Watch this space

It's all about finding the creative niche that fits.

  With the academic year drawing to a close, I’ve been giving this blogging thing some thought. I’ve come to the conclusion that once I’ve completed my studies this year, I will continue to blog. Whether anyone actually reads it is irrelevant, but I can honestly say that I have come to appreciate this medium as a comfortable form of personal expression, far more so than Twitter or Facebook.

For me, blogging gives me the opportunity to explore a deeper set of emotions, feelings, beliefs and then express them. Blogging may mean different things to many different people. There are those who use it as a journal of their travels, cooking, to something as far removed as logging their recovery from alcoholism; whereas others use it as a business tool. Ultimately blogging is one form to tell one’s story.

All in all I can safely say that I am sold on it, and whether any one actually reads my blog as I said is irrelevant to me this is my creative outlet. Have you given any thought as to your creative outlet?

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKEpsi1Q53RA-heM05eLwnSZXByiSriHXaG3FjXwh9VSJaUyTEenjszlB31ZaQfQFX829MB2tYkFg6pLJDM0pN0cAYWsqxSvp5xWDZfKcdNlKWcAdR0tRwqhsdsikpG1yZgppo04qWFVei/s1600/watch+this+space+media+week+flap.jpg

What is your greatest skill set?

Don't always believe what you read!

  Without sounding pretentious my greatest skill set would probably be the ability to facilitate and/ or serve in an intermediary role at my place of work. So what does that actually mean? As an employee of CPUT I consider myself a relationship broker between two or more entities wishing to partner with the other, but they just don’t know how to take the first step into this new relationship. It is therefore my duty to facilitate to courtship and in doing so start building the bridge to a point where they meet each other half way and well embark on a prosperous (working) relationship.

The process is often very time consuming and frustrating but that aside it is richly rewarding and I can unreservedly say that I love what I do. No one day is ever the same. How lucky I do count myself, because there aren’t very many people in the world who get to really do what they love in an environment which actually gives them the scope to do what they love and then still giving them an opportunity to be really great at it. So to answer the question, I would have to say that my greatest skill set is being a social engineer.

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjd2fM3qvmgzA4rbgGw4ycggw-bx14NDN7bQ2Ieats0_b1NGaW2_ktQDWdif7SEEGBiqtcVbNJJsstQ1WmUtqotixaYDTnOti-2fol1HPRk_eRc7v29OMLmm204bAoZ-yIKnP_xDYHq0d8/s1600/socialengineering.jpg

Why I have conversations?

No man is an island unto himself ...

  I have conversations so that I feel less alone. Sometimes I even catch myself having conversations with myself and even my cat. So what? Daily I withdraw from the world to a quiet space to converse with God, and then of course I also love conversing with my friend - my wife.

A cornerstone to human existence is human interaction. According to Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs it is this inherent craving to belong that we are drawn to social groups and other human relationships. Further to this, the Bible states that “No man is an island unto himself …” Romans 9:18. Very loosely interpreted it means that NO man can exist and be happy on his own; man needs more than just himself to survive. Each person derives something different from conversation to another; this is what makes us so unique. My daily conversations are vital because it centres me before the start of every new day.

Moral of the story: Why would anyone choose to be alone and live a life devoid of a valuable fulfilling conversation? Why not today spark up a conversation with a stranger and see where it takes you.

Image: http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_d4Fw-OAa1ms/TJaLimIY8UI/AAAAAAAAEHY/7frdLv_rejQ/s1600/sandman_island.jpg

If you had a friend who spoke to you in the same way that you sometimes speak to yourself, how long would you allow that person to be your friend?

Caution: Behavioural construction ahead

  One year ago I would not have had that friend for very long. Often we don’t realise the hurt we inflict on ourselves and others by that which we think and in turn say. I’m guilty of this, where in the past I would think and say less than positive things about myself and also others, which inevitably manifested itself into less than positive actions.

The poisonous thinking eventually catches up with one and life becomes a dark shadow of what it once was. In my case all this crumbled the day that I gave my life to the Lord. It was only through the loss that I suffered that had NO other options but to change my thinking and the way I spoke. I am not proud of what I was, but I am thankful to be able to say that I have relinquished that person to the past, and can unreservedly say that I am a better friend to myself (and others) now, than I ever was before, and it feels good.

Image: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgw_2MtC7O5aiQGJT7JCWEj_x0BT-DzACCNWwADsEafW1pE1ZcXLL3dX1yYG2gD_pHigx4BNoN90Q62Q1TMcqdMlbdo2PMKQKnDvBRwgxwfQMYDxopyLDeUfspNnMFWW-09lAUSPd0umQ/s1600/stickstone.jpg

I am grateful

  Today, I am exceptionally grateful to the Lord my God for granting me yet another day (to live). This morning I woke up without the need for an alarm or my cat. I felt rejuvenated despite having lain in for a few extra minutes. But once I was up, I was up and ready to tackle the new day that I was granted.

How often do we actually give thanks to God for the new day before we step or rollout of bed? Why not spare a thought to how privileged you and I really are to be able to open our eyes when we wake up, stretch and then get out of bed, unassisted. Spare a thought to what life could possibly have been like were it for the grace of God, to have been granted an extra day, having full access to all our sense and sensibilities. Spare a thought and give thanks.

Image: http://www.thirdpresbyterian.org/music/images/youthcd.jpg

What did I want to be when I grow up?

Lets get HIGH!

  As a kid I dreamt of becoming a pilot, just like Tom Cruise in the 80’s movie Top Gun. From a young age I was obsessed with aeroplanes and often my father would take me to the Cape Town airport to look at the planes. What was most fascinating were the pilots dressed in their dark blue suits and their little suitcases? To me, this small suitcase was very intriguing, because the only question running through my mind was where do they keep all their toys? In spite of all 80’s fighter pilot movies and TV programmes, to me Top Gun stood head and shoulders above the rest. The allure of the fighter pilot was very appealing, symbolising ultimate braveness.

For a 9 year old that was mind blowing, and I distinctly recall whiling my time away building Lego jets simulating aerial manoeuvres, sound effects included. What a beautiful time of my life; innocent and carefree.

In hindsight the funny thing is, Top Gun didn’t ever teach me that to become a pilot (commercial and/or fighter) I needed really high mathematics and science marks, which admittedly they never were. And based hereupon sounding the distress call “Mayday, Mayday” ejecting myself from what was an unrealistic boyhood dream. Fortunately, the parachutes back then were still made in South Africa and not in China, affording me a gentle and easy landing. I have no regrets about not becoming a pilot and how could I; after all I was only nine and I was being the only thing I knew how to be, a dreamer. 

Image: http://www.moviesgamesnmore.org/wp-content/gallery/season5/movie-poster-top-gun.jpg

My favourite Cat in the Hat book is...

Its the small things that count eventually

  My favourite Dr Seuss book is The Cat in the Hat, only because it is the only one I’ve read. The most memorable thing about the actual book was the quirky and naughty character. I cannot say that the book left an indelible mark on my life; however the book does have sentimental value (for me).

The positive memory about Cat in the Hat was that I recall the time spent reading it with my mother. I have no clue how old I was, but I distinctly recall that no one else was around but my mother and I and no one ever disturbed us. Not being an avid reader, I guess my mother bought me the book hoping that the vivid characters would inspire some love of the written word. It didn’t, but what it did leave with me was, that reading was fun because it symbolised a time that I got time to spend with my mom regardless of all her other household duties. Thank you Mommy.

Image courtesy of Niven Maree

What makes you smile?

Stop and appreciate all the beauty

The fact that I have been granted yet another day to live. Despite my human imperfections God still loves me. I smile because I know that I have the Spirit of Christ Jesus living inside of me and which directs me. I smile when I am able to help someone, anyone. I smile that despite the ups and the downs I have a loving family (wife, mother, sisters, nephews, nieces etc) that love me.

I smile most of all when I see a beautiful view, sunset, landscape. I smile when things go according to plan (God’s plan) in my life. I smile because I am fortunate, and way more fortunate than so many other millions. I smile, because I can. I smile because I know that IF I do I may make someone else smile.

Why wouldn’t I smile? Even IF I fall on hard times, I shall continue to trust in the Lord, because I know that hardship does not last forever, and something good will happen that warrants a smile.

Image courtesy of Niven Maree