Rambling

Its about that time of the year again when the wheels start turning, and change is coming. The time when you look back at the recent past one more time before you step across a new threshold, before you jump in head first.

Only a third of the year has gone by and already I feel I have accomplished so much more than I'd hoped for. For lack of creativity, my new year's resolutions have always been to be a better person than I'd been the year before. It was never anything specific. Just general ideas like trying to be more patient and less angry at the world.

But this year I actually put my goals into words. I decided I wanted to achieve more at school and try and get an 80% overall average. I decided I wanted to start actively taking care of myself from the inside out. I actually learned to wash and style my own hair after years of leaving it in the hands of the saloon women ( I dare not call them hairstyling professionals because they're definitely not that) and I cut down my daily skin care routine to just 3 products! That might not seem significant to some of you but for someone as self conscious as me, that is a major feat.

Here's my list of accomplishments this year.

1. Learned to let go sometimes and let things take their natural course.
2. Learned to recognise when to say no to certain situations
3. Learned to take care of my own hair
4. In the process of learning to make good meals.
5. Learned the value of simplicity and taking one's time
6. Reduced the quantity of artificial products I use overall

Now that I have put it into words, it doesn't seem like a big deal, but I'm sure you can picture the proud smirk on my face anyway.
And you know that....The best is yet to come.

Sunday afternoons

The ceativity and execution of this idea just makes you stop and admire beauty in odd places

When the world has slowed down to a less hectic pace, you are left alone with you wandering thoughts. For me, Sunday afternoons are just so full of contemplation and reminiscing that I often find myself returning time and again to I wrote this for you and PostSecret just to remind myself of the signficance and potency of hope, love, faith and honesty, and to gain a little sense of companionship.

Even from anonymous strangers.

Volte-face

Image from www.apartmenttherapy.com/

I am predictable, I know. And yes, I am very easily influenced by the people and events around me. I might try to deny it, and pretend to be diffrent. But the honest truth is; I am just as unique as everyone else. (oxymoron right there!)....
And as usual, as everyone becomes a little disenchanted with fashion and all things sartorial towards the end of summer, so I have I found myself thinking about the vain and superficial obsessions with current trends and all the pretty clothes. Hence to save any sort of common sense and individuality I still have left, I have turned my attention to the space I live in. A much more sensible and less superficial preoccupation, don't you think?

All's well that ends well

I just got back my laptop after having it in repairs for a month. I'm so relieved everything seems to be working just fine now, and it's all in time for the new school year. I should really take this time to thank my friend John and acknowledge his expertise. I can't begin to imagine the work it took to fix it.

I am excited to report that I am not as addicted to my technology as I thought I was. I was pretty calm when one morning my pc wouldn't switch on. Normally I would have had a cow AND a nervous breakdown! Same thing with when my phone stopped working, I just accepted it and dealt with it. I feel all grown up now :-)

Hair-raising.

As more and more women fall into the natural hair movement, I find myself stuck at a crossroads, often questioning if I should follow suite. I have had natural hair before, twice, by my own free will. But both times I couldn't handle all the effort and work that went into maintaining it and getting it to look decent. I am much happier with my chemically treated hair. I find that its easier to manage, feels and looks healthier [because there isn't as much breakage] and is overall a joy to have.
But fearing the judgement and prosecution that is gathering speed against women with straightened hair, [cue India Arie, I am not my hair], I have been prowling around the net, keeping myself updated on the natural hair blogs. So imagine my surprise when I came across this article;

Rambling

Dreams are the illustrations...from the book your soul is writing about you - Marsha Norman

Here I am wondering out-loud again. Wondering where true inspiration comes from. So many say they are most inspired by the people around them... But it just so happens that sometimes the people around you are killing your inspiration instead. And you find yourself wanting to inspire them...

It is not so often any more that I come across something new and I go: "Brilliant idea! How creative!" Nowadays, the reaction is more like: "Oh that looks familiar, can't people be more creative?"

So here I am, wondering whether I will ever have a moment of pure brilliance, a Eureka! moment; and feel like I have contributed something significant to the world I live in. All this DIYing and sewing often has me feeling like a perpetual copycat, so come on people.... Inspire!