comes a time in your life when you finally get it …

When in the midst of all your fears and insanity you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out “ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on.” And, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside, you shudder once or twice, you blink back your tears and through a mantle of wet lashes you begin to look at the world from a new perspective. This is your awakening.

You realize that it is time to stop hoping and waiting for something, or someone, to change, or for happiness, safety and security to come galloping over the next horizon. You come to terms with the fact that there aren’t always fairytale endings (or beginnings for that matter) and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you. Then a sense of serenity is born of acceptance.

So you begin making your way through the “reality of today” rather than holding out for the “promise of tomorrow.” You realize that much of who you are, and the way you navigate through life is, in great part, a result of all the social conditioning you’ve received over the course of a lifetime.

And you begin to sift through all the nonsense you were taught about:- how you should look and how much you should weigh, - what you should wear and where you should shop, - where you should live or what type of car your should drive, - who you should sleep with and how you should behave, - who you should marry and why you should stay, - the importance of bearing children or what you owe your family,

Slowly you begin to open up to new worlds and different points of view. And you begin re-assessing and re-defining who you are and what you really believe in. And you begin to discard the doctrines you have outgrown, or should never have practiced to begin with.

You accept the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are… and that’s OK… they are entitled to their own views and opinions. And, you come to terms with the fact that you will never be a size 5 or a “perfect 10”…. Or a perfect human being for that matter… and you stop trying to compete with the image inside your head or agonizing over how you compare. And, you take a long look at yourself in the mirror and you make a promise to give yourself the same unconditional love and support you give so freely to others. Then a sense of confidence is born of self-approval.

And, you stop maneuvering through life merely as a “consumer” hungry for your next fix, a new dress, another pair of shoes or looks of approval and admiration from family, friends or even strangers who pass by. Then you discover that “it is truly in giving that we receive [1] and that the joy and abundance you seek grows out of the giving. And you recognize the importance of “creating” & “contributing” rather than “obtaining” & “accumulating.”

And you give thanks for the simple things you’ve been blessed with, things that millions of people upon the earth can only dream about - a full refrigerator, clean running water, a soft warm bed, the freedom of choice and the opportunity to pursue your own dreams.

And you begin to love and to care for yourself. You stop engaging in self-destructive behaviors, including participating in dysfunctional relationships. You begin eating a balanced diet, drinking more water and exercising. And because you’ve learned that fatigue drains the spirit and creates doubt and fear, you give yourself permission to rest. And just as food is fuel for the body, laughter is fuel for the spirit and so you make it a point to create time for play.

Then you learn about love and relationships - how to love, how much to give in love, when to stop giving and when to walk away. And you allow only the hands of a lover who truly loves and respects you to glorify you with his touch. You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say, intentionally or unintentionally, and that not everyone will always come through and interestingly enough, it’s not always about you. So, you stop lashing out and pointing fingers or looking to place blame for the things that were done to you or weren’t done for you. And you learn to keep your Ego in check and to acknowledge and redirect the destructive emotions it spawns; anger, jealousy and resentment.

You learn how to say I was wrong and to forgive people for their own human frailties. You learn to build bridges instead of walls and about the healing power of love as it is expressed through a kind word, a warm smile or a friendly gesture. And, at the same time, you eliminate any relationships that are hurtful or fail to uplift and edify you. You stop working so hard at smoothing things over and setting your needs aside. You learn that feelings of entitlement are perfectly OK and that it is your right to want or expect certain things. And you learn the importance of communicating your needs with confidence and grace. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that eventually martyrs are burned at the stake. Then you learn to distinguish between guilt, and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to Say NO. You learn that you don’t know all the answers, it’s not your job to save the world and that sometimes you just need to Let Go.

Moreover, you learn to look at people as they really are and not as you would want them to be and you are careful not to project your neediness or insecurities onto a relationship. You learn that you will not be more beautiful, more intelligent, more lovable or important because of the man on your arm or the child that bears your name. You learn that just as people grow and change, so it is with love and relationships and that that not everyone can always love you the way you would want them to. So you stop appraising your worth by the measure of love you are given. And suddenly you realize that it’s wrong to demand that someone live their life or sacrifice their dreams just to serve your needs, ease your insecurities, or meet “your” standards and expectations. You learn that the only love worth giving and receiving is the love that is given freely without conditions or limitations. And you learn what it means to love. So you stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn that “alone” does not mean “lonely” and you begin to discover the joy of spending time “with yourself” and “on yourself.” Then you discover the greatest and most fulfilling love you will ever know. Self Love. And so it comes to pass that, through understanding, your heart heals; and now all new things are possible.

Moving along, you begin to avoid Toxic people and conversations. And you stop wasting time and energy rehashing your situation with family and friends. You learn that talk doesn’t change things and that unrequited wishes can only serve to keep you trapped in the past. So you stop lamenting over what could or should have been and you make a decision to leave the past behind. Then you begin to invest your time and energy to affect positive change. You take a personal inventory of all your strengths and weaknesses and the areas you need to improve in order to move ahead, you set your goals and map out a plan of action to see things through.

You learn that life isn’t always fair and you don’t always get what you think you deserve and you stop personalizing every loss or disappointment. You learn to accept that sometimes bad things happen to good people and that these things are not an act of God… but merely a random act of fate. And you stop looking for guarantees, because you’ve learned that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected and that whatever happens, you’ll learn to deal with it. And you learn that the only thing you must truly fear is the great robber baron of all time - FEAR itself. So you learn to step right into and through your fears, because to give into fear is to give away the right to live life on your terms. You learn that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophesy and you learn to go after what you want and not to squander your life living under a cloud of indecision or feelings of impending doom.

Then, YOU LEARN ABOUT MONEY… the personal power and independence it brings and the options it creates. And you recognize the necessity to create your own personal wealth. Slowly, you begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never ever settle for less than your heart’s desire. And a sense of power is born of self-reliance. And you live with honor and integrity because you know that these principles are not the outdated ideals of a by-gone era but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build your life. And you make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting and to stay open to every wonderful opportunity and exciting possibility. Then you hang a wind chime outside your window to remind yourself what beauty there is in Simplicity.

Finally, with courage in your heart and with God by your side you take a stand, you FAKE a deep breath and you begin to design the life you want to live as best as you can.

A word about the Power of Prayer: In some of my darkest, most painful and frightening hours, I have prayed, not for the answers to my prayers or for material things, but for my “God” to help me find the strength, confidence and courage to persevere; to face each day and to do what I must do.

Remember this:- You are an expression of the almighty. The spirit of God resides within you and moves through you. Open your heart, speak to that spirit and it will heal and empower you. My “God” has never failed me.