The word … Inspiration

Sometimes people just need a little bit of inspiration to brighten up their day or lives. We all need something to hold on or to motivate us. Once we have found that, we are inspired.

So what is inspiration?

“To succeed you need to find something to hold on to, something to motivate you, something to inspire you.” – Tony Dorsett

Inspiration is something about finding something else that is inspiriting (e.g.: Ideas, hobbies, people, nature or pets). Having that inspiration breathed into you and then taking action on it. If you inspire someone to action whatever they wish, it will inspire you as well.

If you don’t have anything to inspire you, you should find that something. I mean, you can find inspiration anywhere. They say that the key is to keep your eyes open. Don’t try to walk away from things and opportunities… talk every action in life and fulfil it 100%. See everything around you as a possible source of inspiration. We are sometimes so busy thinking about other things that we miss beautiful sources of inspiration.

Inspiration can change the way you live, the way you see things or do things. Take the time to find that something that inspires you. Here are some of the things that inspire me.

Books (Real life stories)

Blogs (Fashion blogs)

Pets (My Best friend – my dog)

Nature (The quietness of hearing nothing)

Friends (My Friend that support and inspires me every step of my life)

Movies (Titanic, My sister’s keeper etc, love stories, true stories and much more)

Music (A feeling I cannot describe)

My dog is an inspiration - he never has a dull moment!

What is your inspiration?

Don’t stop looking for the things you believe inspires you. Also, if you have the difficulty in findings those things, then try everything until you found it.

My friend... always inspires me!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Editor: Roelien Zwart

Picture Sourced by Roelien Zwart

It is a poor idea to lie to yourself

Scratch out the lies, and be honest to yourself!

As human beings we lie. We lie to other people. We lie to our loves ones, husbands, friends and lovers. We even lie to ourselves. We are all a bunch of pathological liars.

In one of my previous posts I talked about the little voice in your head, telling you what to do and what to say. Well, it sometimes has the ability to tell you to tell lies. We usually tell lies because we do not have any other choice. Sometimes we are stuck in situations and the only thing that can save us is the lie.

It is not the little white lies we tell people like why we are late or why we didn’t pitch for the meeting. I’m talking about the huge lies we tell ourselves. The ones that have a huge effect and that can damage you as a person.

It is said that on an average day people say around 300 to 900 words to themselves. The little voice! Sometimes we tell ourselves things that are actually considered as lies. There are some lies which trick us into believing, by rationalising.

We tell lies like ‘I’m not good enough for someone, and therefore I will never find love’. ‘I will never succeed’ or ‘I’m not smart enough, I will never be able to get it done.’ These are lies we tell ourselves, because we can do things, be strong, be good enough etc.

We live with lies – ‘I simply don’t have the time to do this’. Yes, you have the time. There is always time. To lie to yourself can become a habit. A habit that might be difficult to shake off.

It is important to trust in yourself and be honest to yourself. I came across the following, which is so true:

“Stop lying to yourself that tomorrow will be different. It will be exactly like today unless you do something about it. To take action you need start by being honest with yourself. Our real achievements come from believing in our own values.”

It is a poor idea to lie to yourself. So, stop lying to yourself and change those habits!

Editor: Roelien Zwart

Picture Source: (wernercarol.blogspot.com)

Fashion is a Passion…

Paris, London, NY, LA
That’s where fashion is today
Magazines and diamond rings
It’s all about your sense of bling

The latest styles, the fashion shows
Haute Couture just means fancy clothes
Look new shoes, just my size
How I love to accessorize

I’ve got a passion for fashion, super models and super clothes
I’ve got a passion for fashion, I’m addicted I suppose
I’m addicted, uh-huh

Sydney, Milan and Tokyo
Can you get me in the show
Lookin’ good is not that hard
Shoppin’ on the boulevard

I go to fashion shows
I have the latest clothes
Come over here, don’t be a tease
Snap the picture please

Fashion has become such a passion for people and they cannot live without it these days. When the passion for fashion hits you, you literally get symptoms. Your pupils get dilated and small, pink flushes appear on your cheek. Your mouth swells up like some sort of fecund fruit, and your heart starts beating faster. Lol! You are getting hot flushes and the excitement rises from the tip of your toes to the top of your ears. Girls… you know what I mean…

So, it is that time of the year again where the seasons are changing and winter is approaching. That means, the new winter fashion trends are upon us and it is SHOPPING TIME!!! Because everything in your wardrobe in now so “last season” – it’s time for the “new season”.

Stay calm when you shop, because you will find out that fashion trends actually change pretty slowly. Also, colours match the season. Wear bright colours in spring and summer and darker colours in winter. A small clue, don’t throw away the old stuff. Old fashion always comes back into style. Maybe you will think you’ll never wear those plaid pants again, but never underestimate those dull clothes pealing out of your wardrobe… the old plaid pants might just go fantastic with a new coat.

Look new shoes, just my size … How I love to accessorize 

Accessories are a really easy way to spice up your entire wardrobe. A gorgeous dark blush, red lipstick, a big bling ring on your finger – and don’t forget the hand bags, bracelets and heels ladies. It is also good to contrast new looks with older, vintage pieces. However most importantly, put together a look you love and which inspires you! We all want to look good because stepping out the door feeling confident will make you truly be a fashionista.

Fashion baby...

Editor: Roelien Zwart

Picture Source: (all4myspace.com)

Picture Source: (fashion-clicks.blogspot.com)

The sound of one hand clapping

What is the sound of one hand clapping?

One hand does not have a sound...

This is quite a different topic to talk about. “Well, the sound of one hand clapping is the sound of the other hand, the absent or invisible hand that claps because one hand cannot clap, there can only be two hands clapping. One hand cannot clap without the other. The one hand is made complete only by the other, so that even in its individuality, the one hand claps with the other.”

It is like our one hand relies on the other, because the sound of one hand clapping cannot be heard. Sometimes we as a person also want rely on someone else in life and we are looking for a companion to support us and to make that “sound” in life.

Actually if you think about it, the sound of one hand clapping is no sound. One hand cannot clap; one hand cannot make a sound without its partner (the other hand). The following statement stroke right at me and it is so true.

“There is no sound, and if you seek to discover the sound, you have to accept that there is nothing. If you can accept the nothingness, then you have freed yourself from the need to intellectualize experience, and are free to be aware of existence.”

So what is the sound of one hand clapping … “Nothing”

Editor: Roelien Zwart

Picture Source: (mishdish02.blogspot.com)

The Love of Ballet…

On the tip of your pointers

I have done Ballet for more than 14 years. Unfortunately I don’t do ballet anymore, but I miss it more and more everyday. The experience that I have picked up in the ballet studio was unbelievable. Our teacher was wonderful, as she knew just how far to push each individual.

Dance was something I could fall back on whenever I felt unhappy or insecure. I put on my ballet shoes, the practice will start and the stress of a long day just melts away. It was also a way to discipline myself and understand the movement of my own body.

I started ballet at a very young age and I didn’t really then had a choice as my mom believed she saw potential in me so she put me in class straight away. However, the world of ballet was mysterious and intimidating to me, and also a source of curiosity. At a later stage I became more intrigued by its rich history as one of the highest forms of art, and the strength and athleticism it calls for, even as it is characterised by great beauty and delicacy.

I would like to share a few reasons why I have the love of ballet. Maybe then you will realize the beauty of it.

Reason # 1: Ballet is precise.

Ballet can balance out the uncertain grey shade that is life. Whenever I was in class, there was a very correct, very precise way of conducting your body in ballet and I love to know when I’m doing something correctly or incorrectly for once. I was also very happy in class when our instructor gave every individual special attention to their mistakes.

Reason #2: I found that when words fail me, ballet does not.

“For everything that I can’t put into words, a thousand new ways of expression are suddenly possible for me when I dance.” This quote explains everything. It’s like finding something new in the ballet class.

Reason #3: Ballet makes me feel good about my body.

I always tried to find reasons to dislike, reject, and hate my body. But dancing gave me some new sense of belonging and that appreciation for my body as a tool of artistic expression, rather than a thing that must be honed and corrected into something perfect. Ballet helped me to focus on more than just my body, like my feet, hands, neck and soft movement of the body. My body grew stronger, increasingly flexible, and more capable.

Reason #4: Ballet is exercise; ballet is love. Therefore, exercise is love.

Ballet is a great way of precise training, and it a great way to form your body, as well as getting some aerobic work-out once your on the floor. When I danced, I did not even realize I’m doing any exercise. It is so exciting and I enjoyed every moment. I think that exercise should always be something that we find enjoyable, and that interest us in every way. We should always love exercising and not just do it because we have to.

Ballet has given me so much love for dance, and I will always have the love for dancing even if I’m not dancing at all right now. I will always respect a dancer and my dream is that my daughter will take over my ballet shoes one day.

When practicing for a performance, a particular exercise or step will be practiced in class over and over again. I will finally notice some improvement, and the joy is unbelievable. Ballet is hard, and not everyone can do it, as you may very well know. And if you’ve never been in a ballet class before, you won’t understand how very difficult it is, even as I tell you how very difficult it is! Whenever I saw improvement in my technique it was quite rewarding. Going to ballet classes after school was addictive, and I think it might be addictive to many other dancers as well.

The love of Ballet

Editor: Roelien Zwart

Picture 1: Source: (www.booklounge.co.za)

Picture 2: Source: (www.wunderbuzz.co.uk)

Not all who wander are lost…

All that is gold does not glitter,

Not all those who wander are lost;

The old that is strong does not wither,

Deep roots are not reached by the frost.

From the ashes a fire shall be woken,

A light from the shadows shall spring;

Renewed shall be blade that was broken,

The crownless again shall be king.

Not all who wander are lost...

This is such an awesome poem, which was written by J.R.R. Tolkien from The Lord of the Rings. Some of us might get lost somewhere in live, but it’s the strong that does not wither.

In life, I may be wandering, but I’m not lost. All of us are working hard, trying to succeed or trying to make a living. Some have probably travelled the world to find new adventures but to some families and friends, our adventures felt like a source of confusion. We all have dreams and we all want to live and fulfil our dreams. Maybe we are busy with things that make us miserable, maybe even depressed, because you might not have been living your dreams…

We have a path that we walk, and sometimes we are wandering, stopping, cruising or just thinking for a moment to where we are headed. Other people around you will then judge you and tell you that you are lost. Well, tell them that they shouldn’t judge your path if they haven’t walked your journey. I want to take an example of someone I met. She studied for a Public Relations Practitioner, and after 5 years in the industry she decided to follow her dream. She met a gorgeous man whom she married and they moved to a lodge, where she became a manager of the lodge. Her dream was to work with animals in the nature. Her professional friends acted like she fell off a horse and hit her head. They thought she was throwing everything away when she moved on to different things.

They had a problem with their own vision. They had a form of inner blindness that prevented them from seeing her dreams. To them, it looked like she was wandering, even lost.

Even though she was wandering, she was not lost at all. She knew where she wanted to be and she followed her dream. We should all be living our dreams and don’t listen to others telling us that we are lost, because then we listen to them and just keep on going, doing what we do.

Know who you are and where you are going. Travel in the direction of your dreams. Wherever your dreams take you, there’s where you will end up. Although it may look like you are wandering, you are definitely not lost. Go ahead.  Live your dreams.  Keep on wandering … because the long strange trip is so worth it!

Don't judge my path if you haven't walked my journey!

Editor: Roelien Zwart

Picture 1: Source: (www.theexperiencejunkie.com)

Picture 2: Source: (www.intweetion.tumblr.com)