Embrace Your Unique...

While I was skimming through facebook as per my daily routine (#ImNotEvenSorry) I came across this article and I'm just going to leave it here for you to give it some thought. 

Also... how is it August already??? Seriously it feels like I just blinked and Winter is almost done. I'm not sure how I'm going to handle the humidity of a Durban summer..  however for now, as hard as it may be - I am going to embrace my unique and I think you should do the same. 

Now tell me, what's your plans for August?

Monday Musings

Go tell your story... 

Be Your Own Heroine

So, to be honest, I only thought of this post after I posted on my Instagram account this morning but it sort of coincided with the fact that I finally watched Frozen last night. 

I have obviously heard a number of great reviews and of course I remember the whole John Travolta debacle with Idina Mendel 

But the truth is there was a lot to learn from the movie. Woman are brought up to believe we need to find our Prince Charming or rather wait until he finds us and I really liked that this was finally a strong message that woman need to do things for themselves and try not to get caught up in the moment!

Logic, right?

The truth about most girls

And mostly the movie shows this simple truth for woman...

With that, I'll let you get on with your week... what have you got planned?

J is for Just Do It (A to Z Challenge)

This is not a sponsored post.

Nike Inc's logo which is known world-wide. The three simple words have gone on to inspire millions of people from all types of backgrounds whether they bought the sneakers or not, they know these three little words. Did you ever wonder what it is about their tagline that got everyone hooked on their brand?

Here's their video celebrating 25 years of Just Doing It

The premise is simple, if it's possible, why not just do it?

Nike is selling their brand but more than that they are selling self-confidence, possibilities and dreams. 

One of their most popular advertisements features South Africa's own, Oscar Pistorius. He is a man who was admired by many for overcoming what seemed impossible however since he killed his girlfriend on Valentine's Day 2013 he was removed as one of their ambassadors. I can't say I blame them but that doesn't mean we can't learn from them either. Nike Adverts are usually fun and inspiring and some of my favourites.

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What's your favourite logo? Are you inspired by Nike? Or have all their negative celebrity press put you off?

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Soulful Sunday : Our Greatest Fear

Our Greatest Fear —Marianne Williamson

it is our light not our darkness that most frightens us

Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous,
talented and fabulous?

Actually, who are you not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small does not serve the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other
people won't feel insecure around you.

We were born to make manifest the glory of
God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give other people
permission to do the same.

As we are liberated from our own fear,
Our presence automatically liberates others.

I am feeling these words this week, a lot. What are your deepest fears? Because I think Marianne Williamson has hit my greatest fear on the head.

Movie Review : Mandela, Long Walk To Freedom

Yesterday I did something I love to do, but loads of people judge me for, I went to the movies by myself. It doesn't matter how much alone time I have had there's something gratifying about being in the movie house by yourself. I think it may be because I am a crier and at lease if I watch a movie by myself, I can cry without any judgment.

In saying that, I am definitely glad I watched this movie alone because I cried. I cried a LOT. I found the movie to be painful to watch because, it's my country's history and because it's true. It reminded me how lucky I was to be born when I was and to be able to live the life that I do.

I heard rumours that a few of the older generation refused to watch the movie just because it would make them more angry and feel more hurt. I thought that was ridiculous because surely we have moved forward and can watch a movie without leaving there with no hard feelings. However, I left the cinema feeling a lot of things. Although I did not leave angry, I left sad, hurt and I hate to admit, filled with a lot of pity.

I haven't read Nelson Mandela's book and when I wanted too, my dad's copy had gone missing and then I thought it would be better to move forward and not hold onto the past because I knew that reading about the past struggles would stir up pain.

The movie managed to do that. I don't know if the movie is an accurate depiction of the book or if the book is an accurate depiction of the struggle of Madiba's long walk to freedom but I know it was difficult to watch. Difficult to not feel sorry for Winnie Mandela. Difficult not to feel for all those people who gave their lives for the good of the nation and the generations to come.

While there are obviously more people that were involved in the struggle, it is humbling to see that Madiba was a) not perfect and b) a born leader and c) he truly loved Winnie (click here to see the letters he wrote to her).

It's no wonder people in South Africa and the world were concerned what would happen when Madiba dies because he was a man who forgave his perpetrators despite the abuse, violence and unjust which was done onto him, his wife, family and fellow comrades.

Movie Still: When Madiba is sentenced to life imprisonment 

The movie was long but not long enough to illustrate the intricate details of the struggle. When I walked out the movie (after many tears) I just felt an immense sadness for the love between Madiba and Winnie and how Winnie was so warm glowed before she was immersed in the struggle that it changed the very core of who she was.

Real Life : Mandela after his release with Winnie

Movie Still : Madiba after the release

Have you watched the film? How did you feel after watching it? Do you feel inspired to make your freedom more worthwhile (because I do)?

Madiba, an icon of the world, Rest In Peace

To the Father of our nation, the man who changed everything in South Africa and who acted as an inspiration to the world - thank YOU for giving so many years of your life for us.

May your soul Rest In Peace Tata

 

18 July 1918 - 5 December 2013

 

 



December

Firstly, let me say that I apologise for being so completely out of it recently, there has been a LOT of stuff going on and as the month progresses I'll let you in on the happenings but for now I will tell you that I am feeling a lot better but unfortunately I still have a nasty cough so I am hoping I can get rid off it (I'm willing to try any home remedies!)

Secondly, how did December crawl up on us like this? I have been waiting for a long time for December to arrive because I knew things were going to change this month but it's still a bit crazy and the response I've received to some off the things going on has been overwhelming.

I think the most scary (and exhilarating) thing about December is knowing that this is the last chance to check off all those resolutions that you planned for 2013 and completely forgot about.

While this is a short post - I just wanted to say I will be posting regularly again and while I am navigating my way through things - this quote is very relevant.

 

But more so, I have been holding onto this simple phrase:

 

 



 

What's been going on with you? And do you have any suggestions on how I can get rid of this cough?

 Tell me about your December plans?



Soulful Sunday : Wishing

No matter who you are, no matter where you come from or how much money you have there is always something (or someone) you wish/long for. 

For some of us wishing may just form part of our day to day routines like "I wish I could travel the world"  or "I wish I could have had more time with him/her" or "I wish I could land my dream job". However, let's be honest our wishing doesn't necessarily have to be so serious but it's incredible how our thoughts become our words and ours guide our actions. 

Today in church, the sermon was somewhat similar to what I'm talking about - at the beginning of the sermon he said "be careful what you wish for because you may just get it" and while I won't go into further detail about what the sermon was..  it helped develop my thinking which I went into church with.

You see, when I woke up this morning , I was feeling really despondent about a certain situation where I felt like luck just was not on my side and I felt... uneasy. 

But in church, I was told about this lady, Helen Keller* who was born(or at a very young age) was blind, deaf and mute yet she still manged to obtain a degree and lecture to others. I don't know the full details but I plan on looking up her background online the thing is that amazes me is that against all odds she accomplished what a lot of able bodies persons cannot. How? How did she manage to do that?

 

I think she wished on it... Then did whatever she needed to do to get there.

The question is, how far are we willing to go out of our comfort zone to get our heart's desire?