Say it as it is: Who am I?

Say it as it is: Who am I?: "A few weeks ago I started a meditation course and was quite surprised when I received a homework assi..."

Who am I?

A few weeks ago I started a meditation course and was quite surprised when I received a homework assignment asking me to to answer a simple question: 

Who am I?

After closely considering the this question and spending hours staring at a blank page trying to write down who I am, I came to the realization that I am very similar to that piece of paper.

On the day of my birth, I was like a clean sheet of paper, anxiously waiting to learn and have someone leave a mark on me. However, as soon as I was put into my mother’s arms and started experiencing the world, my page became stained with ink. Every person I have met and shared experiences with, contributed a little ink to my page. The bad experiences caused some wrinkles and even a few tears while the good experiences ironed out these wrinkles in an attempt to restore my original appearance.

I came to realize that everything I experienced was written down on my blank page and today I can look back at my life and read through this story which is roughly scribbled across my page. On a bad day, I look back at my life and I only see the wrinkles, tears and illegible writing that seems to make no sense. But on a good day, I am able to reflect on the positive aspects of my life experience, see through the stains and reflect on the positive aspects of my life.

Unfortunately, no matter how hard I try, I am unable to erase any of my experiences from my sheet. At the end of the day, I need to change my approach to reading my page. I need to learn from my mistakes, focus on the love and happiness and use the negative experiences as an opportunity to strengthen my sheet of life.

So when it comes to who I am. I finally understand.

To others, I might seem like a crumpled up piece of trash. But to me, I am an incomplete poem on an imperfect page, waiting patiently for my story to be completed.

But that leaves another question in my mind... Who are you?

Just putting it out there... 

What happened to the lyrics?

Since before I could walk, music has played an important role in my life. My first introduction to music was at church where I sang in the choir, I was five or six years old. 

Since then, I developed a keen ear for music and came to love rhythms, harmonisations and lyrics which turned me into a lover of eclectic sounds and genres.

But today, unfortunately I am not writing about the love I have for this universal language. No, I am writing to expose the talentless noise makers who have infiltrated the airwaves and rape our ears on a daily basis. 

While I enjoy all genres of music, I must say that I prefer listening to the good old Rock n Roll oldies from the 50s, 60s and 70s. The thing I like the most about this period is the raw nature of the music and the fact that it didn’t matter how ugly or handsome you were, you simply made music because you liked it. 

Think about characters like Richie Havens, Santana, Canned Heat, Janis Joplin and Bob Marley. These were far from attractive but their passion and dedication to the musical messages they wanted to send continue to echo through time motivating and inspiring countless contemporary musicians. 

Now someone please explain this to me, what am I supposed to learn from songs like Riding Solo, or I Whip My Hair Back and Forth? 

The last time I checked “riding solo” referred to the solitary art of self pleasuring and whipping hair back and forth was very much a Rock n Roll dance or head banging. 

Let’s take a closer look at the lyrics these so called musicians write. 

“I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (just whip it)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth (whip it real good)
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth
I whip my hair back and forth 

Seriously, we get it... YOU ARE WHIPPING YOUR HAIR BACK AND FORTH! 

What message are we sending to our young musicians? That this blatant abuse of the eardrum is okay?

Maybe I am just a little touchy about the garbage on the radio today.

Hey, maybe I am one of those old fogies from the 60s and 70s that hated some of my favourite bands because they were supposedly evil.

 

It doesn’t matter though because at the end of the day, I believe talentless abusers of my eardrums should be arrested for crimes against humanity. 

If you agree with me, do what I do... Change the damn channel.

Just putting it out there...

Buckle up your children please

Driving to work this morning was an experience. Bad traffic, due to rain and chaotic taxis driving as though there are no rules on the roads resulted in me losing my temper a few times and having to swerve out of the way twice. 

So imagine my surprise when I saw this woman driving extremely fast in a black golf with her toddler standing on the front seat, with no seatbelt and casually waving his hands out of the window at the other cars in the road. 

Now imagine the same woman chatting away and laughing on her cell phone. 

It drives me insane when parents don’t take responsibility for their children’s safety. If we believe that our children are our future, why do some parents insist of putting their children at risk?

Even if your child screams and shouts about sitting in a baby seat, it’s a child and you’re the parent. If you can’t discipline them maybe you should reconsider having them. 

Seriously, we give parents that smoke and drink through their pregnancy so much trouble for endangering the life of that child. However, I must emphasise that failing to buckle up your child is even worse. All it takes is one emergency stop to send your child flying through the windscreen. 

Traffic officers are constantly fighting to reduce road deaths in South Africa, however, parents who fail to buckle up their kids have no right to complain about reckless driving. 

Please folks, buckle them up and keep them safe because in the unfortunate event of an accident, you and your child could be seriously injured, even if you’re buckled up.

I would like to put a challenge out there for every law abiding citizen. When you see a parent driving recklessly and failing to buckle up their children, stop next to them role down your window and ask them to buckle up their kids. 

Remember, each of us have the power to change the world... We simply need to open our mouths and say something. 

Just putting it out there...

Don’t underestimate the power of the human spirit...

Floods, war, racism, hunger, disease and death plague the world. Everyday millions of people suffer while we juggle our schedules, run between meetings and earn a salary. 

Many of us don’t take the time to stop and think about those in pain. We neglect to call our friends and prioritise meetings above calls from loved ones because we’re afraid to lose business. We don’t look past our own problems and take our family and friends for granted. 

However, as the week progresses I would like to encourage you to change the way we operate. Let’s look past our own problems and reflect on those who need our help. Turn a blind eye to politicians who steal the limelight from those in pain and take a few moments to remember those who have lost family members, close friends and even pets. 

Despite all the mayhem holding the world hostage I can’t help but believe that we all have love in us. It doesn’t matter what your religion or beliefs are... Simply hold those in need in your thoughts for a few moments each day. 

I believe in the human spirit and not the human condition...

I hope everyone who has their eyes pass over these words will hold vigil for those in pain. 

Why? Because your siblings, parents or children could easily have become the victims... 

So when your day ends and you head home to your loved ones, embrace them, give them a kiss on the cheek and mutter those three simple words that we all take for granted... I LOVE YOU.

Just putting it out there...

Flood warnings for Johannesburg... Get out your bathers it is going to get wet

It seems that we are in for a wet weekend as the weather service predicts a 60-80% chance of rain for Friday. According to a report on News24, around 32 people died and nine were injured in the recent floods in KwaZulu-Natal and Gauteng. 

 

While I understand that floods are disastrous and dangerous, I can’t help but giggle at some of the flood tips issued by the Tshwane municipality:

·         Do not to walk, swim or drive through flooded areas (What if I live in a flooded area and need to get away?)

·          

      Avoid low bridges (Driving over them or under them?)

·         If a car stalls in a flooded area, do not stay in it (Instead get out of your car and face the water head on.)

·         Fill all ditches with mud, grass or gravel (What about the ditches made by digging up my mud, grass or gravel?)

·         Make sure your house entrance is higher than the surrounding ground (Yes, I will just rebuild it quickly)

·         Store food and valuables on a higher level like shelves, tables and chairs (And watch them float away with the rest of your valuables)

·         Fill containers with clean water in case regular supplies are contaminated (And watch it float away with the rest of your valuables?)

·         Prepare an emergency kit with essential belongings in the event of an evacuation (Keep it on the table thats floating away.) 

·         Remain in contact with neighbours and take turns to monitor the water level (Because being on your land line is perfect during wet weather. Facebook on your PC will get you electrocuted.)

·         Keep the radio on and listen to warnings… (But you just told me to get out of my car?)

Seriously though... Please keep safe and use your common sense if the water starts rushing into your home.

Good luck and buy a life jacket...

Flood prone areas include: Klipspruit, Eldorado South, Dube, Mofolo, Meadowlands, Braamfischerville, Orange Farm, Lenasia South, Florida Lake, Rivonia and Witkoppen roads in Sunninghill, Stjwetla informal settlement along the Jukskei River, London Road in Alexandra.

Just putting it out there...