Still Standing

I didn't expect to be writing again so soon but here I am, good evening everyone. I'm feeling a little like a punch drunk boxer having gone 12 rounds with someone well out of my league and that is where today's ramble comes from. Life at times is very much akin to being a prizefighter – take on the fight, win or lose pick yourself up and continue to face the next opponent.

I really should have been made from rubber making it much easier to bounce back when knocked down, but I wasn't, I was made from skin, bones and was given a whole array of emotions like you. Take a good look at yourself, notice each and every scar that you carry – physical or metaphorical, what do they prove? To me what they prove is that we face a challenge each day, we don't always win but our hearts still beat and the blood still pumps throughout our bodies.

It is human nature to fight for survival. It is human nature to withdraw and get emotional when facing a personal defeat. The questions are, how many times can one person repair themselves? Is a failure a negative or can it be used to improve ourselves? When I'm in my usual positive state I'd look at my 'scars' and draw strength from them as they show me what I have come through before and how I became stronger as a result.

I am a nightmare as I bring myself back to my feet, as people that know me will testify to, but I do stagger back to them and build myself again. We all know that it feels harder with each setback but as we step back and review the path we have trodden it is evident that a light can be just around the corner. I'm not going to say that feeling dejected is wrong, I honestly believe we need to hit the bottom so we can look back at it to stop ourselves getting there again.

Look at your environment, we all are surrounded by those that wish us well, those that will kick us when we aren't capable of kicking ourselves. The metaphorical kick is one of the most powerful things we can ever receive, it isn't a knock out punch it is an incentive and to remember who we are and just what we can achieve.

The scar will fade, the experience of it will spur us on. Remember each person goes through the same as much as in that moment you feel like the loneliest person on the planet. In the words of one of my favourite bands “Everybody gets knocked down, how quick are you gonna' get up?”.


Take care my friends.


Enjoy today, look forward to tomorrow.

Breaking The 'Rules'

There are a few great taboos in life, subjects that apparently are best not broached in case of offence being caused to another, that to me is absolute tripe, if a subject is approached taking others feelings into consideration nothing should be 'off limits'.Today I'm going to mention one of those subjects, I'll endeavour to do it justice and be inclusive of all, if I don't succeed let me know and I'll correct any misunderstandings.

Anyway onwards we go, I have a big day ahead of me tomorrow, a day that will surely test me and my belief in myself. Whenever I'm in this position I find myself looking for guidance, looking for a sign that I will come through the day better than I started it. I am sure you all can see what I'm referring to now – beliefs, spiritual or religious. Don't panic I'm not going to turn this into a sermon but hopefully I'll open a few eyes and minds.

Each day people are misunderstood because of something they believe in, something that gives them a strength that isn't fully appreciated by another. In the modern world we have opinions flooding in from each direction, far too many at points and they swamp our mind making it near impossible for us to see the woods for the trees.

Ours senses don't work independently, they rely on each other. No-one can see the full picture without firstly opening theirs ears and listening, too often we are dismissive and merrily continue with a partial picture. The partial picture serves us no harm for the most part but then comes a time when we miss something because we have our eyes half closed. By only taking in what you see and never looking behind it you will only have a 'surface understanding', is that enough to go through life with?.

Of course there is another viewpoint, by seeing a fuller picture we allow ourselves a greater choice and quite possibly the chance to welcome something new into our life that we will find comfort and strength in at difficult times. Taking the time to listen (a lost art form) your horizons are broadened, part of what you hear may strike a chord with you and enrich your life further, of course you will never know unless you take the time to soak up the opinion of another without any prejudice or preconceptions.

No-one has to agree with another on what they believe but we should all work towards understanding that we all benefit from different sources, different concepts. I shall paraphrase Gary Lightbody 'If it looks like it works and feels like it works. It works'. The individual makes the choice that works for them, we need to decide what works for us.

I shall leave you to consider my words and just maybe we will take a step towards ending another taboo.

Take care everyone.

Enjoy today, look forward to tomorrow.

Time to Fly

It's Monday and the first day of March, so that must mean that spring is here! That is cause for celebration if nothing else is. Actually as I look out of the window I see a suspicious yellow thing glowing in the sky, having studied that phenomenon extensively I conclude it is the sun, with a bit of luck it will be making a few appearances over the coming months. Anyway enough of the small talk, I have a question for you all – can we fly?

I hear the collective scratching of heads as you read that question, so let me break it down for ease of understanding. Icarus flew, too close to the sun yet he flew, he had a goal to achieve and took his chance to fly to complete that goal. Do we challenge ourselves to soar above the clouds and risk our feathers melting in the heat of the sun or are we happy to be grounded and safe?

We are pretty unique in the great scheme of life, we have a choice to take that chance or not whereas nearly every other creation has to tentatively flap their wings, pop their paws onto unstable ground and face the unknown. We create our own environment, if we choose to stay in comfort zone there is nothing that forces to go beyond it, there is no-one pushing us out of the nest and telling us we have to go and hunt for ourselves or discover what is beyond our natural habitat.

The relative easiness of our environment is a comfort but at the same time it can create a fear – the fear of breaking free of our natural habitat. Knowing that nothing has to change without us making the decision, with no law of nature dictating that we will take that flight in my opinion holds us back.

I'm as guilty as the next person when it comes to not trying to set flight into the clouds, home comforts are far more appealing, there is a much reduced chance of anything going wrong in the surroundings you know. By the same token there is a much reduced chance of finding out what your full potential is, until one is open to risk you can't explore your full character.

Icarus may not of been successful but that doesn't mean we can't be, I'm prepared to flap my wings, it has taken a long time to get there but there is plenty time to come and making the most of it is all we can do. Remember we may have our feathers burnt but we repair much better than melted wax.


Take care my friends.


Enjoy today, look forward to tomorrow.