Doing the things that I love

Funny enough, one of my most profound moments recently did not come from a particularly dramatic experience; I was not sitting on top of a mountain overlooking the beautiful city of Cape Town at sunset, or at a loud church service singing with that magnificent choir. It was a moment spent in my bed, in my pajamas watching yet another cancer movie. Nonetheless, it was somewhere in-between the cliché scenes and the realness of death portrayed that I realized that I was certain to die. I became so aware of the fact that the life that I have here, right now, is not permanent, nor is it guaranteed. I think that this is a truth that we all know, but tend to forget. It felt something like riding on the back of a giant bird as it soared through the blue Cape skies on a sunny day, everything bright and clear. My life began on October 29 1990 and for some strange reason, I could also see it end in this somewhat undefined 'future'. This may sound like some psycho moment but I also believe that it is one that is necessary to have, in order for you to start living. The ‘fierce urgency of now’ kicked in.

This, I call seeing your life from the bird's eye-view. It is the perspective that puts things into perspective. It is not until you realize that three quarters of the things that we allow to bother us are actually incredibly insignificant. All you need to do is imagine your funeral and you will understand exactly what I mean, after all, that is all that your life may sum to. The question is, when your life has come to pass, once you have lived your life and 'made your mark', will all the buggeries that are troubling you right now matter? You find that that in most cases, the answer is no. We give too much credit to people who add no value, too much attention to the haters, spend too much time worrying about the minor details.

It is good to get ahead and get by but in the end it all boils down to one simple factor; did you live? Were the people around you touched by the life that you lived? There will be people who will try to get you down, circumstances that will take you aback, but do yourself a favor, find that thing that you love, find those people who make you happy, find those environments that give you courage, focus your energy on these. Sometimes your heart will feel heavy, do not let that be a reflection of how happy you are. Be happy, no matter what, taste a little bit of heaven. I believe that when we see our lives from the bird's eye veiw, we are able to fill it up with the things that we love more, things that actually matter. So, turn up the volume! Dance to your favourite song, eat a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, and be happy.

Beauty is when you have realized who you are, and you are at peace with that. It is when you have realized your reason for being, and you live to fulfill that. It is when you have been able to see your life from the bird's eye-view and you learn that it is not permanent and therefore fill it with that which you love the most. It is when you experience the glory of mourning with those who mourn and rejoicing with those who rejoice. It is when you have found your favorite song, and listen to it regularly. It is when you have learnt to remain calm in the face of a storm. It is when you have found that still, unshakeable place in your heart that lives forever, peaceful at all times.