Category: The Light Within

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mmmmmm…. Happy New Year!!!! Blessings for 2021 and may the best of 2020 be the worst of 2021….

Yeah, that kind of changed that overused cluster of words wishing family, friends, customers, our pets and basically every person you come into contact with for the month of January. It’s inspiring, it’s motivating and that time like all holidays when we all come together globally wishing and cheering each other on.

Definitely a different feel to the yester years … and know we all experiencing the same remarks and comments of well wishes including ourselves with the additional … “well can’t get worse then 2020.” or ” We still going to be in this pandemic until 2022″ and so on and so on.

Yes it’s bleak and yes there have been many tragic losses that was so quick and unexpected and not only because people were been irresponsible but because it was a global crises that was beyond the unexpected, beyond our capabilities of avoidance and beyond the control everyone and anyone around the world.

It was a cluster fuck of reality that just hit us at such a speed that when we looked again we were in a global lockdown. Started as a rumour November 2019 and by the time the rumour could be either taken seriously or just laughed off bam March 2020 and lockdown.

We all know how it went because we all lived through it…

Our lives changed, what we knew was no more… human interaction which was once a positive influence of a daily requirements for health and prosperity, had now been banned. Literally the one natural human need to survive next to breathing was human interaction and now was taken away.

We were now facing the pandemic of not only a very deadly virus but not been able to hug out family and friends not living with us. Not visit for the Sunday lunch or weekly family gatherings. No braais or bars or restaurants, no movies and cinemas, no gyms no shopping … lol and typically in SA the no drinking was just one of those things that caused more uncertantity and chaos besides the ban of cigarettes… I mean how ironic living through this most stressful moment and not been able to have a drink or smoke to calm those nerves or anxiety… that in itself was a test for ourselves…

Despite the fact we could make plans to access this precious cargo..lol but lets no go there…

So we kind of got use the fact we in this global situation and we maybe kind of sort of got use the fact it will be around for a little longer…but we know this and we prepared for it so now we have to make something out of it and change our mind-sets.

The positive…how much do we value each other now…

If we just focus on the now and plan around this devistation then we will make it… if we follow the rules and wear our masks, sanitise and just keep our distance then we will make it… we still don’t know how long this will go on for, or if this worst is yet to come so all we can do is take one day at a time, have faith and belief in God, or higher power depending on your beliefs and just keep moving forward.

There is hope, you see it everyday, and its all we have with our faith to keep us moving foward.

Find the positive in this vice that holds us hostage … even through the worst which is the loss of lives we have to hold on and have faith!

Believe in yourself – we need to be kind not only to each other but ourselves!

XXX

So, I decided enough was enough. Continuous staring and pondering whether to read it or not reached its limits I mean with such a bright turquoise blue cover, with bright bold letters, shouting the title at you, the decision to read or not to read had to be tackled. This book has been sitting on my book shelf for months now, in fact its possibly years now… As I have no idea when I purchased this book or where I purchased it. In fact, it’s safe to say I have no idea which city I was in at the time.

It made the short trip to Richard’s Bay and back at the beginning of this year, and scary enough, it’s possible it made the trip 5 years ago, when I moved from Cape Town back to Joburg. That’s how ridiculous this is that I haven’t even read the first page.

So, last night I removed it from the shelf still fully intact, no scratches or doggy ear bends and no scrap of paper or book mark falling out of where I last read to. No, this book was still shiny and new, as if I bought it yesterday. Its turquoise cover looking soft and more inviting, the 600+ pages that once intimidated me, I now felt the eagerness to get stuck in. I bend back the pages lightly so I can breathe in the ink pages… totally the girl who smells every piece of paper I touch, glossy magazines being my favourite.

Holding the book in both hands excited at the anticipation of the impact this book Will have on my life. But… where will I get time to read it? No no can’t let the tired excuse of having no time stop me now. In any case its pure torture staring at unread books, sitting on my shelf, my little OCD in my life.

It was time to tackle this hindrance in my life and start putting into action what the title screams from its cover and probably first page…

Don’t Sweat The Small Stuff by Richard Carlson.

I’m dead serious!

I have absolutely no idea what attracted me to the book in the first place. I don’t do self helps, you’re the only one who knows you, how can a stranger who doesn’t know of your existence, help?

Then I thought back and wondered at what point in my life would I have bought this particular book, self-help on how to not stress about the little things in life.

Blank. Zip. Nada. Nothing.

Then I realise what difference does it make. Stress is part of our lives and on the increase. Ways to destress our lives are advertised and published in almost every magazine and daily on our radios and TVs. Physical activity, holidays, diet, glass of wine, etc. etc. etc. I always said show me how to not stress about things and I will gladly learn. So maybe this was it, all the little ways and guidelines, all compacted into this turquoise blue cover book, all there for me to learn.

Chapter 1 : Don’t sweat the small stuff…

I don’t know how long it will take and if I Will finish it. I guess I’m just glad I’m finally getting around to reading again.

My love for books forever.

XXX