No One Is Permanent

I don’t usually just find sudden inspiration for a blog post or at least when I do I usually want to cultivate the thought process and not just spew it all out. Today is different.

This morning while I was in the shower I started thinking about someone and I couldn’t remember whether I had spoken about them recently or thought about them or dreamed about them. It wasn’t romantic it was just a thought or a flash of happy thoughts and it got me thinking this –

NO ONE IS PERMANENT IN YOUR LIFE.

Now before anyone gets upset, for those who live by faith (as do I) I know that God is my only constant but what I’m talking about here is that we go through our lives at all ages but especially as kids to teens to even our twenties (I’m hoping by your 30s you’ve had this realization) and in those precious moments that will guide us to be the adults we were meant to be we look at the people who surround us, the boyfriends, the girlfriends your boy – friends and girl – friends, teachers and even some family members and think “ they are so important to me. I love them. I can’t imagine my life without them.”

That may be the case – at.that.time.

However in reality, the inevitability of people flowing in and out of your lives you will have to live your life without those people. It’s not a bad thing and I think that’s actually what the point is of this post. It’s ok that you love or loved those people. They are exactly what you needed at that time in your life but as you transition into new phases and new places it’s OK that you won’t keep in touch like you did before. It’s OK that you have no idea who they are dating. It’s OK if you don’t get invited to their weddings (I’m not sure if this part is really ok, lol ) but basically it’s all OK because no one is permanent.

Your parents will eventually pass on, your siblings will probably get married and create a family of their own and you’ll become their secondary family. That is also OK because when you decide to get married that’s when you have your permanent person. That’ s why marriage is so important to people and the decisions we make as to who we want to share our lives with mean so much because that person, they are your permanent until then, everyone is just passing through.

Some will stay longer than you expected some will leave sooner than you would like but if you make peace with the fact that life is unpredictable but that you like yourself because you will always be the common denominator then at the end of the  changes in friendships and relationships you will maintain some of your sanity because you would be at peace with the inevitable changes life will bring your way.

Thoughts, anyone??  Too deep for a Wednesday?

Flights

Well it's Monday and I haven't had the best start to my day, I refuse to let it get me down and what is the best way to make me feel better? Plan one day trips abroad.. and that got me thinking while some people hate to travel, I find it completely relaxing whether it's a quick 50 minute flight from Johannesburg to Durban or a 12 hour flight from Johannesburg to Frankfurt. There is a comfort in knowing the routine.

I thought after my long flights and layovers during my trips to Europe I would have stopped enjoying flights and airports while I am definitely tired after an overseas trips, give me a week or so and I'll be up for it all over again.

I battle to see how people are afraid of flying but during my last flight, there were two people in front of me who both suffered with Pteromerhanophobia (a fear of flying) and I just don't get it. Don't get me wrong, I'm not dismissing their fears, I just can't seem to understand it and I'm very glad I don't suffer with it. I honestly can't fathom the fear ever after the numerous flights which have gone missing or flown into mountain tops. I just love flying...

Is this because I am an optimist as opposed to a realist or is a realist code for a pessimist with good days?

I digress, travelling and airports or drives are all pretty much the same. It's as if my restless heart finds peace in the sound of engine or even the voice that tells you how to put your seat belt on. It makes me wonder if I had started travelling or had opened myself up to travelling at a younger age would I have chosen to be an attorney or would I have gone into a different field? I guess I'll never know...

I think, the thing I like most about travelling is the acceptable silence you don't have to talk to anyone or make conversation - but you could if you wanted to and there's no judgment in your silence either.

Another thing, everyone on a flight is going somewhere which I like because no one likes to go nowhere slowly...

Do you like to fly? Are you planning any exciting trips?

Literary Ladies - Part One

I am so excited to link up today with Kay, Kari and Kristen for the literary ladies link up. 

When I decided to join in this challenge I honestly thought I wouldn't be able to do it but we're halfway through and I think I'm sort of on track...Lucky the competitive side in me has kicked in! If you want to know more about the challenge click here. 

If you just want to know about what I've been reading... Continue to read ... There's been some good ones ;) the categories aren't outline or in order but I promise to update this post sometime later today... {UPDATE - I have included the categories}

Going Off Script by Giuliana Rancic - A book written by a comedian/ celebrity

  

I wasn't sure whether I should read Giuliana's or Kris Jenner's book for this category but I received some feedback saying read G's book and I'm so glad I took it. I love Giuliana she's funny and honest but the part I enjoyed most about her book was learning that she was such a naughty, sneaky teen! {Enter the car stealing example}. Also I'm such a fan of Bill and Giuliana as a couple so get the open and honest feelings about their relationship had me laughing, then crying and then laughing and crying...

Going Off Script: How I Survived a Crazy Childhood, Cancer, and Clooney's 32 On-Screen Rejections by Giuliana Rancic
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

To be honest I wasn't sure if reading this would make me hate G, I'm happy to say that isn't the case.
This isn't a book which the celebrity is fluffy and fake about her feelings, G shares personal stories and more insight into her life and her heartaches over lost pregnancies as well as the joy of her husband. I loved her and Bill before reading this but the truth is after this I respect them so much more for sharing their story. Giuliana is beautiful, naughty and an inspiration ...

View all my reviews

To All The Boys I Loved Before by Jenny Han - A YA book

Another one I wasn't sure about, despite the fact that I had marked it TBR for ages , so long ago that I don't even remember how I came across it... Either way, Laura Jean is so much like me that sometimes I just found myself laughing out loud... In public. Laura Jean is the middle child of a father run home, she's written love letters, officially ending her love for the guys she's loved in the past but these letters were never meant to be sent to the addressees. And of course they were sent so Laura Jean needs to clean up her literary mess. It's silly, sweet and entertaining. Can't wait to read the follow up.

To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I'm not sure if I'm being a bit generous with the rating of 4 stars but the truth is, I really enjoyed this story, Laura Jean grew on me as well as her sweet family. I'm not exactly taken with the perfection of Margeux but I found the rest of the characters endearing in their own ways. Kitty is definitely the show stealer with her sweet mischievous yet helpful ways... Can't wait to read the next installment

View all my reviews

Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney - A book which is or will be a movie

My cousins, aged 10 and 12 asked me to read this and although I haven't watched the movie I thought I would give it a chance. While the book was funny because I love sarcasm I found that there was no point to it and I really didn't grow fond of any of the characters. I don't plan on reading any more of the books in this series and I'm not even sorry. 
Diary of a Wimpy Kid by Jeff Kinney
My rating: 1 of 5 stars

My 10 and 12 year old cousins recommended that I read this book and because it seemed as if a few adults also read it I gave it a chance but while I found the sarcasm enjoyable for the most part I couldn't wait for it to be done. It was amusing but I don't have any desire to read the rest of the series.

View all my reviews

The Boys of Summer by CJ Duggan - A title with the word "Summer" in it

Update: I actually left this off my initial post even though it was one of the first books of this challenge that I read. I loved it! I really enjoyed the characters - main and supporting and I got it for free on Amazon so I thought it would suck. It totally does not. 

Tess needs this summer to give her some joy, her previous relationship has left her in a vulnerable social standing state and working with her bffs at the Oslow is exactly what she didn't want but definitely needed. All the Oslow boys are sweethearts and I truly enjoyed this summer read...

The Boys of Summer by C.J. Duggan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Technically it's a 4.5 stars rating.. I really enjoyed this book, I got it for free from Amazon so I wasn't sure what it would be like but I loved it.

View all my reviews

Seamless by RL Griffin (Re-Read) - Kickass Female lead

I found "Mending" and it was the end of the "By A Thread" series and before I could read it I had to reread Seamless so I could remember how the story shaped up. I LOVED this book first time round and I didn't realize how much I missed Stella.. 

Seamless by R.L. Griffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

What a brilliant way for this series to end. The evolution of the characters was seamless. Although I thought this last installment would be a predictable end but it was anything but. I am so sad that this series is done because Stella, George, Patrick and Millie have become part of my everyday life at times they almost drove me to drink right along with them but for the most part they were just good people. Love Love Love!

View all my reviews

Mending by RL Griffin -  One word Title

In many ways this book wasn't necessary because the epilogue rounded it all off in Seamless but then I started reading it and I was so grateful that RL Griffin wrote this... Realizing how much I missed these characters made me want to re-read the entire series... If only I wasn't a part of the reading challenge lol 

Mending by R.L. Griffin
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I found this book by mistake, I thought the series was over after reading seamless but R.L Griffin have a gift in filling in the blanks... I didn't realize how much I missed Stella and after reading Mending, a book which I didn't think was even necessary I understand that it was completely essential to round off the 6 years of Stella's life that we as readers spent with her.

View all my reviews If you want to know more about what I'm reading, let's be friends on goodreads. 

x nats

Bucket List Item 101 #ColorRun

On Sunday I finally got to cross another item of my bucket list : - I completed the color run in Durban. Well I use the term "run" loosely I actually just walked the 5K with my cousins and one of my aunts.

I've been wanting to try the color run for a couple of years and for whatever reason the timing just never works out but this year, I was determined to get to it. We weren't sure what to expect so we bought some wings and cute head bands with wands...

The walk itself was fun with bursts of colored powder being thrown on us and due to me being on the short side I got a LOT of powder thrown right over my face... 

I was a bit disappointed that there wasn't more of a music festival side to it but the deejaying was pretty cool. 

All in all I would say it probably was the Happiest5K around... I had fun with my family and getting all messed up! Washing my hair was a bit of a challenge with the numerous colors and color combinations coming out of it but all of it was so worth it. Durban really showed off that day with the perfect weather and we completed it with the perfect attitude.

Has the ColorRun come to your city yet???

The Struggle : Beer Goggles

Ladies and gentleman I have been thinking of adding in a new feature into my blog "The Struggle" and this week's struggle is simple the beer goggle dilemma. 

{NOTE: Before reading on, I must warn you this is probably the most superficial post I've ever written so if you're not in the mood, just skip it.. if you're feeling as judgey as I am right now go ahead and share your stories with me! }

I must be honest that I usually have a really particular taste that being hot. Obviously over the years I've made many mistakes misjudgments and it was only in the last couple of days did I realize what may have motivated those misjudgments... haha.

There's this group of guys I know and I use the term "know" loosely however, the point is I have seen these guys before and I didn't really didn't give them any thought because they didn't fall into the "hot" category. They seemed nice enough but because I know them through a business associate I haven't really ever looked at them. A few weeks ago I was out and about and I bumped into the guys. I had been drinking and we stopped and started talking and in ,my head I was like " Oh, Nats, they actually are kinds cute..."

Fast forward three weeks when I bump into the same guys again, In the daylight, in a sober state of mind and they are not hot. I honestly have no idea how I remembered them in the bar to what they looked like when I saw them again.

AND then it came to me... beer goggles. While I may have not been actually drinking beer the effect is the same and dangerous. 

The struggle is real. 

Have you got any fun beer goggles stories? Please share in the comments!