absolutwillie

Tag: life truths

  • reviewing 08

    not knowing how to start posting again can be a serious pain in the ankle… thankfully, Clive posted this blog-meme that makes it a bit easier to get going again ;0)

    1. What did you do in 2008 that you’d never done before?
    I moved to Taiwan, became a teacher, experienced my first typhoon, experienced my first earthquake, sang at karaoke bars, circumnavigated an island on a scooter and saw one of my t-shirt designs go into production via springleap.

    2. Did you keep your New Year’s resolutions, and will you make more for next year?
    yup – celebrated 1 year of sobriety one week ago :0D

    3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
    Gretchen and Stefan welcomed baby Kasia into their lives, Meagan and Johan were also blessed with a bundle of joy, I believe.

    4. Did anyone close to you die?
    not this year, thankfully!

    5. What countries did you visit?
    Taiwan

    6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
    certainty, where certainty is possible

    7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
    6th of August… why? First date!

    8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
    Definitely making it to the 1 year of sobriety mark.

    9. What was your biggest failure?
    trying to like smelly tofu… I just can’t.

    10. Did you suffer illness or injury?
    Man Flu!!! is there anything worse? lol – no, nothing significant.

    11. What was the best thing you bought?
    my scooter!

    12. Whose behavior merited celebration?
    my Mom! the way she faces everything that life throws at her is beyond inspirational!!

    13. Whose behavior made you appalled and depressed?
    erm… keeping in mind that i’m bipolar – this one could go on for ever, or not even start.

    14. Where did most of your money go?
    debt

    15. What did you get really, really, really excited about?
    Peter

    16. What song will always remind you of 2008?
    every moment is filled with memories and music… which one popped up first when i read the question? Disturbia by Rihana

    17. Compared to this time last year, are you: (a) happier or sadder? (b) thinner or fatter? (c) richer or poorer?
    a) happier, for sure
    b) thinner!!!
    c) richer

    18. What do you wish you’d done more of?
    spent time with friends.

    19. What do you wish you’d done less of?
    self-editing

    20. How did you spend Christmas?
    working all day and going to bed early.

    21. Did you fall in love in 2008?
    oh and how!

    22. What was your favorite TV program?
    didn’t watch much TV

    23. Do you hate anyone now that you didn’t hate this time last year?
    hate is way too strong a word. i try to either like people, or not have an opinion about them… but yes, unfortunately there is a person who elicits negative emotions from me.

    24. What was the best book you read?
    i didn’t really read all that much, come to think of it. shocker!!

    25. What was your greatest musical discovery?
    Colbie Caillat to be sure!

    26. What did you want and get?
    perspective

    27. What did you want and not get?
    peace

    28. What was your favorite film of this year?
    Maid of Honor (i think)

    29. What did you do on your birthday, and how old were you?
    we went to Matjiesfontein for my 30th birthday :0)

    30. What one thing would have made your year immeasurably more satisfying?
    hearing a certain someone say “I love you”

    31. How would you describe your personal fashion concept in 2008?
    worn from the washing line

    32. What kept you sane?
    my relationship with God

    33. Which celebrity/public figure did you fancy the most?
    Han Ju *blush*

    34. What political issue stirred you the most?
    Prop H8

    35. Who did you miss?
    my sister… i miss her a whole lot lately

    36. Who was the best new person you met?
    Yeh Chuan-Sheng

    37. Tell us a valuable life lesson you learned in 2008.
    now is all you truly have – grab it and make it count!

    38. Quote a song lyric that sums up your year.
    “Pappa watch me fly!”

  • celebrating 1 year of sobriety!


    it’s amazing! waking up this morning, i could hardly believe that today’s my first birthday as a recovering alcoholic. what a trip!!

    so much has happened,

    • reconnected to God
    • relocated to Taiwan to teach
    • got a job
    • got an apartment
    • got a scooter
    • met the most incredible person (in the romantic sense)
    • settled most of my debts
    • reconnected with those i lost along the way
    • quit smoking
    • forgave and was forgiven
    • found peace

    since i decided to break out of Baker Street:

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kjYVyndrQuU&hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=344]

    Winding your way down on Baker Street
    Light in your head and dead on your feet
    Well another crazy day, you’ll drink the night away
    And forget about everything.

    This city desert makes you feel so cold
    It’s got so many people but it’s got no soul
    And it’s taken you so long to find out you were wrong
    When you thought it held everything.

    You used to think that it was so easy,
    You used to say that it was so easy
    But you’re tryin’, you’re tryin’ now.
    Another year and then you’d be happy
    Just one more year and then you’d be happy
    But you’re cryin’, you’re cryin’ now.

    Way down the street there’s a light in his place
    He opens the door, he’s got that look on his face
    And he asks you where you’ve been, you tell him who you’ve seen
    And you talk about anything.

    He’s got this dream about buyin’ some land
    He’s gonna give up the booze and the one night stands
    And then he’ll settle down, in some quiet little town
    And forget about everything.

    But you know he’ll always keep movin’
    You know he’s never gonna stop movin’
    Cause he’s rollin’, he’s the rollin’ stone.
    And when you wake up it’s a new morning
    The sun is shining, it’s a new morning
    But you’re going, you’re going home.

  • remembering the day before Change

    today was nothing at all like the one 365 days ago – still, i will most likely remember that day again in 365 days time. you see, 29 Dec ’07 was the day before the Day.

    i had just returned from my trip to the UK and many of my friends were in the region for the holidays – as were several of my cousins. i’d orchestrated an impromptu beach-braai (bbq) near my house for that afternoon – seeing as how everybody had other plans for New Year’s Eve. the turn-out was quite astounding! (i had a pretty solid reputation for throwing the best parties…)

    i started drinking in the early afternoon – which was not a strange thing for anybody to do, really. we were having so much fun, catching up and reminiscing, joking and making plans, making a huge fire and meeting new friends (everybody brought somebody, of course). the party was light-hearted and cheerful. summer evenings can be endless…

    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t8WUV45DdU8&hl=en&fs=1&w=432&h=250]

  • Don't quit – motivational poem

    When things go wrong, as they sometimes will,
    When the road you’re trudging seems all up hill,
    When the funds are low and the debts are high,
    And you want to smile, but you have to sigh,
    When care is pressing you down a bit,
    Rest! if you must; but don’t you quit.

    Life is queer with its twists and turns,
    As everyone of us sometimes learns,
    And many a failure turns about
    When he might have won had he stuck it out;
    Don’t give up, though the pace seems slow;
    You might succeed with another blow.

    Often the goal is nearer than
    It seems to a faint and faltering man,
    Often the struggler has given up
    When he might have captured the victor’s cup.
    And he learned too late, when the night slipped down,
    How close he was to the golden crown.

    Success is failure turned inside out;
    The silver tint of the clouds of doubt;
    And you never can tell how close you are,
    It may be near when it seems afar;
    So stick to the fight when you’re hardest hit;
    It’s when things seem worst that you mustn’t quit.

    – by anonymous

    from Tudor-Virgil Constantin’s blog

  • but in humans…

    Gay penguins steal eggs from straight couples – Telegraph

    The two penguins have started placing stones at the feet of parents before waddling away with their eggs, in a bid to hide their theft.

    But the deception has been noticed by other penguins at the zoo, who have ostracised the gay couple from their group. Now keepers have decided to segregate the pair of three-year-old male birds to avoid disrupting the rest of the community during the hatching season.

    A keeper at Polar Land in Harbin, north east China explained that the gay couple had the natural urge to become fathers, despite their sexuality.

    “One of the responsibilities of being a male adult is looking after the eggs. Despite this being a biological impossibility for this couple, the natural desire is still there,” a keeper told the Austrian Times newspaper.

    “It’s not discrimination. We have to fence them separately, otherwise the whole group will be disturbed during hatching time,” he added.

    There are numerous examples of homosexuality in the animal kingdom, but gay penguins have captured the public’s attention more than any other species.

    A German zoo provoked outrage from gay lobby groups after attempting to mate a group of gay male penguins with Swedish female birds who were flown in especially to seduce them. But the project was abandoned after the males refused to be “turned”, showing no interest in their would-be mates.

    In 2002 a couple of penguins at a New York zoo who had been together for eight years were “outed” when keepers noticed that they were both males.

    Blogged with the Flock Browser

  • converting 40c into 40 meals


    my original intent with the previous Blog Action Day posts was to donate 10cents for every comment received on those posts, leading up to and including October 15th 2008. the turn-out, despite the effort of the 4 people who posted (thank you all!!), was rather disappointing though.

    i personally feel that it is a shame to only donate 40cents to any cause, seeing as how it is within my power to do more. (don’t get me wrong – if 40cents is all you have – it’s plenty!)

    at the same time – in looking for a specific cause to donate to – i’ve identified Hunger as my main focus.being hungry is not funny – and starving to death must be the worst thing that can happen to anybody. not to mention, the worst thing to happen to a child!

    without going on and on about the topic – i have decided NOT to donate those 40cents to fight poverty. in stead – i am going out and sponsoring 40 meals.

    this still doesn’t solve the world’s problems – but it can sure feed a family.

    as a parting shot: it’s amazing how one little picture can bring new clarity on the reality of starvation – and how our societies rank the importance thereof.

  • Project 10^100

    http://youtube.com/v/NgSRwOZtDQ8

    Project 10ˆ100 is a call for ideas to change the world by helping as many people as possible.

    submission deadline in 10 days – so click on through, baby!

  • healthy relationships are all the rage

    judging by my blog stats – this post from 4 september 2007 seems to be very popular lately. worth a re-post, methinks ;0)

    • Love should be honest.
    • Avoid that which is bad in favor of that which is good.
    • Let your affections be kind, sincere and honorable.
    • Honor each other.
    • Be the example.
    • Never cool in your commitment.
    • Nurture and develop your enthusiasm!
    • Serve the Lord.
    • Rejoice in hope.
    • Be steadfast in the face of oppression.
    • Pray.
    • Help those around you.
    • Always be courteous.
    • Bless those who persecute – for they are hurt.
    • Never curse another.
    • Share in the joy of those who rejoice.
    • Share in the sadness of those who weep.
    • Always find agreement amongst yourselves. (“find” is a verb.)
    • Never, ever be conceited – in fact, avoid the conceited.
    • Choose in stead those who are humble – and be humble.
    • Be mindful (not proud) of your opinions. Learn more.
    • Forget about getting even – hurting those who hurt you, hurts more.
    • Rather fill your hearts with goodwill towards all mankind. All year long.
    • As far as possible, live in peace with everybody. Make it possible.
    • Revenge is not in your jurisdiction – leave that to God.
    • Rather care and provide nourishment to those you believe to be your enemy.
    • Even more so to those who believe you are their enemy. (The lesson goes both ways.)
    • Do not let evil overcome you.
    • Defeat evil with good.

  • Kahlil Gibran on Love

    When love beckons to you, follow him,
    Though his ways are hard and steep.
    And when his wings enfold you yield to him,
    Though the sword hidden among his pinions may wound you.
    And when he speaks to you believe in him,
    Though his voice may shatter your dreams as the north wind lays waste the garden.

    For even as love crowns you so shall he crucify you. Even as he is for your growth so is he for your pruning.
    Even as he ascends to your height and caresses your tenderest branches that quiver in the sun,
    So shall he descend to your roots and shake them in their clinging to the earth.

    Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
    He threshes you to make you naked.
    He sifts you to free you from your husks.
    He grinds you to whiteness.
    He kneads you until you are pliant;
    And then he assigns you to his sacred fire, that you may become sacred bread for God’s sacred feast.

    All these things shall love do unto you that you may know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge become a fragment of Life’s heart.

    But if in your fear you would seek only love’s peace and love’s pleasure,
    Then it is better for you that you cover your nakedness and pass out of love’s threshing-floor,
    Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh, but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears.
    Love gives naught but itself and takes naught but from itself.
    Love possesses not nor would it be possessed;
    For love is sufficient unto love.

    When you love you should not say, “God is in my heart,” but rather, “I am in the heart of God.”
    And think not you can direct the course of love, for love, if it finds you worthy, directs your course.

    Love has no other desire but to fulfil itself.
    But if you love and must needs have desires, let these be your desires:
    To melt and be like a running brook that sings its melody to the night.
    To know the pain of too much tenderness.
    To be wounded by your own understanding of love;
    And to bleed willingly and joyfully.
    To wake at dawn with a winged heart and give thanks for another day of loving;
    To rest at the noon hour and meditate love’s ecstasy;
    To return home at eventide with gratitude;
    And then to sleep with a prayer for the beloved in your heart and a song of praise upon your lips.

  • what is love?

    ever wondered how to explain what love is? in the line of thought that brought you the previous aside, my dearest little sister (in the non-genetic sense) posted some kids’ answers on his blog:

    “When someone loves you, the way they say your name is different. You just know that your name is safe in their mouth.”
    Billy- age 7

    “Love is when a girl puts on perfume and a boy puts on shaving cologne and they go out and smell each other.”
    Karl – age 5

    “Love is when you go out to eat and give somebody most of your French fries without making them give you any of theirs.”
    Chrissy – age 6

    “Love is what makes you smile when you’re tired.”
    Terri – age 4

    “Love is when my mommy makes coffee for my daddy and she takes a sip before giving it to him, to make sure the taste is OK.”
    Danny – age 7

    “Love is when you kiss all the time. Then when you get tired of kissing, you still want to be together and you talk more. My Mommy and Daddy are like that. They look gross when they kiss”
    Emily – age 8

    “Love is what’s in the room with you at Christmas if you stop opening presents and listen.”
    Bobby – age 7

    “If you want to learn to love better, you should start with a friend who you hate,”
    Nikka – age 6

    “Love is when you tell a guy you like his shirt, then he wears it everyday.”
    Noelle – age 7

    “Love is like a little old woman and a little old man who are still friends even after they know each other so well.”
    Tommy – age 6

    “During my piano recital, I was on a stage and I was scared. I looked at all the people watching me and saw my daddy waving and smiling. He was the only one doing that. I wasn’t scared anymore.”
    Cindy – age 8

    “My mommy loves me more than anybody. You don’t see anyone else kissing me to sleep at night.”
    Clare – age 6

    “Love is when Mommy gives Daddy the best piece of chicken.”
    Elaine-age 5

    “Love is when Mommy sees Daddy smelly and sweaty and still says he is handsomer than Robert Redford.”
    Chris – age 7

    “Love is when your puppy licks your face even after you left him alone all day.”
    Mary Ann – age 4

    “I know my older sister loves me because she gives me all her old clothes and has to go out and buy new ones.”
    Lauren – age 4

    “When you love somebody, your eyelashes go up and down and little stars come out of you.”
    Karen – age 7

    “Love is when Mommy sees Daddy on the toilet and she doesn’t think it’s gross.”
    Mark – age 6

    and probably one of the wisest answers was given by Jessica:

    “You really shouldn’t say ‘I love you’ unless you mean it. But if you mean it, you should say it a lot. People forget.”


    [youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvtxzPv_iek&hl=en&fs=1&w=425&h=344]