R10 Rhino extinction

I honour Nelson Mandela’s legacy as much as the next South African coloured person who did not experience apartheid, but I prefer having the rhino on the front of the ten rand note.

Our government has become irresponsible, and inconsiderate : the rand dropped over 2.5 percent against the dollar on Friday after the Reserve Bank said there would be an announcement of “national importance” – without giving any details except to say that President Jacob Zuma, Finance Minister Pravin Gordhan and Reserve Bank Governor Gill Marcus would be present.  The suggestion of an announcement of national importance over a weekend implies it could possibly affect markets. Announcements such as these are generally made after trade.

Then, no one consulted the people who would be using these notes. I for one am against  eradicating our Big5. Did COP17 frighten our government? Our Rhinos are already near extinction, and then our government decides to pull this stunt.  Media suggests that the Big5 will not completely disappear – they will still be on the “reverse” side of the notes. What utter rubbish – I never look at the back of my notes!

Mandela is the Founding Father of our Nation. Mandela is awesome, his contribution to our country has been amazing, and if these notes are an attempt for each and every South African to somehow feel empowered when we pay for the release of food, clothing or cars from the confines of a supermarket or mall, then I’m all for it. But putting Mandela’s face on EVERY single note pisses me off, aaand what about our other freedom fighters? The likes of Steve Biko, Lilian Ngoyi, Joe Slovo, Oliver Tambo, Walter Sisulu. What are we saying of their dedication, what do we say of their memory? I am all for Nelson Mandela appearing on my five rand coin, and celebrating Mandela Day, but seriously!

 

Desiderata – Max Ehrmann

I needed this reminder :

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence.
As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit.
If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter;
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.

Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.
Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals;
and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself.
Especially, do not feign affection.
Neither be critical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be,
and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul.
With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy.

© Max Ehrmann 1927

puzzle piece that doesn’t fit

There are days when that feeling of belonging just never features, and then there are days when you are reminded of how much you probably are not the puzzle piece that belongs at the party. When your ideas seem so far fetched that it would be the equivalent of telling someone that you, without a mate,  are the parent of a unicorn and a loch ness monster. My heart breaks when I am brought to a false sense of cushioning, where I believe that, essentially, I am allowed to believe what I want, that I am allowed to have my own views, only to have them gunned down by the people who matter the most.

2012:new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes …

  Making resolutions is a cleansing ritual of self assessment and repentance that demands personal honesty and, ultimately, reinforces humility. Breaking them is part of  the cycle.                        ~Eric Zorn

Calvin's New Year's Resolution

Tradition dictates that every 365 days (I’m only four days late) , you should try to kick bad habits and start your life anew. So sit down with a drink of choice, some stationery that should stand the test of time and reflect on the kinds of New Years Resolutions you want to make for yourself this year. Whether you want to lose weight, quit smoking, get your finances in order or spend more time with your family, one has to remember that change takes passion and action.

1. Set a very specific goal, that has a measurable outcome : Getting in shape is not quantifiable, setting a goal weight, target and time-line aids in making it a reality

2. Choose a goal you can control : Willpower can only get you to drink, it doesn’t get you the well. Will is powered by emotions, and emotions are generally fickle. Just wanting to so something is not enough, you need a plan. You need to reassess your life-style, and  create a strategy for making your goal a reality.

 3. Make your environment support you : This calls for a change in lifestyle. If you want to quit smoking, don’t leave cigarettes around the house – you are setting yourself up for failure. It is important to note that you don’t break habits: you replace one behavior with a new one.

I generally hate resolutions, and agree with Eric Zorn on it’s cyclical, inherently human “arg not today” nature – but I’ll be an optimist and believe that I will run at least 25kms a week. Wish me luck!

So lets give G. K. Chesterton the benefit of the doubt in saying that every a new year, we should have a new soul and a new nose; new feet, a new backbone, new ears, and new eyes.

 Oh, and Happy Another-Year-With-New-Name-But-Different-Possibilities, and here’s to new feelings, new smells, new shoes, stronger characters, new music and more beauty

 

 

 

Check you’re price tag …

“If you limit your choices only to what seems possible or reasonable, you disconnect yourself from what you truly want, and all that is left is compromise” ~Robert Fritz~

In every sphere of our lives we have a price tag attached to us, not one placed there by some random occurrence, but one that we’ve hand-written. And if you are not being afforded the love and respect you feel you deserve, you should check your tag. Sometimes we decide that we’re last season’s goods and mark ourselves down – YOU never go out of season. You are of power to indicate your worth, you hold the marker. Get off the clearance rack, and get behind the glass where they keep the valuables : where people are asked to please wipe their hands before touching, where  they sometimes need to remove their shoes before even being allowed into your presence (hell yes!).

This obviously does not mean you should view yourself as a commodity, this is a metaphor You need to learn to value yourself, if you don’t, know one else will. The world is a big scary place, but it becomes easier when you know what you are worth,  and own that.

Sooooo …. pick-up that magic marker and up your price.

The frog in the well

When I stand before God at the end of my life, I would hope that I would not have a single bit of talent left, and could say, “I used everything you gave me.”  ~Erma Bombeck

Today I really feel like the little frog in the well (I lie, today I feel like the toad in the well), who somehow manages to get to the top, and then is pushed back down again.

Erma Bombeck really increased the distaste I’ve had for today. I know what I can do, I know what I am capable of, but I keep slipping down into oblivion.

I’ve decided. By the end of this week, I should have drafted a proposal to get my project up and running. Just living is not enough.  One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower.  Thank you Hans Christian Anderson.

Girlfriend Material – Satin, Lace, Chiffon?

At first I was always cast as the girlfriend. It was a long time before I got to play characters who were people.  ~ Jacqueline Bisset ~

Today I was reminded of how society sometimes impregnates us with silly little ideas, a social-networking status yesterday by my cousin declared : “i dont think i can consider myself girlfriend material anymore.” If we were not 1350km’s apart I would have dumped chocolate sauce all over her beautiful-newly twisted dreadlocks.

No one is any sort of material. Considering yourself girlfriend material is not something that should be part of any envisioned target you set for yourself. Ever. This dictates placing yourself in a box, and adhering to whatever silly little things people have posted on-line which is presumed to help you ‘be girlfriend material’. My notion is supported by research I decided to perform pertaining to society, and our views in relation to support for the ‘I Am Not Girlfriend Material Club – please help’. A few Quizzes popped up, aptly named ‘Are you girlfriend material?’, what rubbish? what utter rubbish?

For interest sake, one of the quizzes deemed me as “You have your own agenda, and are usually unsympathetic to your partners needs. You would not make a good girlfriend.” What I wish to say (in very polite words to whoever  constructed the quiz) is that not  giving me the option of compromising a take-away food choice in a relationship is really stupid when trying to teach people about what it takes to be girlfriend material.  Two people, totally different, tottle along in the world, one loves Steers, the other McDonalds, but when they decide to go for lunch or whatever a compromise is made. Relationships are not about always having your way, we have two sets of ears, and one mouth : that should indicate that turns are taken, you are not always the centre of attention. The world does not stop when you want to get off.

The fact that there are lies being advocated about the belief in the existence of a Magical Guide (cue music) which speaks of the secrets to being Girlfriend Material  is rubbish. We should be encouraging young woman to be themselves. Confident and strong. Too many woman think that being a good girlfriend means being submissive and a servant. You can still treat your partner well, without losing who you are, without attempting to struggle into a box that society advocates.