M is for Metaphor (A to Z Challenge)

Metaphor - A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable. 

~ Oxford Online Dictionary 

Often I hear people using the word metaphor or the term "metaphorically speaking" and then they continue to speak without their sentences being a metaphor. Metaphor is a nice word for people to throw around in conversation as i to sound smarter so I thought I'd take a moment to discuss ramble about one of my favourite figures of speech which when used correctly, it really can lighten writing and/or conversation. 

When I was in school, the easiest way for me to understand what a metaphor is, was to remember that it was a comparison of things which did not necessarily need to use comparative words such as "like" and "as" (as one would use for a simile). Metaphors are best used when they are subtly included 

~ Credit ~

One of the more popular metaphors which you have probably encountered without truly understanding you were using it is "It's raining cats and dogs". It's easy and well known that hardly anyone would question the use of the term. 

When watching Meet Joe Black (again and again) I tried explaining it to someone that Death had taken human form in a metaphoric manner. That completely went over their head for two reasons, 1)the person didn't really understand metaphors and 2) that is not the way many people interpreted the movie. It then occurred to me how difficult explaining metaphors can be and thought I could post about - however, I think I may have confused you (and me) more than clarify something I knew already... 

Do you believe we should understand metaphors or are figures of speech purely useful to get us through High School English?

F is for Forbidden Fruit (A to Z Challenge)

Forbidden Fruit - A things which is desired all the more because it is not allowed

~ Oxford Online Dictionary 

The idea of forbidden fruit stems from the story of Adam and Eve and the Garden of Eden in the first book of the Bible. Even non-Christians know the story of how Eve gave in and ate the apple which she was told not too. 

While this post is not about that story, it's about why forbidden fruit can be so alluring, literally, it's usually the sweetest fruits.

A couple of years ago I went to Ceres in Cape Town which is somewhat North Easterly, and they grow a lot of Oranges there and I took one which a) was not allowed and b) ridiculously delicious. 

It got me thinking that people are pulled into the allure of wanting what they can't have and then when they taste it, it's usually so sweet that you want to risk it again to get some more. This line of thinking got me thinking that people who have affairs usually do it because there's a risk factor and there's something sexy about risk. That being said, you're not guaranteed that all the fruit will be super delicious because the other day, my friend took an Olive, or what she thought was an Olive and it was a) not an olive and b) GROSS.

~ Credit ~

This was not supposed to be a post about affairs but rather wanting what you can't have or shouldn't have.

Your thoughts?

Happy Monday everybody!

My Eurotrip 2013 : In Transit

So I worked out that in 15 days I was in 6 different countries, 3 different continents, 12 towns.. Ok so Dubai was in transit and I live in South Africa but its still a lot of places to see!

The reason I wanted to do an in transit  post was that I found that in transit, especially when travelling alone, is the time you will really get to know where your head is at.

When I was on my way to Hamburg I had a 8h 45 min layover in the Dubai airport and while I could have opted for a one day visa my layover was from 00h00 till 08h45 and didn't really feel like I wanted to just pop into Dubai and then pop right out again. However, while sitting at Cosy at the airport, I had this pizza:

Which was  O-K ... I mean I won't be rushing back for it anytime soon but it wasn't terrible. But while sitting there I made a new friend... and I was so excited because it was exactly the type of things I looked forward to on my travels making new friends.

So meet, Ouma - she's a morrocan lady who was volunteering in Indonesia for a few months and then she got to holiday for a while in Bali! How amazing is that?!

But the thing is, with our very long discussion, she was on a flight a hour before mine, we spoke about our different cultures, shared stories about our countries as well as travel experiences.

The funniest thing, was that throughout that whole time, we ended up talking about relationships and love and marriage a lot. I thought it was hilarious that two girls who got chatting would eventually end up discussing boys!

Either way, I am glad I met her at the airport, she made me feel more comfortable with the idea of me travelling alone and made me feel like although it is almost unheard of in South Africa, the world has a totally different view on travelling!

On my way back from Dubai, I was so excited to speak to other South Africans, it was crazy how talkative we are and I would say we are probably some of the friendliest people in the world - although the Irish might just beat us to the top.

I decided I will add a song for each post .. to set the tone I guess..

On my way to Germany my thoughts were very much like Miley's "We can't stop"

But coming back, although I do not have an official summer love to mention, it's the song that I thought of along with Daylight by Maroon 5.

I think it is the fact that each of these songs have an element (or more than an element) of love and having to leave it. I think that's how I felt.. how I feel, that I loved being away so much that leaving there was so difficult and returning home was trying to say the least...

Have you ever made new friends at the airport? Or do you have any songs that put you in the mood for adventure when travelling?  

Foreign Waters

So I'm typing this post from the train in Germany... I'm currently on my way to another part of Germany from Hamburg. The train ride is going to be five hours which is next to nothing considering that I have now been traveling for over 24 hours.

At the airport in Dubai, when I planed on doing additional posts and sorting my life out I ended up meeting a really awesome girl from Morocco! When I get back or when I have time to do a more serious post I'll post about our conversations.  But the thing is as much as it is daunting to travel and then to travel with a very basic plan it was nice to speak to someone who could distract me from sweating the little things.

I'm already thinking of things I should have done differently and its only Day2 of my holiday but I suppose that's one of the things I want to work on during this time... The ability to let go and trust God to take control! I remember this book I had when I was younger it was daily inspirations by Helen Steiner Rice and the quote or inspirational thought that always stuck out for me was simple - 

God works in ways that a are wonderous and strange there is nothing in life that God cannot change 

Then it linked up with this:

Worrying is like being on a carousel, you keep going around and around but never actually getting anywhere.

I always try to practice this but it's difficult or rather it is trying to let the human side let go and let the spiritual side take charge. Every experience in life changes you whether for the good or the bad but simply put, if you don't change then you will always live with what ifs and I don't know about you, but that is not something I am willing to do.

Are you taking any new chances? Is there anything you're worrying about but not sure how to handle it? What's the worst thing that could happen to you if you take the chance? 

And just to ensure there isn't any posts with no pictures ... I just had this ice-cream which I haven't seen in South Africa and its awesome! Have you had it before?

 

 

Get Up and Go!

You know, when I was a child, I was very... proper ok those that know me personally will laugh out loud at that one but what I mean is I had a plan. The plan was become a lawyer and save my country. Be a part of the solution .

Then as I grew older I suppose I got to see the world through clearer eyes and then through murky goggles which the media tried to force down my throats and I thought I knew it all. South Africa is a free country. We have a great democracy. It's one of the best countries in the world, I don't need to leave here, ever!

All of the above is true except the last one.... I think that travelling is the most rewarding thing you can do for yourself and while you spend a lot of money and don't receive tangible items you do receive worldy views and opinions that will push your boundaries.

I have said, a number of times that I am SO excited for my trip but the truth is that everything will change, internally, for me. If it doesn't change you, you aren't allowing yourself to see..

Here are some of my favourite picture moments from my previous trip.

 

Have you travelled before? What do you like the most? What do you like the least?

I look forward to hearing from you!

xxxxx

Soulful Sunday : Good things come to those who wait

As much as this is a lifestyle blog I try to keep a lot of my personal happenings private because I haven't figured out what exactly I want to allow into the public but I suppose it's one of the things I'm learning as I continue to grow my blog and myself.

So what I want to say is that things this year have been challenging to say the least and very little has gone according to plan but I must be honest, just letting go and allowing God to choose my path has been the most gratifying thing.

I have previously mentioned that I own a racehorse, Uptothemoon and I promised I would be blogging about her more in the future.. well the future is here! Yesterday she ran a handicap race and she WON :) And yes, today I feel like a proud mama!

Uptothemoon is beautiful and I know she is not a pet in the conventional form but she is somehow so deeply connected to me that we just get one another. We often joke in our family that she has my personality which is a good and a bad thing. You see, she can be extremely warm hearted - which is what her usual temperament but I think over time I have spoilt her with lots of visits and pictures and quality time so in recent months when I have failed to visit her she felt sad, neglected and angry. So yesterday I missed her race, through many dramatic moments, but Candice and I got there just before she could be paraded into the winners circle.

Initially she was ok but then when her adrenaline calmed down for a bit she realised it was me standing in front of her and she lost her cool. I have NEVER seen her react like that. She was angry and tried to bite me to make me let go which I did. Now you must be wondering what this has to do with Soulful Sunday but the thing is she was written off by a lot of people, gamblers or just spectators which said she was injured and would never come back to form and I am so proud of her that she has proved them all wrong.

Also, I need to schedule time in to go see her because the truth is, I miss her. I think she may be my twin animal soul... if there is such a thing?! Am I rambling? This feels like rambling....

Well, point of my story is

1.) I hurt Uptothemoon but she still won ;

2.) Even when people write you off, you can always show them that they were wrong to count you out before they got to three ; and

3.) Life will not always go your way but the earth is round so if you just bide your time.... your turn to be on top will come because things can only get better.

Either way I am really glad to have a little time to myself to blog and to read my blogs because I miss reading about what's happening with everyone. This will be another intense week because I will be going away for a few days so let's hope I get some posts in! What's happening in your life? I've missed hearing from you!

Unfortunately I have lots of pics but they aren't uploading... so be warned, some time this week I may have a post dedicated to Uptothemoon .....

Help! I just don't get it

I will warn you in advance that I may ramble a bit in today's post.. but that's because it's been one of "those"weeks...
Let me explain : firstly, I fell up the stairs yesterday! SecondlyThe stairs are like fire escape stairs with green paint.. and now my really pretty coral skirt has green paint all over it *sulking*, thirdly I was on my way home and needed to go past the shopping mall but when I got home and my mother called me 20 minutes later to ask me about getting something, I realised I forgot to go to the mall - at all! and lastly.. I've had the most annoying bad hair days - and I won't even explain what my red velvet cupcakes looked like.

Ok, maybe my third issue on the list doesn't sound like much but I am not that person. I am not usually scatter brained so being scatter brained is really annoying me because I feel like I'm on a carousel - moving but getting no where.

Back to my post - there's this guy,  X, who appears to be like a really nice guy. I see him around work and he is always smiling at me and often emails me various chain mails which are then followed up with (in Joey's voice) 'how you doing?' mails. Perhaps maybe Joey's tone is too strong but maybe a more friendly tone. Either way - for a while I have continued to respond to these mails in my usual bubbly tone but not trying to be too engaging because I do not want to lead him on.

However, a (male) friend said that by not actually asking X about his intentions that I am in fact encouraging him because "men like the chase". And if I was to ask X and him to tell me about his intentions I imagine this [Please imagine this awkward conversation]

A few points to note:
1. There is nothing wrong with this guy, he's just not my type.
2. I am not certain I have a type but I do believe in the intial "electricity" and unfortunately for him, we didn't have it. Does number 2 contradict number 1?

Me: X, so... I think you're a great guy (he will want to puke at this stage because no one likes when a conversation starts this way) but I'm not really certain what your intentions are towards me?
X  : Why do you ask?

Now the conversation can go one of two ways:

Picture

Option 1
Me: Well, you send me a lot of emails and are constantly trying to engage me into conversations and I get a certain vibe... *awkward silence*...
X : Well, I'm just a friendly guy, maybe you're the one with mixed intentions?
Me: Um, no, it's just that sometimes when you look at me, it feels like you would move heaven and earth if I asked and that makes me think that you like me more than just a friend because well... most friends don't care if I want earth to move
X : Natalie, I think you are projecting your feelings onto me - what are your intentions?


Option 2:
X :Well, I kind of think you're awesome and would like to see where things could go between us
Me: Well, I'm not sure (although I am sure) because I don't really see us as a couple.
X  : Why?
Me:.......................................because I don't see it.

Then I imagine things getting really weird between us and because unfortunately I don't do very well at a medium - I am either really fun and bubbly or really stand offish I forsee things becoming awkard and I don't know how to handle it! Do you?

Have you had to deal with a situation like this? What should I do? I don't want to be mean to X or anyone but I'm not sure what I can do. I don't want to be chased by him.

PS: I warned you there would be rambling...