stop to smell the flowers

earlier this year i bought a book. it was a very good book. however, it took me so long to get through the first half, because i just never had time. between work commitments and social commitments, when i got home, all i would want to do was lie on the couch and turn my brain off whilst i watched some series.

then one day, i took a bold step and a blanket, and headed for the park. yes, the park. and this was during my lunch break. the 1hr and 15mins in my day that i have to get away from the office, eat and recharge.

ever since that first day, i have never looked back. i head to the park religiously every single day. and don't feel happy if i am unable to go. i finished my book at a normal speed when this happened, and moved onto the next book. but it wasn't even about the book.

it was about taking that time to myself. we are all so busy with life, that we very rarely take the time to just live. time however is a luxury. running between clients, meeting deadlines, pulling hair out, leaves very little of the GMT +2 that you can use for yourself. to get back to you, and allow yourself to just be.

but 1hr a day is all that you need. and trust me, it feels amazing. you feel refreshed, and ready to get back into it when you return to the office (albeit, a little bit depressed because you have to return to the office). life stops looking so mundane and boring. you have a fresh new perspective on things, and it does make you that little bit happier.

find something you love. and whilst doing that, stop, and take time to smell the flowers.

but hey, #imjussayin
rabi

(image found on http://www.whatsonincapetown.com/post/venue-de-waal-park/)

'tsek!

there are many phrases and adages in the south african culture that are fantastically dismissive, with voetsek! (or the variation, ’tsek!) being the one that crosses cultural boundaries in this hot pot of a country. yet despite this dismissive-when-fed-up element of our culture, south africans as taxpayers have been complacent – as if there is an income ceiling for mass action. there are two particular things – actually three – that have caused me frustration this year, as a taxpayer – these induced the above thought.

the first is having official municipal car guards outside my office, charging R8/hour (i know this has been happening in Cape Town for a while, but it is new to the City of Gold). so this is in addition to my taxes? okay deep breath...

the second thing was the tolls (which have thankfully been put off for a while), but this essentially targets people moving into Johannesburg, of which there are an estimated 2 million, daily. these 2 million people are, largely, not coming to socialise, but to work and contribute to the continent's largest city-economy (fun fact: jo'burg's gdp is larger than all african countries, apart from south africa, nigeria and angola). so, again, this is in addition to our taxes? deeper breath...

and thirdly, came the cherry on this advantage-taking cake: the auditor general's report which said that there had been R1.4 billion worth of 'unauthorised expenditure' in gauteng in 2010/2011 and R48 billion worth of 'irregular expenditure'.

so, as a taxpayer, i should pay for services that should be included in my taxes, such as parking and using the highway, while the province spends R49.4 billion in a manner that seems to be a great mystery? 'tsek!


anyway, #imjussayin

jamie