Keeping at it!

There is an old adage by Robert Schuller that says:

"What great thing would you attempt if you knew you could not fail?"

I am constantly in the midst of some crisis or project and when I  think about is, my answer would usually be a solution to the current issue. Instant gratification baby! 

If I could just constantly have perspective; be able to lift my head out of the scrum and be able to see the whole game. I want to live my life as if the small and big rocks I have to scale are all part of the game...almost giving it texture and interest. I do not think an easy life is always an appreciated life. I certainly need the adventure!

I read a few interesting books, one by Byron Katie "Loving What Is";  Michael Newton's "Journey of Souls" and also "Full Catastrophe Living" by Thich Nhat Hanh, to name a few.
And because I practice Reiki and Yoga I am also very interested in holistic health. Good articles/blogs or newsletters on how our emotional state affect our physical health:
 http://www.alternativehealthandhealing.com/fearofillness.htmland;
 http://www.creatinghealth.co.za/

All good and what it assists with is understanding that "failing" is a perspective and if I choose to look at my life through those glasses, then that's all I see. But if I choose to believe I am destined to succeed...well, then life becomes so much deeper and richer and filled with purpose.

And while another crisis unfolds - I keep at it :)

Hot!

 

Indecently irresistible;

Dangerously dark.

Hot.

 

Desperately defenseless;

Sensuous supplication.

Hot.

 

Anne-marie

 

 



Reading...

One of my favorite pastimes is reading. Hours and hours of paper-paging, musty- smelling escapism. It is a luxury one can only afford if you take the slow lane and have a well-developed imagination.

I can easily read 2 to 3 books at the same time and average about a book every 3 days. One would think that this makes me less picky about what I read, but no!  I do every channel: Kindle, library, 2nd hand book shops and although my book-gluttony makes buying the real-deal less of an option, I do prefer a new book in my hands.

Since completing my studies I cannot tolerate any book that has the words "...steps to success...". Really?! It also has to be a VERY special corporate leader to make me read a bio on Business. A bit of a realist I have become :/

But give me anything that has a "who dunnit" theme, true life accounts of a journey or an adventure, books on the history of the world, psychology, sci-fi, alternative healing...and bring on the period drama's. I can escape within minutes to a different world - a place so real it leaves me feeling empty when the last pages come too soon. 

So here's to the writers, the untold stories and the future adventures:
Long may ye publish!

Connections....

I have always believed that there is no such thing as coincidence. Everything matters. Who you sit next to on the plane, who you work with and who you choose as a friend or a partner. Even if it is just for a specific reason or a short season, the connection has some purpose.

I have found that this make a difference in how I engage and connect with people. Even if it is not something I necessarily want, I believe that I am there for a reason and this understanding makes it special.

Connecting, sharing, reaching out, touching.....watch out, amazing things happen!

Enough now...

Where is the summer? Every now and then we have a spectacular day which makes one almost believe winter is over...

And then it's back to this again...

 

 

Come summertime, enough with winter now!

Keep walking...

 

Standing on a bridge

The moment where yesterday and tomorrow meet

 Faith warms me and hope guides me

I keep walking....

 

No right, no wrong, just growth

Every decision the doorway to another

Honour warms me and love guides me

I keep walking...

 

Anne-marie

 

 

Dreams....

 

I believe in dreams. For me it has proven a most awesome way to get perspective on my life. Anything, from what I am running from, angry about, scared off and all things that are really important to acknowledge seem to pop-up seamlessly when I am not trying to fight it. I have had dreams on people needing me (which they did); things I had to sort out (which I wouldn't have otherwise) and family members passing (which they did).

Most friends tell me they cannot remember their dreams, and if they do, they have no clue what it means.

Here are a few (eccentric!) things I do to access my dreams:

1. I state that I believe in dreams - very important as this shows that you are ready to listen
2. I always ask to remember my dreams before I go to sleep, and for the highest possible good to come from it: be it lessons, warnings or any growth that I need to move forward
3. When I wake up, I do not open my eyes until I have "accessed" where I was in my sleep
4. I write down my "symbols" for everything e.g. water means emotion (floating means not acknowledging, drowning means taking on other people's stuff, weddings means funerals etc. etc.). This is different for most people, but you learn by trial and error
5. Ask a trusted friend what they think when you tell them about a dream, it is amazing how clear things are for someone objective who is not locked in to certain beliefs about something


Truly one of the greatest gifts is to be honest and truthful with yourself and to find a connection to your sub-conscious.

I am....

 

 

On this day, I am...

 

I am lit by the sun

I am bathed by the moon

I am deep as the ocean

I am nimble as the wind

I am bright as lightning

I am steady as the earth

And by the power of heaven

on this day

I am a rock

 

Adapted by Anne-marie from a Celtic prayer

 

 



Eish!

And this is what we returned to.....snow on the mountains around the Cape.

So, on top of JC's little bundle of joy being VERY cross at not being taken with us, there was a flicker of forgiveness when he was dressed to go and play in the snow :))

Welcome back to the Cape of Storms!

This is the life!

We are back...but a part of me is still suspended on an Indian Ocean Island of the Tanzanian coast. These Islands remain one of the best options for a tropical break-away, especially for South Africans, as a 4 hour flight is quite manageable. The best time is in our winter, when the avg daily temperature of 38C is very welcome and you can find something that suites every need. We chose to do the customised approach - find a flight here, a bungalow there, a spot to dive here and a place to visit there. Some people prefer the packaged deals which are very affordable but may leave you feeling like you need a holiday afterwards :)

Some of our high-lights in pictures:

We stayed at an Italian hotel on Zanzibar first, which was a good base to unwind and organise snorkeling trips from.

 

 

 

 

The next stop was all about the beach and the sea and the sand. Upepo offers 4 bungalow's literally 7 steps from the beach. Fisherman come by and you choose your lunch/dinner which they go and fish for. This is what we love, fresh local food, basic (if not romantic) accommodation right on the beach and lots of sunshine!

 

We ended the 2 weeks with a couple of nights in Stone Town at Maru Maru. It captures this place perfectly (albeit with a bit of pizzazz). The last nigh we had cocktails on the roof and the most perfect sunset to a most awesome break-away....

 

 

 

 

Maisha marefu! To life....

Here we go :)

It is the beginning of August and we are almost off for a couple of weeks snorkeling around Tanzania! My suitcase is open and I am randomly throwing stuff in I imagine I might need:
- Goddess glitter body balm
- A pair of sandals I have never worn as they look like they belong on the beach ;)
- My snorkeling kit....including 4 bathing suite changes for every occasion
- Sunblock, mosquito balm, hair mask etc. etc.

The case is overflowing and I wish I had some space for a couple of pieces of clothing...

My shadow...

You come like a misty breath at winters' dawn.

Sneaking up from somewhere deep inside -

surrounding me, taking my shape, hovering.

And when, in a moment of weakness

you try to enter, 

you find I am already both sides of the moon .

 

Anne-marie

That ol' travel bug!

In the middle of a rainy winter in Cape Town and we are soooo ready for some sunshine. Best bet is to take off to one of the east African Islands that dot the equator around South Africa. We are spoiled for choice, but also have very specific ideas of what we want:

• As close to 30 degrees as we can get
• Powder white sand and endless vistas of turquoise sea
• A small, un-resort like place to stay which hopefully makes fresh, local food
• Snorkeling and kayaking and swimming on our doorstep

We have about 3001 places to choose from....and the searching is half the fun - so here I go:)

Bon voyage...almost!!!

 

Suspended

Blindly focusing

nothing

Heartbeat stopping

nothing

Perfumed promises

nothing

A touch

everything

 

Anne-marie

I hate rules!

So I was almost in dreamland when my cell beeped. Something made me roll-over and look at the message....and I nearly fell out of bed!

My little nephew is 5 years old and has a key to my heart. As an only child, it is safe to say he is indulged by us all. And he flourishes under the constant attention.

The message is a song he composed and recorded in the privacy of his room, to explain what he is feeling regarding...uhm...all the rules his parents are subjecting him to. What can I say....I concur.
I also hate rules!



 

 

 

 

Love!