Quiet Time
Don’t let comfort and safety steal your purpose.
“A ship is safe in harbour, but that’s not what ships are for.” – William Shedd
A talent may be safe hidden but that is not what talents are for.
Being safe can sometimes hinder your ability to recognise and pursue your purpose.
While prudence has a prominent role in balancing safety and risk, in the absence of risk you hardly have a life.
A ship may be safe in a harbour but if you wanted something safe, you’d be better off building a fortress. Ships are built to whisthand the turbulence of the sea.
As Jim Rohn says:
“It is the set of the sails, not the direction of the wind that determines which way we will go.”
You’ve got to dig deep and find the courage to do it as Joyce Meyer advises about finding life’s purpose.
In the end, only you can decide if the risk is worth it, but if all you do is rely on safety, you probably aren’t going to enjoy life as much as you would if you were out there living it. Everyone believes in living in the now, but only a few master the courage to do it. They have realised that to live in the now doesn’t take away responsibilities but requires a purpose, a “raison d’être” . Constant comfort isn’t worth it, if it is costing you your purpose.
Forever!!
I fly high, so high in the sky
Lifted into an endless peace
In this place up above the calm is comforting
All worrying thoughts ceasing to exist
I am freed from the grime and crime below
So high so endless, rejuvenating to the soul
Wish I could be in this state always
My thoughts travel here often
Running away from the woes of life
When it has me down and out
When the world enforces a drought and I thirst for life
Let’s take a deep breath, letting the wind take away all despair
Replacing the air with cool and crispy motivation
Up in this place I am not pressed down by problems
I stand up proud and strong, looking down from my cloud of strength and confidence
My mind is clear yet alert
Time moves on and I push on
Forever!
Eji- Lou (Balance)
Having a go at asking myself 5 hard questions.
Sometimes when evaluating our lives and looking for the meaning or purpose of our lives, we need to ask ourselves the hard questions.
We hear only the questions for which we are in a position to find answers. – Friedrich Nietzsche
Personally, I don’t think our intrinsic value depends solely on our own self-examination; but great value can come from examining life and making changes for the better.
Right then, seek and you will find. After doing some research, I found that I am not the only one asking myself these questions, so I decided to try to answer them for those I could help. Here are the 5 questions:
- Do you feel like you’ve lived this same day many times before? - Take a hard look to see if you are living each day like the day before. Although monotony is not necessarily a bad thing.
I have a general routine that I follow during the week and the occasional days off. However, I absolutely make a point of breaking out of the monotony everyday. I vary activities depending on the time and how I feel: different fitness plans per day, switching between indoor activities (guitar, reading, cooking new recipes…) and outdoor activities (walk, social, bball,…). Brief anything to make it worth a good night sleep. 
- Are you living the life of your dreams? - What would you do if you had a choice of how to live your life today, if it is not what you are already doing now?
I’m sure I am not there yet; but I can honestly say that I am actively working towards my dream life and I see progress almost every day. Ideally, I would be living on the road (location independent), filled with new experiences, exotic travels, learning new languages, breaking culture barriers but mostly filled with the satisfaction of helping/empowering others.
- What would you do if fear was not a factor and you could not fail? - Fear hold us back from attempting so many of our dreams, what one thing would you do if there was no fear involved?
Easy, travel the World, living on the road, helping the needy and visiting friends all over the world. That is if money was also not a question. 
- What were you doing when you felt most passionate and alive? - Think back at a time in your life when you felt the most passion. What was it that made you feel this alive?
I am easily pleased. I thrive off the feeling of hope, excitement, humour, laughter and motivation. Most of these come in working on a goal, the initial phase, the planning, getting others involved and the result. But more so, when with the ones I love.
- What are you most grateful for? - Take a moment to consider all of the things in your life that you are thankful for. They could be big or small as long as they have meaning to you.
That’s a daily exercise. I never go to bed without listing at least 5 things I am grateful for. I am constantly grateful for God’s love, providence, grace and blessings – a new day – my family – knowing the feeling of unconditional love – all the new experiences and contacts of the day.
Well, that is pretty much it. I have to say there are harder questions like: do you love your job? What would you rather do? the state of one’s love life…
All I can say is that knowing where you are, helps getting where you want to be. And it starts by living everyday as if it was the last, and remembering that you cannot be better if you do not work on bettering yourself. The proof is in the doing.
I prayed and asked God.
I asked for strength and
God gave me difficulties to make me strong.
I asked for wisdom and
God gave me problems to solve.
I asked for prosperity and
God gave me brawn and brains to work.
I asked for courage and
God gave me dangers and challenges to overcome.
I asked for patience and
God placed me in situations where I was forced to wait.
I ask for love and
God gave me troubled people to help.
I ask for favours and
God gave me opportunities.
I received nothing I wanted
I received everything I needed.
My payers have all been answered.
- – -
The lighting of the Olympic Flame
Hard to believe it has already been seven years since London was selected to host the 2012 Olympics; the Olympic flame is on its way to England. Yay!
But of all the things overlooked is the lighting celebration; which was beautifully celebrated in Ancient Olympia in Greece, as per tradition.
Today performers dressed as priests and priestesses gathered for a ceremony in Olympia, the ancient birthplace of the Olympic games.
During the ceremony they appealed to Apollo to light the flame with the help of a parabolic mirror. Ino Menegaki, Greek actress, played the role of a high priestess lit the flame.
The Olympic flame was then passed to the first torch bearer, Spyros Gianniotis, a 32 year old Liverpool born swimmer who won a silver medal for Greece in Beijing.
Spyros then handed the Olympic Flame over to British boxer Alexandros Lucas at the start of the torch relay.
It is to begin a seven-day relay through Greece, followed by a flight to Great Britain, where it will begin a 70-day journey. On its journey to London, the Olympic Flame is to change hands 8,000 times.
