Winging it ;)

"Fake it till you make it!" A much-laughed-about saying from my best friend.

When the confidence, the knowledge or the context is not always present, the best way to enter into the unknown is with an air of "I can do this thing". At least for the first couple of minutes people read your fake confidence and they react to it with a sigh of satisfaction - strength is always appreciated, either to hang on to or to sustain a good fight :)

So here comes a pint-sized tortoise and she encounters a sprig of basil, a new enigma in her world of fynbos. She pee'ed once, sniffed twice and then went for it in a big way. What a lesson!

Enough with the lamenting and the worrying, the thinking and analysing....it's Friday...let's open the champagne and build a fire for the braai. Life's good...I think?!

A sad, sad day...

Today is the 10th of December 2013. This day could not have been harder. Instead of participating, I decided to make a restful retreat and to blanket myself from this day. I have no more tears and my heart is heavy....

Today is the memorial of our beloved Nelson Mandela.

Today is also the memorial service for Arlene, a beautiful friend who passed away tragically in Nepal whilst on her gap year and honeymoon.

And today is the day my best friend immigrates to the UK. I hope we'll meet up soon because our journey is not done.

 

 

 

A sad day indeed....

Oh wise one!

We had a super Sunday at the World of Birds in Hout Bay. JC knows I am a little obsessed with owls at the moment. I see them everywhere and I have been wearing an owl bracelet for a while.

So imagine my wonder when I got to meet the most beautiful and exotic birds, literally face-to-face. The personalities and the eccentricities. Bold and bright or quietly camouflaged, they where all there. I felt like I intruded into a different world.

The bird were either injured, rescued, or they were pets. Very sad and a real wake-up call to people who do not realise that these are living things who get attached and struggle to adapt after we humans intervened.

My favorite area was of course, the owl sanctuary. Huge graceful birds, wise and wonderful. I am in awe of nature...

 

 

I know why the caged bird sings, ah me,
When his wing is bruised and his bosom sore,—
When he beats his bars and he would be free;
It is not a carol of joy or glee,
But a prayer that he sends from his heart’s deep core,
But a plea, that upward to Heaven he flings—
I know why the caged bird sings!

PL Dunbar

And so it is done :)

"But I am not...special," Baily says. "Not in the way they are."
"You are not destined or chosen," Celia says. "I wish I could tell you that you were, but it is not true. You're in the right place at the right time, and you care enough to do what needs to be done. Sometimes that's enough."

The Night Circus, Erin Morgenstern

 

 

 

So , off to Langebaan to complete the inevitable. My best friend and I completed our Reiki journey and will now be able to teach and guide others on their way. I always thought of great teachers as people who see the candle in others and just gives them the light they need. Still your candle, your journey and your responsibility to shine and light your way, but we all need that spark. I feel I am in the right place at the right time.

 



Window washing in the rain :)

So off we went to save our little haven by the sea...

We found the roads flowing like rivers, the fireplace waterlogged, the braai representing a waterfall. And also an ideal opportunity to let nature wash the windows - with a little help from a friend :)

So this is summer in the Western Cape and we are a winter rainfall region. Not too sure what is happening but 3 seasons in one day with the most amazing full moon hanging low and lit in a moody sky. 

Love nature :)

21-day Meditations...

I started a bit late - it commenced on the 10th of November, but can highly recommend Deepak and Oprah's 21-day meditation. It is free on the link below and gives a beautiful message every day, as well as a 15min meditation and some questions for your journal. Very powerful to think how many people are doing this together.

https://chopracentermeditation.com/

As my previous Boss used to say: "...sort your sh#t out Ms. Le Roux!"

So here I go....

Ethics....and other scandals!

I attended a talk on "Ethics in Business" last night. Always good to see what happened over the last decade, with the 101 Acts and pieces of legislation, Kings III etc. And let me not get into all the unintended manifestations of people in high places - it made for an evening of high entertainment!

We spend so much time talking about what is right and what is wrong, when people of such high intelligence should know this by now? It is rather the discussion on the choices we make, in spite of knowing, and how we justify these decision, that make me sit up and take notice.

A highlight of the evening...a reflection of what happens when you become a highly regulated society, with a free media :)

But the best part was when the speaker ended with...."enough with the applause, now throw the money!". How's that for awesome irony :)

Part of the whole....

I believe that nothing happens without a reason. Everything is part of a bigger plan. There are no coincidences: The person you sit next to on a flight, the animal who chooses you, the bullying boss or the difficult student. All have been send to assist you to discover yourself and your purpose in this life. Impossible to do on your own, no matter how self-sufficient or independent you may be...eish!

"A human being is part of a whole, called by us the ‘Universe’ —a part limited in time and space. He experiences himself, his thoughts, and feelings, as something separated from the rest—a kind of optical delusion of his consciousness. This delusion is a kind of prison for us, restricting us to our personal desires and to affection for a few persons nearest us. Our task must be to free ourselves from this prison by widening our circles of compassion to embrace all living creatures and the whole of nature in its beauty.”

Albert Einstein

 

 

To know that you are needed in another persons life, or to be able to experience the kindness of people is truly magical - giving and receiving in balance. We need each other. 

So many places to go, so many animals to meet :)

One of the things I adore about JC is his love for animals. In his ranking of most favorite companions in this life, I am out-ranked by approximately 4 dogs...and counting! I do not mind, in fact, there is none that I respect and admire more than acts of kindness towards animals, children and old people...and waiters.

 

Here are some 4-legged favorites who recently marked his journey through some of the small towns in our beautiful country.

 

Note: I am not counting the tortoises saved, the spiders rescued or the animals phoned in to the local SPCA's.

Love :))

The road is long...

Another adventure the past week....we visited the Northern Cape for one of my projects. Well, what can I say about towns named Rugseer and Grootdrink?!

 

It is dry, hot and not for sissies, but the sunsets are spectacular over the Orange River. Especially with a glass of beautiful red wine brought all the way from Tokara to mellow the hard edges of the trip :)

 

 

Next time I will bring more music, travel no more than 200km in a day (amazing and affordable places to stay is definitely a positive!) and, if possible, bring more wine!

Gifts!

I have often wondered what I would have studied or which skills I would have developed knowing what I know today....

Would I take French classes at school or maybe Piano lessons instead of playing Netball and choosing Science as a major? I honestly do not know and maybe it does not matter?

One way or another our journey takes us exactly to where we should be at this moment in time. Jobs, money, titles and specific skills do not count. It is the human experience, the act of living and loving and learning that determines if we live our purpose, or not.

Having said all that, there may still be an artist lurking just below the surface...a film director of note, or even a gifted linguist? It all depends on what I want to spend my time on, for I am sure there are many gifts to still uncover.

 

The adventure of life is to learn. The purpose of life is to grow. The nature of life is to change. The challenge of life is to overcome. The essence of life is to care. The opportunity of life is to serve. The secret of life is to dare. The spice of life is to befriend. The beauty of life is to give. The joy of life is to love.

 

 

William Arthur Ward

 

 

 



I am all of this already...

“Do you know what you are?
You are a manuscript oƒ a divine letter.
You are a mirror reflecting a noble face.
This universe is not outside of you.
Look inside yourself;
everything that you want,
you are already that.”

 

Hush, Don't Say Anything to God: Passionate Poems of Rumi

 

 

Homeward bound....

We went up North (Nylstroom) to surprise my parents with a quick visit. My Dad had an amazing year of teaching young and old to play the guitar and finished the year with a concert. Two nights in a row we were treated to witnessing his students: A group from the Abraham Kriel Orphanage, professionals, moms and some very talented upcoming Idols! I wouldn't have missed it for the world - although he nearly had a heart attack when he saw us walking in all the way form Cape Town...LOVE!

I adore them - how did I get so lucky?!

The Guests....

The Guest-House

This being human is a guest-house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Welcome and entertain them all!

Even if they're a crowd of sorrows,
who violently sweep your house
empty of its furniture,
still, treat each guest honorably.
He may be clearing you
out for some new delight.

The dark thought, the shame, the malice,
meet them at the door laughing,
and invite them in.
Be grateful for whoever comes,
because each has been sent
as a guide from beyond.
Say I Am You: Poetry and Translated Stories of Rumi

Life is....darling!

Taking the weekend off to drive out to the small towns around Cape Town....

Stopping to sleep over in Struisbaai...life is Darling :)

This beautiful Country offers so much which I am grateful for...proudly South African I am!