Her Mother

Her Mother.
Her strength,
Her courage,

The adoration she basks in with each success,
The source of pride in her uncompromising values,
The beacon of hope in an uncertain future,
The unwavering faith behind her pursuit of happiness,
The will behind her indomitable persona,

Her courage,
Her strength,
Her Mother.

Shattered Heart

Her head held high,
She stands tall and proud,
Making solemn promises,
Never to see the one who stole her heart.

Beneath the facade,
Pieces of her broken heart are trying to break the wall that's keeping the pressure in.

If only she could be alone for a minute,
Free the jagged pieces of her shattered heart.

But she has to hold onto the facade a moment longer.
Which she will!
If her will doesn't break under the pressure,
Let her down like her heart did.


Shanah

Quotes

Where  there is love, mistakes are forgiven. – What Life Took From Me

Don’t allow other people’s issues to become your own. – Tika Sumpter

A woman always knows when she incites desire in a man. – What Life Took From Me

Too many details smell like lies. – Brave Woman

Sometimes, death is preferable to the agony of life. – ARROW

Dreaming carries no risks. The dangerous thing is trying to transform your dreams into reality.- Paulo Coelho

I want you to know. I need you to know. Not choosing me is OK. – Scandal

Everyone has something to hide. We  can’t just expose all our secrets to the world. That’s how we get hurt. It’s how we risk hurting other people. We have to decide how much we let out and keep the truth to ourselves. – Greys Anatomy

Feelings don’t care about time. – La Malquerida

True Power hides in plain sight. – Scandal

There is a difference between a man with ambition and a man who enjoys doing nothing with his life. – Cathy Williams

The life we end up getting depends entirely on the moves we make. – Cathy Williams

It is when life is at its most demanding that we must seek inner peace. Your own ability for  quiet reflection can be an oasis in the storm of life. – Balfour Legacy

Love is not found; it’s created and then held onto. Love is a decision. – Paul Hudson

Writing is the best way to talk without being interrupted. – Jules Renard

People tell you who they are but we don’t listen. Because we want them to be who we want them to be. – Mad Men

To love with an open mind is to love with an open heart. – Elite Daily

We don’t fall in love with someone who makes us happy. Sometimes, we fall in love with someone who makes us suffer. – Fearless Heart

My 2014 Highlights – A continuation.

From L-R: Eid, manning front office, workshop lunch, lunch with Joy and Birthday Surprise

31/05/2014 – Surprise birthday celebration at home with two of my best friends, Clare & Malcolm. I looked like a hot mess while they were all spiffy. 
04/06/2014 – God will surely punish me for the lies I tell about being married to guys I don’t want to encourage.
- Meeting Mark put a whole different spin on disability awareness.
05/06/2014 – Helped a blind man edit his work. I’m glad we had a chat about what I’d really love to do and where my interests lay.
11/06/2014 – Sad’s birthday.
- Movie plans involving boys never materialise. I should stop making them.
- 30 day blogging challenge, can I hack such an undertaking?
15/06/2014 – Spending time with the keeper of my secrets. I love her.
16/06/2014 – I hate to see her sad; I hope she mends fences with her mum and not let the boy rule her life.
21/06/2014 – One of those days where I wish other people’s good fortune would rub off on me. It is hard being your own hero when you hardly know where to start.
08/07/2014 – 135 views on Simply Shanah.
14/07/2014 – The prospect of seeing an old friend and catching up.
- That sense of accomplishment you feel after finishing the set tasks of the day.
15/07/2014 – Finally finished my braided necklace and thanked God for my creative skills.
16/07/2014 – The compliments on the necklace are overwhelming and heart warming.
24/07/2014 – Unexpected opportunity at work. May it happen as God intended.
- Visit from my girl Belle.
28/07/2014 – Eid. Having one of my oldest friends spend it with me makes it more special.
29/07/2014 – 6 AM inspiration. Another design to add onto my ‘heart’ series.
- An SMS in lieu of the dreaded phone call. Pending interview.
30/07/2014 – Job interview! I’m glad it went better than expected.
- 22OOHRS inspiration visit and going with it.
31/07/2014 – Lunch with OR. It had been long overdue.
03/08/2014 – I feel like I am on the cusp of a yet-to-be written chapter in my life.
06/08/2014 – Utterly frustrating day but a bad beginning made for a good ending.
- My mum and Sad’s excitement on my behalf. It is all so hard to take in.
08/08/2014 – Another design to add onto my ‘heart’ series.
15/08/2014 – Seeing my aunt Asia made me miss seeing her and my ride or die girl on the regular.
17/08/2014 – Check up from the one who started this work journey in my life and his kind wishes made me so happy. I hope it all goes well.
22/08/2014 – Treated myself to a solitary meal at an eatery. I missed these moments of eating by myself in a fancy place.
29/08/2014 – Volunteer workshop at Africana and the meal that followed. A good way to end my volunteer experience.
30/08/2014 – Thoughts of the coming chapter in my life. Absolutely scared and excited at the same time.
01/09/2014 – First day of the rest of my work life. Several things not to like but the work is alright.
02/09/2014 – Chat with my bestfriend from Primary School changed my perspective about work and its challenges.
12/09/2014 – The fact that my crappy handwriting and signature now appear on a few official documents.
15/09/2014 – Got my first work I.D.
17/09/2014 – Gentlemen still exist.
22/09/2014 – If you don’t teach people how to treat you right, they never will.
24/09/2014 – The keeper of my secrets is having a baby!
01/10/2014 – Birthday of the Keeper of my secrets. I think of her as my baby yet here she is having a baby of her own on the way.
- Completed my first month of gainful employment.
21/11/2014 – Celebrating employment with the boys.
23/11/2014 – Artistic inspiration struck yet I’d been in search of writing inspiration.
03/12/2014 – When you’re down in the doldrums, the last thing you need is abuse from a page you go to to chill.
04/12/2014 – So moody lately.
05/12/2014 – Coincidental meeting with a Facebook page mate.
06/12/2014 – Lunch plans with Baby J fell through and I came off looking like an ill-mannered brat because of my mood swings.
07/12/2014 – The knowledge that there is such a thing as Plate Theory.
11/12/2014 – Mariam Nan has been of great help lately yet we have never met. She’s like my sounding board when I need an impartial voice of reason.
12/12/2014 – Waking up to potentially good news and the promise of it coming true. I couldn’t be more happier for Sad.
14/12/2014 – Plumbing with my daddy although I just held the tools and gave orders like a general while he worked.
- Discovered a reader of Simply Shanah. Funny how people come into your life.
15/12/2014 – Contemplating the purchase of Art supplies for my office.
- Celebration with the boys over Sad’s good news.
 16/12/2014 – I succumbed and bought Art supplies for my office. The creative release marginally improved my mood and the piece looks beautiful.
- Catch up session with my friend Captain Jack Sparrow.
18/12/2014 – My mum saying I look thinner due to work.
19/12/2014 – Being provided the opportunity to get to know someone you have been keeping on the peripheral of your brain.
- Counting days to break off time from work.
20/12/2014 – Last day of work until the 5th of January.
21/12/2014 – Finished a design to one of my Works-In-Progress drawings.
- Taking an afternoon nap after several months of work. I had forgotten how taking and waking up from one actually felt like.
26/12/2014 -  Art grind in the wee hours of the night.
27/12/2014 - Created a tribal necklace in a day! Woot!
-Alhamdulilah for creative inspiration.
29/12/2014 - Jewellery editing is hell on my nails but the outcome is always superb.
- I miss my nose piercing a lot, lately. I should man up and see to it because it's been 3 years without it.
30/12/2014 - Getting my hair done. Wonderful way to prepare for the new year. If you look good, you feel good no matter what!

There was so much to be grateful for in 2014 because it has been very good to me. I hope it marks the beginning of many more wonderful opportunities. And that everything happens as it was meant to. Ameen.

My 2014 Highlights.

Wondering what to do with myself

“Everyday might not be good. But there is something good in every day.” - Unknown

2014 has been more than surprising. I drew more in this year alone than I ever did after University and a dream I had long stopped dreaming finally came true. On that note: it is finally time to share all that I am grateful and have been for, over the course of the year. This time round, I am not only sharing the good but some of my noteworthy thoughts and the things that made me smile. To reiterate what the above quote says; we do have a bit of good even in a bad day.

01/01/2014 – Unremarkable New Year’s eve but a surprising first of the year.
- Snake sighting had the house in an uproar.
- Glued my little finger onto a ring in an attempt to fix it.
03/01/2014 – Off for a few days to see the keeper of my secrets and Baby Jara.
07/01/2014 – Receiving medication and ointment from Baby Jara.
08/01/2014 – Returned home due to poor health. Loved the time I spent with my cousins.
12/01/2014 – When a family visit brings something you never anticipated nor expected.
- Looming interview.
14/01/2014 – Interview day. Hope it is the beginning of many.
23/01/2014 – Catch up session with my girl Emma.
- Promising news.
08/02/2014 – Artistic inspiration = happiness.
13/03/2014 – Frightful night! A visit from my girl Clare was the reward I needed.
20/03/2014 – Made my first pair of earrings.
23/03/2014 – Woke up on the right side of inspiration and made a few bracelets.
30/03/2014 – A twitter follow from someone I admire so much in the fashion industry.
31/03/2014 – March has been a good month for creative inspiration.
01/04/2014 – 419 views on beautifully fierce.
03/04/2014 – Discovered a lighter patch of skin beneath my lower lip. The beginnings of vitilago.
04/04/2014 – Had my hair weaved.
05/04/2014 – Took out my hair after a night. It looked like a red mop on my head.
06/04/2014 – Got my hair weaved again. This looks more like me.
07/04/2014 – Time I got my life in order. This isn’t the way I wish to live it.
09/04/2014 – Promises are being made and I couldn’t be more sceptical.
10/04/2014 – Discovered Simply Shanah had it’s highest views on 06/04/2014
11/04/2014 – You may not be rich enough to buy your dreams but you can be rich enough to buy the basics. – Shanah
13/04/2014 – Knowing you’re so well loved and that everyone cares.
- Anxious, excited and a little sceptical.
16/04/2014 – Turned up for my first volunteer experience EVER!
- Saw my first ever male little person and it brought a smile to my face.
- Dad’s inquisition over my whereabouts. I am the only child he counts on to be home at all hours.
17/04/2014 – Seeing a deaf couple interact is fascinating.
- Manned the front office for awhile and I loved it.
- Saw the little man once again and I smiled. At this point he probably thinks I am into him.
19/04/2014 – The most important people ask all the right questions. – Shanah
- The decision to let go of the one who made the cookie crumble.
21/-4/2014 – 208 views on Simply Shanah. Happy the blogs are getting hits.
28/04/2014 – When someone tells you how special you are then proceeds to take away the warm and fuzzy feeling in one fell swoop of nastiness and cruelty.
01/05/2014 – Birthday month and I am as sick as a dog.
10/05/2014 – Tears!
- When the one person you thought was the exception to the rule turns out to be one of them.
- A decision to not give future little Shanah siblings. She will be an only child. God willing.
15/05/2014 – Nothing beats the knowledge and feeling of knowing that someone is into you.
16/05/2014 – Design inspiration.
18/05/2014 – Tentative plans with my best friend from Primary School.
- Beginning of birthday week.
22/05/2014 – Birthday!
- Birthday song from my ride or die girl.
- Conversing with someone you know wants you is extremely awkward.
24/05/2014 – Lunch date with my bestie from Primary School. I’m glad to have maintained this friendship.



The highlights continue...

A March Retrospective.

Sad to see March go. It was filled with so much inspiration that I have nothing to do but appreciate. For those of you who are in any way or form artistically inclined, you’d know how rare this is.
As I was going through my sketchbook a few days ago, I noticed majority of my drawings were done in March this year. This is due to the fact that I successfully date marked most of them this year unlike the previous ones. There were a few moments where I had to scratch my head trying to figure out when I did a particular drawing.
Aside from the drawing, I made quite a few accessories this past March. I found a new home for my little heart, made my first pair of earrings amongst others. March has been really good inspiration-wise. I am glad my muse is still with me.

On to April now. April made me a few promises that it is yet to keep.  I keep on thinking and wondering if at all it will deliver? Only God knows this. But until then…
Happy month of the Fool everyone.

Choices.

I came across this quote or passage when I was reading a particularly interesting post from the Single Woman. I can’t remember right but it must have been about relationships. The Single Woman is all about them. Anyway, I have been hanging onto this quote for the longest time. It has been MONTHS to say the least. So, there it goes...

Every day, you have to make choices that ensure the thing you love continues to thrive. So if you find a way of life that is good for you, do whatever it takes to keep it. Complacency – the middle ground – is the attractive, safe choice. But fall into complacency, and that thing you love might wander off and be gone before you notice. Then what? Better to protect it in the first place. A relationship does not protect itself; it requires active work and humility. A way of life does not protect itself; it requires discipline and attention. – Chris Guillebeau

Quotes

• 
  
• Love sought is good, but given unsought is better. – William Shakespeare
• Whoever you fall in love with has to love you back, or the ending just sucks. – Nora Roberts
• What we wear affects how we feel, how we act, how we move. – Nora Roberts
• You’re excuses are so lame they are limping. - Nora Roberts
• Beauty from order springs. – William King
• You don’t smile because you are happy. You’re happy because you smile. – Iris
• Sometimes, the questions are complicated but the answers are very simple. – Dr. Zeus
• Confidence was like lip gloss – all you had to do was put it on. – Nora Roberts
• Life is what happens when you’re busy making other plans. – Dallas
• Vengeance won’t heal a broken heart. – Dallas
• Rules are the thread that knits the fabric. – Nora Roberts
• Love is never wrong. Whether it’s for the moment, or it’s forever. – Nora Roberts
• You might like a man enough to go to bed with him, but you might not want to play with him.- Nora Roberts
• No friend poaches another friend’s man, even if she’s kicked him to the curb. – Nora Roberts
• Sex is better when you’re eating healthy. – Nora Roberts
• Men are like shoes. You’re supposed to try them on, wear them awhile – as long as they look good on you. Then toss them in the closet and shop for more. And every now and then, you pluck something out of the closet, try them on again and see how they look. The one thing you don’t do is let somebody else go rooting around in your closet. – Nora Roberts
• People and relationships never stop being a work in progress. – Nora Roberts
• It takes a lot of spine and stomach to make yourself into something when no one gives you a foundation. – Nora Roberts
• Love’s scary, and sometimes transient. But it’s worth the risks and the nerves. It’s even worth the pain. – Nora Roberts
• Seduce my mind and you can have my body, find my soul and I’m yours forever. – Anonymous
• Painting is a metaphor for control. – Klaus (TVD)
• Every woman is supposed to have one major culinary accomplishment to her credit – something she can show off whenever the occasion call for it. – Judith McKnaught (Paradise)
• Every man has a limit to what he is willing to take. – Paradise
• Every artist has a story. – Klaus (TVD)

P.S. There is a lot from Nora Roberts because I have been reading a 4 part series (The Bride Quartet) in her so many collections. I would recommend it to everyone that enjoys a good romance. Yes, fluff reading for now because I want to make my heart happy at the moment and romance is food for the soul - even if it is someone else’s.

Quotes

• “Taste cannot be taught” – Rivals

• “Peace of mind is the most fabulous accessory.” – Rivals

• “Everything you experience and learn in life makes you who you are.” – Natalie Massenet

• “You accept the love that you think you deserve.” – Perks Of Being A Wallflower

• “Don’t underestimate the allure of darkness, even the purest of hearts are drawn to it.” – Klaus (TVD)

• “It is not the strong who survive. It is those who survive who are called strong.” – Sword And Flower

• “Old money is quiet money.” – Paradise

• “Some people feel love in their hearts. Some of us feel it all the way into our souls. We’re the ones who can’t forget.” – Paradise

• “Even when the bad is staring a woman in the face, she wants to believe her man is good.” – Sandra Brown

• “Most messes can be cleaned up with the right broom.” – Diana Palmer

• “Love has never recognized age.” – Diana Palmer

• “A woman is instinctively afraid of a man she thinks can conquer her.” – Diana Palmer

• “There’s always a grain of truth in every lie.” – Diana Palmer

• “Hatred is a sin not paid with death.” – Woman Of Sacrifice

• “Hard times teach hard lessons but they stay with us.”

• “Life is boring without a little spice.”

• “People change and forget to tell each other.” – Lillian Hellman

• “Everyone always brings their past to a party, whether they intend to or not.”

• “As nervous as a whore in church.” – Sandra Brown

• “Legends are lessons, they ring with truth.” – Brave

• “Our fate lives within us. You  only have to be brave enough to see it.” – Brave

• “If you’re gonna be bad, be bad with a purpose.” – Damon Salvatore (TVD)

• “It’s not what we’re used to that attracts us.”

• “You don’t know what I look like when I’m not in love with you.” – Stefan Salvatore (TVD)

*Paradise is a novel by Judith McNaught that I am currently reading all over again. First time I read it, I was in my teens and now that I am in my 20s, I can appreciate it more than I did before. She’s one of my Favorite authors.

The 20 Things You Need To Do In Your 20s.

Your twenty-somethings are the prime of your life. You will never be as young as you are right now, and there will never be a better time for you to embrace all that the world has to offer than this age of freedom. Yes, freedom. Forget about the accusations that millenials are lazy, unmotivated and lack drive.
We all have growing dreams, previous accomplishments under our belts and an ever present sense of urgency to achieve exactly what we want. Your 20s aren’t an excuse to give up on dreams and let go of ambitions. Instead, these years are the time to put it in full throttle and hit the ground running to set yourself up for future success and happiness. If you’ve ever doubted yourself, now’s the time to let go of insecurities and uncertainties.
Here are the 20 things you need to do in your 20s:

Be you.
Your 20s are the perfect time to find yourself, if you haven’t already. Take some time to be on your own and learn about yourself, and most importantly, learn to love yourself. Be unique! Don’t try to fit the mold and blend in with everyone else. Be sexy; be bold. Make your presence known.

Struggle.
Blunt and to the point. Don’t let your struggles define you, but let them happen. Misfortunes make you a better person through the lessons they instill. Troubles will come and go; they are not everlasting. If you’re struggling through tough times, things will only get better.

Eat whatever the f*ck you want.
Screw the diet fads and constant pressure to look like the skinniest models on the runway. Working hard to become healthy and get into shape is one thing, but relax with the strict dieting. Eat whatever you want, and don’t think twice about it. You will not gain ten pounds because you ate that delicious chocolate chip muffin this morning. Food is good. Indulge in a little gluttony sometimes.

Date someone completely wrong for you.
Dating is fun! Don’t fear blind dates, or people that don’t fit “your type.” Go out with someone unexpected and see what happens. You could fall in love with that one quality that you never really noticed. You might be surprised at just whom you fall for. Even if you end up turned off and bored with the person, at least you have a funny story to tell.

Do something purely for the thrill, and maybe more than once.
Be a thrill seeker; don’t play it safe. The feeling of excitement is fun and enjoyable. Take some risks, and don’t fear the result. Sometimes going out on a limb and diving into a thrill-seeking experience makes for the best memories. You might not get enough and want to do it again. Just remember — depending on the risk you take — everything is best in moderation.

Keep moving.
Your 20s are definitely not the time to settle. Keep moving; do not slow down for anyone or anything. When you settle down in a certain relationship or way of living, life becomes stagnant and soon enough, less exciting. Keep moving to keep up with the quality of life that you deserve in your 20s.

Travel the world.
There is nothing more rewarding or fulfilling than traveling. Travel the world; explore unfamiliar territory. Soaking up new cultures is one of the best learning experiences, and it opens your eyes to the quality of life in different areas around the world. You might always have time for travel, but there is no better time to explore with all the freedom in the world than in your 20s. Who knows, you might even come across a place that steals your heart away and you’ll never want to leave.

Love your parents, thank them and repay them.
Your parents have been the guiding force to your current place in life. Love them for all that they have done for you up to this point because you will hopefully be taking a stronger lead in your life, specifically financially. Thank them for all the times they supported you financially, or personally, despite any poor decisions you may have made in the past.
Most importantly, your parents expect nothing from you in return for all that they have attributed to your growth as an individual, but take it upon yourself to repay them in any way you might see fit.

Spend good, quality time with your family.
Your family has been, and will always be, present in your life. Friends and romantic partners may come and go, but blood is forever. Take advantage of your freedom during your 20s to spend some quality time with your family and maybe even get to know them better, now that you’re older and more mature. You will cherish the times with your family when you eventually become the eldest generation.

Mend the open wounds.
Let go of the bullsh*t in your past. Look at your 20s as a clean canvas. This is a time to release any negative feelings holding you back from moving forward. Heal any open wounds that remain, and accept that there is sometimes no resolution for certain situations. If there might be a way to mend an open-ended problem, then make the attempt. Do whatever you have to do to feel free of any negative restrictions.

Meet a sh*t ton of new people.
New people are the spice of life. Everyone is unique in his or her own way and with every person you meet, there is added excitement and flavor in your life. Take it upon yourself to meet as many new people as possible in your 20s. You might meet your future hubby or wifey, or maybe simply start lifelong friendships.

Make unforgettable memories.
Your 20s are a time to immerse yourself in as many new experiences as possible. Make unforgettable memories with your friends, old and new. Now is the time to try as many new things as possible. Expand your horizons.

Continue to follow your dreams.
After years of deciding what you want to do you with your life, you may still be undecided on what exactly that is. Despite indecision on what career path to choose, your dreams are ever present and more than likely becoming more prominent as you consider where you want to end up in the coming years. Use your 20s to make your dreams a reality. Strive to do all that you can to fulfill your dreams, and always remember that no dream is too big or out of reach.

Be a sponge.
Not only are your 20s a good time to get to know yourself, but also a good time to get to know the people around you. Spend quality time with you friends and acquaintances, take an interest in their lives, listen to their opinions and develop genuine relationships that you will remember forever.

Pick up a new hobby.
Use your 20s as a time to really get to know yourself and maybe discover some new interests. Explore some new hobbies. Maybe take a few lessons on how to play an instrument, how to paint or how to work a particular computer program. You never know what pastimes you might fall in love with and seek to make something of!

Don’t dwell on the negatives.
Downfalls are inevitable. When the negatives outweigh the positives, don’t dwell on it. Remember that life goes on, and you have never been in a better position to remove yourself from negative situations and to move forward than you are right now in your 20s.

Give back.
So much of the population on this planet is not as fortunate as you may be. Allow your 20s to be the years that you lend a helping hand to the underprivileged. Whether it be a donation of some sort, or you decide to travel to a poverty-stricken country for six months out of the year, do something to make a difference and give back to the community.

Cherish the people who have always been there.
When all is said and done, you will be able to count your most genuine and trusting relationships on one hand. While you’re busy meeting new people and exploring new places during your 20s, don’t forget to cherish the relationships you have with the people who have always been there for you. These are the relationships that deserve the most attention and effort to keep them blooming.

Trust only a few.
While trust is a good quality to have, there are only so many people in this world that you can trust with your life, or even with your most precious secrets. You’re going to experience a hell of a lot in your 20s, and you should always be careful who you choose to confide in. In the end, everyone looks out for themselves, and you can’t always be sure who will or won’t look out for you in the meantime.

Live in the moment, without fear or expectation of the future.
Above all, live every day of your 20s to the fullest. Relish the moment and make every day worth living. Do not look ahead to the future with worry or expectation, as you could likely set yourself up for disappointment. Live every day to its greatest potential, as if there will be no tomorrow to make it right.


One of my friends shared a link to that article on facebook and I thought it made for some interesting reading especially for those (us) in their twenties. Learning is apart of growth and so is change. You might be inspired and don't know what to do with yourself, so this might help a little bit.
I think we're all meant to enjoy our twenties (that is if we're not busy trying to make something of ourselves) be silly and stupid. Do the unexpected and weird. Stuff you'll look back on in your 30s/40s and cringe! If those aren't the best memories, what is?!

Some more Quotes!

• If you’re lonely, get to know yourself - Fairly Legal
• You’re beauty will take you there. But your character will bring you back – Jacob’s Cross
• You know you’ve hit middle age when your memories become more important than your dreams – Susan Delfino (DHWS)
• A crime eats its own child.
• Sometimes a good woman can save a bad man – Diana Palmer.
• Life sorts itself out, given the opportunity – Diana Palmer.
• Love is a gift. One should not throw it away – Diana Palmer.
• A man should think with his heart, not his head when he loves – Diana Palmer.
• Sex is a bad basis for a relationship – Diana Palmer.
• Husbands tend to limit a woman’s adventures.
• Some things are going to work out as they were destined to be. As if they were meant to be.
• Money doesn’t buy happiness. It just makes misery easier to bear – Johanna Lindsey
• Never underestimate the importance of friends you can’t see.
• Greed makes people stupid. And stupid people are easy to fool- Jacob’s Cross.
• You should dream of a thing before you make it happen.
• A roaring lion kills no game – Jacob’s Cross.
• A termite can do nothing to a stone except lick it – Jacob’s Cross.
• No matter how much perfume you use you’ll never hide the stench of your sins.
• We have to stop being afraid of our past. Everybody’s history is good.
• The human eye can see what the heart wants to see.
• Courage is more important than talent.

10 Lessons From Einstein

 
I came across these lessons from Einstein while visiting Paulo Coehlo’s blog and thought I should share. I visit his blog time to time when I can because of his short stories. They always have a wealth of meaning and inspiration.

1. Follow Your Curiosity “I have no special talent. I am only passionately curious.”
2. Perseverance is Priceless “It’s not that I’m so smart; it’s just that I stay with problems longer.”
3. Focus on the Present “Any man who can drive safely while kissing a pretty girl is simply not giving the kiss the attention it deserves.”
4. The Imagination is Powerful “Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life’s coming attractions. Imagination is more important than knowledge.”
5. Make Mistakes “A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new.”
6. Live in the Moment “I never think of the future – it comes soon enough.”
7. Create Value “Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value.”
8. Don’t be repetitive “Insanity: doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results.”
9. Knowledge Comes From Experience “Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience.”
10. Learn the Rules and Then Play Better “You have to learn the rules of the game. And then you have to play better than anyone else.”
Source: Dumb little man

The Power Of Association

One of my best friends sent me this quote and as I went through it; I reflected on the people I surround myself with both family and friends. There are friendships that I let go of during the course of the year and as I did that: I realized that the fewer friends you have, the better. It is said that,”The friends we keep define who we are as a person”…well, I didn’t want to be defined by such people because who they are is not the person that I am.
I am proud of the set of friends that I keep and maintain now because they are good people. They have been there for me in more ways than they could ever know. It is partly due to them I am who I am at the moment and I am happy about it and I appreciate them more. Here goes the quote….

"The less you associate with some people, the more your life will improve. Any time you tolerate mediocrity in others, it increases your mediocrity. An important attribute in successful people is their impatience with negative thinking and negative acting people. As you grow, your associates will change. Some of your friends will not want you to go on. They will want you to stay where they are. Friends that don't help you climb will want you to crawl. Your friends will stretch your vision or choke your dream. Those that don't increase you will eventually decrease you.
Consider this: Never receive counsel from unproductive people. Never discuss your problems with someone incapable of contributing to the solution, because those who never succeed themselves are always first to tell you how. Not everyone has a right to speak into your life. You are certain to get the worst of the bargain when you exchange ideas with the wrong person. Don't follow anyone who is not going anywhere With some people you spend an evening: with others you invest it. Be careful where you stop to inquire for directions along the road of life. Wise is the person who fortifies his life with the right friendships. If you run with wolves, you will learn how to howl, but if you associate with eagles, you will learn how to soar to great heights.
"A mirror reflects a man's face, but what he is really like is shown by the kind of friends he chooses." The simple but true fact of life is that you become like those with whom you closely associate - for the good and the bad. Note: Be not mistaken. This is applicable to family as well as friends"…Colin Powell

QUOTES

• When you find a dream inside your heart, don't ever let it go because…dreams are the seeds from which beautiful tomorrows grow.
  

• I'm selfish, impatient and a little insecure. I make mistakes, I am out of control and at times hard to handle. But if you can't handle me at my worst, then you sure as hell don't deserve me at my best.
  
• You can spend minutes, hours, days, weeks or even months over-analyzing a situation: trying to put the pieces together, justifying what could've, would've happened- or you can just leave the pieces on the floor and move the fuck on.
  
• Dear Lord, I pray for Wisdom, to understand a man. Love, to forgive him and Patience, for his moods. Because lord, if I pray for Strength, I'll beat him to death,
  
• Secrets are like Pregnancies, they find ways of betraying their owners.
  
• Surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice.
  
• I like my men like cars, strong, built like horses.
  
• Life is like a beautiful melody, only the lyrics are messed up.
  
• All you need in this life is ignorance and confidence; then success is sure.
  
• Alcohol is like love. The first kiss is magic, the second is intimate, the third is routine. After that you take the girl's clothes off.
  
• The best kind of friend is the one you could sit on a porch with, never saying a word, and walk away feeling like that was the best conversation you've had.
  
• Love comes to those who still hope even though they've been disappointed, to those who still believe even though they've been betrayed, to those who still love even though they've been hurt before.
  
• Treating the whole world as if it works for you doesn't suggest you're special, it means you're an ass.
  
• Every single day we judge people, every single day people judge us. Its not going to go away but we can always be ready to point the finger back, that's the least we can do.
  
• Our lives are defined by other people, even the ones that we miss.
  
• Associate with excited people: it'll rub off on you.
  
• Level with yourself, things are better than what they seem.
  
• Love makes life worth it and how much our life's worth is determined by how much love we have given and how much love we have gained back.
  
• Happiness is a state of mind but usually begins with a choice.
  
• You've got to learn by other people's mistakes, because you never live long enough to make them all yourself.
  
• Whoever undertakes to set himself up as a judge of Truth and knowledge is shipwrecked by laughter of the gods. Albert Einstein.
  
• Love means exposing yourself to the pain of being hurt, deeply hurt by someone you trust.
  
• I think 10 years in our twenties is way too much. Johnny Depp.
  
• I found the paradox that if you love till it hurts, there's no more pain, but only, more love. Mother Teresa
  
• A mother takes 20 years to make a man of her boy, and another woman makes a fool of him in twenty minutes.
  
• Your sense of humor is the knife with which you cut into the wilderness of despair.
  
• I only cry when its raining, so I can wipe away my tears with the rain drops.
  
• Sometimes its easier to deliver a small truth than a painful lie.
  
• Tears are words waiting to be spoken.
  
• Failures are blessings in disguise.
  
• Hope is a tool used to transform dreams into reality.
  
• Lust is innocence disguised as sin.