Change

I remember so clearly a staff party that I went to a couple of years ago... it was after work one Friday night. There weren't any people my age (which is okay I guess).  We had to pay in for our braai meet and honestly I couldn't think why I could not attend so I went.  I arrived at my managers home and the puppy had thrown up in the living room.  I remember sitting in front of the music channel eating my supper which was meat and I could still invision the puppy throwing up.

Then I fast forward a bit to this years end function.  We were transported there by bus,  I had a five course vegetarian meal that consisted mainly of mushrooms but let's not harp on that.  I danced in front of about four hundred people and had some wine before and we won't about 50 rand each.  Everyone was dressed up and the banquet hall looked stunning decorated in soft hues and flower arrangements.  There was a host, music, dancers and lots of prizes to be won.  A friend of mine even won a flight to Japan.

These two experiences were rather contrasting.  One I put little effort into and it was rather normal.  No, I don't mean the puppy throwing up.  The other I put in more effort and I got a lot more out.  I learnt things about myself, about others and even earned something from it.   Not to mention that the one I felt like a princess an sister the other well I felt like a worker.

Also I learnt looking back that nothing that has happened in the past defines our future.  Just because we have had certain experiences doesn't mean that that's the way it will always be.  I am hopeful to think of the next end of the year functions I will go to and the things that I will experience.

Don't be defined by your past.  It's not a indicator of what is to come.

A

Nope the title of this blogpost was not a mistake.  A is the beginning of the Alphabet- one of the first things a English speaker learns.  This blog post I feel like encouraging you and myself at the same time that every moment is a moment to start over.  Sometimes I really battle with my thoughts to a point where I'm stifled to move forward because I feel so discouraged but then I realize again that there is always an opportunity to start over.  As this is the beginning of the month and people are participating in lent I've decided to go in a positivity feast.  Yes,  it's an actual thing by Wendy and Steve Backlund.

But I realize I have the power to change thoughts that are demotivating and focus on ones that are empowering!  One particular one that I've been saying to myself is "I am so organized".   These things usually start as joke but then catch on.

May you be courageous to stop demotivating thoughts dead in their tracks and think the truth of who God made you to be!

Love, Sarah

The tortoise and the hare

The tortoise and the hare is a story that comes to mind tonight while I sit here.  The hare is fast in the beginning of the race and then becomes tired as the story goes.  The tortoise is consistent and not hasty!  Those of us who know the story know that the tortoise ends up winning as the hare falls asleep.

I know that life is not a comparison but I know I can be like both the hare and the tortoise.  I can be hasty and I can be consistent but I know that a consistent effort rather than a 'catch up' mentality is a lot more beneficial.  

I guess this is a reminder to me and well.. whoever reads this!  To rather be consistent and watch things slowly and quickly change.  

May we take control of our lives step by step (even if it may be painfully slow).

May we have grace with ourselves and others in the process.

Love,

Phoenix and Sarah

F E A S T

So they say that now is called the present because that's what it is ... a gift.  Now sometimes we have to remind ourselves that!  I must say that as I am back in Taiwan I am reflecting on the wonderful holiday that I had in my beloved country, South Africa.

I have gifts and memories that I can bring back to memory at any time.  I must say this wasn't how I was thinking about it at first.  Thank God for grandmother's and mother's to set your thinking straight.  I started to feel in a bit of a slump at the thought of leaving my family for the third time in a year.  Christmas decorations were coming down and so I was starting to feel glum.  Then my grandmother said to my mother who said to me that I must FEAST ON THE MEMORIES and that is what I am doing.  What a blessing to take a holiday and what a blessing to have a job I enjoy!

May we feast on the blessing that Christmas was.

Blessings.

um...errrr...maybe tomorrow...

P R O C R A S T I N A T I O N

Those dreaded words.   It's like sinking sand.  The more we think about doing something and don't it seems to make us sink deeper.  Sometimes overthinking doesn't help either.  We overthink to a point of paralysis. We want to do more but we spend time on Facebook or online (Instagram is way more interesting).  We can get sucked into a nothing zone.  Just scrolling through feeds like it's no bodies business.  Time flies by and we don't even realize.  I'm sure I'm not the only one. 

But WHY? Why do we do this? 

Okay it's impossible to be 100% productive and effective all the time besides bedtime.  It's impossible.  We need rests and mental breaks of going into that nothing box and looking at the four white walls.  

Something's that are effective breaks for me:

\\\ enjoying the food I'm eating

\\\ Lying down on my bed with my eyes closed listening to music ( the music helps me to stay somewhat mentally active ).

\\\ going to the gym, again listening to my favorite music 

\\\ looking out the window

\\\ going on Pinterest 

\\\ chatting to my mom

\\\ doodling

\\\ having a longer than normal shower.  

\\\ doing a face mask

\\\ watching TV that is interesting 

\\\ going outside for a breather 

\\\ having a cup of coffee 

\\\ having a nap

 

These are simple things that do not require too much energy (minus the gym) and are great for those moments where you kinda just need a wee break. These little things refresh us to continue on with bigger tasks.  Factor these into between bigger tasks.

Have a fun breather kinda day!

Love,

Sarah

Why I should...

So I haven't written in awhile and so I am going to write about why I haven't written.  

W H Y. I. H A V E N T. W R I T T E N : 

/// thoughts of 'who reads my stuff anyway?!' I've written on my blogs for years and I've done it for me with little feedback (except from my family- which I really appreciate). 

/// I've moved.  Not cities.  Not districts.  Just apartments.  I've moved to some place cosier, cheaper and it's a bonus that it's closer to work- yay! I've just figured out how to connect to the internet- another yay! Tink! Tink!

_____________________________________

While there are always going to be reasons why not to do something I want to spend the next days thinking of why I should do things.  

W H Y. I. S H O U L D. W R I T E :

/// I enjoy writing.  The thought of it encouraging someone daily motivates me.

/// I have the time.  I am single.  Embrace it girl! 

/// Small steps lead to something bigger.  Taking risks is the best way to live one's life.  

/// Remember you are working for God and not man.  This is your journey with Him.  Enjoy it! 

Let's ask God, "What do you love about me?  What do you have to say to me today?  I'm listening."

Have a blessed day brothers and sisters.

Love,

Sarah.

body shame...

"You are what you eat" if this were so I'd be a dragron fruity loop and some chilli?!  While I'm sure there's great merit in this saying I do believe we can be so harsh on ourselves and our weight.  I have a few friends who have amazing bodies but don't feel good about their appearance.  They work hard.  They exercise and are aware of what they put in.  Sometimes we need to cut ourselves some slack and realise that our bodies are beautiful regardless of what neglect they may be in.  I mean this I really do.  It can be a cycle of negative thinking.  We ought to praise ourselves for simply being and making the slightest of efforts.  

Forgive yourself if you said you were going to go to the gym and didn't.  Move on.  It doesn't have to stay that way no matter how long that way has been.  You are beautiful regardless of your size.  We all have a natural disposition aka genes that play a big factor.

I have been living in Taiwan for a year seeing the Taiwanese eat countless meals of what is considered fattening food without a dent in their weight.  For some fatty food does not mean a high BMI.  Everyone is different and before you start seeing your body as what you ate (that bag of chips) cut yourself some slack.

You don't deserve to be defined by a french frie.  You are you and that is a beautiful thing.

Ok, rant over!

Love,

Phoenix and Sarah