ANCESTORS: My calling to become a white sangoma

MANY moons ago was my old man's 60th birthday bash. We had set up a large screen to display the opening game of the Soccer World Cup - Bafana Bafana vs. Mexico. The game was intense but the party was terrific!

I had wondered off around the side of the house where we have a large swimming pool sitting in icy silence. All that could be heard was the festive sounds of laughter, bonfires and friendly chit chat. I somehow managed to fall into the frozen waters of our swimming pool with a silent splash. I was drowning in the pool's icy clutches and honestly thought I was going to die.

I inhaled a few liters of chlorinated water before I lost the last of my breathe to what was to become my watery grave; but just then, a huge hand lifted me out of the water and I found myself sitting safely on a cloud ... talking to God.

God told me that it was not my time to die and that I still had much to do with my life on Earth. He explained that there were people I would meet along my journey who needed my help. God further explained I still had much to offer in the way of helping others on Earth.

I was placed back on the soil with an incredible gift. God had blessed me with perfect health and clarity of mind. I could never get sick or mentality side-tracked. This was to aid my purpose of helping my fellow human beings.

This was the dream I had about a week after my dad's party. After recounting the dream to my fluent Zulu-speaking girlfriend, she told me that this is a very common theme in Zulu culture - a dream interpreted as a calling from the ancestors for me to become a sangoma!

I have always had an interest in dream analysis but never thought that my dreams would cross cultures. I have no immediate plans to become a sangoma anytime soon, but I certainly found this God dream quite interesting.

Anyone ever had a similar dream?

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GOOD ADVICE: Free life lessons lent from loving people

1. The best is yet to come.
2. Forgive everyone everything.
3. Life isn't fair, but it's still good.
4. Take deep breaths. It calms the mind.
5. Life isn't tied with a bow, but it's still a gift.
6. The most important sex organ is the brain.
7. It's OK to get angry with God. He can take it.
8. When in doubt, just take the next small step.
9. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.
10. Time heals almost everything. Give Time time.
11. Growing old beats the alternative - dying young.
12. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.
13. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
14. Friends are the family that we choose for ourselves.
15. Don't audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.
16. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
17. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
18. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
19. Be eccentric now. Don't wait for old age to wear purple.
20. What other people think of you is none of your business.
21. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.
22. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn't be in it.
23. Whatever doesn't kill you really does make you stronger.
24. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
25. Make peace with your past so it won't screwup the present.
26. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don't take
no for an answer.
27. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s,
we'd grab ours back.
28. Don't compare your life to others. You have no idea what their
journey is all about.
29. It's never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to
you and no one else.
30. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don't save it
for a special occasion. Today is special.

Happy Friday :)

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POETRY: Inspirational words from The Awakening poem

This poem got me through a very bleak time in my life (last week when I had flu and was feeling rather miserable). Just when I thought life had no meaning anymore my dear mother send me this poem to cheer me up. It really is an inspirational piece so I thought I share some of its wise words with you.

The Awakening by Sonny Carrol

THERE comes a time in your life when you finally get it ... When, in the midst of all your fears and insanity, you stop dead in your tracks and somewhere the voice inside your head cries out "ENOUGH! Enough fighting and crying or struggling to hold on." Then, like a child quieting down after a blind tantrum, your sobs begin to subside and you blink back your tears and begin to look at the world through new eyes. This is your awakening.

You realize it’s time to stop hoping and waiting for something to change, or for happiness, safety and security to magically appear over the next horizon. You realize that in the real world there aren’t always fairy tale endings, and that any guarantee of “happily ever after” must begin with you.

You awaken to the fact that you are not perfect and that not everyone will always love, appreciate or approve of who or what you are, and that’s okay. They are entitled to their own views and opinions.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

You learn the importance of loving and championing yourself, and in the process a sense of new-found confidence is born of self-approval. You stop complaining and blaming other people for the things they did to you – or didn’t do for you – and you learn that the only thing you can really count on is the unexpected.

You learn that people don’t always say what they mean or mean what they say and that not everyone will always be there for you and that everything isn’t always about you.

So, you learn to stand on your own and take care of yourself, and in the process a sense of safety and security is born of self-reliance. You stop judging and pointing fingers and you begin to accept people as they are and to overlook their shortcomings and human frailties… and in the process a sense of peace and contentment is born of forgiveness.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

You learn to open up to new worlds and different points of view. You begin to discover that the world is much larger than where you live, and you rediscover your curiosity and embrace adventurous exploration. You open up your mind, begin reassessing and redefining who you are and what you really stand for.

You learn the difference between wanting and needing and you begin to discard the doctrines and values you’ve outgrown, or should never have bought into to begin with. You learn that there is power and glory in creating and contributing and you stop maneuvering through life merely as a consumer looking for your next fix. You learn that principles such as honesty and integrity are not the outdated ideals of a bygone era, but the mortar that holds together the foundation upon which you must build a life.

You learn that you don’t know everything, it’s not your job to save the world and that you can’t teach a pig to sing. You learn that the only cross to bear is the one you choose to carry and that martyrs get burned at the stake.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

Then you learn about love. You learn to look at relationships as they really are and not as you would have them be. You learn that alone does not mean lonely. You stop trying to control people, situations and outcomes. You learn to distinguish between guilt and responsibility and the importance of setting boundaries and learning to say no.

You also stop working so hard at putting your feelings aside, smoothing things over and ignoring your needs. You learn that your body really is your temple. You begin to care for it and treat it with respect. You begin to eat a balanced diet, drink more water, and take more time to exercise. You learn that being tired fuels doubt, fear, and uncertainty and so you take more time to rest. And, just as food fuels the body, laughter fuels our soul. So you take more time to laugh and to play.

You learn that, for the most part, you get in life what you believe you deserve, and that much of life truly is a self-fulfilling prophecy. You learn that anything worth achieving is worth working for and that wishing for something to happen is different than working toward making it happen. More importantly, you learn that in order to achieve success you need direction, discipline and perseverance. You also learn that no one can do it all alone, and that it’s okay to ask for help.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

You learn the only thing you must truly fear is fear itself. You learn to step right through your fears because you know that whatever happens you can handle it and to give into fear is to give away the right to live life on your own terms.

You learn to fight for your life and not squander it living under a cloud of impending doom. You learn that life isn’t always fair, you don’t always get what you think you deserve and that sometimes bad things happen to unsuspecting, good people, and you learn not to always take it personally.

You learn that nobody’s punishing you and everything isn’t always somebody’s fault. It’s just life happening. You learn to admit when you are wrong and to build bridges instead of walls. You learn that negative feelings such as anger, envy and resentment must be understood and redirected or they will suffocate the life out of you and poison the universe that surrounds you.

~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~   ~

You learn to be thankful and to take comfort in many of the simple things we take for granted, things that millions of people on earth can only dream about: a complete family, clean running water, a soft warm bed, a long hot shower.

You begin to take responsibility for yourself by yourself and you make yourself a promise to never betray yourself and to never, ever settle for less than your heart’s desire. You make a mental note not to defer your life any longer – only living it after you graduate, after you get that flashy new car, or after you make your millions as an investment banker. If you are passionate enough, you can do what you love for the rest of your life, right here, right now.

You make it a point to keep smiling, to keep trusting, to keep learning, and to stay open to every wonderful possibility. Finally, with courage in your heart, you take a stand, you take a deep breath, and you begin to design the life you want to live as best you can.

Related Inspiration:

• Blessings
• Desiderata
• Inspiration
• Feel Good Photos
• Inspirational Quotations

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LIFE LESSONS: The moral of the story in five parables

Lesson 1:
A man is getting into the shower just as his wife is finishing up her shower, when the doorbell rings. The wife quickly wraps herself in a towel and runs downstairs. When she opens the door, there stands Bob, the new neighbour. Before she says a word, Bob says, "I'll give you R500 to drop that towel..."

After thinking for a moment, the woman drops her towel and stands naked in front of Bob. After a few seconds Bob hands her R500 and leaves. The woman wraps back up in the towel and goes back upstairs.

When she gets to the bathroom, her husband asks, "Who was that?"
"It was Bob the next door neighbour," she replies.
"Great," the husband says, "did he say anything about the R500 he owes me?"

Moral of the story
If you share critical information pertaining to credit and risk with your shareholders in time, you may be in a position to prevent avoidable exposure.

******

Lesson 2:
A sales rep, an administration clerk, and their manager are walking to lunch when they find an antique oil lamp. They rub it vigorously and a Genie pops out. The Genie says, "Here's the deal: one wish each. No refunds."

"Me first! Me first!" says the admin clerk. "I want to be in the Bahamas driving a speedboat, without a care in the world." Poof! She's gone.

"Me next! Me next!" says the sales rep. "I want to be in Hawaii, relaxing on the beach with my personal masseuse, with an endless supply of Pina Coladas and the love of my life." Poof! He's gone.

"Okay, you're up," the Genie says to the manager sceptically. The manager says, "I want those two back in the office after lunch."

Moral of the story
Always let your boss have the first say.

******

Lesson 3:
A priest offered a nun a lift. She got in and crossed her legs, forcing her gown to reveal a leg. The priest nearly had an accident. After controlling the car, he stealthily slid his hand up her leg. The nun said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?"

The priest removed his hand. But, after changing gears, he let his hand slide up her leg again. The nun once again said, "Father, remember Psalm 129?" The priest apologised, "Sorry sister but the flesh is weak."

Arriving at the convent, the nun sighed heavily and went on her way. On his arrival at the church, the priest rushed to look up Psalm 129. It said: "Go forth and seek, further up, you will find glory."

Moral of the story
If you are not well informed in your job, you might miss a great opportunity.

******

Lesson 4:
An eagle was sitting on a tree resting, doing nothing. A small rabbit saw the eagle and asked enthusiastically, "Can I also sit like you and do nothing?" The eagle answered: "Sure, why not." So the rabbit sat on the ground below the eagle and rested. All of a sudden a fox appeared, jumped on the rabbit and ate it.

Moral of the story
To be sitting and doing nothing, you must be sitting very, very high up.

******

Lesson 5:
A turkey was chatting with a bull. "I would love to be able to get to the top of that tree" sighed the turkey, "but I haven't got the energy." "Well, why don't you nibble on some of my droppings?" replied the bull. "They're packed with nutrients."

The turkey pecked at a large lump of dung and found that it actually gave him enough strength to reach the lowest branch of the tree. The next day (after eating some more dung) he reached the second branch. Finally, after a fourth night, the turkey was proudly perched at the very top of the tree.

He was promptly spotted by a farmer, who shot him out of the tree.

Moral of the story
Bullshit might get you to the top, but it won't keep you there.

Happy Friday! :D

Moral Link: Lovely short stories and parables

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DESIDERATA POEM: Desiderata (latin for "desired things") is an inspirational prose poem written by Max Ehrmann in 1927 about attaining happiness in life. It goes something like this...

Desiderata poem by Max Ehrmann

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons.

Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and ignorant; they too have their story.

Avoid loud and aggressive people; they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.

Keep interested in your own career, however humble, it's a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism.

Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantement, it is as perrenial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself.

You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world.

Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

Similar to Desiderata poem by Max Ehrmann:

• Blessings
• Inspiration
• The Awakening
• Feel Good Photos
• Inspirational Quotations

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BLESSINGS: A poem by author Stephen Eardley

IT’S so easy to take things for granted when you think that life is not going so swimmingly. Your blog’s not making any cash, your dog’s upset with you for some reason, there was no toilet paper this morning – these can all make you feel like it’s the end of the world.

But then you come across a poem like Blessings by author Stephen Eardley. This humble man reminds us that we have much to be thankful for, and offers a few world stats that allow one to put their own lifestyle into perspective…

Blessings poem by Stephen Eardley

Related Inspiration:

• Desiderata
• The Awakening
• Feel Good Photos
• Inspirational Quotations

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ULTIMATE V3 GAMING CHAIR: It’s death by comfort

THEY say that we spend a third of our lives sleeping (presumably in a bed). Well, I reckon that we spend another third of our lives sitting in a chair, especially if you work in an office. Think about it. You get out of bed, sit at the breakfast table, drive seated to work, sit at your desk, drive home again, maybe sit and watch some television, perhaps sit at your computer and do some writing or surf the web and climb back into bed.

Some are more disciplined than that. I had a Swiss-German friend at varsity who couldn’t even sit through a movie because it involved too much sitting.

I find nothing more satisfying than sitting (even better — lying) on a comfortable couch. The funny thing about couches is that it is always the most stuffed, unattractive-looking couch in any house that is everyone’s favourite — the couch that is probably worth less than the amount of loose change that has fallen into it over the years.

My dad has a favourite couch back home, which I’m sure is a source of some embarrassment when visitors arrive. I wouldn’t be surprised if my mother has tried to incinerate it in a freak “coal-leaping-out-the-fire” accident. I’m sure it would go up in flames pretty quickly with the amount of body oil that has seeped into it over the centuries.

This off-white relic has coffee stains, tobacco burns and an imprint of my father’s behind in the center. Yet, when seated in its mould, in front of an early winter’s fire and after some of Mother’s good home cooking, Father is as happy as Larry (however happy he is), usually fast asleep. He probably sleeps more in that couch than in his own bed.

So, if we do spend such a significant amount of our lives in beds and chairs, then why not make them decent ones. I’m always willing to spend a little extra on something that I know I’ll use every day and probably have for a lifetime.

I thought it was high time for me to chair up and buy myself a decent gaming chair — one that I could swivel around in freely and lean back and forth in. It’s a rather simple piece of furniture, although it was one heck of a science putting the thing together.

It came in attachable parts with a set of tools, a spider diagram, some Chinese instructions, and a note of encouragement. I half expected to find a small key, some coded message, a strange map and an enchan­ted ring. Without those one definitely needs a degree to put one of these pieces of technology together.

Although I now swivel contently in my “leather” chair, I still wanted to see what else was available on the market. This is what I found …

Ultimate Gaming Chair V3

The V3 Ultimate Gaming Chair can be jacked into your PC, Mac, Xbox, Game Cube, iPod, Playstation, or television. Photo: ultimategamechair.com

The V3 Ultimate Gaming Chair

There are a lot of fancy and alien-looking chairs out there — most of which have been designed for home entertainment. The simplest home theatre chairs have speakers mounted on the headrest and are basically REALLY comfortable and pleasant-smelling.

The most common gaming chairs, on the other hand, are designed to enhance the experience of simulators such as Flight Simulator. These have joysticks protruding out the armrests, which I imagine one could use to play a variety of games.

Racing chairs come with an adjustable chassis and have foot pedals and a steering wheel as part of their anatomy. The seats are designed to mimic the feeling of being in a Formula One car, and many even go the extra mile by vibrating as you ‘drive’ over rough roads.

Yet those seats are old school now. You can get a close-enough experience at your local arcade. I was more intrigued by the Ultimate V3 gaming chair. This baby is co­vered in plugs and ports and is compatible with just about everything. To name a few, you can jack it up to your PC, Mac, Xbox, Game Cube, iPod, Playstation, or television. One reviewer had this to say:

"The V3 quite literally rocks your face off! From our experience from it, we were simply stunned. It is like getting a back massage while playing all your favourite games in a comfortable leather chair. It is simply amazing." — ultimategamechair.com

It has 12 “strategically distributed” feedback monitors, adjustable 3D stereo speakers and a headset jack. It also vibrates and has “variable output on all three vibration sensation levels”. There are three vibration sensation levels? That takes the sensation of sitting in those vibrating chairs at the mall to a whole new le­vel.

I imagine that one would never get out of the V3 chair if seated in it. It would be death by comfort. So, I imagine that V3 owners have to be just as disciplined as those who are not fans of the couch.

• The V3 gaming chair sells for $500 (roughly R5 000) and can be ordered online at www.ultimategamechair.com. Free shipping too.

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