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.

:)