tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-73081293528249419902024-03-14T03:49:38.363-07:00Sergio Snyder - Writer, Director, Actor, Singer and more!Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-27921384801047980532016-03-19T09:47:00.000-07:002016-03-19T09:47:04.481-07:00Blank Space<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfozYwDESvhILkVAg7YdrLhsaEiFCGbuQdu1h8oUzAuja8gRNP8OeGvkGvx46mGL-rjJekfoyHh0eHOtno2sKKvi2cM6TKNVDKozIdaro9RCH7eubuV07fcVeBAsHjgiAr1u5oGmBud4/s1600/blank-monitor-112996054549vN.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFfozYwDESvhILkVAg7YdrLhsaEiFCGbuQdu1h8oUzAuja8gRNP8OeGvkGvx46mGL-rjJekfoyHh0eHOtno2sKKvi2cM6TKNVDKozIdaro9RCH7eubuV07fcVeBAsHjgiAr1u5oGmBud4/s320/blank-monitor-112996054549vN.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><span style="font-size: x-large;">H</span>e sat there,
just staring into the blank screen. He had been sitting for hours looking at
it, and it was blank, just like his thoughts.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He knew he had
to write something, it was the only thing he could do. But what? Nothing was
coming out of his imagination. He knew he had to put something down, but what?
There was nothing coming out of his head.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">All of his life
he had been able to sit, and put pen to paper, without a doubt. All of his life
his head was full of ideas, waiting to burst out. For him, to write was second
nature, was part of who he was. He had never had a doubt. But today for the
first time, he could not do it, he could not execute the one thing he was born
to do, write.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">But what he was
trying to write was just not coming out and he could not figure it out. For he
was a person who could take a look at something, and bring it to life into a
story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">But this time
not even that, not even a simple story.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">All of his life
he had been able to just sit down and vomit onto paper what was on his head.
And he had no technic. There were not complex roadmaps, post its all over a
wall, spider-grams, mountains of notes, research of characters or places; no
notes, no history, just one single thought turned into a story. In a way he was
very relaxed in his approach, he always believed this was the way he should
write. But something had changed and now he was stuck, there, in front of the
screen, lost in his own space, a blank and empty space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He continued to
stare at the blank screen, the curser blinking continually as if saying “I’m
ready to go”, it just kept blinking and winking at him. His hands did not move,
they sat at each side of the computer keyboard; sitting still, with the occasional
tap of his fingers, like playing a piano. His eyes would wink occasionally to
moist, sometimes in perfect sync with the curser. Several times he had to scratch
his left ear, he wasn’t sure if it was a genuine itch or a nervous tick, either
way this had been the most repetitive action he had done since he had sat in front
of the computer several hours ago.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He didn’t dare take
his eyes of the screen, just in case an idea would come, he wanted to be ready
to put it down. He was thirsty and could do with a glass of fresh water.
However, getting up to such activity would distract him and take him away from
the screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">It had been
several months since he had turn on the machine, he found a hundred and one
reason not to turn it on, so now he had finally done it, he was not prepared to
let it go just for a glass of water! He moist his lips and moved away from that
thought, he need to focus back onto the blank screen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">The curser continues
to blink and he continued to looked at it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Another repetitive
occasional action was to gently rub his index finger on the touch pad of his
computer to keep the screen from falling a sleep. It was quite annoying and
found it a real distraction. And every time he did this his mind would wonder
somewhere else for a few seconds, it would take his thoughts away from the
blank space in front of him.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">In one of such
moments, the distraction tempted him to go to the toilet, he hadn't been since
he sat down to write. Though he didn’t suffer from a weak bladder, he was known
to visit the toilet several times whilst writing. Mind you this was caused by
the tremendous amount of drinks he would consume during a writing session,
every from coffee to soft drinks to the occasional glass of wine, for
inspiration purposes of course. Ah, yes, he could do with one of those now, may
be it would help… But the thought of getting up and losing his concentration
prevented him even from going to get a glass of water! It had been too long
since he sat down to write and he was not going to give it up for a frivolous
indulgence such as water or alcohol. Oh no, he would not let this happen so he
just sat there staring at the blank space in his computer. He winked twice,
tapped his fingers once and sat there waiting to put something down. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Suddenly the
bell rang, it was the door bell and someone was outside. “What should I do”, he
asked himself, “should I answer or ignore it?” The bell rang again, this time
followed by a knock on the door. “Unbelievable!” He thought “do people don’t
know I’m trying to write?” A third attempt came, door bell, knock on the door
and this time complemented by a “is there anyone at home?” “Is there anyone at
home? Really? If there was they would have answer the first time! Why would
someone go out of their way to knock three times thinking there is someone at
home!” He paused, perplexed, and slightly aware of what he had just said to
himself. And a fourth attempt came from a very persistent person outside his
door. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Being highly
critical of himself, he realised that his previous thought made no sense, here
is what went thought his head; if someone outside was keen to talk to someone
inside and for him to think that the person outside thought there was no one
inside, this was incorrect as he was inside, and someone outside was trying to
find if there was someone inside! This muddled up thought suddenly overwhelmed
him and he rushed to the door and opened it only to find an empty space, the
very insistent person outside had given up thinking there was someone inside and
left.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">And now he was
standing there, staring at an empty space, not knowing what could have been so
important that made a person knock four times loudly thinking there was someone
inside!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Could It have
been important? Or was it just someone trying to sell him something, or talk to
him about something? I guess he would never know. Unless of course it was a
matter of life and death in which case they would come back or try to contact
him through other means.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He shut the
door, walked back to his computer and sat in front of the blank screen. For ten
seconds he watched the curser blink ten times, and on the eleven his hands
lifted from the side and rested on the keyboard, and he began to write down his
thoughts, thoughts of what had just happened.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">After five
hours, three cups of coffee, two diet cokes, several glasses of water, a half a
bottle of wine and several visits to the toilet, he placed the final full stop
in his story called “blank space” he looked at it, smile and realised that
looking at a blank space is no way to get inspired to write, the stories
waiting to be told are out there, somewhere, you just have to look for them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="380">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">He never found
out who knocked on his door four times that day, but a small action lead to an
extraordinary event told in a story that filled a blank space.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-84885446324136776922016-02-21T22:20:00.002-08:002016-02-21T22:22:24.917-08:00You know you are getting old when…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0D__clKnBvIecz_0qPi1L9urMMy8s3BESxvmv0UINJ8fT6nhDj79ePF9Efiha-7BxFahSeGR7gY00Nlalj1qgfjY1TCcPf3UI75s03vDola0d5DIinJEnVEUWeBBGyNiCU-TspVp6zEI/s1600/20151229_222731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0D__clKnBvIecz_0qPi1L9urMMy8s3BESxvmv0UINJ8fT6nhDj79ePF9Efiha-7BxFahSeGR7gY00Nlalj1qgfjY1TCcPf3UI75s03vDola0d5DIinJEnVEUWeBBGyNiCU-TspVp6zEI/s400/20151229_222731.jpg" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Take life with a bit more happiness!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
You know you are getting old when your arm cannot stretch any more for you to read the small print on the pills the doctor prescribed as you went to see him for several pains and aches you have. But this is just one of many ways you know you are getting old!<br />
<br />
Reading glasses and aches and pains are things you get used to when you get old, but what’s hard to comprehend is when you walk into a store and everyone around you is at least 30 years younger than you! And the assistant looks like he has just taken off his Scool uniform and changed to serve you (which most probably he has!). This weekend I went out to the shops as most weekends and for the first time I became acutely aware of people being tremendously younger than me (not that I am that old by the way…).<br />
<br />
And it is incredibly uncomfortable when you go into a shop which you think you can easily wear what they sell there but everyone buy and serving has just left school! I have always been aware of getting old and made claims that I will like to grow old gracefully (I started to shave my head 10 years ago when I first notice I was starting to look like and old Maths Profesor) and when I turned 45 I named it my “half way year” (meaning I would like to get to 90 healthily and happily) and I have never had an issue with my age. So why did I suddenly become so overwhelmed by all this young people around me? I think it’s because I know that soon, I will be hitting my fifties (two years to go) and I’ve now reached an age where I cannot longer pretend to be a teenager!<br />
<br />
And don’t get me wrong, I am a believer that you are only as old as you think, I still stand by that, but it is inevitable that eventually you will look older than most people around you and that there are certain places that will be dominated by a generation younger than you. I will of course, not stop attending this places, and by all means I will not start frequenting old pensioners’ clubs, I just need to accept and realised that from now on everyone around me could look a lot younger than me! (I guess this is why some people spend millions on plastic surgery to make them look as if they never left their 20’s)<br />
<br />
The secret to also staying young and feeling young (even if you don’t look it) is staying in tune with what is going on around us and keep up with all technological advances so you don’t ever sound like you parents when talking to a younger shop attendant as she says to you “let me get the iPad to check if they have stock on the other store” a what? In my days you would need to call them to know what they had!<br />
<br />
There are plenty of advantages to getting old too! This weekend I saw in a retro shop a phone my mother had going for 160 pounds! I would have thrown the old thing to the bin yet now it retails for a ridiculous price. The older we get the more attractive and expensive we become!!<br />
<br />
Yes let’s accept that age is a graceful way of getting old and as Helen Mirren said in her recent commercial for an anti- ageing cream campaign “it has take over 60 years to look this good” I will be joining a club called “the 49ners” which a friend of mine and I thought about, when we get to the age of 49 (this year for me) we will no longer celebrate further and stay 49 for the rest of our lives! In the words of Helen Mirren… “It has taken me 49 year to look and feel this bloody good, so I’m staying put”<br />
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-84791712651894931902016-01-09T03:18:00.003-08:002016-01-09T03:18:38.295-08:00#Happy #2016 and may all your #wishes come true!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfj5HGch7JPRz_a7sZwV3Dw3yMvKE_XaiAlI25ZhQ08xkvxs_gQGTWq8YdOKQ58SGRQ_BL_FwWn4qiDUD_60CStY-n9sAR-Y0NBMfBppDm27QqcrTMC7y-oddOO8msAJ9b7tWSV6Ixso/s1600/23792949460_4bcee6d164_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUfj5HGch7JPRz_a7sZwV3Dw3yMvKE_XaiAlI25ZhQ08xkvxs_gQGTWq8YdOKQ58SGRQ_BL_FwWn4qiDUD_60CStY-n9sAR-Y0NBMfBppDm27QqcrTMC7y-oddOO8msAJ9b7tWSV6Ixso/s320/23792949460_4bcee6d164_o.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-GB">And we are off! </span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">2016 is here and the first few days are done! And I am sure your 2015 was waved
goodbye with hundreds of farewell wishes and your 2016 was welcome with hundreds
of good wishes and aspirations or as they are better know “New Year’s
Resolutions!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Some time ago I
wrote a blog pointing out that my New Year’s resolution was to not do any more “New
Years resolutions” but turn them into dreams which in term become our future
realities. And if like me you want to achieve a lot in 2016, rather than
calling them New Year’s resolutions call them your 2016 goals!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">My son, only 14,
became aware of this mystical tradition that has rule humans for hundreds of
years (I’m not sure how many as I don’t know who came up with this but whoever
invented New Years resolutions should be shot!) and incredibly, only at the age
of 14 pointed out to me that it was crazy that people waited until the 31<sup>st</sup>
December or 1<sup>st</sup> of January to do things they can do now, today, and
he went further on to point out that you don’t need to wait to make things
happened. I was ecstatic hearing this and of course agreed with him 110%!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">During the
festive season I took time to ponder on this. And it is incredible that many of
our friends, work colleagues, family and strangers take the time to “wish you
all the best for the new year” and “may all your dreams come true” through
various forms of communication. One that sticks out nowadays is Facebook. Many
people took the time to wish everyone all of the things they never wish for you
the rest of the year and merrily inundated your Facebook feed with these post. And
not wanting to sound like Scrooge (although those that know me well will know
my views on the festive season) many of those well wishes were in some
instances meaningless and well, seasonal. Have you ever heard of the old say “a
puppy is not just for Christmas”? well I think this is a bit like this, here is
my point:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Just like New
Years resolutions which are seasonal and a waist of time as you should always
set yourself goals throughout the year, we should not just post over the
holiday season well wishes for everyone which again are meaningless and a waist
of time and instead we should make an effort to keep in contact with all those
people throughout the year and more importantly wish them health and happiness
all of the time and not just once a year. Wouldn’t that be more meaningful and
appreciative of people?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I really don’t
want to say people should not celebrate Christmas, that’s not my point, like it
is not too say you should not <span style="mso-tab-count: 1;"> </span>have
goals (call them New Years resolutions if you wish) but I would like to see
people taking the time to check in on people more than once a year, drop them a
note and wish them well in March, June and September. I would like to see
people focus on goals more than once a year which become extreme and a burden, stopping
people from following through with them but rather start a new goal in
February, May, August and October or whenever you want to achieve something.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">If you make a
habit of these two things, checking in on people more than once a year and setting
new goals whenever you want to achieve something, your life will take a
different meaning. And remember that this will be less work than the marathon
effort every year to send all those Christmas cards and making those
commitments which are hard to follow. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="380">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Practicing this
will make a habit and a habit becomes part of you and a life time commitment to
stay in contact with friend and achieve your dreams!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-80259199416391458832015-12-27T10:56:00.000-08:002015-12-27T10:56:17.466-08:00Don't #reminiscent on the #past but #look #forward to the #future!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:RelyOnVML/>
<o:AllowPNG/>
<o:PixelsPerInch>96</o:PixelsPerInch>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:View>Normal</w:View>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves/>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:DoNotPromoteQF/>
<w:LidThemeOther>EN-GB</w:LidThemeOther>
<w:LidThemeAsian>X-NONE</w:LidThemeAsian>
<w:LidThemeComplexScript>X-NONE</w:LidThemeComplexScript>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:SnapToGridInCell/>
<w:WrapTextWithPunct/>
<w:UseAsianBreakRules/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:SplitPgBreakAndParaMark/>
<w:EnableOpenTypeKerning/>
<w:DontFlipMirrorIndents/>
<w:OverrideTableStyleHps/>
</w:Compatibility>
<m:mathPr>
<m:mathFont m:val="Cambria Math"/>
<m:brkBin m:val="before"/>
<m:brkBinSub m:val="--"/>
<m:smallFrac m:val="off"/>
<m:dispDef/>
<m:lMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:rMargin m:val="0"/>
<m:defJc m:val="centerGroup"/>
<m:wrapIndent m:val="1440"/>
<m:intLim m:val="subSup"/>
<m:naryLim m:val="undOvr"/>
</m:mathPr></w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" DefUnhideWhenUsed="false"
DefSemiHidden="false" DefQFormat="false" DefPriority="99"
LatentStyleCount="380">
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="0" QFormat="true" Name="Normal"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" QFormat="true" Name="heading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="9" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="heading 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="toc 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footer"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="index heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="35" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="caption"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of figures"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="envelope return"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="footnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="line number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="page number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="endnote text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="table of authorities"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="macro"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="toa heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Bullet 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Number 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="10" QFormat="true" Name="Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Closing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Default Paragraph Font"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="List Continue 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Message Header"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="11" QFormat="true" Name="Subtitle"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Salutation"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Date"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text First Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Body Text Indent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Block Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Hyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="FollowedHyperlink"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="22" QFormat="true" Name="Strong"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="20" QFormat="true" Name="Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Document Map"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Plain Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="E-mail Signature"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Top of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Bottom of Form"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal (Web)"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Acronym"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Address"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Cite"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Code"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Definition"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Keyboard"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Preformatted"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Sample"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Typewriter"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="HTML Variable"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Normal Table"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="annotation subject"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="No List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Outline List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Simple 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Classic 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Colorful 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Columns 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Grid 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table List 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table 3D effects 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Contemporary"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Elegant"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Professional"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Subtle 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Web 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Balloon Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" Name="Table Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Table Theme"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 7"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 8"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" UnhideWhenUsed="true"
Name="Note Level 9"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Placeholder Text"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="1" QFormat="true" Name="No Spacing"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" SemiHidden="true" Name="Revision"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="34" QFormat="true"
Name="List Paragraph"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="29" QFormat="true" Name="Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="30" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Quote"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="60" Name="Light Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="61" Name="Light List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="62" Name="Light Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="63" Name="Medium Shading 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="64" Name="Medium Shading 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="65" Name="Medium List 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="66" Name="Medium List 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="67" Name="Medium Grid 1 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="68" Name="Medium Grid 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="69" Name="Medium Grid 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="70" Name="Dark List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="71" Name="Colorful Shading Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="72" Name="Colorful List Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="73" Name="Colorful Grid Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="19" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="21" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Emphasis"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="31" QFormat="true"
Name="Subtle Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="32" QFormat="true"
Name="Intense Reference"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="33" QFormat="true" Name="Book Title"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="37" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" Name="Bibliography"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="39" SemiHidden="true"
UnhideWhenUsed="true" QFormat="true" Name="TOC Heading"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="41" Name="Plain Table 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="42" Name="Plain Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="43" Name="Plain Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="44" Name="Plain Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="45" Name="Plain Table 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="40" Name="Grid Table Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="Grid Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="Grid Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="Grid Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="Grid Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="Grid Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="Grid Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="Grid Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="Grid Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46" Name="List Table 1 Light"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51" Name="List Table 6 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52" Name="List Table 7 Colorful"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 1"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 2"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 3"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 4"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 5"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="46"
Name="List Table 1 Light Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="47" Name="List Table 2 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="48" Name="List Table 3 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="49" Name="List Table 4 Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="50" Name="List Table 5 Dark Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="51"
Name="List Table 6 Colorful Accent 6"/>
<w:LsdException Locked="false" Priority="52"
Name="List Table 7 Colorful Accent 6"/>
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-priority:99;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0in;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-GB;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I am sure you
have heard the expression “I got out of bed with the wrong foot” well this is
how I feel about 2015, I think I started it with the wrong foot!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">And I am not
talking about my bad knee which has caused me a lot of issues since the
beginning of the year and to date still not fixed. But this, together with
other bits and pieces at the time didn’t help and me start 2015 with the wrong
foot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I am, by nature,
a very positive person. And I believe that we all are masters of our own
destiny and how we feel and think has a great influence on this destiny. After
having an injury on my knee last year I decided, quite rightly, to stop running
and see a specialist. As a running junky that I became, I began 2015 having
withdrawal symptoms and fell into a bit of a depression. Running gave me lots
of energy, making me feel alert and enthusiastic and more importantly it gave
me time to think and clear my head during the exercise. Not having this, took
away that moment where I could think clearly, get ideas for my writing and let
some adrenaline out! I began to slowly put on weight and the next thing you
know I began to feel tired, with less energy and unable to get out of bed
feeling good and ready for the day. To date, I have gained almost 7 kilos and
done very little writing, and every time I have to get up I feel I haven’t had
enough sleep or been out parting all night (something I don’t do anymore, and I
don’t think I could on my present state!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">But why am I
telling you all this? It feels I am writing a letter of complaint to the weight
watchers or the knee fixer up people. But in reality I have been thinking about
this for a few months and this is the opportunity I have been looking for. Let
me explain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I think the last
time I wrote a blog was probably three months ago. And I have not completed any
scripts or stories until recently and only because I was in the annual New York
Midnight script writing competition I enter every year. My knee still not
better. I am struggling to loose those 7 kilos I have gained. With my knee not
showing any signs of recovery, at least for the near future, and unless I go
into an extreme diet, I am not likely to loose the 7 kilos I have (in fact I
may gain more with the holiday season ahead of us) and I know I have to do
something before the bells chime twelve times on the 31<sup>st</sup> December
and I am facing 2016.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I am not a
believer on New Years Resolutions, in fact I think they are a waist of time but
I do think that how I start 2016 will have a great impact on the rest of the
year as I have come to learn in 2015, and I guess learned it the hard way!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">I believe I have
to change my attitude and face the fact that I may not be able to run again at
least for a while, that I may have to find different ways to get my energy
back, alternative ways to have time to clear my head and organise my thoughts
to get new ideas to write blogs and scripts. I know that I want 2016 to be as
productive, exiting and rewarding as previous years and it all starts with me,
on that first minute of 2016 when I get out of bed with the right foot.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">Back in 2013 I
set myself a challenge to write a blog every week in 2014 and the previous year
I wanted to write my another epic musical, in 2011 I worked on my first film
script and event before that in 2010 my first ever musical! Where I failed in
2016 was not having that drive, that vision, that passion that helps us achieve
things. I have been the victim of my own negativity and this drove in turn the
lack of inspiration and energy.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">2016 I feel like
Arnold Schwarzenegger, “I’ll be back” and this time no feeling sorry for
myself. I am taking the next 5 days to prepare myself to welcome 2016 with a
positive attitude, an energetic outlook and inspiration to do something great.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-GB">If you, like me,
are glad to see the back of 2015, then join me in forgetting about the past and
looking forward to a bright and prosperous year ahead and make sure you welcome
2016 with the right foot, and that is with the right attitude, the right spirt,
the right energy and the right goals, it's all about getting that right foot
right!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--EndFragment--><br /></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-23210599372609232182015-09-26T02:14:00.000-07:002015-09-26T02:14:30.071-07:00The #ugly #face of #humans<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2-GybTre3J__Slfv4aoKm8kn0TP6wDMISlLBAeof28lBRPSkK-Mp5P-C7DL65jYrlJ3d-KMkvSvbgsXsStUmCK4rHlpA5aC_U6sMQWXBWUOol7Ou6VAK_CuLpMeMCKFSG9ChiYEjgwQ/s1600/happy-sad-mask.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjW2-GybTre3J__Slfv4aoKm8kn0TP6wDMISlLBAeof28lBRPSkK-Mp5P-C7DL65jYrlJ3d-KMkvSvbgsXsStUmCK4rHlpA5aC_U6sMQWXBWUOol7Ou6VAK_CuLpMeMCKFSG9ChiYEjgwQ/s320/happy-sad-mask.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I have always been fascinated by human behaviour (I wish I had been a
bit more focused at school and I could have become a psychologist) but instead
I became an actor, which, to some extends, studies human behaviour. And
throughout my life I have always found interesting observing how people react
in certain situations. This is particularly interesting in some places such as
airplanes, trains and buses, I guess in any confined space where you have to
share your personal space with others.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I have been lucky enough to have the opportunity to travel extensively
over the last 8 years and this has allowed me to see and experience some of
this “radical” behaviour us humans display in these confined spaces. These
experiences have been the subject of many of my blogs and scripts as I have
seen some things often beyond believe and you know you have to put that in a
movie!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But this week I’ve been exposed to an “ugly” side of us humans I had
never seen before. And I guess I had never witnessed it because like every
other human, I also have this “ugly” face. And what I experienced this week
made me realised how egocentric we all are and how these confined and crowded
places make our behaviour change.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Two weeks ago I had a knee surgery and I was asked to rest for two week
from my hectic travel. So I have been confined to the safety of my house with a
sore leg and trying to get back to normal. I have always been a fairly active
person so I have been dying to get back to work. On Thursday I had to go to
London and I was looking forward to getting out and about. Still with one
crutch in hand, I set off from my hometown to London looking forward to be back
on my own two feet.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I arrived very early that morning and I decided to take the tube to
work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I was determined not to feel
sorry for myself and just go slow and get there. That morning was fine, not too
many people and I managed to get to my destination feeling quite accomplished
and ready for my day. I guess part of the recovery process is to believe you
can do things and it makes you feel good. As it had been such as success I
thought I repeat the same on my way back and take the underground again… I
guess I was wrong!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I do not want to pretend to know how a person with a disability must
feel, I could never do that, but having a recently operated knee and limited
mobility with the aid of a crutch, I never expected to encounter what I did
that Thursday afternoon in the underground. I truly came face to face for the
first time in my life with the “ugly” side of us human beings cutely aware of
it by my temporary disability. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It was rush hour and there were, as usual, thousands of people trying to
get home. And everyone has to get somewhere and everyone has their own agenda,
I know, I’ve been there. And must of the time people are rushing to get the
next train or bus and time is of the essence to make sure you make that
departure time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then those who
are not in a rush have their music on and close themselves in their own world,
not paying attention to anything or anyone around them. I was trying to get
home too, I also had my own schedule, I had left the office well in advance, as
I knew it was going to take longer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But as soon as I hit the station I began to experience this “ugly” face
of human beings, wrapped in their own world and not caring for anyone else
around them. Let me walk you though some of the things I experienced.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ticket
barrier, people push themselves to get through these as fast as they can, I had
a crutch, my bag and my sore knee, I was slow getting through the barrier. I
nearly got pushed to one side by a woman who clearly didn’t care I was
struggling to get through this narrow space before the door would shut on my
leg!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The
escalators, people want to run down and will push their way through those who
chose to stand still, I was trying to jump onto the moving step when someone
brushed passed me, pushed my bag out of the way and almost made me lose my
balance as I step onto the moving escalator!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I had to
wait for three trains before I was able to board, it was crowded, and most
people push themselves forward and squish themselves before the doors close.
It’s hard to do this with a crutch, a bag and a sore knee! Eventually someone
made a space big enough for me to be able to get on the train otherwise I think
I still be there!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Getting
off the train! That was interesting! I had my back to the door and when it
opened, I did not fall backward because there is a god out there! I had to turn
around, slowly and then slowly get off the train. Well a sea of people behind
me push and if it hadn’t been for the person who made the space for me I think
I would have been flat on my arse!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But the
“ugliest” of all was a man I encounter going up a staircase, he takes the
“ugliest” face of humans award! On the last leg (pardon the expression) of my
journey there is a set of stairs you need to claim to get to the platform where
I change trains. This staircase is usually crowded in one direction where
everyone is going, with the exception of a few (4 or 5 people) who are
travelling the opposite way. These 4 or 5 individuals usually take the side and
try and make their way down pushing their way through hundreds coming the
opposite way. It makes sense, no doubt, that they stick to the rail as they try
to come down the steps. It only make sense until you meet someone coming the
opposite direction with the hundreds of people holding onto the rail because he
has a crutch on the other hand and is clearly struggling to get up the stairs.
I was already exasperated by all the previous encounters and being pushed as I
was not claiming the stairs fast enough when I came literally face to face with
this ugly human being! He said to me “excuse me” and I looked at him and said,
“I can’t move!”. He then looked at me and at this point you’d think he would
have realised my predicament, so he said, “I need to get down” I paused and I
thought is he serious? I looked at him and then he said again “excuse me!” so I
slowly moved to one side letting go of the rail and feeling just a little bit nervous.
He walked down and I then moved back and held onto the rail but of course not
before two or three others pushed passed me seeing a gap and an opportunity to
rush! I stopped, shocked more than anything, when I heard a person saying “are
you ok? Do you need some help?” I thank them and said no and I carried on my
epic journey to the coach station to get back to the safety of my home!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This experience made me realised how selfish we can be, I knew we were
but not to that extent, and how these environments bring the worst in us. And I
say us because I’ve been there; I am one of those commuters pushing my way
through to catch the train. I am also ashamed that it has taken this experience
for me to realised this “ugly’ behaviour we display every day, that it has
taken for me to be in a situation many people are in permanently to realised
how hard it is for them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As a writer it has given me the ability to see another side of humans I
can now relate to. As a human it has made me more aware of everything around
me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hope this blog can help all
of us to realise that we should be aware of our surroundings and know there are
people out there who may need our help also get somewhere.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-57112519124512573122015-09-04T10:11:00.002-07:002015-09-05T04:51:43.817-07:00Should #Talent be shared?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen="" class="YOUTUBE-iframe-video" data-thumbnail-src="https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ZKenn2vHDz0/0.jpg" frameborder="0" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/ZKenn2vHDz0?feature=player_embedded" width="320"></iframe></div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b>a video song of Maestro Sergio Snyder, Pianist</b></div>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><div style="text-align: center;">
<b>A tribute to a very talented man, he shared this joy with thousands in his life!</b></div>
</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When you listen to Beethoven’s 5<sup>th</sup> symphony it’s hard to
imagine how could anyone write such a magnificent piece. And when you look at a
Picasso or Monett, makes you think of the hours they spent with every single
stroke of a brush trying to bring life into their pictures. The inspirational
performances of actors, dancers, musicians and singers make us stand for five
minutes clapping our hearts out in admiration for their craft. Enjoying a carefully
crafted meal from an award-winning chef and it's delights in our taste butts and leaves
us wanting more. A beautiful pair of custom made shoes, a designer dinning
table, a high performance sports car, are all personal possessions people seek and
desire to own because of it’s unique craftsmanship. All of these are made or
produced by very talented individuals who are masters in their craft and bring
joy to people through their art. Whether it is in the form of a song or a piece
of clothing, all are representations of someone’s talent that have enriched our
lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Now imagine a world without Beethoven’s 5<sup>th</sup> symphony? I guess
if he hadn’t exist we wouldn’t know any better and probably life would have
gone on, but how tragic it would be not to have the joy of listening to such
master piece! I guess everything around us, if it hadn’t been written, produced
or invented, we wouldn’t know we were missing out on such magnificent things,
and perhaps others would be available to us.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But what does it all mean to us? And why is it important to know that
talents should be shared? A few months ago I wrote a blog called “talent, gift
or ability” in which I debated that you cannot learn talent, it is something
you cannot teach and you are born with it. We all have talents, and they range
from writing a master piece to managing a team or even driving a car or cooking
a meal, whatever your talents are, these are the things you are good at and
makes you who you are.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But talent’s worst enemy is lack of self-confidence and fear of failure.
These stop even the greatest from bringing their talent to the world. If Mozart
thought his music was rubbish and he was not good at it, we would not have the
pleasure of enjoying his work today. Yet he knew he had a talent and wanted to
share this with others, but was there another “Mozart” out there, just as
talented but with a lack of self-confidence; I guess well we will never know
and perhaps we have all be deprived of the joy of enjoying his/her work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The real debate here is - if you have someone who has a real talent and
enjoys his or her gift but lacks self confidence and does not wish to share it
with others because of fear of rejection or failing, is that ok? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Everything we have and enjoy today is because a talented person wanted
to share their gift with the world. If Michael Jackson had decided he loved
signing but would confine it to the shower, the pop world would be very
different today and non of us would have made a fool of ourselves dancing to
Thriller pretending to be a corps! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We all have different talents, and as long as we are aware of these, it
is our duty to share these with the world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If you know you have a talent, but doubt yourselves I implore you to go
out there and don’t let fear kill your gift, and share with the world what you
are good at. We all have a role to play in life and after all talent is a gift
we have been given, a gift we have to share with the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-50875964061938980732015-08-01T05:49:00.006-07:002015-08-01T05:49:58.049-07:00Worlds Apart<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjue_CzG-bk__iT88aEzX6RdtenFMLxh4LOFPwDBFMK3Jiu92ItesapNuNQ75v7Z5wuHYv7NMKsidsCY3_PamUYbtM2fX9FzlnpgqDSVW34WRJtkE3ULSOJNVAtSScSxvXWBayis5o5M3Y/s1600/worlds-apart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjue_CzG-bk__iT88aEzX6RdtenFMLxh4LOFPwDBFMK3Jiu92ItesapNuNQ75v7Z5wuHYv7NMKsidsCY3_PamUYbtM2fX9FzlnpgqDSVW34WRJtkE3ULSOJNVAtSScSxvXWBayis5o5M3Y/s320/worlds-apart.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There are #moments in your #life that make you think, think hard of what
life is all about. And I get those moments very often. I guess these are the
bursts of #inspiration that drive me to #write and put my #thoughts on paper.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But recently I had one of those #moments that got me thinking very deeply,
so deeply that I felt I had to write about it. However, I have been struggling
the last couple of weeks, thinking about it but more importantly on how to
express what has been in my mind.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I like to bring to you the moment that got me thinking of what life is
all about in the form of a short story; a story is called “worlds apart” <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Ben” shouted my mother out loud
as she always does, “come back inside and get yourself cleaned up before
dinner” “don’t shout mother” I wanted to reply, I find it extremely annoying
being shouted at, “I’m not deaf you know”. “Five more minutes mum, please?” is
what I actually said to her. “Five more minute, not more” she shouted back!
What’s the matter with that woman there she goes shouting again!, “I’ll come in
when I want,” I wanted to shout back, but I didn’t. Honestly, I can’t stand the
way she always shouts… I wish I was somewhere else, far away from here! I hate
my life! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I love being outside… I relay
love the garden at this time of the year. I guess I’m going to grow up to be a
gardener; I love the smell of freshly cut grass, flowers booming with colours
and aromas you only smell in the summer. I love to see all the small insects
crawling all over the place and the occasional butterfly. If you want to see
beautiful butterflies you have to go down the riverbank, it’s just a stroll
away from our back garden, literally moments away… but I’m not allowed beyond
the gate, mum says it’s dangerous, that I can drawn! What a lot of rubbish! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Ben! How many times I have to
call you? Don’t let me come out and get you!” Yes, there she goes again! I
really hate my life! “Ben, come inside right now!” if only I was somewhere
else… beyond that gate!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Abdulla” shouted my mother out
loud as she always does “stay away from the door, you know it’s not safe being
out there” “don’t shout mother” I wanted to reply, I hate it when she shouts, “I’m
not deaf you know” is what I wanted to say but I might as well be, with all the
noise outside, I can’t stand it! “I’m just here mum, by the door, there hasn’t
been any sirens for a while…” “Ok, but stay inside” she shouted back, honestly
what’s the matter with her, why does she always have to shout?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I hate the way she always shouts; I
wish I was somewhere else, far away from here! I hate my life!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I really love to be outside; Even
though it’s very hot and humid, I love being outside and feeling the heat on my
skin, warming up my body, I love the feel of being able to run free, without a
care in the world. I wish I could be outside, playing, football. There is a
great field just a crawling distance from my house, moments away. There I can
kick the ball so hard, I could score a goal from midfield. If only mum let me
go, there are no sirens right now, so why does she say is dangerous? What a lot
of rubbish! <o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">“Abdulla, How many time I have to
tell you to move away from the door! Don’t let me tell you once more, stay
away!” Yes, there she goes again! I really hate my life! “Abdulla move away
from the door now!” if only I was somewhere else… beyond this dam door!<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ben and Abdulla live parallel lives – <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ben lives in a “safe” world, a world most of us know. Yet despite this
he hates his life and wishes to be somewhere else. The most danger his mother
has to worry about is he escaping through the back gate and drawn in the river…
a terrifying thought for any mother I his world. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Abdulla lives in a “dangerous” world, a world most of us would never
know. He hates his world; understandably, he is not even outside his front door
and wishes to be somewhere else. The most danger his mother has to worry about
is he escaping from the house and being killed by a bomb… a terrifying thought
for any mother in his world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ben and Abdulla live worlds apart, yet there is very little that
separates them. Their desire for being outside enjoying their childhood, their annoyance
towards their mother and the wish of being somewhere else, all parallel. Yet
the worlds they live in could not be so different, so apart. Right now, Ben is
in his world and Abdulla in his, their desires and dreams are the same, their environment
completely different.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For me what came into my head as I walked along the riverbank on a
perfect summer’s afternoon was where did it all go wrong? Why am I able to
enjoy this moment without a worry or a care in the world when somewhere else
there is terrible conflict and suffering? At that moment someone, just like me,
may be hiding for fear of being killed. Why can’t our two worlds be the same?
We are the same two human beings with feelings and desires; yet not everywhere we
live is the same… why?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-38565158540467957622015-07-18T01:14:00.000-07:002015-07-18T01:14:15.198-07:00There is always a reason why…<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxf39srJRrZYLzaBfYgdyHcbvwcE6C_VTib063pmikVcsnXim2MhqKPnasMvRbw7h5cEEjrNPKfTArYDIDYZvqRDOd87dc7JbAMK6WW7hkFzQlZqsg8qLaUaAMvsKDlb_G4DMDFVjPrU/s1600/IMG_0276.PNG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCxf39srJRrZYLzaBfYgdyHcbvwcE6C_VTib063pmikVcsnXim2MhqKPnasMvRbw7h5cEEjrNPKfTArYDIDYZvqRDOd87dc7JbAMK6WW7hkFzQlZqsg8qLaUaAMvsKDlb_G4DMDFVjPrU/s400/IMG_0276.PNG" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">It’s been two months since I last put pen to paper… and there is a
reason why.</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And to be honest the reason is not a valid reason but a reason
nonetheless, which is what promoted me to take time off my busy life and put
some of my thoughts down on my good old blog. It pushed myself to finally get
back on the saddle and ride my writing horse, something I really love, and have
always had time for. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I wanted to share with you all my thoughts this week based on the fact
that in life there is always a reason why we do or not do something, and that
the challenge we face, more often than not, is finding far more reasons why we
should not do something instead of why we should. It is human nature to divert
from what we should be doing, often by finding those reasons why we should. Let
me perhaps explain a little with a couple of examples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Last year I had a magnificent year, I was on top of my game. I wrote a
blog every week, I trained every day on the treadmill, which led me to complete
my first ever half marathon and I wrote two scripts. And I managed to do my
full time job too! This was all driven by my fundamental believe that you can
do anything you want and time is there for us to use it wisely. Being
disciplined with yourself is essential to achieve this and knowing that in life
is much easier to say no than to say yes; therefore you need to remain focus to
say yes rather than no. And why is it easier to say no? Because is the easiest
alternative and by nature humans always look for the easiest solution; not always
a bad thing, this is why we have progressed so much! However saying “I won’t
run today because it’s raining” is the easier alternative rather than drive to
the gym or indeed run in the rain! “I don’t have time, I’m just too tired” energy
comes from believing you have it. “I can’t do it” because to be able to do it
requires time, effort and commitment – which would you chose? Always the
easier, NO! In other words there is always a reason why… why we can’t, but
don’t forget there is also always a reason why… why we should!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So 2014 was my year of YES but 2015 has been the year of NO. Somehow I
have managed to lead myself to find reasons why I can’t! It all began with my
knee injury, which has put me out of running since last December. This has been
a real blow to my self-esteem and energy and after 4 months of physiotherapy I
now have an appointment to have surgery in September. It won’t be until
year-end that I will be able to run again! And somehow I managed to talk myself
into finding a reason why I can’t find alternative ways to stay fit, which has
led me to gaining 5 kilos and making myself deeply unhappy! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">At the same time I began to slip away from my writing and my newly
acquired passion “Vloging” There is a connection here; my lack of commitment to
stay fit is affecting my commitment to my passion and I have fallen into a deep
circle where there is always a reason why… I can’t or don’t have the time to do
something. And despite people reminding, often by commenting “we have not seen
your videos recently or your blogs” or “how’s the fitness going” I kept on
finding reasons why. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And it’s not about being busier or not being able to run, those are just
circumstances in my life, its about being in the right state of mind to drive
myself to make sure I have time and energy to do all of the things that I like,
which I always have had in the past, nothing has changed!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I began this blog saying I had not put pen to paper for two months and
there was a reason why. The reason was not valid but a reason all the same: I have
talked myself into believing I had no time to write or Vlog, when time is the
one thing I have! I guess the beauty of writing blogs is that one-day you can
look back at what you wrote and think, “I have fallen victim of my own
preaching and did exactly the opposite of what I believe” It’s good to know
that no one is perfect! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So today I am finding a reason why I need to get back on track. And the
reason is simple; it gives me great satisfaction and keeps me mentally healthy.
Ok I can’t run until I have my operation, but I can do other types of exercise
and watch what I eat! (at this point I have to credit my very wise, supportive,
understanding and always right wife who knows best and has been telling me to
do something else to stay fit… sorry you were right, again!) And ok I have a
lot of work, but there is always enough time to write, even if it is just a few
lines!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And finally I must remember the reason why I write, and that is “because
someone out there reads!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So I’m back, and there is a reason why…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-64915331699180149782015-05-30T01:05:00.000-07:002015-05-30T01:05:15.623-07:00Precious life<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnBrLlcE3ugCOl4DSmsIlLMmPxtTheuP6cbTBw7mgNCULRjYSZSWDWR7MqGbHrRXd0Sb8JonKKAcjxuYkaIZgviLkyLj4ySczOQIcskk7TXO_T3_Ft9h2dimdVNIu5GRNqdTPENXwm90/s1600/IMG_4432.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOnBrLlcE3ugCOl4DSmsIlLMmPxtTheuP6cbTBw7mgNCULRjYSZSWDWR7MqGbHrRXd0Sb8JonKKAcjxuYkaIZgviLkyLj4ySczOQIcskk7TXO_T3_Ft9h2dimdVNIu5GRNqdTPENXwm90/s320/IMG_4432.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">I went to the doctors
last week to have an annual medical examination. It is part of a new initiative
in the UK where they are trying to get as many people as possible to get a
check up and see how healthy they are. I myself had never had a medical
examination before, it’s not one of those things I ever thought about getting
done, so I saw it as an opportunity to have someone check me and tell me where
I’m in my health.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Needless to say,
thanks to my change in life style over the last few years and my personal commitment
to staying healthy, the nurse was very complementary and informed me that I
scored 4%. If you are not sure what that means, as I was when she informed me,
10% or below is considered to be healthy, so I guess I’m in pretty good shape.
I discussed with the nurse how my lifestyle had changed from giving up smoking
to the fact that I was overweight only a few years ago and did not
exercise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She praised me for my
commitment to the change and remarked that if I had not made that shift on my
life I would have probably scored 20% or above, which is considered a health
risk and she would have been referring me to a doctor to try and help me reduce
the chances of dying! (She didn’t put it as blunt as that but I know that’s
what she meant)</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">I reflected on
this as I left the doctor’s surgery and walked back home; It was a nice
morning, not too cold, the sun was shining and I became acutely aware of
everything around me. Life is beautiful and being here is something we often
forget, we often forget how precious life is. She was right, I should be proud
of myself, as I have reduced the risk of dying. And staying healthy is one of
many ways to ensure we treasure our precious life; keeping a balanced lifestyle
free from stress and pressures is another way to make sure you see at least your
80’s birthday. There is so much we can do and it only takes a little bit of
commitment. But you become more aware of how precious life is when you also
realize you are not always in control and no matter how healthy you live there
are external factors that may end up that precious life. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">As well as
reflecting on my surroundings and the positive results of my health check, I
remember some sad events that took place a few days earlier. Sadly two people I
knew had passed away, both unexpectedly and one of them in an accident. Hearing
this terribly sad news also remind me of how important is to live your life every
day as if it was your last. You can look after yourself in an effort to live a
long and prosperous life, but in an instance it can be taken away from you by events
you have no control over. I’ve known this for a long time; I myself was
involved in a car accident years ago from which I escaped unharmed, but often
we forget this and waste precious time with things that are meaningless and add
no value. We get into arguments and fights with loved ones, we leave things for
another day when every day the clock is ticking and we may no be here tomorrow
to see them done. Yes we can do our part to ensure we live a healthy and
balanced life, but life itself can be taken away in an instant, and there is
nothing you can do about it. One moment we are here, then next we are gone and
it can happen to anyone.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">This blog is
intended as a reminder to all of how precious life is. If you are unhealthy right
now, you can change that today to increase your chances of a long and prosperous
life. You can also start now to live today as if it is your last day; don’t
wait till tomorrow, as tomorrow may never come. Enjoy, love, sing, laugh out
loud, listen to the rain, feel the sunrays on your face and most of all
treasure every moment you have, don’t get angry and if you do, get over it
straight away, don’t waist your time, don’t give up and don’t leave for
tomorrow what you can do today. Spend your time with someone precious, precious
enough to share your precious life.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">Remember
yesterday is history, and you made it, tomorrow is a mystery and may never
come, but today is a gift and that’s why it’s called the present!</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-37395426126104848102015-05-16T04:55:00.000-07:002015-05-16T04:55:42.849-07:00No #news is good news.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVETQ6quGVyAIswwzg8dNiSt-ElWvtc1_UiipmRbectmnPEXgMPCIB1VaMVg4ZxrRtCCmP0ejv_p1Yi5PgxMr9bdSlXpFmtGrFhgrMBQ-hFUWj_bjSbjg50N4AeUMmMuojqUzQbzAARI/s1600/images-4.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwVETQ6quGVyAIswwzg8dNiSt-ElWvtc1_UiipmRbectmnPEXgMPCIB1VaMVg4ZxrRtCCmP0ejv_p1Yi5PgxMr9bdSlXpFmtGrFhgrMBQ-hFUWj_bjSbjg50N4AeUMmMuojqUzQbzAARI/s400/images-4.jpeg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Last week as I travelled to the #USA on a business trip, I had several
hours to kill and I decided to pick up the newspaper and do some reading. I
like to keep up with what’s going on in the world but usually I do this through
watching the news on either #BBC or #CNN.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I’m not sure how many of you read daily #newspapers but I was astonished
at the incredibly amount of depressing context and news gathered together in a
handful of pages. This particular newspaper, the #DailyMail, seemed to concentrate
on everything that has gone wrong in the world! Literally from cover to cover
all you had was negative stories focusing on the most depressing outlook. These
stories ranged from anything in #Politics (which is always depressing) to all
sorts of personal issues of people’s tragic lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I understand that what sells is sensational stuff and people want to
read things that are far from their reality, but why would you want to put
yourself through such a depressing time reading such negative stories? I
honestly felt like giving up on the world after I put the paper down, it seem a
terrible dark place. I don’t know if it was particularly this week but
everything seemed to go wrong form events such as the riots in #Baltimore, the glooming #elections in the UK and the #earthquake in #Nepal but all of these an other
non-world shattering stories filled the pages, one after an other, with more
and more drowning sorrows and negative connotations. I swear that the editors
of the paper where going for all negative news. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As I placed the paper on the pocket of my seat I felt excused as if I’d
just been to the end of the world and back, travelling through dark waters and
mysterious forests! I closed my eyes for a moment, I needed to find some peace
within me, I was feeling down, tired and in a right odd mood. I began to think
to myself, I had an 8-hour flight, it was a Saturday, I had left behind my
family after a short 18-hour stopover at home to change my suitcase, I was
still excused from my previous trip and I knew that after this week I had also
a fly to my next destination with another 18-hour visit at home to hand over my
dirty laundry and get clean shirts… MAN! I was feeling just like the newspaper,
negative and full of bad news!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Most people that know me would agree that I am a fairly upbeat person
and I always see the positive side of things. I was excited to be going to the
USA and the Saturday flight was giving me an opportunity to meet an old friend
for dinner before heading to my meeting on Sunday. I also love travelling and I
have never been put off by tight schedules or crazy o’clock departure times I
tend to do. And even if I just see my family for one day, I try to make the
most of that time together. I believe that everything in life is an opportunity
so you grab that opportunity and go along with it. So why was I feeling all of
the sudden so down? It didn’t take me that long to figure it out! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For years I have been training people on the power of positive and
negative thinking and how you can easily be influenced by the external world,
and those around you can also change your moods. Someone gives you positive
energy by his or her attitude and you feel energised, someone shares his or her
negative mentality and it brings you down! Having read so many negative stories
in the newspaper had a massive effect on me and had sent me to a deep negative
place I was struggling to get out of. It was a strange feeling, as if I had
just sat down with the most negative person and they had showered me with all
of their negative power. I guess it was just that, except that instead of a
person it was the written word! As soon as I realised this was what was keeping
me down, I quickly searched for positive influences, burying the newspaper in
the nearest bin. I turned to one of my favourite sitcoms “The Big Bang Theory” #bigbangtheory and I was out of my dark hole in no time, feeling both good and inspired (I
wish I could write comedy like that) bring my spirits up.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I am sure reading newspapers is an essential part of our lives, and perhaps
I picked up the wrong newspaper, on the wrong week, but one thing is for sure,
I’m sticking to watching the news on TV to get my daily up-to-date dose of
what’s going on in the world and I’ll leave the tabloids for those who enjoy
getting depressed on a daily bases! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-90905724519104912072015-03-21T04:24:00.001-07:002015-03-21T04:24:09.489-07:00Fostering Friendships<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This week I have said goodbye to a new friend as she stops being a work
colleague and we begin a life long friendship!</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQpb_gDjnX-3nrIqOsf7UUSLm64mYwjOfvf_A2qlqNbD4NPO7z4azSISYZSjkFt4oxFBgOCxwl4fqCOS8zcJG4NK2_SNDBYESQBkfR6xYZVLHsbRHehsjCtkA6NodUKzssajJHvlgvZw/s1600/images-3.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikQpb_gDjnX-3nrIqOsf7UUSLm64mYwjOfvf_A2qlqNbD4NPO7z4azSISYZSjkFt4oxFBgOCxwl4fqCOS8zcJG4NK2_SNDBYESQBkfR6xYZVLHsbRHehsjCtkA6NodUKzssajJHvlgvZw/s1600/images-3.jpeg" height="275" width="640" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Throughout our lives we meet all sorts of people with whom we come in
contact. We may see these people for only one day, or perhaps two, may be even
a month one year or could be a lifetime, but each and every individual forms
part of our lives and we have different relationships with all of them. I
categorise these in three buckets:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Everyday
fillers – those who you know as part of your everyday life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Essential
Relationships – these you need to function every day<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Symbol; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Symbol; mso-fareast-font-family: Symbol;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">·<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";">
</span></span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Long Life
Friendships – rear and add meaning to your life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Everyday fillers<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">These individuals are those you don’t care much but they are part of
your life – in other words you deal with them as part of your transactional
everyday life. They may be customers, neighbours, work colleagues or people you
come in contact with during your day; you are polite to them and they are
polite to you back. They make little contribution to your live or have no
effect or impact on us, they are there as part of our routine, but will not
miss them when they are gone. You may see these individuals for one day or a
lifetime, but you never forester that relationship and never moves form a
greeting or chitchat to anything meaningful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Essential Relationships<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Then we have those who we interact more and build a relationship with
and become essential for us to function. Those may again be customers, work
colleagues, schoolmates, or simply someone we see on a regular bases in social
circumstances (a bar, a club or at the occasional dinner party). We may share
things in common; our children go to the same school, we visit the same church
or live in the same area. We probably care a little bit more about these
individuals than the everyday fillers and, unlike the fillers; they have an
impact in our lives. This is usually as a result of us choosing to build a long-term
relationship (we worked together for a long time or have lived in the same
street for years) we have clicked with them and have form an alliance that
makes us feel comfortable with them. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">With this people, while we are with them we enjoy their company, due to
the more in-depth relationship their behaviour affects us (we slightly care
about what they think or do) but at the end of the day when they are gone we
would probably not miss them and may never see them again, unless circumstances
brings us together in the future in which case you are pleased to see them. But
you wouldn’t go out of your way to keep in touch. Social media has widen the
scope to stay in touch with people so perhaps we will continue to communicate
with them but this essential relationships become everyday fillers, we don’t
really care and we just scroll pass their posts on Facebook unless we want to
bitch about their new job, friends, houses or holidays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Long Life Friendships<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">These are those we care about, and have a massive impact in our lives.
These people are generally those we have chosen to be part of our lives. This
group are instrumental to our day-to-day life, long term plans and in general they
are part of who we are. We enjoy their company and respect them for who they
are; we care about their opinion and we value their input. These individuals
may not be in our lives every day, but they are present and always there.
Everything about them matters and distance or time has no effect on how we feel
about them, they have a special place in our lives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We, and they, have chosen to build a long life relationship and
will forester that relationship for the rest of our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And fostering relationships starts as everyday filler, moving to an
essential relationship before you become a long life friend!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Many of the people I consider important in my life started as everyday
fillers, becoming essential relationships and gradually I cared enough to
continue having them in my life. They moved from someone I knew to someone I liked
to someone I care about. And I may only see once these individuals in a blue
moon, but having them as part of my life makes a difference and I work hard to
continue fostering those friendships for a lifetime.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I am grateful for all the people I know and have met in my life, whether
they are everyday fillers, essential relationships or long life friends, I
think being able to have people around you is important to keep us going and remain
sane. Foster each of those relationships individually and how you want them to
affect your life, they will make you who you are and bring that richness in
your everyday life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-82394549584247396752015-03-14T05:14:00.000-07:002015-03-14T05:14:10.048-07:00Price tag! Is it really worth it?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Everything in life has a price but the big question for me this week is
- is it worth it? And how much something is worth is subjective and dependent
on so many factors you would need to be Einstein to work it out!</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne73_-Abx6tdCAFUZFXZ7UZeNtgoomAGIsQehhWyK6z1BtQrHAG0jo_VMOrXRb4lfWrkny8cvauOSbW-nrrHMOA80nPayDQStLijiO6wwUA2EQ3EG4sOwPq_7NjNexLeFmCotvTYdyUc/s1600/images-2.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhne73_-Abx6tdCAFUZFXZ7UZeNtgoomAGIsQehhWyK6z1BtQrHAG0jo_VMOrXRb4lfWrkny8cvauOSbW-nrrHMOA80nPayDQStLijiO6wwUA2EQ3EG4sOwPq_7NjNexLeFmCotvTYdyUc/s1600/images-2.jpeg" /></a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If like me you are an Apple avid fan you would have been holding onto
the edge of your sit as Apple announced the much awaited release of the Apple
watch to the market this coming April. And if like me you were holding onto the
edge of your sit waiting for the details so you could rush out and get yourself
a brand spanking new apple watch, shortly after you would have fallen off my
chair when they announced the price tags of these devices! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I don’t think I have ever been so disappointed in my life! As I picked myself
up form the floor and threw a glass of water over my face to make sure I was
not dreaming, it began to sink that I was probably not going to get myself a
new gadget this summer.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Don’t get me wrong, I love Apple and all it means, and I am always prepare
to pay top dollar for their products, but I think this time they push the
needle too far. To have what I consider a gadget or accessory to the already
expensive I-phone costing as much or even more than the phone itself it’s
beyond my understanding. You need to realise that for the watch to work you
need to have a phone, so how can it cost as much as the phone? Where is the
logic in that? And not only it is expensive, this is first generation and many
features or enhancements have not been brought in to their customers, so
technically it is a watch that tells you the time, your heart beat and will
send messages all for the price of a fully functional smart phone… am I missing
something here?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The disappointment really got me thinking about what this all means (I
guess knowing I won’t own an apple watch for a while gives me time to do other
things with my life, like thinking!) I realise that everything in life has a
price tag but it is not always worth the figure is written on it, or at least
not to everyone. And that perception of worth goes with everything, not just
material things. I have often seen people asking for more money because they
think they are worth a lot more than what they get paid. In some cases they are
right, but most of the times no one has held a mirror against them and showed
them what they are really worth. This is the issue that occurs when people
share things like salaries, once you know what someone is earning, you think
you are much more expensive than them and start to demand more money. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We shop at Lidl, the German supermarket that a few years ago in England
was considered a shop for lower classes. They sell products for much lower
prices that some other supermarkets but this does not mean they are lower
quality; they are, in many cases, just unknown brands to the UK. After the
recession hit hard, many which in the past would have turned their noses up to
products they thought were cheap (which they were but also tasty) are now
regular consumers of these products and the company has grown bigger than ever.
So why do some people still pay higher prices for similar branded products in
other shops? I guess the answer is similar to why Apple has brought a watch that
cost as much as a smart phone, there is still a market for those who think that
paying higher prices means they are getting something better. I guess is all a
matter of status and choices, and if you think that it is worth it, you will go
out and get it, no matter how much it costs.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We all have things we value and are prepared to pay for them if we think
they are worth it, no matter how much they cost; a car, a house, a television,
a computer or smart phone or even a watch, but for me at the end of the day you
have to keep in mind - is the price you are paying is in proportion and value
to everything else around you? <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sometimes it just doesn’t make sense and you will be better
off finding something that really represents its value and that you are getting
what you are paying for. Believe me, as an Apple loyal customer, I can tell you
right now that 600 USD for a watch is not worth the money.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I shall sit and wait, to see how this goes and if the prices eventually will
drop. I just hope that my addiction for apple products doesn’t over take and I
end up paying too much money to know what time it is and how many steps I took today!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-69475086185716203902015-02-28T01:48:00.000-08:002015-02-28T01:48:13.032-08:00Week Nine 2015 – Redefining your focus<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvadP79Yt-Mze1_orkGKR_vjjerRRxR24k6HxF-QOrorzRb0IovIkAIYKbtJ3McPC94IC0f1An1jxbdivNV_zXWlx_CUp-UgiHle5jVztpwPYPQ8CoUKdOfU9cN-Z9Fv2ipLOXZtTBhY/s1600/note-to-self-stay-focused.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpvadP79Yt-Mze1_orkGKR_vjjerRRxR24k6HxF-QOrorzRb0IovIkAIYKbtJ3McPC94IC0f1An1jxbdivNV_zXWlx_CUp-UgiHle5jVztpwPYPQ8CoUKdOfU9cN-Z9Fv2ipLOXZtTBhY/s1600/note-to-self-stay-focused.jpg" height="228" width="400" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Our lives can be so busy we may loose sight of what our focus is and
instead of achieving a lot we thin down our successes. </span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In case you didn’t notice (and this will prove the point of this blog)
this is week nine of 2015 and I skipped week eight!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This was done on purpose and I needed to break the norm to
find out what this is really all about. After the successful completion of my
52-week blog challenge last year, I began 2015 with the same pace of writing a
weekly blog. This was partly due to a very positive comment from someone
encouraging me to continue to write weekly, but also because it has become and
habit and once a habit is formed it’s easy to continue doing something. I also
added to my already fully packed bag of hobbies doing a video Vlog of my
travels, inspired by my children who watch endless hours of videos in YouTube
and the self indulgent Christmas gift I gave myself in the form of the famous
Selfie Stick. So it was only appropriate to adopt this new task and produce
this weekly video.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But last week, as I sat and edited my video Vlog and tried to look for
inspiration to write my blog and I began to get that feeling that I was doing
too much and accomplishing perhaps too little. This thought came into my head
as I also stumbled upon an incomplete play I have been working on and never
finished. I was really miffed when I opened the file and began to read the
dialog and realised I had not finished giving life to the story and its
characters and now going back was harder as I had lost the thread of the story
and needed to re-read and re-think the idea. I had been so busy writing weekly
blogs and video Vlogs that I had forgotten I was working on this script. And to
top up all these feelings I watch the Oscars thinking “I’ll never get there if
I don’t focus on trying to write that golden nugget that will get me to
Hollywood” If I am too busy with lots of little projects I will struggle to get
anything big done.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So I put the proverbial pen a paper down and decided to redefine my
focus. Whilst I really enjoyed the challenge of writing every week I needed to
think about what my focus as a writer is. Apart from the fact that I guess you
do run out of subject to write every week and I have added the video Vlogs to
my repertoire which I also enjoy doing, all this drove me to neglect my script
writing which at the end of the day is where my real passion (and I think my
talent) really is. Wanting to be in the limelight and doing so much has made me
realise I have so much to give but at the end I am just churning stuff to get
it out there. I felt a bit like a reporter of a dally newspaper having to meet
datelines and get my work out on time, which at the end of the day takes away
the pleasure of what I do and why I do it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So I have made a conscious decision to continue to bring to you my blogs
but not in such a prescriptive manner, I guess just like I did before 2014, I
want to write about experiences I see and come across as and when they emerge
rather than trying to find these so that I can meet a dateline to get this to
you. I know my loyal and trusty readers and follower won’t mind to get my blogs
less often combined with video Vlogs and the occasional script or short story
(in fact you may be glad you don’t have to read my stuff every week! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">) So from now own, some weeks you may get a
Vlog, or a Blog or a short story, a script or just simply a note keeping you up
to date with my work.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Taking time out is a valuable lesson we should all keep in mind
particularly when we feel we have lost our sense of purpose or direction.
Sometimes stepping back and re-examining what we do will demonstrate that
somewhere along the line we got side tracked, or derailed or even distracted
from the real purpose and meaning of our passion, our focus, of the things we
really enjoy in life. I encourage you to take time off, like me, to redefine
your purpose, your goals, and your focus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Life is a destination and there are many roads that lead us to the end,
but if we loose ourselves by taking to many avenues, we end up in the dirt
track with no real direction or clear view of our end goal. I’m off to finish
that script I never completed and start the next project, who knows, this may
be the one that gets me that ticket to the red carpet one day!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-20845161671059532542015-02-14T10:23:00.002-08:002015-02-14T10:23:43.698-08:00Week Seven 2015 – The power of a Smile<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span lang="EN-US">There is nothing
more powerful and more contagious than a smile, so give generously!</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqFp6OQOWLQx7MDFzwsrTomog9hqNSGpYVAZ3CdhVJQxHC27dMFpa0gnDUpyhKLgtsuXpDb6R2wHtFeu1cSQH2NqlinIKiGzQFgZhsqQ8pbsu3BVwGIWGWq1sh3xH9QagkFGyGV0x0jM/s1600/14+Feb+2015+18:22:02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLqFp6OQOWLQx7MDFzwsrTomog9hqNSGpYVAZ3CdhVJQxHC27dMFpa0gnDUpyhKLgtsuXpDb6R2wHtFeu1cSQH2NqlinIKiGzQFgZhsqQ8pbsu3BVwGIWGWq1sh3xH9QagkFGyGV0x0jM/s1600/14+Feb+2015+18:22:02.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyepdoOxRv126nPQdRvsDFwQpvoe1bmjC3TdXVf-334ldTOr4b3CXZjEY7hnVYMrwHsTpjsM1idp6eiujBJiVzvMBE-gJ6H2PIigLvhy3d5U0z46JeV-che8lRf3_XEtV_CtlWPg6gWM/s1600/images.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwyepdoOxRv126nPQdRvsDFwQpvoe1bmjC3TdXVf-334ldTOr4b3CXZjEY7hnVYMrwHsTpjsM1idp6eiujBJiVzvMBE-gJ6H2PIigLvhy3d5U0z46JeV-che8lRf3_XEtV_CtlWPg6gWM/s1600/images.jpeg" height="226" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span>They say that
love makes the world go round, and I also say that a smile is the fuel of that
engine that make the world go round. Have you ever stop to think how powerful a
smile is? And how easy is to give a smile? It takes 37 muscles of your face to
frown and only 17 to smile, so it’s even easier than you think. And giving a
smile to someone can mean so many things; it can give comfort to someone in
distress, it can make you feel safe in times of trouble, it can make you feel
welcome in strange places and most of all, it gives you that magic energy every
time you smile at someone; it gives the receiver that much needed positive energy.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">And a smile
always produces a smile (at the right time and right place) but without a doubt
and failure, if you smile at someone they will smile back. They don’t know why,
it just happens. I have conducted this social phenomenon several times in my life
but I got a chance to demonstrate this to a group of people this week. And if
you have never tried it before, I beg you to try it as soon as you are done
reading this blog, it’s magical and it works every time. And most of all it
always makes you feel better, as you have just given something to someone that
will help them through their day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">The idea is very
simple – when you see someone without a smile, smile at them! And I can
guarantee, under normal circumstances, they will smile back. As I sat having
dinner with a group of people this week we were served by a young girl who looked
so miserable and with a long face. She was not angry or upset; she just simply didn’t
smile. Perhaps she didn’t like her job, or something bad had happened that day,
but she was defiantly not going to give us more than what she was required to
do. At one point she dropped something and said in her native language “this is
not my day” and then I knew why she was not smiling and I needed to do
something. You can’t be so miserable when you are that young, you still have a
lifetime ahead of you to suffer! </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">So I told the
group about my theory and that I would make her smile. Some did not believe me
and were skeptical (she really had a long miserable face which looked hard to
crack!) but I knew she was not angry; she just simply needed some positive
energy and what better way to give it to her than through a smile. I sat there,
observing her, waiting for my moment to strike. And as she went around taking
people’s orders I knew that would be my chance to make her smile. When it was
my turn I looked at her as she held her pen and paper and rapidly dropped her
eyes avoiding eye contact. So I paused and waited for her to look at me. There
was a very short, awkward silence and everyone waited to see what would happen.
And then she looked up, I guess she didn’t know what was coming her way and as
she looked at me I smiled. And then, as if by magic, she could not resist and
smiled back at me! Everyone erupted with laughter and I placed my order.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">She walked away
and I had proven my point and theory to everyone at the table and they were all
so exited by it. Some were still skeptical and we debated the phenomenon for a
while and what made someone smile back at you, so I challenged all my
companions to give generously and I asked each and everyone at the table to
give her one smile. This would give her enough fuel to get through her shift.
And one by one, taking it in turns, gave her a powerful smile. And every time
she smiled back, and may I add, more enthusiastic than the previous smile.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">As the night
came to a close, she had moved from a miserable young girl probably hating her
job to a more pleasant woman who enjoyed serving our table but still probably
hating her job!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">In the end, the
social experiment had been a success and my theory once more had triumph. </span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">I am sure she
went back to work the next day with the same long face, but at least I know we
made her life a little bit better that night. But just think what her job would
be like If everyone of her customers gave her a smile; not matter how much she
hates her job she would enjoy coming into work to get showered with that tremendous
amount of energy that would keep her going for the rest of the day.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">I don’t understand
why we don’t do this more, its great and helps the world go round.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span lang="EN-US">So don’t just
sit there not smiling, give it a go, you will enjoy it and if we all do it, it
means that someone will do it to you too! Then we will all benefit from the positive
fuel that a smile gives to your life.</span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-55525052195041047332015-02-08T02:42:00.000-08:002015-02-08T02:42:03.079-08:00Week six 2015 – the Perception of time<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Time waits for no one! This week I’ve learned that time isn’t always
what it seems and when you least expect it, its gone!</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeBmPbKEhkIbyQB8NBMAYYmxEIfLghCFNpmbENh7KZsT49yNqAkYtdJ8ZKWnsj_rsqw7I_wvRcPKRXQyadrK2aq1JOUBqvfmc19MNgVoJNpCd75w3LRcOQ5MyOpNrDpOwTo00k1rbRII/s1600/clock.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUeBmPbKEhkIbyQB8NBMAYYmxEIfLghCFNpmbENh7KZsT49yNqAkYtdJ8ZKWnsj_rsqw7I_wvRcPKRXQyadrK2aq1JOUBqvfmc19MNgVoJNpCd75w3LRcOQ5MyOpNrDpOwTo00k1rbRII/s1600/clock.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The subject of time has been the centre of previous blogs I have written
and I never get tired of writing about it. If the truth be known, I think time
is something non of us really understand and therefore do not appreciate fully.
If you are fan of the “Back to the Future” movies or indeed any kind of time
travelling stories, you would know that the theory of time travel is based on
the premises that you fold time to get to the future faster (or to the past
depending on which way you are going!) But how do you fold time when you cannot
touch it? I guess I’ll leave that to the scientist trying to discover time
travel!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But one thing is for sure; we don’t have enough of it and really
understand how it works. Let me give you a couple of examples.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In the past I have talked about having time for everything and that your
time is the same as mine, yet one of us can have a more productive use of this
commodity. This week I have also come to realise something about time, which I
guess I knew about it but it hit me finally in the face. We don’t really know
how fast or slow time goes. What does this mean? Well even though we measure time
with a clock, I am not sure, just like I’m not sure how you would fold time to
get there faster, that time always goes at the same pace. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Of course a clock would accurately tell you what has gone by, how many
seconds passed since you last looked at the time, but I am not sure it really
shows you how you have “travelled” across this time. This is where this “time
travel” theory starts to make sense. I actually think time isn’t always the
same and some times it goes faster and some times it goes slower; think about
it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This happens all the time is our lives, but it became more evident to me
this week as I travelled to Armenia, which is four hours ahead of the UK. I had
a very busy and tight schedule and I was away for four days visiting two cities
and I spent two days travelling there and back due to time zones. Part of the
trip on Tuesday was to stop over in Vienna where I had a ten-hour layover! Now,
ten hours in an airport sound ten too many hours and most people would agree that
this would be a killer! I had been offered to go down to the city and spend
time there rather than at the airport, but I chose to stay, I had enough work
to keep me entertained for the duration of my visit to Vienna Airport! I don’t
know what it is, if it is because you keep yourself busy, or perhaps because
you don’t think about it, but soon after arriving and settling in the lounge to
do some work, I looked at my watch and it was already time to board the plane!
Time just flew so fast and I didn’t get to accomplish everything I was hoping
for in that ten-hour layover.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So here we see what the perception of time is. When you say ten hours,
it sounds an awful lot of hours, but when you think about it, on average that’s
how much people spend in the office every day. But when you ask someone who
works in an office if ten hours go by fast, they may say no (depending on how
much they enjoy what they do)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When I finally got to my destination, it was 5.30 in the morning and my
meetings where starting at 9 am. I tried to get some sleep on the plane but
I’ve never been very good at it. I’m not one of those people that as soon as
the plane takes off they are gone. On the airplane I experience the opposite
with time. The flight from Vienna to Yerevan was only four hours, which when
you take 40 minutes for take off and landing, it leaves you with just over 3
hours of actual flight. Take another 30 for your mean and it’s really not a lot
left to get proper sleep. After finishing eating, I closed my eyes trying to snooze.
I only had two and a half hours, but talk about time going slow! After what
seemed like five hours of trying to sleep without success I opened my eyes only
to discover I’d only been tossing and turning for 60 minutes and I had an hour
and a half left! What! I tell you the next 90 minutes seemed like a lifetime
and I couldn’t wait to land as the seconds just dragged and dragged and dragged…<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">When I finally got to my destination I wanted to get to bed as soon as
possible to try and get as much sleep as I could before my meeting. I arrive at
my room at 5.35 am and I calculated that if I moved fast I could be in bed by
about 5.45, I only needed to do a couple of things and jump into bed. And again
the “fast-forward time” ghost got hold of my time and the next thing I know
it’s 6.15 am and I’m just getting into bed! Where did the time go? I should
stop folding my time when I shouldn’t! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I had two days of very successful meetings and I guess being so busy
kept me going with very little sleep. By the way time passed so fast for the
two days I think I was folding it too much!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I love the phrase “time waits for no one” because it tells you how
little control we have over time. You cannot stop it and this week I’ve come to
realise you cannot control how fast or slow it goes either. What may seem like
a lifetime, it may be nothing to others. Waiting for someone or something may
seem an eternity and when they arrive or you get there, then it’s over too
soon, and time just passed you by, not waiting for you or anyone else!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But one thing is for sure and I still believe it’s true; don’t waist
your time! It doesn’t matter how fast or slow it goes, always put it to good
use because once it’s gone, you will never get it back!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-53248364327129174932015-01-31T02:38:00.000-08:002015-01-31T02:38:35.791-08:00Week Five 2015 – You are only as old as you feel!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn8XDraHzpdP160-T11YcmfQu3eHQJN8vBmu2kptFuNRrW02aFQHU2klkPltM0WnAu-4SayElJrwz4yo9-64CVfuz4ftwl5jPpV50TeCboOJj5YCV1CJpoDURebhGuQJm1LBDcRD9QlQ/s1600/IMG_1675.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbn8XDraHzpdP160-T11YcmfQu3eHQJN8vBmu2kptFuNRrW02aFQHU2klkPltM0WnAu-4SayElJrwz4yo9-64CVfuz4ftwl5jPpV50TeCboOJj5YCV1CJpoDURebhGuQJm1LBDcRD9QlQ/s1600/IMG_1675.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">You are only as old as you feel!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<h2 style="text-align: left;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Can you believe we are on week five of 2015? And how time flies when you
are having fun… and I don’t look a day older!</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This week I’m going to talk about age and the subject of how old you
feel and look. It is a subject I think we are all affected by and an important
part of our lives. The well-known classic fairy tale of Peter Pan is perhaps
the best story ever told about how a human should live his life. The whole plot
can be summarised as follow:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center; text-indent: 36.0pt;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The story of a man who knew how to live his
life - by staying young! He was able to do grown up things that he liked (fighting
with swords and staying up late) but be childish at the same time. He was fit
and in shape by running, climbing, laughing and a bit of flying. The moment he
saw he would grow old by doing other grown up things he didn’t like (marrying
Wendy and getting a job to pay the car, having kids, a mortgage and a dog and
be miserable eating too much food and drinking to drown his sorrows) he ran away
and remained youthful for the rest of his life.<o:p></o:p></span></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Ok that’s a cynical view of the story but I think there’s some truth in
my version of the plot. Think about it; how old do you feel? And does that
reflect on your appearance? How about your attitude and the way you behave?
More often than not, the way we feel affects the way we look and therefore if
you feel 100 years old you will look 100 more! When I was a child I grew up
believing that 60 years old was very old! I guess my grandmother’s generation had
a harder life and by the time they hit their 60s they were already looking
tired and feeling very old. And this image of someone being old at the age of
60 has always hunted me, even though I see now plenty of evidence that when you
reach that stage of your life you are still very young. With the right
attitude, staying fit and looking after yourself, you can look even younger.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikM6LjQA4fnJxBqVYNHFxA_thnA1OPof15hhdWmVcsad_DlMd-SvwrsB1jWyY0T_p8bLkD4LvTKk253VMxJsNOLXVmL__4otDw4926MUJn-2XHTvIMHnnFuJjlk9mCs7PToYbGKzd5lkQ/s1600/Joan+Collins+21st+Annual+Screen+Actors+Guild+jgRRs5pFKGrl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikM6LjQA4fnJxBqVYNHFxA_thnA1OPof15hhdWmVcsad_DlMd-SvwrsB1jWyY0T_p8bLkD4LvTKk253VMxJsNOLXVmL__4otDw4926MUJn-2XHTvIMHnnFuJjlk9mCs7PToYbGKzd5lkQ/s1600/Joan+Collins+21st+Annual+Screen+Actors+Guild+jgRRs5pFKGrl.jpg" height="200" width="143" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Amazing Joan Collins!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5WsO5hznyvVcLS0XfVVz1ymkJVVD-kRPMEEYlXtbVHKrfSBsJipm2PBQeVwjDlQ1iYnuv7Qw6gjM8FipD0OA60hW2VgmfNUYMaGbq07Ropuv9v19U_-VoB7GxXh7gxR5jgVMNSHQ7vg/s1600/ensenada-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY5WsO5hznyvVcLS0XfVVz1ymkJVVD-kRPMEEYlXtbVHKrfSBsJipm2PBQeVwjDlQ1iYnuv7Qw6gjM8FipD0OA60hW2VgmfNUYMaGbq07Ropuv9v19U_-VoB7GxXh7gxR5jgVMNSHQ7vg/s1600/ensenada-7.jpg" height="131" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Emmanuel looking great!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This week I watched in the news some of the Red Carpet events (it’s
awards season!) and they featured Joan Collins in an amazing black sequence
dress with a leg slit all the way to her hips. In the clip she looked an
amazing mature woman and when the presenter mentioned she was 82 years old I
nearly fell off my chair! Has she had some help from the knife? For sure but
even with a little help from her surgeon, her health, her attitude and
conviction that she is still a beautiful young woman is what made her look like
in her 60’s! I also found out this week that the Mexican Pop Idol “Emmanuel” is
just about to turn 60 and this also astonished me, same story, he looks amazing
and you would never thing he was more than 50. His looks, attitude and thirst
for staying current make him look not just young but contemporary.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And I myself was the subject of looking young this week. Two people mention
I did not look my age (I’m turning 48 this year and both said I looked 40)
Apart form being a massive complement it also made me think about how I feel; I
don’t feel 48, I feel 30 and this is driving my physical appearance to be much
younger. I have always felt young, I’m a bit of a Peter Pan, I enjoy being a
grown up as well as a youth. The difference is I have taken on all the
responsibilities that perhaps Peter Pan ran away from (the marriage, kids, car,
mortgage, job) as they complement my life and create a balance. It’s good to
feel young and do crazy things, but you also need that stability and maturity
in your life, that doesn’t mean I have to look or feel old!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">There is no denying that loosing weigh has also contributed to shaving
off some years, Peter Pan kept fit all the time, and staying fit has given me
an extra burst of energy associated with being young. And staying healthy then
drives your mental attitude; to feel young you must also stay mentally young
and you will look young. Then you start to dress young. My wife often has to
drive me away from the teenage section in the department stores, as I keep on
looking at cloths that my son wears (him and I are almost the same height and I
started to borrow some of his stuff, how embarrassing! For him of course!) Hey,
if you can wear it and look good in it, then why not!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I don’t think you have to pretend to be a teenager to feel young, or
suddenly loose all sense of responsibility and give up all your achievements
and accomplishments to be young again. I think the secret to feeling young is to
believe you are still young. Age is an attitude and what you make it. You can
be 100 years old, if you keep mentally and physically fit, you can continue to
enjoy life to the max and not become a stereotypical person of your age. At 47,
with a family and a mortgage, I do have to act responsibly, people relay on me,
but that does not stop me from keeping a young heart and healthy mind and body
and an attitude that allows me to look much younger than I really am.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So it’s time to shave off some years, look at your attitude and not your
age. Keep healthy and start believing that you can do anything you want, your
age is just a number on your birth certificate!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-85168286727784595232015-01-25T04:26:00.000-08:002015-01-25T04:26:50.759-08:00Week Four 2015 – living in fear!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This week I have
completed my third week back at work and with it 11 flights! And it’s only
January…</span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7GhKmO_4nPFV5bvDeJv1DkJ68xKjix9bI1QRDFJcCgCd3dfubFS4G0cnGOV1aIYcoUldGTYtp0WGvTpmlHw1HIXrw-Andmn1XEwYXF5KIdultz99Muoa_5Qp1oDYje7eIwTS31M-Ja0/s1600/Airplanes-105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJ7GhKmO_4nPFV5bvDeJv1DkJ68xKjix9bI1QRDFJcCgCd3dfubFS4G0cnGOV1aIYcoUldGTYtp0WGvTpmlHw1HIXrw-Andmn1XEwYXF5KIdultz99Muoa_5Qp1oDYje7eIwTS31M-Ja0/s1600/Airplanes-105.jpg" height="250" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The safest mode of transport!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As many of you would
know, part of my job is travelling. I spend a lot of my time on airplanes and
on average I have boarded 120 flights every year. That is a lot of flights and
many hours in the air. It is also known that flying is the safest mode of
transport, in other words you are more likely to be involved in a car incident
than to die on an airplane crash.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I guess this is true if you, like many people, take only two to four
flights a year for your annual vacation or business trips. But when you are on
a plane on average four times a week, I guess the odds are higher!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">However, I’m a great
believer that if it is your time to go, it’s your time to go and it doesn’t
matter how many flights you take, it only takes one to take your life away. So
even though the odds increase by taking 120 flights, you could be a person who
never travels, gets on a plane and this is the flight where something goes
wrong. It’s a bit like the lottery, it doesn’t matter how many tickets you buy,
you will win with just one, but of course your odds increase slightly by buying
more than one! So when I get on a plane I don’t thinking if this is the one
which may come down (thought I do buy a lottery ticket thinking this will be
the one! </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">) otherwise I would never flight anywhere and
would not be able to do my job, meet great people and be privileged to have
seen some amazing places!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We should never live
our lives in fear of what may happen; otherwise we will never get anything
done, visit anywhere or accomplish anything! I have been thinking about this
all week as I discussed various similar topics with people. I am an absolute fan
of KFC and I enjoy eating it in different countries I visit. Talking to a group
of people this week, one person mentioned how they would never eat it. When I
asked why they said they had heard a story about someone who once found a rat
instead of chicken and so she was taking no chances! I’m sure you all know this
famous story which happened some years ago, a cooked rat served as a piece of
chicken with fires! Now, if the person tells me they don’t eat it because they
are vegetarian or find it too unhealthy, and then I understand. But not to eat
it just in case another rat gets jumps into the fryer seems to me a little bit
like not getting on a plane because you’ve seen a crash! I think there are some
very good respectable KFCs and in all my years of eating it I’ve not yet had a
rat! You can’t live your life in fear that it may happen to you as it stops you
form doing things….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This is why we don’t
give into terrorism, that is their objective, and we must not live our lives in
fear. After September the 11<sup>th</sup> people continued to get on a plane; the
attacks this month on the Charlie Hebdo magazine were done to spread a message
of fear, a warning that if you speak your mind, if you exercise your freedom of
speech you could be killed. The magazine went ahead and published another
controversial cartoon sending a message that you cannot let fear rule the
world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If there are bombings
in a city people stop travelling for fear of their lives, if there are riots in
a town people stop going out for fear of what may happen, if you hear in the
news the gloom outlook of the economy people stop spending for fear of what the
future may be. And so on, if you get burgled you sleep with the light on, if
you have an accident you stop driving, if you get mugged you stop going out, if
we get rejected or someone breaks your hard, we stop loving, the list is
endless with reasons why we should not do things, for fear to our lives, but we
must never let this rule and stops us from doing what we want to do!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I know some times it’s
easier said than done, but at the end of the day it is our choice and I respect
that. However, I do encourage you to think about what it takes to say “you know
what, I’m going to take the risk, the rewards a far better than the odds
against it”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-80108645617812218932015-01-17T03:22:00.000-08:002015-01-17T03:35:50.174-08:00Week three 2015 – Small achievements!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJV7hPj573GgDIJt1NJSW1fl9gx7TZNhB3IZTWmIX_XBBAwOKHW2shwYF7WydxWjqHvhFJEiMibSlIxdt-ziNV0BnmJuSKOywMSTUiXavm1epbkOYv2vuBmlWg9EWflybbU7FxFBZiig/s1600/530892_298713140237885_1833591942_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaJV7hPj573GgDIJt1NJSW1fl9gx7TZNhB3IZTWmIX_XBBAwOKHW2shwYF7WydxWjqHvhFJEiMibSlIxdt-ziNV0BnmJuSKOywMSTUiXavm1epbkOYv2vuBmlWg9EWflybbU7FxFBZiig/s1600/530892_298713140237885_1833591942_n.jpg" height="224" width="320" /></a></h3>
<h4>
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Many years ago my father told me that a modest but talented composer
when asked how he felt about being number one he replied “I hate it”.
Astonished by the answer the interviewer asked him why and he said “there are too
many number one’s in the world”</span></h4>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What he was referring to was that for him was more important to be the
best at what he does and not just number one. That idea has always lingered in
my head and you see this play out every day in our lives. Often the winners of
talent shows go on to become famous, for a while, and then vanish in the
limelight. One Direction, whether you like them or not, have become a very
successful boy band and they were not the winners of the X-Factor proving that
this composer was right, there are too many number ones, but it’s the ones
behind them you need to watch out for!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jKtONQKS0DsL2xBpLnQW1kDyiv8Crxv5g05uPzqSesbelNylr8H03DBjP8U4iA70H34IpUN5lKuG8p-4wmxvS5thqfLo6bhis2KdBY_Il1lM-pcx99jSRD3r-oWOa3F69KDLszJ1iGg/s1600/ShSC2014_TopLogo97h01.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-jKtONQKS0DsL2xBpLnQW1kDyiv8Crxv5g05uPzqSesbelNylr8H03DBjP8U4iA70H34IpUN5lKuG8p-4wmxvS5thqfLo6bhis2KdBY_Il1lM-pcx99jSRD3r-oWOa3F69KDLszJ1iGg/s1600/ShSC2014_TopLogo97h01.png" height="108" width="320" /></a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This week the results for the NYC Midnight Screenplay Challenge came out
and I did not reach the top five to move onto the third round.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is always disappointing when you
don’t reach the next stage of a competition but I am happy to take away the
experience, which I enjoyed and learned from it. And as I looked at the
results, although I was not on the top five, I was pleased to see I had not
come bottom of the league! In the voting system the judges gave points to 15
scripts (out of 28 competitors), from 1 to 15 (a bit like the Eurovision Song
Competition) in the two rounds and the top five writers with the most
cumulative points went through the third round. In the first set of voting I
didn’t get any points but with my second script I was awarded two points,
putting me second to last and one of 20 writers with points (there were some
that had no points at all!) and this made me very happy!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I know you are sitting there reading this thinking “What?” but I am
using the same principle as the one described by the composer my father told me
about. In life you need to maintain a positive attitude when you are passionate
about something, to keep you going and never give up! Yes I may have not been
on the top five who went to the next round, but at least I had two points (I
would have really hated not to have any) and I was not the last of the writers
with points! Second to last is already one more than someone else and closer to
the top! As they say there is always a silver line in every cloud!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And in life everything is about not just wanting to be number one, but
to be the best at what you do. I also think it is a matter of opinion and taste
when it comes to judging someone’s work. Whilst we all accept feedback and work
with it to make us better, more often than not it is someone’s opinion and may
not be share by many. Part of the process in this competition was to receive
personalised feedback from one of the judges about your work, a very unique
thing as often in this competitions they find it impossible to give everyone
who enters personal feedback. I welcomed this as I love understanding where I
can improve to make me a better writer. I may not always agree with everything,
but someone’s opinion can only help you improve.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I wanted to share with you all this experience to get you all to think
of the importance of always looking for that silver line in every cloud. I
think we should all strive to be number one, of course, but at the same time to
enjoy being number two, knowing that we are the best at what we do. And to
accept valuable feedback even if it may not seem right, remember perception is
reality and this is someone’s reality and others may share it. And whilst as a
writer I know it is hard to appeal to every audience, I must strive to reach as
many people as I can with my stories.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I will let you be the judge of that. This week I invite you as part of
reading this blog to take a look at the two scripts I wrote. They are only 5
pages long (5 minutes of dialog) and two very contrasting stories. Keep in mind
the challenge we had – to write a screenplay in 48 hours with three things in
mind – the Gen, a place and an object. As you read these visualise them on the screen.
I welcome any feedback you have, I would love to hear from some of you and
compare your thoughts with that of the judges in the competition. I write these
scripts for audiences and not for judges, so I am intrigued to see what some of
you think.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Below the links to the two scripts, all you need is 10 minutes (five
minutes each) and a glass of wine! Enjoy reading them and please let me have
your thoughts.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p>(click on the title to read the script)</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://media.wix.com/ugd/3d3f47_c270c63e35ba4bd18bb7173a1212aedb.pdf" target="_blank">MidnightRunner</a> – a horror story set in a Barn with a padlock as the object<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><a href="http://media.wix.com/ugd/3d3f47_120f1eb2182642d881cd69b16267b2f6.pdf" target="_blank">TheView</a> – a romance story set in an office with a cigar as the object<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For other scripts and stories go to <a href="http://www.sergiosnyder.com/">www.sergiosnyder.com</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"MS 明朝";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-64945624532057765852015-01-10T08:19:00.002-08:002015-01-10T08:19:23.681-08:00Week 2/2015 – Freedom of Speech #jesuischarlie<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRFCoca1dV4bus3O7o5gLZWuQqf9J0sBJTKi_rjxvIZZPJm7TdmQdMRtXeW88CZ1V94ndq93GkxqvBsU_P8lKn9a6YslY7uFGjf2ESnnq5CZst6rAJ39c3FVExOqFtzclIdnq9jJ2fY0/s1600/10891436_900058803347290_2119595761434038904_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQRFCoca1dV4bus3O7o5gLZWuQqf9J0sBJTKi_rjxvIZZPJm7TdmQdMRtXeW88CZ1V94ndq93GkxqvBsU_P8lKn9a6YslY7uFGjf2ESnnq5CZst6rAJ39c3FVExOqFtzclIdnq9jJ2fY0/s1600/10891436_900058803347290_2119595761434038904_n.jpg" height="400" width="400" /></a><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This week the headlines have been griped by the terrible attack on the
Charlie Hebdo Magazine in Paris – an atrocity which, followed by a wave of
other attacks, was done simply because of the human right to express yourself
in a free society. I decided to write this week’s blog on this subject as I
feel we all have the right to freedom of speech and no one should be punish for
this.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As I writer I use words to express what I feel and see, what is in my
head and in my heart. When I write, I always think twice about what I want to say
or mention and the art of editing your work is very important to make sure you
are happy with what you publish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
have several times thought twice about publishing something, mainly because I
think of the consequences and what it may lead onto, and if I don’t publish
something is not because I am scared to, but because I don’t feel it’s
important enough to do it and the adverse effects are greater than the rewards
of the piece. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The events this week in Paris shows the consequences of what can happen
when people exercise their human right of expressing their views, especially
with a controversial publication such as Charlie Hebdo; you can upset people. But
that basic right to freedom of speech in our societies should not be oppressed
by anyone and there is no logical explanation for any individuals to take another’s
persons lives for expressing what they think. The publishers, writers and
cartoonist at the Charlie Hebdo Magazine believed in what they did; they
believed that through their art and satire they were expressing the views and
opinions of many, particularly those who subscribed to their publication. The
barbarian act of terrorism that took place should not be allowed and we need to
demonstrate to the world that people can still express themselves freely
without fear of being intimidated or harmed by those who cannot accept
criticism and opinions of others.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And if we bring this closer to our lives, we don’t need to be writers or
cartoonist in a controversial publication to be the victims of oppression in
our lives. We are all subject to people’s radical mentalities and when we
attempt to express ourselves freely with an opposing view or argument, we may
find holding back for fear of retaliation. Or if we do speak our minds, we may become
the victims of an attack. Let me share with you some examples that may
illustrate what I mean:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">If you have a relationship with someone who has a particularly stronger
character than yours it becomes harder to express your opinion or ideas without
them pushing their views onto you or getting upset at the thought or suggestion
of something they don’t agree with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Or it may be the opposite, you are the dominant side and no one dares to
say anything in front of you because you fly off the handle! Here we have
killed freedom of speech; people are frightened to express what they think
because of the way someone may react.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">How often do we hold back our views and opinions in a conversation to
avoid offending someone? Or we don’t hold back and then pay the consequences? I
understand there is a place and a time for everything and there is no room for
offensive remarks or racist/sexist comments, but there are so many
controversial and taboo subjects we don’t talk about just because people can
react wrongly, so we avoid them. If we genuinely have an opinion about
something, we should have the right to express this opinion. People don’t have
to like it or agree, but it is our opinion and we should be able to share it.
And when we hold back on those views or opinions it may be because we feel it’s
not worth it and we drop the subject. However if you feel passionate about
something, you should be able to speak freely without fear of how someone may
react.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I may not be the most controversial writer in the world and often my
work is expressing feelings and ideas that don’t offend people. I sometimes
write scripts that are thought provoking and blogs that may make you think, I try
to be politically correct and aware of what I say. But no one, no matter how
controversial it may be, should ever be stopped from expressing what he or she
believes because someone feels they have the power to silence you. If someone disagrees
with something someone said, or they feel they have offended them, as rational
human beings we have the power that animals don’t have; “<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u>choice”</u></b>! You have two choices, you can choose to ignore
their views and move on or you can choose to talk to them and debate the
subject allowing both of you to express yourselves in a civilised manner.
Debate is not about reaching agreement; it’s about allowing people that basic
right to be heard, the right to freedom of speech.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I want to live in a world where we can all have freedom, and not just
physical freedom, but be free to think and express ourselves. If I were not
allowed to put on paper my thoughts and feelings, my head would explode!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-70342795147822074512015-01-03T05:10:00.000-08:002015-01-03T05:10:03.942-08:00Week one 2015 - Where do you come from?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h3 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Welcome to the first blog of 2015, happy New Year and I hope you had a
fantastic holiday season, whatever or wherever you’ve been. And if you were
working and are on your way to celebrate, enjoy it!</span></h3>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipezvkNr4JUqATVNpqg_wj-Vex7JD4RZcTmB7HyWiYG6-9MZFuMDkYDarRzNCBCuafmWZyYn0neCaKU2rCMBc5EQbhxI4RkWm60XVs7W5Dfio2tB3JBHlyVgUt_Y08B5j04U1_sp5sZ7o/s1600/Pantano.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipezvkNr4JUqATVNpqg_wj-Vex7JD4RZcTmB7HyWiYG6-9MZFuMDkYDarRzNCBCuafmWZyYn0neCaKU2rCMBc5EQbhxI4RkWm60XVs7W5Dfio2tB3JBHlyVgUt_Y08B5j04U1_sp5sZ7o/s1600/Pantano.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pantano Aguilar de Campoo - Spain</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I’ve spent the last two weeks in Spain where my wife comes from, and
some of my roots originate from. My mother was Spanish and came from a small
town near to my wife’s hometown. Coincidence or destiny brought us together
after my family had left Spain some 60 years before. We enjoy coming to Spain
and it is always good to see the family. Coincidently, my sister is married to
my wife’s brother and is now living in Spain, spooky!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I’m sure many of you are also returning form holidays in your home town with
your family, I’ve seen pictures and messages in Facebook from airports all
around the world, people boarding planes and saying goodbye to loved one, until
next time when you come back to see them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I want to start this year’s blog looking at an interesting concept my wife
and I were discussing over a cup of coffee, which relates to my intro. Many
people I know live and work in a country or city away from their original
birthplace. Many of us moved away at an early age looking for adventure or
something of the kind. Many of us never went back as we found our fortune and
in many cases married someone and stay there. Years later we find ourselves
living away from our family, and like us, you probably visit them once a year
or whenever you can, always keeping in touch with your roots. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But when we come back “home” for those short holidays, we eat, drink and
socialise too much disrupting our routine and can’t wait to go back “home”! Our
real home where we have chosen to live and where we enjoy living; two very
different homes, both just as important.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But the conflict comes as you often feel the need to go back home
because although we cannot deny our roots and enjoy our family and friends, we
have changed. We now, as adults have 3 places where we belong:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">1.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Your roots<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpMiddle" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">2.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Your
nationality<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpLast" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-align: justify; text-indent: -18.0pt;">
<!--[if !supportLists]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-family: Cambria; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;">3.<span style="font: 7.0pt "Times New Roman";"> </span></span></span></i><!--[endif]--><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Your
home<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Let me explain each of them and how they relate to our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Your Roots <o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In the purest sense this is something you cannot deny! I was born in
Mexico and I guess that makes me a Mexican. However, I come form a European
Family; my mother was a Spanish Catholic, my father came from a German Jew
family – what does that make me? I guess a bit of everything! Many of you would
have roots less complex than mine (or perhaps even more complicated!) but we
cannot get away from them, it is where we come from and where our history lays.
This will always have an influence on you but won’t necessarily make who you
are today. As I said, you cannot deny where you come from, but you may not be
attached to your roots.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Sometimes coming “home”, where our roots are, it’s hard because we may
no longer identify ourselves with our past. It doesn’t mean we no longer belong
to our roots, it means we have grown apart. I know I feel this way; going back
“home” is nice but can’t wait to go back “home”!!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Your Nationality<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We all need to identify ourselves by a nationality that gives us a
passport. Usually your nationality is a gateway to move around the world. Many
people with mixed backgrounds and roots, posses two or more passports. But
nationality does not identify you for what you are; it merely gives you a
right, a right to live where we have chosen.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As a born Mexican I have a right to be Mexican. But I can’t recall the
last time I had a Mexican passport. That doesn’t mean I’m not Mexican (we have
established these are some of my roots) but having a Mexican passport, since I
don’t live in Mexico, has no benefits for me currently. I have a UK passport
and therefore a UK citizen. This is where I live and where I have chosen to
live. Does this mean I can call myself British? I will expand on this on the
next point. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For now, we all have a nationality, which usually ties us to where we
have chosen to live or allows us to have certain benefits. Of course most of us
would also have a Nationality that is links us to our roots. There is a strong
tie between our background and where we chose to live. For me my roots are not
tied to my nationality. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><u><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Your Home<o:p></o:p></span></u></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This is perhaps the most important of the three; the one I believe actually
makes us who we are. As a young adult I moved the England and began a new
chapter of my life. A very different culture from Mexico or my roots, it took
me some time to get used to it but soon I knew this is where I wanted to make
“home” and I adapted, changed and 29 years later I call myself English. To recap,
I was born in Mexico to a Spanish Catholic and German Jew family, I have a UK
passport claiming a British Nationality and I have just called myself English!
If you want to pause for a moment and get your head rounds this please do so!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I would enjoy going back “home” after 29 years but soon I would be
asking for my flight back home! When I come to Spain, I enjoy it, but again I
long to going back home. I enjoy living my life like an Englishman. This is
where my home is, it’s not perfect, and there are aspects of it that drives me
nuts. But is there anywhere perfect? of course not! And like me, there are many
of you out there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This can change, of course, and chose a new home. Who knows if in the
future I will move somewhere and suddenly feel at home, then I change, I become
America, Russian or Chinese! I will make my home and live my life accepting the
culture and way of living, regardless of my roots or nationality.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We are all very different, some of us will have our roots, nationality
and home where our family has lived for hundreds of years, others will have
three different facets to their lives, one root, one nationality and one home.
In the end, what matters is where you feel you belong, and this, in my opinion,
can change at any time or not at all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Where is your home?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-91090670943356919982014-12-27T10:57:00.000-08:002014-12-27T10:57:39.522-08:00Week Fifty-two – The end is only the beginning.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuxHPBK5uDStnNDRLYyswAayy4UyH6MKPCc0nr_9RTGlLRe2xuExuPmNH7gYAfvlJjFOPTD49sbXXG80OR10en1OM-5xfLcCH1E9kTuNP2_4-j_FMUAhq2cGB6SrOU8feUrSGxe96y6c/s1600/1398802_663701573649682_1743713802_o.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinuxHPBK5uDStnNDRLYyswAayy4UyH6MKPCc0nr_9RTGlLRe2xuExuPmNH7gYAfvlJjFOPTD49sbXXG80OR10en1OM-5xfLcCH1E9kTuNP2_4-j_FMUAhq2cGB6SrOU8feUrSGxe96y6c/s1600/1398802_663701573649682_1743713802_o.png" height="480" width="640" /></a></div>
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">52 weeks later here I am typing my last blog of 2014 having achieved my
goal and feeling very proud of myself! But this is only the end of a new
beginning.</span></h2>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So this is it, fifty-two blogs done, each and everyone of them unique
and an account of my day-to-day life and experiences as I travelled and dealt
with all sort things that got thrown at me. And the more I think about it, the
more I realise that the challenge I set my self was not about being able to write
but to be able to see the world and draw from it to share experiences and
situations that hopefully would have, in some way or another, helped you all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And I don’t want to make this week, the last week, an exception. I knew
I would have plenty of material to write about, with Christmas in it and a
large family gathering, so I wanted to find something interesting or cleaver to
write. I have been thinking about it all week, I really want to make week
fifty-two special, in away I want to go out with a “big-bang”. But the more
I’ve been thinking about it, the harder it has become to come up with anything
good to write. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Yes I could give you a run down of the large family gathering we had, 24
people in a house we hired to celebrating Christmas. It was fun, chaotic and
noisy! It made me realise that we are all Humans and what brings us together is
tolerance and understanding and realising that without external influences (there
was no Wifi, or mobile signal) there is a lot we have to share. This Christmas
was no different to others with the exception of the setting, being away from
home in an environment where we were all neutral. This was none’s house, and we
were all guest. There was no communication with the outside world, so we had to
stay focused on the moment. We went back to basics. But for me this isn’t the
biggest learning this week, I don’t want week fifty-two to be about this. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So I continued to scratch my head thinking of that subject worthy of
week fifty-two, after all this is the last week of my challenge. I thought I could
give you all a round up of the year, in 2014 I learnt a lot. Many things
happened with three mayor events taking the headlines - I suffered the loss of
my father, been in hospital with a suspected heart attack and I run my first
ever Half Marathon. But I guess you all know that right? I mean, if you have
been following my blog and read some of the weeks you would have know this. As
I asked myself these questions trying to decide if I should just do the “top
ten moments of 2014” I came to realise that may be it is a good idea to do
this, as some people may not have read some of these events. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But again, I decided not to do this! I didn’t want my last blog to be
just a re-collection of what I had written about! In a way I thought that was
cheating by just copying and pasting previous blogs. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I sat and I continued to scratch my head. What can I write about? What
is so big, so important, and so meaningful in my life, that it should be the
subject of my last blog? And then it finally came to me! And when it came it
reminded me why I am doing this! Yet another epiphany! What have I learned this
year? I have learnt that I can write, and I can write about anything I see in
life. I have accomplished something extraordinary, which has allowed me to
mature in my writing. And what does this mean? It means that I should continue
to write and never give up. Now, a great dear friend of mine reminded me of
this last week and of my motto <b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">“I write
because someone out there reads”</b>. She read blog fifty-one and commented, “</span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span lang="EN-US" style="color: #10131a; mso-bidi-font-family: Helvetica;">Don't give up writing them.........NY resolution is to
see if you can do another 52???? I love reading them</span></i><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">” and I knew that this is what I need to do, I
must continue, because some of you out there read what I write.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So I want to dedicate this blog to you all, the people for whom I write.
For those of you who continue to support me and encourage me to write.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Writing is some times a very lonely
job, and the satisfaction of writing something is knowing that someone has read
what you have wrote.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As well as
getting all my thoughts out on paper and express myself, I relish the thought
of people enjoying and learning from what I put down every week in my blog. As
a script writer I have always longed to have audiences enjoy a night out at the
theatre, as a blogist I get satisfaction when I know people have twenty minutes
where they enjoyed reading what I have to say. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Dear all out there that read my
blog, I will endeavour to continue to share my experiences with you every week!
And thank you for reading what I have to say, more to come in 2015!<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So it is time to close the year; let us reflect on what we have
achieved, and it is time to start planning what’s to come next.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>My experience form this has been that
we must all set ourselves a new challenge every year, I know I will, and stick
to it, work on it and make sure we keep our promises to ourselves. Whatever you
decide to do, it will help you be better, better in everything you do. I hope
the last 52 weeks I have shared with you have been useful, and if anything at
least entertaining, Remember the end of something is the beginning of something
new.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-46138795923727719832014-12-20T02:26:00.000-08:002014-12-20T02:26:57.767-08:00Week fifty-one – Taking Stock.<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Would you believe it? I have only one more to write before I reach my
goal of writing a weekly blog for 2014! So it’s time to take stock and reflect
on what I have done and achieved this year.</span></h2>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2g-cUMRC6HdBFpOqScwl79YA51Ha0ECv3o_m55kXa1cE52BPkE1bajReIZ_v_d9gpLrjBZ9bi43Wcwo_YcBonpyuHEvKZW6QIjDp3MILUmY8F2amQ-iT1RbIetPbyvnLjwmcU30yb1Y/s1600/IMG_3069.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC2g-cUMRC6HdBFpOqScwl79YA51Ha0ECv3o_m55kXa1cE52BPkE1bajReIZ_v_d9gpLrjBZ9bi43Wcwo_YcBonpyuHEvKZW6QIjDp3MILUmY8F2amQ-iT1RbIetPbyvnLjwmcU30yb1Y/s1600/IMG_3069.jpg" height="320" title="" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">one of my proudest moments!</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;"><o:p> </o:p></span>As we all know, traditionally most people give themselves a “New Year’s
Resolution” to help them change something in their lives, which in the previous
year hasn’t work or they failed to achieve. These vary from “I will give up
smoking” to “I will call mum every week” or the classic “I’ll loose some
weight”. And all of these resolutions help us, at least for the first couple of
months, to stay focus on something we really want to do or achieve.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And like everything in life, it is hard work! Soon after the resolution
is made, we struggle to keep up with it. In the busyness of our every day life,
we find ourselves over committed and this new thing is stretching us to the
limits. Remember I have always said it is easier to say no than to say yes when
it comes to going for a run or staying fit; but this philosophy applies to
almost anything in our lives. Two months after our “new year’s resolution” most
people generally have or start to dropped that self-commitment to improve or
change something in their lives. It became easier to say no, and when you say
it once, it becomes easier to say it again and again until you feel it’s time
to move on and ditch the promise you made to yourself (or in some cases put it
on hold until next year and try it again!)<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So here I find myself writing blog number fifty-one of fifty-two blogs I
committed myself to write this year. The challenge, if you remember and read
blog number one, was to see if I could sustain writing on average a thousand
words on different subject every week for the entire year. The idea was to challenge
my ability as a writer and see if I have it in me to write so much, and to
share with you all experiences and life learning lessons, which would then
serve as the basis of a self book I could consider publishing in the future. It
hasn’t been easy to do, I can assure you, and the time and effort that it takes
to write these weekly blogs is tremendous. But one thing that has kept me going
is the commitment I made to myself; It is almost as if I don’t want to let
myself down by not writing one week (and I guess this is what is about, letting
yourself down and no one else). I have had a feeling every week that if I don’t
do the blog, the chain is broken, my challenge is lost and a piece would be
missing therefore the challenge would be void. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: Cambria; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Cambria; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Just like any of you who made commitments back in January this year, I
have been tempted not to stick to my goal and give it up; many times too much
work could have stopped me from writing any of the weeks, having been in
hospital with a suspected heart attack would have been enough for anyone not to
write that week, the death of my father, holidays, family commitments, or even
the weeks where I had to really search for something to write as I faced a
“writers block” right up to the last minute… and don’t forget preparing for my
Half Marathon! Some many times it would have been easier to say “no I don’t
have the time now, I’ll go back to it next week” But I focused on saying YES!
Yes I can do it and yes I said I would do it, so get on with it and stop
looking for reasons not to do it! Often your time is better spent looking for
reason to do it and not on reason why not to do it.</span><!--EndFragment--> </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I had a great year, and I think I have accomplished a lot. These
fifty-one weeks have helped me become a better person. And I don’t know if it
is because to some extent I have been documenting my life that I feel I can
look back and really relish on what I have accomplished, what I did, what I
learned and what I will take away from all these experiences. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">As I write this words I am also starting to wonder, what will I write
next week? This very philosophical and reflective blog should have been week
fifty-two, the final one, yet here I am rounding up my year with one more week
to go. But you know what? This is exactly what I am talking about; now that I
got it out of my system, week forty-one, I guess you could say “look none will
mind or know if you don’t write a blog next week, anyhow you will be in
Christmas mode, and enjoying the festivities” but I cannot stop, not on the
last hurdle! So I am sure I will find an interesting subject to write about;
anyhow the festive season always gives plenty of material to write about,
specially with all the family together in one room! I bet you can’t wait till
next week for the final chapter of my 2014 challenge!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I hope this week has inspired you to start thinking about your 2015 New
Year’s resolutions and this time really stick to them! No matter what you want
to do, achieve or change, remember that the key is to stay strong and don’t
give in to the temptation that is saying no; no I won’t do it today, this week
or this month. Next thing you know you have broken that commitment, you have
let yourself down and broken that chain. Stick to it, work at it and you will
see the marvellous effect of believing you can do anything you want to, it just
takes that magic word to do it… YES.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Why not label 2015 as your year of YES – your </span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Y</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">ea of </span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">E</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">xcellence and </span><span style="font-size: 18.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">S</span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">elf-discovery!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-73162302889403281252014-12-13T04:25:00.000-08:002014-12-13T04:25:22.599-08:00Week Fifty – and a happy merry expensive Christmas!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">On the first day of Christmas my true love said to me – get your wallet
out because the season for spending has arrived!</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWQoGDJA5dZ-LFdZV5NzABGHtp2RBwB0r6BksO__DyDh2wDQ3NX3KcOGfn38JqjpG3w9YYqMNrCfb3bYxRqqQ6K1whAIYbw9122sSMWl5y6blQTA4r2AgfzRuRawMaPTBTwZcAV_IXA4/s1600/the_grinch_by_danidarko96-d6v4zzr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkWQoGDJA5dZ-LFdZV5NzABGHtp2RBwB0r6BksO__DyDh2wDQ3NX3KcOGfn38JqjpG3w9YYqMNrCfb3bYxRqqQ6K1whAIYbw9122sSMWl5y6blQTA4r2AgfzRuRawMaPTBTwZcAV_IXA4/s1600/the_grinch_by_danidarko96-d6v4zzr.jpg" height="320" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">No yearlong writing blog challenge would be complete without a Christmas
Blog! With two more to do after this, I could not resist the temptation to
write about my favourite subject… NOT! Christmas has come to town! Actually it
is Santa that comes to town in the song, but his arrival and Christmas arrival
are equally as expensive and commercialised as each other. And for those of you
who are thinking “airtight Grinch, get of your pedestal” it is not that I hate
Christmas (well may be I do) but what it actually means and not what is meant
to be.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">The idea of writing about the never-ending commercialisation of this
season came to me when I saw someone on the underground with an I-phone 6,
which had a phone cover that made it look like an old I-phone! The cover was
big, bulky and square, but at the back of it there was a very intriguing picture
I could not make out. I am guessing he was attached to the cover because of the
picture and not the horrid shape of the ugly structure surrounding this
masterful piece of equipment that is the I-phone 6. If you’ve not seen the new
I-phone yet, it is a very slim, rounded design with a very delicate metal
structure very pleasing to both the eye and hand of its owner. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So why would anyone spend money on an ugly cover covering a very
expensive phone? This question is what inspired me to write about the season to
spend money. Trarlalalala tralalala! (see how I got the xmas theme going here? </span><span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ansi-language: EN-GB; mso-ascii-font-family: Cambria; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Cambria; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">) Manufactures of phone covers have
commercialised a market, which kind of doesn’t make sense. You spend thousands
of pounds in a new bit of gear which every time gets more and more sexier, and
then we go and spend more money to go and cover it up! Some times with
ridiculous covers that completely and utterly take away the beauty of the
device, which is what you paid for! It’s like the guys who sell antivirus; its
rumoured they are the once who produce the viruses! It’s all about making you
spend more money!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So let’s get back to our Christmas Carol story and why I don’t like
Christmas. The ghost of Christmas past comes to me every year to remind me of
my childhood and my experiences of this time when I was still at home with my
family. I guess back then I didn’t know any better and what child does not like
to have a visit from the white bearded man bearing gifts? I guess back then my
memories of Christmas where happy, as I knew no better. We used to have big
family gatherings, which somehow will always end up in some sort of trouble
with an uncle getting too drunk or some truths coming up fumed by alcohol<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">In my Christmas Carol story there is the Ghost of Christmas adolescence
that comes to remind me about my time in my late teens and early twenties. This
is the time I found myself away from my family when I moved to England and not
feeling the pressures of Christmas what it all means. I guess it was strange at
the beginning but pretty soon I got used to not having to turn my world upside
down for 6 weeks of the year (In Mexico we also celebrate all the way to the 6<sup>th</sup>
of January with the arrival of the three wise men, one more reason to spend
money!) and you know what? I liked being away from it all!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">And so it brings me to my Ghost of Christmas present where I now have my
own family and they love Christmas! In fairness to me I am not as bad as I am
making myself to be (I’m fighting my own battle here, as I know some of you are
really thinking “Baa Humbug”) and I do get into the sprit of the season… a bit.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">To prove this, I do buy Christmas presents, I do attend company
Christmas do’s, I do drink and eat holiday season food, and I do occasionally
sing Christmas Carols. I even tell my favourite Christmas joke every year:
What’s Father Christmas wife called? Mary – Mary Christmas! LOL!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">What I do not like is the commercial drive to the festivities, which in
my country of residence, UK, starts from as early as October! That is insane!
When we have just taken down our skeletons and pumpkins people are begging to
display Santa and Rain Deer! We start to see television adverts tempting you to
“buy” for loved ones and closer to December the array of useless box-set gifts
begin to pour in the shops. People walk around possessed by the holiday season
demon carrying thousands of bags filled with gifts they “hope” the recipients
will like.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Buying for someone when you are pressured to do so, (secret Santa specially)
confused by the unusually large selection of bric-a-brac in the shops and a
limited budget, which has to be spread amongst all the people in your list, can
only be bad for your health! And in my opinion, unless you enjoy the experience
of shopping under these conditions, it takes away the important message that
was set, I am sure many years ago, as to the meaning of this time of the year for
many around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I am not suggesting the world should stop and cancel Christmas, I am
only asking for all of us to take this as an example of how commercialised our
world has become. When retailers focus on how they can flog things to us we
don’t need and in some cases at ridiculous prices just because is the season to
be jolly (£4.50 for a small cup of warm wine called Mulled!), we are in danger
of becoming more and more the victims of a society that pressures us to believe
that by giving someone something you don’t really need at Christmas, you are
now in the spirit of whatever two thousand years ago was started and came with
a message of peace and love around the world.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">PS – Dear Santa, this Christmas what I really want is peace on earth…
I’m not kidding… <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>but if you really
want to give me a gift, come back in September for my birthday; here is my
list….<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-10412506942482271212014-12-06T04:21:00.000-08:002014-12-06T04:23:21.544-08:00Week Forty-nine – Highs & Lows!<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">One minute you are up, then the next you are down; life can be such a
roller coaster!</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7y9O6PETZ1Q3UkI5yBuS6I0E9NSmQOoGLRNp-ZwlpIR_0MYQBAVw1o4jJJaLPuxHviN8cWCmj41VsGNmtObs5aHUDiihKj5GOdKKmt_3rIilI2w96Oq_iKonMdxAN3P0LlYa2pCJy8g/s1600/clip-art-rollercoaster-428971.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw7y9O6PETZ1Q3UkI5yBuS6I0E9NSmQOoGLRNp-ZwlpIR_0MYQBAVw1o4jJJaLPuxHviN8cWCmj41VsGNmtObs5aHUDiihKj5GOdKKmt_3rIilI2w96Oq_iKonMdxAN3P0LlYa2pCJy8g/s1600/clip-art-rollercoaster-428971.jpg" height="223" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Have you ever got out of bed and felt like you were right on top of the
world? Some times we do, we “get out of bed on the right side” and we feel the
world is at our feet. Some times we also have important events which we work
hard for and when you reach the end result and you’ve done a good job, again
you feel on top of the world; what a lovely feeling that is, the “Highs” in our
lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But on the other side some times we also encounter the “Lows” that
brings us right back down and you may even hit “rock bottom”. These events
often take place right at the start of our day, and we get that feeling of
“getting out of bed on the wrong side” setting us off to have a series of disasters
which makes our day get worse and worse. We may even look for the 3<sup>rd</sup>
event to take place so we can get out of this bad patch; you know, the “things
come in three” feeling.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We all go through these feelings and emotions in our lives; it’s part of
being a human. But have you ever experienced Highs and Lows on the same day?
Yes I am talking about hitting high and low in 24 hours, and I mean very high
and then rock bottom! If you’ve never experienced this, it can be emotionally
draining and leave you feeling completely disoriented! One moment is good and
then it all goes bad! So how do you deal with this? How do you keep your wits
about you and survive? Not easy as it all happens too quickly and that feeling
of disorientation and dizziness lingers for a long time. I guess it’s what they
call in show business “your 15 minutes of fame”; one moment you are the talk of
town and then no one wants to know you!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So if think you’ve never experience this before let me give you some
examples to help you understand what I am talking about. I guess the most
obvious one would be when you get some good news in the morning follow by bad
news! You get that phone call from your boss informing you will be getting a
pay rise for all your hard work and dedication to the company; you hit a High
here. And then you get a call from home to let you know the house is flooded
and it’s not covered by your insurance! You’re on a Low now. That would be a
real rollercoaster of emotions all in a very short space of time!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">We often experience this at work too; I know I have. You’ve been working
hard on a piece of work or a project, which you hand in and get praised for the
excellent effort. At that moment you feel good, accomplished and ready to take
on the world! You are on top of your game and you can’t get enough of it! And
then boom! Something goes wrong, you make a mistake, something that should have
been done or looked at was not and now you find yourself having to own up to it
and fix it! All the “high” from the good work you did is gone and you are scratching
the bottom of the barrel trying to get out of the situation you find yourself
in! You no longer have the glory but the guilt, no longer the praise but the
questions, you now feel emotionally drained because your adrenaline has gone
from very high levels of excitement to very high levels of stress and your body
can’t take it any more! Talk about a rollercoaster! You have just been on one
and you had a front row seat!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But you know what they say? Life is a rollercoaster and you have to ride
it. Remember that which does not kill you can only make you stronger! To get
through these emotions in one day and come out the other side in one piece you
need to stay together and focus on the task ahead. Get off your high ride and
focus on your low drive. At the end of the day you only have one option – fix
it and move on. Don’t dwell on the past and what you could have done, that’s
all gone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Your passed successes are
there to support your mistakes, don’t just ride on the glory days, but drive
the tough times too. Everything is a balance, and ok you are now deep down, but
surely someone will remember what you did this morning too!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">That’s the balance in life; “Highs” and “Lows” are there to help you be
better at what you do. Highs remind us of what we can do well and achieve, it
is a way to re-charge the batteries and leave evidence that there is something
good we have to offer. Lows help us remember we are also human and sometimes
things will go wrong, we will make mistakes and we need to learn from them
using the experiences to better ourselves. In a way the lows permit us to learn
and produce more highs as a result of these experiences, they need to exits for
highs to be created. Without one the other does not exist. I guess no one can
ride a rollercoaster that only goes up, it will eventually run out of track and
then you face a massive drop. I rather have lots of reasonable highs and lows
to make it fun and more interesting!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">I’m grateful for all the experiences I have in my life. Not only do they
help me learn and become better but also they are great sources of inspiration
for my writing! This is week forty-nine of my yearly blog challenge, I only
have three more to write before I am done, and believe me when you have written
forty-eight weeks, it seems that subjects are begging to dry up! Thank goodness
for that rollercoaster called life with its Highs and Lows, without it I’d be
thinking, “what am I going to write about this week?”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7308129352824941990.post-56562791134460313442014-11-29T06:03:00.001-08:002014-11-29T06:03:53.755-08:00Week Forty-eight – What’s your preference?<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<h2 style="text-align: center;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Everything we do in life is a preference, and we can adapt, change and
enjoy someone else’s preferences.</span></h2>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIg2laqKGJavKji_HfLWYGE9ZsdfZsmzfs-XLTH4EJBaNSqV3Sui0x-5n41QcegUBoIiDVIwl1FpM3OHxaq1Ih1xhRW44K8OPMYdbrbAWP4HohbyuvzrYwhB-SNSiNXaHg4zVWF3hDGGg/s1600/Like.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIg2laqKGJavKji_HfLWYGE9ZsdfZsmzfs-XLTH4EJBaNSqV3Sui0x-5n41QcegUBoIiDVIwl1FpM3OHxaq1Ih1xhRW44K8OPMYdbrbAWP4HohbyuvzrYwhB-SNSiNXaHg4zVWF3hDGGg/s1600/Like.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Do you like Coffee or Tea? Fish or meat? Winter or summer? Have you ever
sat through a film you don’t enjoy? Have you ever been somewhere is not your
choice? Our lives are all about choices and those choices are made based on our
preferences. But the great thing about preferences is that we can change them
or adapt to have a better life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">This week I had the opportunity to take a group of people through an
activating involving understanding yourself and others through preferences. I
hadn’t facilitated this subject for a long time and talking about it again this
week has made me think about the importance it has in our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) is a tool used by many to understand
your preferences and how you operate within a frame of these preferences. It is
an excellent tool that helps people understand their preferences and how these
affect they way the live, work and interact with others. There are no right or
wrong types and it allows you to take a look at yourself and understand how
much these influence your life and those around you. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But what is a preference? Often people get confused when you do this
activity, as we all like to be seen in a certain way. In other words, we adapt
or change our preference just to please someone, survive in our jobs or get by
in our day-to-day lives. But when you do Myers Briggs the only way to find out
what your preferences are is by being true to yourself, what I call true to
your Myers Briggs type. And these preferences explored in MBTI are very
different to each an every one of us but often we share commonalities with
others. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Let me give you an example of what a preference is. Take your arms and
fold them, as if you are waiting for the bus to come. Go ahead; do it. What arm
do you have on top? The right or the left? Now try to fold your arms again but
this time put the other arm on top… I bet if you are doing this right now you
are struggling! Have you every worn your watch on the other hand? If you have
it, go ahead and swap it and you will feel how heavy it is! It hasn’t suddenly
become heavier, it is just simply that you are not used to wear it on that side
and it feels awkward. If you leave it long enough you will soon forget it is
there, until someone asks you the time! Because you will look at your preferred
hand.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">These preferences become our habits, the way we like to do things. And
the moment something does not fit our frame of work, our preference, it throws
us off. As I was walking the participants through some of the explanations on
the differences between each preference, some of them became more and more
confused. “I like both” some times people say when doing this exercise. And
they are quite right to say so; in many instances people have not clear
preferences for certain things. You can go all your life liking both tea and
coffee equally, with no clear preference for either of them.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">So why is this so important and why should you care about your
preferences? Self-awareness of your preferences is a gateway to your success
both in your private as well as your professional life. Take your work for
instance, your preferences, they way you operate; these have a massive impact
in how much you really enjoy what you do. You tend to find jobs and professions
that match they way you like to live your life, and when you don’t, you have to
adapt to get the job done. This does not mean you can’t work in any job, of
course you can, but your preferences will determine how easy or hard performing
your job will be. If you are someone who prefers talking things through before
you action them, you need to work in an environment that allows you to interact
with people so you are able to share your ideas. If on the other hand you
prefer to think things though by yourself before you talk to anyone else, you
defiantly need to be in a job where individuality is an integral part of the
work environment.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">But the good news is that you can always learn! Yes the great thing
about this theory is that we can all drink tea and coffee (unless you have a
particular allergy!) we just need to get used to the taste, and when there is
nothing else, you learn to like it! <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Tolerance plays a great part here too. If you live with someone whose
presences seem to be opposite to yours, if you really want to stay around, you
need to adapt, you may need to move away from your preferred comfort zone and
join the other person. This takes a great deal of effort and sacrifice but
brings high levels of satisfaction and harmony with those around us. It is a
game of give and take and we all expect that if we need to change to maintain harmony
in our relationships, others we also need to be encouraged from time to time to
do the same!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">For me talking about it this week has reminded me how important it is to
be tolerant of other people’s preferences and make an effort with those around
us, both at work and at home, to ensure we bring a balance to the way we live
our lives.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
<!--EndFragment--><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="mso-ansi-language: EN-GB;">Take a moment to explore how you deal with this, what is your reaction
when you are asked to do something you are not comfortable with? When you have
to do an activity you would never chose? Or how about when you have imposed on
others how you like to do things? Life is about choices, and those choices are
determined by our preferences, sometimes you will have to make choices that may
not fit around your frame of mind, but will help you flourish that relationship
which is so important to your success and a happy life.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01529098661635003946noreply@blogger.com0