51: Service

Life feels worthwhile when it’s been used for the betterment of others

Yes, that may come across as preachy, yes it’s probably an unpopular POV in what has become an extremely selfish world

But it doesn’t make it any less true

Being there for others, especially those you love and care about, those you are grateful to have in your life….it’s the best feeling in the world

Why spend your life consumed by selfish wants and needs when you can just as easily pass the time in service to your fellow man, in service to humanity

I’m not talking about complete disregard for your wants and needs because the irony of being helpful to others is you gain a greater sense of what actually fulfils you and what you want out of life

And even more ironic than that is you begin to realise that you already have that ‘feeling’ that you think those things outside of yourself would bring

It’s already within

Service is a great antidote to that feeling of emptiness. It’s a great shield against self centred worries and concerns that more often than not paralyse you into inaction

No service requires, demands even, that we act. Action is at the centre of a call to serve, engaging with the world and actually living life is what a life of service is all about

Serve others and without consideration for your own needs, you’ll soon discover that yours have been met too

Be well

SRZ

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50: New Beginnings

My brother had his first daughter today

He’s my brother from another mother but a brother to me all the same

After a long labour, she came. My brother and I had been talking about her for so long that the minute she decided to bless us with her presence, neither of us felt ready

She came two weeks ahead of schedule and a nearly 48 hour labour

I got the good news very early in the morning…”she’s here!”

first thing that ran through my mind was ‘praise God she’s healthy and all went okay’ then it hit me, my brother is now somebody’s father

Again, neither of us were really ready for that, 9 months pretty much flew by

I had an early breakfast meeting with a new potential collaborator that proved very fruitful as it turns out and then I went to my day job

After which I went to see my niece, and my first impression of her was ‘you are perfect’ – a head full of hair, so light in my arms and peaceful in her sleep, I held her in awe of the blessing that babies represent

People say this all the time about babies but my niece is really and truly beautiful, like angelic beauty. Innocence wrapped in human flesh

New beginnings indeed. It didn’t actually hit me until much later that I already loved her, less than a day old and she had already won me over

That feeling would weirdly grow and grow as the hours passed on. I love my brother and this was his daughter, a slice of heaven graciously given to us as a testimony of God’s goodness

How precious she is. All babies are

Yet we too were once looked upon with such delight and wonder. At least I hope that was the case for you as I’ve been told and I recollect this feeling of being centre of attention

New beginnings bring with them renewed hope

A renewed faith in a universe that is just, good and gracious

A reminder that we are all well and truly loved.

We are all walking, talking miracles and we all our it to our nephews and nieces, daughters and sons to make this world that little bit better than how we found it

A truly Happy Friday 😊

Be well

SRZ

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45: Make The Time

You once genuinely loved this people

You once spent all the time in the world with them

These people were your friends. A family away from family

A place to call home

Inevitably, life creeps in. You all become busy, some of you become successful, others….not so much

Ego creeps in. It suddenly becomes competitive rather than complimentary partnerships

Words get said, pages get turned until those that you once held dear and close to your heart are now on a completely different page to you

And all the while your time continues to be taken up by things that in the end rarely will you be glad you spent so much time on

If you’re lucky, one of you will make the effort. One of you will wisely drop their ego and reach out to a friend

We all need those friends that love us despite our shortcomings. Friends that stick with you even when you’re behaving unreasonably

And if you’re wise as well then you begin to make the effort to find time, to not allow life to drag you away from everything that truly matters

Find the time

Make the time for the people who make your life feel that little bit more better, more enjoyable. Complete

Be well

SRZ

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44: Ego Is Still The Enemy

Ryan Holiday and his book ‘Ego is the Enemy’ is still impacting me

Just the other day I saw how my ego and ultimately insecurities can get in the way of my progress or even in a simpler way, my enjoyment of life

Pride and insecurities are two sides of the same coin. Both are ultimately emotions the ego uses to protect itself

There’s nothing harder than letting go of something when you feel like you’re in the right. That entitled feeling causes me to hold on to the ‘wrongs’ done to me like my life depended on it

My ego flares up, my pride comes to the forefront and in that moment, if left unchecked, I could behave in ways that could alter my life for the worst

Ego will always be with me. Ego will always seek to ‘protect me’ and ego will also get in my way if I leave it unchecked

So will yours too if you let it

Be well

SRZ

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42: Where Your Treasure Is….

That’s where your heart is

Wanna know what someone really cares about despite what they tell you? Ask them two things

Where do you spend most of your time?

On what do you spend most of your money?

Ask most people to do something with you or for you and their excuse for not being able to usually falls somewhere between, “I can’t afford it” or “I don’t have time right now”

But the truth is we all have time for something….what is that something for you?

What or who would you make time for no matter what, regardless of what else could be going on in your life?

Whatever or whoever came to mind, that’s where your heart resides

We show we care by spending time and money, yet given the choice, most of us would choose the time over the money

Spending money is relative to the person spending it. If I’m a child with wealthy parents then I may not care all that much for their gifts and lavish lifestyles opportunities they bestow upon me. No, in that scenario i would much rather their time, them being wealthy only means that they most likely have limited time to spare

So I’d rather receive their time because in doing so they would demonstrate to me that I am a priority

Now, a pot of money from my working class parents would mean the world to me because I’d know fully well what they’ve sacrificed to get me those resources

So really and truly, our treasure resides where we are most willing to sacrifice

What have you being sacrificing recently?

Has it been worth it?

I hope so

Be well

SRZ

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41: Too Many Directions

I feel like I’m being pulled in too many directions

Maybe I’m trying to do too much at once or perhaps I’m just not managing my time to the best of my abilities

I don’t even want to write anymore. I have nothing that I feel is worth saying. I’m maxed out

I don’t like writing ‘dear dairy’ content but lately it seems that’s all I have time to write

It’s time to buckle down. They say when you feel like you have the least time is when you should make the most time for yourself, get yourself balanced and centred

There’s only so much you can do as a person and there is only one direction you can run towards at any given time

So find a way to discover or in my case, rediscover the direction that is most important to you and head towards it

Ultimately we are all in control of our lives and therefore we should exert this incredible gift and take our lives forward in a manner that will make us most happy

Be well

SRZ

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38: No Pedestals

Nobody is perfect so if you want to be, better think about how to become a nobody….

Okay, that’s a pretty lame joke but it’s tinged with a lot of truth

I have a tendency in relationships to place someone I’m interested in on a pedestal which frankly they probably didn’t ask for and if they did, that would be a major red flag

Don’t place anyone on a pedestal

They are just human. They do things they wish they hadn’t, they get embarrassed, they lie, they have hoped and dreams just like you and me

Placing them on a pedestal or bestowing on them characteristics that they do not have or have yet to demonstrate is a dangerous game and will only go to hurt you in the long run

I’ve recently started crushing (again) on a friend who was respectful and clear that she didn’t feel the same way, the first time I felt how I felt

My mind has been thinking about whether now could be a better time than last time, I wondered if she’s involved with anybody and that thought alone triggers an emotional reaction

That’s a red flag – on my part

I need to deal with that before it hinders my progress and social development in life

Truth is I will probably always feel something for her but the pedestal has to go

To place her on that level while ignoring my own worth is not only unhealthy but it’s equally unattractive

Why do I write all this?

Because it’s what I’m currently feeling, to write anything else would be tantamount to ignoring myself – another red flag

If you’re gonna have s pedestal that you place anybody on, try a higher power or a purpose or mission that inspires you to become that best you can be

Otherwise, no pedestals for anybody, including yourself. Don’t be a narcissist- you guessed it….it would just be another red flag

Be well

SRZ

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34: Dead Time

Imagine being locked away from society because you needed to be rehabilitated?

That’s what each prisoner is doing while in jail, or at least that’s the idea. The time spent in prison will help them make better choices when they finally come out

We all know that hardly ever works, at least not for the majority of prisoners. Instead, once released, the inmate will most likely find a way to end up right back where they now feel they belong

Why?

Continue reading “34: Dead Time” →

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33: Good Work

There’s a certain kind of satisfaction that comes from having worked really hard on something you truly enjoy and put your all into

Nothing can take away from a good days work when you know you’ve done all you can do

Contentment and satisfaction are it’s own reward

Good work brings with it it’s own reward

Just thinking out loud

I am satisfied

Be well

SRZ

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