End of Year Syndrome

Have you ever had a feeling where you feel sort of restless inside, but don't know what it's for? Like it's an anticipation for something exciting to happen soon, but yet you have no clue why you even have the feeling...  For a while now I've had this feeling. and then at the same time I do want some change in my life--for the better, of course--not that I need it so badly, but I just want to experience something different for a change. Repeat. For the better... Because so many people are so desperate for change in their lives that they seek new experiences in all the wrong places. That's NOT what I want; I want something uplifting, maybe so effective that it's life-changing. I suppose it's because I realize that 2013 has a lot in store for me, and there's also the fact that my vacation is near and you never know what to expect--life is an adventure! Both are definitely factors. But, plainly put, I am yearning for something new, because for so long now it's just been the same routine over and over. And this excitement isn't helping. Because it's making it very hard for me to concentrate on the tasks I have to get done before I can kick off my shoes and just relax. 

So...after writing this long post...I realize I have a typical case of what I now call "End of Year Syndrome." I think a lot of people get this. Isn't it so obvious? Do you have it too? The year is coming to an end, and I'm so excited for the new experiences that lie ahead that I'm all mixed up. My ability to keep my excitement in tow, my concentration, and even my work ethic: all gone with the wind. Therefore, I have just diagnosed myself with End of Year Syndrome. If you are experiencing the same things, I have just the right treatment for you (although I have to admit it might not be exactly...enticing...). So here's your prescription: Byt vas en sit skouer aan die wiel, jy is amper daar. Afrikaans for: Hold on and work hard, you're almost there:) 

And while you're at it, don't count the days...make the days count! (Mohammed Ali)

x

The NSP Rule

Ever heard the expression "the power of prayer?" Well, today one thing after the other just went wrong. And I don't believe in bad luck. Then I remembered that God reminds us through 1 Thessalonians 5:17, to "never stop praying." So, immediately stopping everything in the midst of our very busy schedules, my mom and I asked God to help us, and sure as can be, He did. Isn't that the power of prayer?

That's why I abide by and believe in the NSP Rule. "Never Stop Praying." It doesn't mean we have to pray every single second, because of course that's not really practical. But it does mean that in every situation, good and bad, Jesus Christ wants us to talk with Him and if we really listen...He'll talk to us.

Life Right Now

It's December. End of year. Holidays are near! And I have quite a time lined up for me. Here's a sort of overview of things up and coming this December...

• I've got about 2 more weeks of school left until it's officially VACATION TIME.
• And 3 more artworks (and other school work) to do before that...
• I am thinking of joining an exchange student program in 2013... which costs a lot of thinking time and research--really time consuming. But I'm praying and it's a fun process, so hopefully things go well!
• Christmas is seeeriously near and I'm reaally excited. Family, friends (a bunch of little boys running around, me chasing them, and eventually them scaring me with a little spontaneous present....a frog.), presents (nothing big, just little special things, and to us its symbolic of the Gift God sent us more than 2,000 years ago--Jesus Christ--which is really cool), and deeelicious food! Oh, dare I get started on the food? 
• For Christmas I want to donate to a missions organization, I think one that helps people in India. I'm excited to do that! 
• And last, but not least, my gran is visiting us for the holidays. I'm so GLAD she'll be here, because I have this tough accounting thing to do and she's a pro at that, so good thing she's joining us for the festive season.

Right now I'm wondering what's happening in other people around the world's lives during this Christmas season. Drop a comment and let me know! 

But wait! Yesterday I discovered some awesome Roald Dahl quotes from his books. He's my all-time favourite kids books writer. One of the most fantastic quotes is this one:

“If a person has ugly thoughts, it begins to show on the face. And when that person has ugly thoughts every day, every week, every year, the face gets uglier and uglier until you can hardly bear to look at it.
“A person who has good thoughts cannot ever be ugly. You can have a wonky nose and a crooked mouth and a double chin and stick-out teeth, but if you have good thoughts it will shine out of your face like sunbeams and you will always look lovely.” 
― Roald Dahl, The Twits

And with that, au revoir!

The Spicy City

A week ago I had the privilege of visiting the über awesome city that is Durban. Where it never really gets...cold. Even on an overcast and rainy day, Durban gets suuuper warm (and humid). Besides having a year-round summer, Durban is a hub of all things wonderful and colourful, even though it has its flaws like any other city. But the good overrules the bad. So from the Golden Mile next to the beach to the different eras' architecture, from the friendly (and often quirky and interesting) people to the spicy Indian food, I just fell in love with this unforgettable city again. 

Gratitude

Even though we don't have Thanksgiving in South Africa, I think we could do with one. We have SO much to be grateful for, in contrast to others who have nothing. Take for example the Dalits (or untouchables) in India. They literally have nothing. Well, nothing that comes close to what we have. They're mostly looked down upon, and the majority of the Dalits have no bright future ahead of them.

We don't need to have a Thanksgiving where we have the best dinner of the year; rather, we need a Thanksgiving that kick-starts a grateful attitude in our nation, and in return an attitude of giving. Even here in South Africa you'll find many underprivileged people wherever you are, and giving to them something of what you have that you know they need, or even just giving them your time and showing them you care, can change the hearts of many people and give them something to be thankful for in turn. Because after all,

1. "we make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give" (Sir Winston Churchill).

   
   

   And let's keep the Dalits and others who are underpriviledged in our hearts and prayers. 

   :)
2. 
   

Clocks

Tonight, looking back on my previous posts, I realized how quickly things have changed over the past few months since I started this blog. A few months ago, the year still lay ahead far into the distance. But now I'm already looking back at the year as one that has come to an end. Next year was next year, still far in the future. Now next year is almost in sight; plans for the year ahead are cemented into place...whereas a few months ago I was still living fully in 2012. Now I'm living on the edge of a year slipping into the next, picking up speed every day.

Time flies, as we all know. And yet many times it feels like the time just cannot pass quickly enough (I had quite my share of those moments this year). Our time is ticking away so quickly and we don't always realize it. There are so many things I wanted to do this year that I simply just didn't get around to, because every time I thought, "there's always tomorrow." Tomorrow turned into next week, and...we all know how that works. But we can't live our lives thinking we've still got more than enough time. If you know you should do something, especially when you know God's putting it on our heart, don't just sit there waiting for better weather. DO IT. Do not delay. If you see someone who needs help, don't wait for someone else to come along...it may be too late. Benjamin Franklin once said: "You may delay, but time will not."
DO SOMETHING.

Show and Tell

I have, much to my disgust, come to the stage many bloggers have been through themselves--that of "I-haven't-posted-on-my-blog-for-ages-and-now-my-blog-is-dying." Eeew.

However, I don't intend on leaving my blog to rot and decay any time soon. So I've finally dragged myself to the PC with the little commitment I still have left and vowed not to leave until I have successfully written and posted something worthwhile.

I was in the Western Cape (a beautiful province here in South Africa for all those who don't know) for 6 weeks and came back home last week. I could bore you with the usual "oh, it was really exciting and awesome" story, but I think it'll do much better to just say that the Western Cape is now my second home. If I could, I would've made it my first home in the first place. From the people to the views, from the beaches (despite the water being so cold it can freeze a melted chocolate within seconds) to the food, from the shops to the farms (and I could go on), the Western Cape really has it all. The Western Cape has the most quirky, inspiring, unique, and exquisite places to brag with, and now I can at least show some of it through my (and my camera's) perspective.

“This cape is the most stately thing and the fairest cape we saw in the whole circumference of the earth.” 

– From the journal of Sir Francis Drake, on seeing the Cape for the first time, 1580

Wheat fields ready to for the harvest

My sister and I in my fave pic of all time...

AMAZING Rockformations
 (Wolfberg, Cederberg Mountains)

Young fruit trees in blossom

Colourful pavements at Kalk Bay, Cape Town

Green Point Stadium (Cape Town),
12  o'clock at night after a concert.

One of the coolest places [a MUST visit]:  Sedgefield Classic Cars 

Western Cape, you can expect me to be back very, very soon.

:)

How to Make Someone's Day

I think it was Thursday last week when a woman I know dropped by while I was doing some work, and asked me whether I was busy. Thinking back on it, I realize my hesitant reply wasn't as respectful and courteous as it should have been. But I decided I'd help her with whatever she needed help with anyway, which turned out to be photocopying a form. I was quite surprised when I saw that it was her daughter's university entrance form. 

Before I go on, I just need to explain the situation to you. I live in an area where the people aren't always capable of providing for their families' every need, much less sending their kids to university. So me photocopying this form for this woman was really quite an essential task. Even though I didn't realize it at that time.

When I was done, I handed the form over to the woman, and she was SO happy. She left me that afternoon, so thankful for the small task that I had done for her. "God bless you," she said. 

Little did she know that just by saying "God bless you," she made my day. And I really needed it that afternoon. 

Many lessons can be learnt from this short story, but the biggest in my opinion, and the most potent one, is that by doing something small for someone, or just saying something nice to someone, you can make their day. Especially if you have to drop whatever you're doing, and help that person out instead. Who knows, they might make your day too.

Snow

Snow is a rare thing in South Africa. A beautiful and magnificent treat to anyone just passing by, but a hazard to anyone owning a farm. However, we don’t own a farm, and we don’t get snow in these parts. So last Monday we drove about three hours from home, into the mountainous area near Lesotho, hoping to still see some snow after hearing about it from friends.

I’ve never touched fresh snow—it’s always been just a thin layer and either already frozen or melting. But this year the snow covered the fields, hills, and mountaintops as if someone had generously poured icing sugar over them. The snow was already sort of frozen, but not so much that you couldn’t pound someone with a snowball or two (which my mom did to me as I was taking photos). I must confess that the sight of snow had me beaming outside and inside with extreme pleasure.  The brown (like a dark copper colour) grass brought a spectacular contrast to the spotless white snow. Later on in the day, we returned home, and I snapped my last few pics for the day as my camera’s batteries died. Simply driving by and stopping in the midst of the snow with my family has become one of my most cherished memories.

 "Kindness is like snow - it beautifies everything it covers"

                                                                          -Khalil Gibran 

Questions

Over the past few months I've been struggling with lots of questions--aimed at God. We all have questions in life, and a lot of us need God to answer them. But the thing is...what do we do when it feels like He's not answering?

Today, God answered a prayer for me. Barely ten minutes from the time I asked it! And I just know that we have to hold on and trust Him to answer us in His perfect time--even if it feels like He's never going to reply. Instead of freaking out about the stuff you're worrying about (which I did almost every time), put your faith in Jesus and  know that He will help you out in some way or another. It might be a long time before He answers, but you can be assured that the Lord makes all things work together for the good of those who put their trust in Him.

^6-7 Don’t worry over anything whatever; tell God every detail of your needs in earnest and thankful prayer, and the peace of God which transcends human understanding, will keep constant guard over your hearts and minds as they rest in Christ Jesus.

-Philippians 4:6

J.B. Phillips New Testament (PHILLIPS)

Places to keep in mind

Two weeks ago it was still holiday for us South Africans. The schools reopened and…everyone returned to their places at home, work, school, and social circles.

But during the few weeks of vacation, I really had the time of my life. I joined in church outreaches/camps in the Transkei, saw friends that I barely get to see, ate way too much sugary stuff, and chilled at the beach.  Here are some reviews on my favourite vacation locations…

Coffee Bay (Click here to check out info on Coffee Bay)

 If you’ve ever been to Coffee Bay, a rural coastal town (which I guess is actually just a village with backpackers, hotels, and houses sprawling over the hills beside the sea) right here in the Transkei, you’ve probably also been to Hole in the Wall. It literally is a hole in a wall. The huge “Wall” stands rather randomly on the beach with the waves crashing against it 24/7. At high tide the waves plunge through the Hole and flood into the beach which the Wall partly encloses. At low tide the waves just tranquilly flow through. Usually you find tourists clicking away at their cameras to get a perfect shot of the Wall, and a lot of times you see them jumping of rocks into the Hole—which looks super dangerous if you ask me. So this holiday I went to Coffee Bay twice and obviously to Hole in the Wall twice too.  I suggest giving this great location a visit if you ever come to SA—and maybe even have a braai next to the beach!

Morgan Bay (Click here to check out Morg's website)

I went with my family to Morgan Bay, just north of East London. Morgan Bay is also a coastal town, but I love it SO much more than Coffee Bay. Everyday I could just look out my window and see the waves continuously rolling, and rolling, and rolling without end.  Surprisingly to me (since it’s winter) the weather was really good.  We went hiking (it took us a whole day, and I ached ALL OVER for the next few days…) to a beach called Treasure Beach, named so because carnelian beads and shards of Chinese Ming porcelain constantly wash up on this beach—4 centuries later. These little treasures come from a shipwreck that was wrecked in the 1600s and is suspected to lay right off the coast, although no one has ever attempted to dive in and search for it. I only succeeded in getting a piece of a carnelian bead…but there’s always next year. We went to Yellowwood Forest, which has a campsite and restaurant. They have delicious wood fired pizzas, and really nice milkshakes—and all of their sauces (including mouth-wateringly good chocolate sauce) and other stuff are HOMEMADE. We joined a church service at the Morgan Bay Hotel on Sunday evening, and that was truly one of my favourite church services of all time. Again I come back to the stunning blue ocean... I just can’t get over that awesome view…you can judge for yourself in the photos. I also got some cool pics of a random guy surfing.  After our unforgettable week in Morgs, we were wretchedly sad to leave…

I can’t wait to get back to Coffee Bay and Morgan Bay again, but until then I just have to enjoy [and be happy with] what I have back at home. Because awesome memories aren’t limited to only two places...

Light

Just quickly...I was editing some pics and when I had this one done, Psalm 119:105 sprang up in my mind. :)

Travel

I travel a lot--inside my country of course--and get to meet tons of people and see tons of things. It's awesome but also not so awesome.We have to drive everywhere, and depend on other people for accommodation and other stuff. This past weekend my dad and I went to the city where I lived a few years ago, and I got to see some friends and see a movie (we don't have those around here:-/), etc. etc. It was 100% fun, but I was so tired after everything that when we came home today, I slept for I don't know what amount of time. And let me just tell you: I don't take afternoon naps. It's so not me.

Anyway, something random always happens on these trips, and this time it happened while friends and I were driving "home" after the movie. So we were waiting in the parking lot (getting burgers at a garage) and then a beat up red Toyota drove in.............with a guy sitting in the front passenger seat holding his surfboard against his door. It was a...very alternative way to transport your board. I wanted to get a pic, but my flash was on and all I got was the dust on our window. aaaargh!!  I ducked at the speed of light, and then my friend told me they were looking at us....and waving.  She was freaking out because it was so embarrassing, and I was laughing like crazy. We sure looked guilty...because they saw the 2 of us staring at them before I even tried to "archive" them, and now there was only 1 person in the back. I'm so bummed I didn't get that photo, but next time I am rolling my window down for sure.

But...
I quickly drew what it [sort of] looked like. =]

Big Sis

I have this old black statement t-shirt somewhere in my closet that reads in big letters “BIG SIS.” Ironically, the t-shirt is way too small for me now, but many a big sis or big bro (figuratively I mean…) experiences the following event somewhere in their lives…  My little sister is now a teen. Unfortunately for me, the older sister, she has also developed a new independence and stronger own opinion.  I have been so used to ordering her around (I have to admit) and getting my way, that this was quite a shock to my system… It just exploded on me, although I know it’s been coming for some time. But I’m not writing  this to complain; I’m writing this because I realize she needs to spread her wings, and I know it’s not going to be a walk in the park for me. Don’t get me wrong though, we have been best friends ever since…well, ever since forever.  And that’s how it’s going to stay.

May God bless our awesome friendship so it will never fail, and give us many more a ridiculous giggle, Mealworm.

Patriotic

so you walk up the street past some Chinese stores in a ZA town, and suddenly a group of guys approach you, encircle you, and start patting you on the shoulder. "My friend, my friend!" They keep shouting, with huge menacing smiles spread across their faces. You know "daar's 'n slang in die gras" (Afrikaans idiom literally meaning there's a snake in the grass), and as a reflex action you lift your arm up to push them away; I mean, they're invading your personal space and you don't even know who they are. One second later they're running for dear life down the street, around the corner, laughing like hyenas. Then you notice your cellphone is missing. You've been served.

But then again, life isn't so bad here. In fact, South Africa has [in my opinion] the best climate in the world. It doesn't really get below freezing where I live, and not too hot either. Not too much rain, not too dry. We even get some snow in certain parts, which, when you're staying in a quaint old cottage, is perfect for an idyllic winter break-away.

Besides a wonderful view almost wherever you are, South Africa has a very colourful history, including the good and the bad. And we are a rainbow nation! Despite still struggling with racial differences, there are tons of people from different cultures and backgrounds who come together as great friends and can relate without judging each other because of skin colour. I speak from experience.

And yes, although many people immigrate to Down Under or the UK, we locals can still enjoy the spectacular coastline, mountain ranges, and nca (c is a dental click formed by placing the tongue on the back of front teeth and pulling away, as if sucking air...n-'C'-ah) Indian briyani, Afrikaans boerewors, Zulu/Xhosa ipap, and oh-so-delicious melktert (milktart). We have 11 official languages, 9 provinces, awesome cities, and random treasures of all types all over the country to stumble upon (e.g. Vintage stores...ice skating rinks, home-bakery stores, our own little Eiffel Tower in Bloemfontein:D).

I don't think I'll be moving anytime soon. :-)

the writer

Since I was a leeeetle child I wrote short stories about princesses, kings who painted huge castles :O, and stories based on apples. Yep, apples . I've always wanted to write and publish a book, and it's number 3 on my bucket list.

Since I've been 9 yrs old or something, I would start a story--not really having a plot--hoping I had a future best-seller here, bust I'd just reach the first few paragraphs before my creative juices supply would run dry, or I would get bored with it. I'm still doing that now. However, thanks to this blog, I can write short stuff with an ending, which is a good thing. I need experience.

I've been praying real hard for a worthwhile, smart, fun, or even gripping subject to write a book about for a very long time. I know it's going to come some day. Patience. But I just hope I have enough determination by then not to drop it after a few sentences!

So to all the aspiring writers out there: if you want to write, & you have something worthwhile to say, don't wait around for better times or whatever, JUST DO IT.

All the best
Lara

"Writing is a lot easier if you have something to say."
Sholem Asch

Sea Sounds

I can hear it... The distant swooshing of the waves as they crash and tumble into the water from which they rose; the soft fizzing sound as they retract into the horizon to swell and tumble again in all their glory. As I hold the seashell that I picked up while scouring the beach for shells of interesting colours and shapes against my ear, the nostalgic feeling engulfs my heart and brings me back to those wonderful days at the beach. Even though I'm not standing facing the Indian Ocean with my feet covered with coarse, light-brown sand, the shell I'm holding against my ear takes me back to a place filled with wonder and joy. How I wish I was there now, diving into the salty, cool, blue water. This is one of my favourite memories. One that can easily be relived just by taking a shell that's lying around my house, and holding it against my ear. Some sand that I never managed to wash out of the shell escapes and falls on the floor, but I don't mind. It reminds me of all the times I spent at my country's extraordinary seashore.

Respect

Recently I started noticing the foul language in films, books, music…most media for that matter. One thing that really stood out the most for me though, was the unnecessary and incorrect use, in my eyes, of God. Yes, I am a Christian, and it does upset me when God’s name is used in vain. It might seem so conservative and boring and predictable and old-school of a Christian to say that, but honestly, how would you feel if people used your name disrespectfully? Sure, it may be the norm to use God's name like that (and it might even not be disrespectful in your eyes), but is it really necessary to throw it around like any other word? Because that draws the line for me: It just isn’t any other word. I’m sure people of other religions [and convictions] will not be so happy if others use their god(s)’s name in vain. But then a lot of people don’t realize what the “OmG” phrase implies, or they just don’t care. All I’m asking for is respect. Just like it is expected that we respect the gods or heads of other religions, at least show respect for the God I believe in.

What really puts me off too is that a lot of Christian films are not as professional and entertaining as I would wish them to be (but I do realize how hard it is to make a film), and other mainstream movies insult God, so the options on my menu are limited. I don’t think I can wait until I make my own films one day, and I’m not even sure they’ll be nearly as good as I want them to be. What then can I do to make a change? Well, I’ll pray for satisfactory Christian films, and intelligent films that aren’t derogatory of my faith.  The rest is an open road, and my spiritual/moral GPS will guide me further. 

Shift to Be Me

People can either “overdo” things or “under do” them. I tend to overdo a lot. Whether it’s over thinking something, overstating my point in conversation (while telling everyone to stop freaking out when I’m the only one who IS), and overreacting. Sometimes I try too hard to prove myself to people I really don’t have to prove myself to. I know overdoing may be trying too hard, or even caring too little…

So I need to find the balance on the scale and too little. Overdoing and under doing. Because when I do, I am who I really am—myself. I’ll be free. I won’t be the girl trying so hard to get others to like her, I’ll be the girl who is comfortable in her own skin. Because no one likes a fake.  And maybe, just maybe, I can help others to be their true selves too. 

Lara W.

"We may not know it, but most of us live to be known as someone else and not who we truly are."

Shift and TV

For a very long time I've wanted to start a blog. But not just an ordinary one--a creative, out-of-the-box blog. I've also wondered for quite some time what I would call this blog. Tonight while watching tv, my dad wanted to know how to switch from watching tv to the radiostation, Classic.fm on DStv. I wasn't listening to the conversation, I was staring at the screen having "namer's block." I heard my sister's reply to my dad, "shift and tv," and I knew this was my blog's name. So I hope this blog is as quirky (a word which fashion magazine, ELLE, has "banned" :P) and anti-zef (hopefully you know what that means, if not...google it) as it's name indicates. Totsiens.