Evaluation: Lessons learnt in 2014

Dear Readers,

Its the last day of the year. Yippee!!! I love last day of the year. Why? For me its a time to do my reflection. A time to consider what has gone well this year and what has not. A time to critically analyse and judge myself. Not always a nice experience. To be honest most years it is particularly painful because if done honestly it reveals the folly of my ways and how I limited myself.

This year started off well. It got a bit bumpy as it went along. It was an eye opener for me on so many levels. For me, this is my account of my 2014;

• 2014 started well for me. I had a job, the love of my life and a comfortable life with friends that loved me.
• It was the year I chose for our wedding.
• The wedding year came with its challenges and fights. It was however one that made us stronger and more closely knitted, It made me ask myself some really hard questions but we both decided that it would take more than the world threw at us to split us.
• Friendship was another crazy stage in this year. It had its ups and downs. Some of those I really trust, kind of let me down and I let some people down as well.
• I learnt that not all those who you call friends actually see you as one. I learnt to be careful and not to always let my guards down. I learnt not to be too trusting. 
• I learnt to take responsibility for events in my life and be a better manager of my life. 
• I learnt that I have no one else to blame for my happiness than myself. 
• I learnt that people will try to put you down and make you feel stupid but the choice to be put down and made to feel that way is totally dependent on yourself.
• I learnt that people do get jealous and I get jealous as well.
• I learnt that there is no need to feel insecure as I am in no competition with anyone. It might take me a while to get there but I will eventually get there. Be thankful for what you have.
• This year taught me to be happy for others even when everything is not rosy in your life.
• I learnt that there are bullies in this world and people will find and pick on your insecurities.
• I got a lot of slap in the face this year with situations. My weaknesses were capitalised on and used against me in my happiest moments. 
• I learnt that no matter how much shit people chat at you. You are forever required to be calm and take it with a smile. The problem only comes when you decide to be tired of the shit being dealt at you or said at you and you react. Then you become the one with the issue.
• I discovered my passion this year which I will be exploring in 2015.
• I got the push I need to want to work for myself and invest my time in my business. It was a hard and painful push but I am thankful because God does not shut one door without opening another.
• I for once appreciated the existence and love of God. This year I realised that He is the one person that never desserts, abandons, or ever stops loving you. I love that I can cry to him when I feel let down, angry or just sad. I love that He listens with no condemnation or preconceived judgements. I like that He listens and accepts me for me while he works on me with love.
• This year I learnt that when people wrong you, they will not always admit it or even be sorry for it. However, you must forgive not because of them but because you need to as that excess baggage only weighs you down.
• Forgiveness is no sign of weakness or stupidity; it is just a way of saying I am tired of this shit, I am the more wiser and I no longer want to hold this against you.
• I am learning to have no secrets and confidant but to be open as a book because that person you confide in, the day they get angry at you will use details you shared against you during anger. Not because they want to but because at that point, that probably the only way to hurt you.
• I am learning to be a wife, a companion and above all learning to share everything with my husband. Not something easy when you have learnt so much to be independent.
• I learnt the importance of communication as well as the importance of learning not to speak all the time.
• I am learning the importance of choosing the battles you fight and what to say during this battles. Believe me it is hard not to respond to everything said to you during an argument.
• 2014 taught me that you can not control the actions of others and as much as you might want them near or want to help except they see you also in that light you cannot force them. 
• Its the last day of the year and with all these lessons it has been an eventful day. This last day has taught me that there is a whole new year about to start. Another 365 days coming. 365 days to be a better me, incorporate this lessons into my life and make amends where needed. Its a new year and with this comes a whole world of possibilities, opportunities and new adventures. I am holding on to God to see me through and make me wiser as He takes me into and through 2015.

Enjoy your new years eve and be sure to do a recount of the valuable experiences and lessons for 2014.

Happy New Year in advance!

Appreciate the Little Things!

Dear Readers,


There was a small child who was brought up by his father. His father was a highly successful and extremely bright business man. For many months, the son had admired a beautiful black sports car in a dealer's showroom and knowing his father could well afford it, he told him that was all he wanted as a gift for his graduation. He went to see the car every day for weeks. He took the car for a test drive; he smelled the leather seats, imagined buying it and taking it home for the first time. He took pictures of it and put them all out on his wall.

As Graduation Day approached, the young man awaited signs that his father had purchased the car. He was full of excitement like a little child. He had absolutely no doubt of getting what he wished for. Finally after days of waiting impatiently, on the morning of his graduation his father called him into his private study. He sat him down on a designer brown leather chair and looked deep into his son's eyes and said: "I am very proud to have such a fine son and for the first time he said: "I love you".

His son not even hearing the words waited impatiently for his present. After all, he was used to expensive presents but his father expressing his feelings was unknown for him. Finally, the father handed his son a beautiful wrapped gift box. The son held his breath back while quickly opening the box. He had his dream car floating before his eyes. As he opened the box he found a book called "Put Your Dream to the Test". He was disappointed, almost shocked. He threw the book on the floor. Angrily he raised his voice at his father and said, "With all your money you give me a book?" and stormed out of the house, leaving the book behind. He moved out of the house immediately and went on his own way.

Many years passed and the young man was very successful in business just like his father. But business was not all he took after his father. He was as strict and impatient with his own children as his father was with him. He had a beautiful home somewhere in the countryside.

One day the man realized his father was very old and thought perhaps he should go see him. He had not seen him since that graduation day. They hadn't even spoken a word since then. The father hadn't even met his grandchildren. Although the son decided to contact his father he kept putting it off. Many times he walked to the phone, took it up, sat down on the white leather sofa in his living room, looked at his wife for support and dialed holding his breath back and shaking all over. But before the phone could ring he hung up. This went on for weeks until one day he received a telegram telling him his father had passed away, and willed all of his possessions to him. He needed to go home immediately and take care of things.

When he arrived at his father's house, sudden sadness and regret filled his heart. He went into his father's study where they last spoke and thought about the last words he heard from his father. He began to search his father's important papers and in one of his drawers he found the still new book, just as he had left it years ago. He sat down on the same chair he was sitting those years before and recollected his memories of the situation that had separated them. With tears rolling down his face, he read the title: Put your dreams to the test. Then he opened the book and began to turn the pages. After the third page he saw a hole in the book with a car key in it. It had a tag with the dealer's name, the same dealer who had the black sports car he had desired. On the tag was the date of his graduation, and the words…

"With love to my precious son who made me so proud today"

Moral of the Story:
Its Christmas eve and tomorrow we will be opening loads of gifts. There is a possibility of some disappointments or expectations being let down. No matter how little or how not properly packaged your gift might be, no matter how much it differs from the way you want it; appreciate the effort and thought that went into it.

At times we tend to forget that someone has gone out of their way to do something nice. We are so bent on our expectations and take this little things for granted.

I work with children and I find it kind of sad and a bit funny how long and demanding Christmas lists the kids write are now. I miss the days of when you only wanted one gift. The days you knew you were only going to get one and that one went a long way in making you happy. What happened to the days of cherished gifts.

Let's try to always appreciate the little things. One way, not quite sure how; they usually lead you to bigger and better things.

This Christmas let it be about the thought and time and not about the physical item. Listen to the words or pay attention when reading the wordings. Don't miss out on that message just because you were to busy focusing on the item.

Enjoy your Christmas Eve and Merry Christmas dear readers.

My Most Memorable Christmas!

Dear Readers,

Its been ages I blogged.

Another story for another day. Came across this in my readings and thought to share this lovely story from Mike Woodland. Be inspired.

"I looked at the gift. It looked SO different than the others under the tree. It was so carefully wrapped and even had a ribbon tied in a bow. In rich red paper it was beautiful! THIS gift was larger than the others too. Something was missing… It didn’t have a name on it. I couldn’t ask whose it was; it seemed too special. I just looked in wonder. Just having it under the tree added something special to Christmas.

That Christmas, along with other holidays, was not special. Holidays, in my home, were filled with lots of drinking.

Drinking always led to yelling. . .

Yelling led to fights. . .

Fights sometimes went beyond words . . . In our home the “special” had been lost in holiday events. This Christmas in particular was framed in angry discussions of job loss and financial stress. I overheard a lot.

The GIFT was so mysterious; it was a blaze of red color in my black and white world. It captured my mind. I could hardly contain myself as the time came to open presents! I am the youngest of four. Presents were handed out in order, oldest to youngest. Each time another gift was handed out the anticipation built.

It did not go to my sister. . .

My oldest brother did not get it. . .

My middle brother was given the box next to it. . .

Next, my mom’s hand reached for THE gift . . . my world went into slow motion when she handed THE mysterious, beautifully wrapped gift to me! For just a moment I didn’t move. Maybe it was a mistake… then I saw the hidden tag; it said, “To Mike from Santa.” It was real. It was for me. My fingers began to un-wrap the box; I was still in disbelief. As the paper fell away, I could hardly believe my eyes; a brand new pair of black ice skates. New for ME! Being the youngest boy with two older brothers almost nothing was new coming to me. Now right in front of me were brand new shiny ice skates.

I remember nothing else of that day beyond skating up and down the ice covered country roads. I was the only one thankful for the recent ice storm! In the next few days, I’m sure I must have broken some world record for the distance skated by a 9 year old boy. 

That gift lifted me out of a fog. I’m not sure what I would label the fog. Maybe it was the expectation that somehow Christmas should be special. Maybe it was TV or maybe comments I heard at school but somehow I thought Christmas should be a special time.

The mysterious gift made that Christmas the most memorable of my childhood. I never found out who “Santa” was. I wish I could say, “Thank you” and let them know how much that gift meant. Someone’s kindness made a significant impact and a memorable Christmas."

I encourage you to be a mystery Santa. Show kindness, bring a smile and share the love this Christmas.

You might ask how but take a look around you. There is still time to put a smile on someone's face. 2 days to Christmas. How will you make it count?

Source: http://us7.campaign-archive1.com/u=20e9618b1ff6cdf633ed1ec97&id=90e786d434&e=1d64ef976e