How Tis...

*Nothings Real But Love - Rebecca Ferguson*
Standing in a line
Wonder why it don't move
Tryna get a hand
Watching people break the rules
And maybe the man in charge, doesn't like my face
But then this world's not always good

And nothing's real but love
Nothing's real but love
No money, no house, no car, can beat love...

They watch us open-mouthed
As we joke around like fools
See who can be the worst
Watch what I can do
But then the door gets slammed, slammed right in my face
And I guess this world's not always good

And nothing's real but love
Nothing's real but love
No house, no car, no job, can beat love...

It won't fill you up

No money, no house, no car, is like love...

La la la la la la
Yeaaah

I put it all away
Holding it down for a rainy day
But what if that day don't come
I need love

Tomorrow, Today....

Fitting words of Mr Kanye West...



They say people in your life for seasons
And anything that happen is for a reason
And niggas gun-clappin' and keep to squeezin'
And gran' keep prayin' and keep believin'
In Jesus, and one day that she'll see him
Till then in walk his footsteps and try to be him,
The devil is alive, I feel him breathin'
Claimin' money is the key, so keep on dreamin'
And put them lottery tickets just to tease us
My Aunt Pam can't put them cigarettes down,
So now my lil' cousin smokin' them cigarettes now
His job try to claim that he too niggaish now
Is it cuz his skin blacker than licorice now?
I can't figure it out, sick of it now..


Chorus:
And I heard 'em say, nothin's ever promised tomorrow, today
And I heard 'em say, nothin's ever promised tomorrow today
But we'll find a way
And nothin' lasts forever, but be honest babe
Hurts, but it might be the only way
With every worthless word we get more far away
And nothin's ever promised tomorrow, today
And nothin lasts forever, but be honest, babe
Hurts, but it may be the only way..

One Day At a Time

I love the lyrics to this song...


I'm only human, I'm just a man/woman 
Help me believe in what I could be And all that I am 
Show me the stairway I have to climb 
Lord for my sake, help me to take 
One day at a time  


One day at a time sweet Jesus 
That's all I'm askin' of you 
Just give me the strength 
To do every day what I have to do 
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus 
And tomorrow may never be mine 
Lord, help me today, show me the way 
One day at a time  


Do you remember when you walked among men 
Well Jesus you know
If you're lookin' below, it's worse now than then 
Pushin' and shovin' and crowdin' my mind 
So for my sake, teach me to take 
One day at a time  


One day at a time sweet Jesus 
That's all I'm askin' of you 
Just give me the strength 
To do every day what I have to do 
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine 
Lord, help me today, show me the way
One day at a time


If needed, you can also change the word 'day' to 'hour'....

Give Way To the Left...

I don't know how this road rule is going to work, come March 25th 2012....


Giving way to the LEFT instead of the right...


apparently the rest of the world does it already....


but I've kinda started trying it....at roundabouts....


It feels soooo munted...I look to the left, but then am all shrugging away to the left in my car, as if I'm gonna have some car come at me from the right....


I feel Chiropractics are going to be the next biggest thing, with overuse syndrome on NZ drivers necks, not knowing which flippin way to look....

Let's just be like India....where road rules are just this thing, they might of heard of back in the day...but it's probably just some myth that their granddad told them when they were little...as a funny story....

Be careful who you listen to. ;D

Dr Yew Tok Khak

Q: Doctor, I've heard that cardiovascular exercise can prolong life. Is this true? 
A: Your heart only good for so many beats, and that it... don't waste on exercise. Everything wear out eventually.. Speeding up heart not make you live longer; it like saying you extend life of car by driving faster. Want to live longer? Take nap.

Q: Should I cut down on meat and eat more fruits and vegetables? A: You must grasp logistical efficiency. What does cow eat? Hay and corn. And what are these? Vegetables. So steak is nothing more than efficient mechanism of delivering vegetables to your system. Need grain? Eat chicken. Beef also good source of field grass (green leafy vegetable). And pork chop can give you 100% of recommended daily allowance of vegetable product.

Q: Should I reduce my alcohol intake?A: No, not at all. Wine made from fruit. Brandy is distilled wine, that mean they take water out of fruity bit so you get even more of goodness that way. Beer also made of grain. Bottom up!

Q: How can I calculate my body/fat ratio? A: Well, if you have body and you have fat, your ratio one to one. If you have two bodies, your ratio two to one, etc.

Q: What are some of the advantages of participating in a regular exercise program?
A: Can't think of single one, sorry. My philosophy is: No pain... good!

Q: Aren't fried foods bad for you? 
A: YOU NOT LISTENING! Food are fried these day in vegetable oil. In fact, they permeated by it. How could getting more vegetable be bad for you?!?

Q: Will sit-ups help prevent me from getting a little soft around the middle? 
A: Definitely not! When you exercise muscle, it get bigger. You should only be doing sit-up if you want bigger stomach.

Q: Is chocolate bad for me?
A: Are you crazy?!? HARRROOOW!! Cocoa bean! Another vegetable! It best feel-good food around!

Q: Is swimming good for your figure? 
A: If swimming good for your figure, explain whale to me.

Quotes Relevant to Post Below...

Fear is just our feelings asking for a hug.


Fear is the static which prevents you from hearing yourself.


Fear makes the wolf bigger than it is - German proverb.


If someone harbors any sort of fear, it passes through all their thinking, damages their personality and makes them a landlord to a ghost.


Feed your faith and your fears will starve to death.


They who fear to suffer, suffer from fear.


The wise person in the storm, prays God not for safety from danger, but deliverance from fear.


Fear is a darkroom where negatives develop.


One day at a time....

One Day At A Time

I've been remembering an old hymn the past few days, that I used to sing at the old church I used to go to when I was little....

One day at a time sweet Jesus
That's all I'm asking from you.
Just give me the strength
To do everyday what I have to do.
Yesterday's gone sweet Jesus
And tomorrow may never be mine.
Lord help me today, show me the way
One day at a time.

I have to replay that chorus over in my head daily, even hourly...minute(ly?) lately. Most nights when lights are out and I'm alone, it's prayers to Jesus, just imagining him and the love he has for me...imagining walking side by side with him, him hugging me, and just collapsing in his arms in a crying heap, overwhelmed from the acceptance and love that would feel like....which causes me to cry and just...i don't even know.....

Fears suck....can only assume they are the suckfest devils liking, could kick him in the nuts for his power of fears, which are so incredibly powerful....

Then I worry about everyone else in my life and the world robbing them of joy and thinking of ways to bring more joy in everyone else' life - so many people that I talk with are just void of joy, how can we bring the joy back in peoples lives??!!

Another thing I remember, is THIS LIFE IS TEMPORARY.....eternal life, perfected life is to come....so no matter what comes my way, anyones way.....it's temporary....Heaven is my home, and I'll get there once my time on this journey is complete - but while on this journey, I'll try to remember hour by hour in the dusk of life, that hymn...."One day at a time".....

My image I feel blessed to have, of either sitting on the end of a jetty with Jesus...or walking through a meadow with him, or walking down a garden path (the most common) because the garden path image always ends in us stopping and him hugging me.....then I'm a big sugar lump of a mess....overwhelmed from the love and acceptance of an imaginary hug, that only Jesus could provide.

One day at a time.....

Big Brown Man

When I hear beautiful songs like this...maybe I secretly wish I was a big brown man...so I could create something as beautiful sounding as this....actually beautiful voices, all of them, inclusive of the white man with the brown mans voice. Love it, love it, love this song. *Yoink* into my closed eyes playlist...that's a big compliment...

Songs of My Week...

and
this chick WOW's me....love her emotion in the song...beautifully sad. But...beautiful.

Addictive Creatures

"We're addictive creatures. We try things, we experiment, we explore, and certain things hook us. They get their tentacles in us, and we can't get away from them. What started out as freedom can quickly become slavery. Often freedom is seen as the ability to do whatever you want. But freedom isn't being able to have whatever we crave. Freedom is going without whatever we crave and being fine with it". 


What's the thing that started out as freedom for you, but now has progressed into slavery...or is mastering you?


Shopping - clothes/shoes/electronics?
Food?
Pornography?
Sex?
Exercise?
Drugs?
Alcohol?
Self Harm?
Other?


Rob Bells Book 'Sex God' - chapter Leather, Whips and Fruit is a winner about this stuff! I recommend it. 

What ARE Words

I want to cry every time I watch this clip...


The singer was a ex American Idol singer who didn't quite make it to the top.....


It shows a snippet of him proposing to his girlfriend in this video - and her accepting.


Then it shows her, two months out from their wedding - after she was in a tragic car accident that she was lucky to survive in, but that left her with a brain injury..


This is her fiancee's song he wrote, post the accident....


So beautiful....b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l


What ARE words?!?!

Neighbours

So apparently females can blame the pain and AGONY of monthly periods...... on EVE and her munching of the fruit from the forbidden tree back in those days when God created the world and stuff....


....well maybe I heard that in Sunday school.....or chose to believe whatever teacher or person in my younger years told me that...I think it sounds pretty good, so we'll go with that.....;)


Today was a day where I could kick that Eve in the shins and maybe pinch her on her arm skin...the real sensitive part of the arm...ya know, on the tricep right in the middle there....It felt like I had a farm....an African farm...or Safari in my stomach...all battling to kick their way out of my stomach....A Antelope...A Zebra...A Hippo...A Giraffe and heck, why not a Elephant with its big ol' tusks......that's what my stomach felt like today....all those African amazing animals...in my puku....battling...to kick their way out.... Thanks Eve...*kicks in shins, pinches arm skin...and runs away*....


Too much information? Blame Eve....;D


BUT then....after some drugs....I went for a walk...late afternoon....with my flatmates to the housing block in the next street...I had been there once before a few days ago and met suchhhh cool lil chicks....they were there again and came running over, with loads of others, and they just MADE MY DAY! Was only able to be there for half a hour or so cos we had other neighbours coming for dinner...BUT it was just so cool. Lil ones bring me to life...I love that I love kids! I love God gave me the heart and passions that he has done.....lil ones bring me so much joy and I hope I can bring the same to them. Next week I hope to plan a fun lil picnic with the girls in my backyard - I actually cannot wait! :D Actually!


Then walking back home...I got to meet 3 other lil kids who live directly opposite me and talked to them for another 20mins or so....two boys and a girl, then met their mum!


Was just the best of the best!
Made my day!
I feel like I love them all already, which is normally always the case with kids.
But yep....they are the greatest, can't wait to spend more time with them and get to know them more.


Neighbours! The greatest! :)

Worrying Energy

I find myself worrying now and again - about things which may not even happen! 

Apparently the stats are that 40% of the things we worry about are things that havn't even happened and have no reason to. 20% is about things which have already happened and which we can't do anything about. Not sure about the rest of the stats..

Mine are definitely based around that which COULD happen - but may not.

Trying to keep myself accountable to NOT doing that....it takes up too much mental energy - robs you of full joy that I might otherwise experience if I CHOSE not to worry about what might NEVER happen.

A wise person recently told me, that no matte what comes up in life, you can deal with it when it happens. That God will provide the strength and people and whatever it is we need to get through that time in our lives - so there is really no need to worry about what might never happen - and instead of worrying about it when it does happen - pray about it, talk about it and trust that yea.....God will provide us with what we need to get through it. 

So, I'm attempting to put that into practice. It's not a regular thing, just occasionally my mind decides to think up random things which could happen in the distant or not so distant future, regarding myself and/or the people I love very very much. Remembering, that no matter what life throws at me, life IS temporary, therefore, pain is temporary. Helpful to know that here our days are numbered, but a sweet sweet eternity is waiting.

May as well spend as minimal time as possible on worrying - since not one positive thing (that I can think of) comes from it. Whatever happens....God will provide what we need to get through it...when/if it happens. 

Worry Shmorry.

;)

Reunion

I just wrote a massive post - mufussa sized.....and then deleted it all....because I realized....all that needed to be said was....


"I think it's time to be reunited with RAW".


The end.

Vulnerability

(Pre-Note: I might sound like a 'Anthony Robbins' in this post, ha - not intended to, I've just written this directly after watching a 20min video on Vulnerability from some lady in some other country..somewhere...) :D


Vulnerability is hard - do it anyway - practice it and make it your way of living.


Instead of looking for or expecting perfection in people - our friends, families, children, partners, parents....maybe what we should be saying/understanding is....


You are imperfect;
You are wired for struggle;
But YOU ARE worthy of love and belonging.


Let yourself be seen. Deeply Seen. Vulnerably Seen.
Love with your whole hearts - even though there is no guarantee. 


What does vulnerability look like or what makes people feel vulnerable?


Having the willingness to say "I Love You'' first....
Having the willingness to do something, where there are no guarantees.
The willingness to breathe through the time you have to wait for a medical result
The willingness to invest in a relationship that may or may not work out
Having to ask someone for help - with anything
Initiating sex with your marriage partner
A boss firing someone or making someone redundant/Being fired or made redundant
Admitting a struggle/addiction
A willingness to try something new
Asking someone out/Being turned down
Doing something whether it's applying for a job, pursuing an interest, etc...even though you know you may not/will not be the best, but you will be YOUR best
Taking that first step


Vulnerability can look like a million different things in a million different ways. 


Vulnerability is defined as being susceptible, open to or capable of criticism and/or moral attack or being wounded/hurt. This can be on so many levels.


I think a life of being vulnerable allows us to really feel, both ends of the 'feelings' spectrum....but the joy and freedom that comes with vulnerability is worth the risk of what COULD happen.


So, say I love you first.
Reach out for that hand.
Ask for help.
Admit to that struggle/addiction/fear/insecurity you have and have been battling on your own.
Apply for that job.
Pursue that interest.
Initiate.
Love with your WHOLE hearts.
Be honest/genuine about who you REALLY are. 
Vulnerability allows you to do these things to full capacity.


Just you, is enough. Just you, is imperfect - like every single other person in this world.
Just you, is wired for struggle.
Just you, is worthy of being loved and belonging.

Song of My Week

Dig it in a big way...

RAK-ing while Driving...

I try and remind myself to never underestimate the smallest of things....the small things are actually massive things to me, because of the massive impact they can potentially have...


I LOVE it when I'm out driving somewhere and I see someone walking down the street by themselves and they are smiling! Automatically makes me smile.....


Or when someone in their car smiles at you - not the dodgy guy type smiles, that come with a sly wink - I'm talking the genuine smiles from a stranger in their car. I LOVE those moments!! 


Or when you are trying to get across a mad busy road and no-one is letting you in, then someone slows down and stops, or flashes their lights or gives you the friendly wave to signal you to merge into the traffic - they don't need to, and they might hack off an impatient driver behind them, but they let you go anyway!


Such the smallest things but they always make me smile. 


So, I try and do those things as often as I can as well. Not because I have to, I just love to do them. When your smile is mirrored....that is the coolest...you smile..then they smile...wooohooooo, so cool !!


The real test of character is when and if and how I do those things (like smiling, letting people in, responding to a nutty driver with a smile instead of the expected hand on the horn/flippin the bird/bum chumming, etc) when I am in a rush or in abit of a mood or when it is inconvenient...but I think of ma Jesus and try my best. :)


But I like to think that someones day is made better by catching a smile from a stranger, whether that's me or whoever else..... and never want to underestimate the small things - like a smile to a stranger and what impact that might have. On the crappiest of days, it's insane how much impact a simple smile can have.


One thing I try and do as well, is if someone cuts me off, or zooms past me at crazy speeds, or zips in and out of traffic cutting people off, or just pain and simply is a nutcase on the roads.....I imagine to myself and purposely assume that MAYBE they have a pregnant wife in the car....or just a pregnant woman and are in a MAD rush to get to the hospital....and that's why they are being a loony on the roads... ORRRR that they have just received a phonecall that someone they know is in hospital...so they are acting crazy and speedy on the roads to get to the hospital as fast as they can....rather than getting piddled off that they are being ca-razy drivers because they are just plain ol' knob drivers. Choosing to believe the best of people in those situations in a toughy, but I'm practicing it as much as I can with drivers. 


Anyway...point of this whole ramble....SMILING...such a simple RAK....Random Act of Kindness that can be done while driving...it's the coolest when it's mirrored back...and you definitely notice it on the occasional day where it's maybe hard to smile.....and then someone in their car does it to you....I dunno....can't explain it really - but it's just the coolest. I'm a fan.

Should be played at the end of every school year...

Brain Kai

"You've got to get up every morning with determination if
you're going to go to bed with satisfaction."
 - George Horace Lorimer


"If all of our misfortunes were laid in one common heap whence
everyone must take an equal portion, most people would be
contented to take their own and depart."
- Socrates


"If you wait to do everything until you're sure it's right,
you'll probably never do much of anything."
- Win Borden


"Don't reserve your best behavior for special occasions. You
can't have two sets of manners, two social codes -- one for
those you admire and want to impress, another for those whom
you consider unimportant. You must be the same to all people."
-- Lillian Eichler Watson


"The Eskimos had fifty-two names for snow because it was
important to them: there ought to be as many for love."
-- Margaret Atwood

"Don't let someone else's opinion of you become your reality."
-- Les Brown


"There is only one way to happiness and that is to cease
worrying about things which are beyond the power of our will."
-- Epictetus

New Boy

The Simple Things

Dont ya just love it when you think of things, maybe that you've done in the past, or just a conversation you've had, or maybe a certain someone, or a experience, or whateverrrrrr, and you just....smile, or laugh? I love those times!


Was just thinking of a few just now....liiiiiike


When I was little and used to go to the Ice Skating Rink when my cousin was captain of the top NZ Team. The higher ranked the team is, in Ice Hockey the BETTER the game is, so action packed, it's definitely my fave game to watch live....if you're actually THERE! :) The atmosphere, being all rugged up, snuggled up warm, watching the players pace it back and forth up and down the rink then SHMACK the ball - if it's a higher ranked game, you watch the odd punch up between players or watch them trip each other up with their sticks or flip each other over the rinks border - so intense! Love it! Definitely looking forward to watching a few high ranked teams when Ice Skating season starts up. I used to love it so much as a kid, some of my best childhood memories were at the Ice Skating Rink watching my cuz.


Another simple one, just the wind in my face - definitely a top 5 feeling! Window down in the car - the best. :)


Another memory...snorkelling in Fiji. I think it was 2005 I went. A friend text me asking if I was free in two weeks time for a trip to Fiji. When I found out he was serious, I went and asked my manager for time off and I got it! Crazy at such short notice! So, two weeks later I was island hopping with my friend in beautiful Fiji. Fave memory of the whole trip was on Octopus Island snorkelling with my friend. I'd drifted off one area of the ocean and was seeing the most brightly coloured fish then he came and grabbed me and we snorkelled for hours in this pool of fish that HAD to have been thousands, EVERYWHERE! It was innnnnnnnncredible! 


Another time....When I could zone out for 6hours or more to the music playing in what was my favourite club at the time, and just close my eyes and be taken over by the music and just dance, eyes closed, no-one to bother me, just zoning out to this music - was amazing. Amazing.


Just a very small number of memories or experiences that always bring a smile to my face! I love the memories already created and am so excited for the new memories I'm making now - always creating memories. 


I love the  power of the mind our God gave us to remember things from so long ago so vividly so we can re-live it as much as we're able to, whenever we want. So, so awesome. 


I hope everyone in the world has at least one memory they can look back on and smile.

Just...Close Your Eyes...

Song Of The Moment

Brilliant.

It's a Start

Well today I took my own first harmonica lesson (on a dvd)


Learnt how to play 'When the Saints go Marching in' - probably the most basic version ever, but still mastering getting your lips round one teeny tiny hole - chords are no worries, your gob can go over three keys, but singling out one teeny tiny hole - that's gonna take a while I think.....


When The Saints Go Marching In - Basic - learnt - yus.


It's a Start......


Next Lesson - Hand Vibrato.

One Day...

Maybe minus the beatboxing...but one day...will hopefully play like this....


Rip.
It.
UP!

Sugar and Spice and All things nice

Fading at speed....my body and eyes and mind just want to sleep, still a few hours of writing to go before I even think about sleep....3 more days of this then a revitalizing break of uni for a decent amount of time.....until then, a lil recap of things that are nice is needed to get through these next few hours without seriously losing the plot....


(Non freaky) Jettys at night or sunset
Jellybeans
Babies/Little ones
Manea
My Niece
Holidays
Roadtrips
Passions of the heart
Music
My imagination when I'm on the cross-trainer or listening to my ipod
My Body Combat exercise dvd
Zumba
My Friends
Encouragement
Falling asleep outside on a nice day with the wind in your face
The wind in your face in the car
Adrenaline Sports
Not having to get up early on a real crusty rainy stormy day
Being able to stay in cosy and warm on a yucky night and just watch dvds and chat
Watching a fireplace/bonfire
Hugs - good, long, tight, full embrace ones
Free time
Appreciation
People playing with my hair (in a not creepy way)
Cold Hard Fresh summer fruits
Laughing cramp
Love
Laughing tears
Having someone to confide in
Jandals
Photos
Sleep
Rice crackers with sweet chilli philly
Icy Cold Water to drink
The feeling I will have on Thursday night!


On that note, back to it.
Yay for things that are nice.
Thank the LORD (literally) for them, it would be one sadddddddddddd place without it and assignments would be of the devil himself. For Real.