SO MANY OPTIONS!

I was talking to a friend today about the plethora of opportunities available in regards to career. She’s at the tender age of twenty-one and has the world at her feet. As far as I’m concerned, she’s sitting on the precipice of a multitude of exciting and varied paths that many people take for granted … she’s doing that now.

Take me; I’m an interior designer, practice manager, receptionist and writer. I mean, good God! Clearly I have trouble making decisions and thus I have many regrets about my scattered choices—namely not choosing a career that can make me squillions of dollars.

While my dear friend is unfortunately caught in that same rut of indecision, I could do no more than encourage her to take a step back and consider something grander than our monotonous nine-to-five job. While she shrugged her shoulders and lingered no longer than ten seconds on my advice, I started plotting my life as a travel writer. I figured I could fly to exotic destinations and swing from the trees like a monkey and ride African wildebeest like a jockey. Or can I?

Surely quitting my feasible existence and taking up the whimsy of ‘what if?’ would be preferable to wasting my life on data entry?

It’s a mixed bag, isn’t it? While some were smart in their choice to pursue higher education or due diligence in lucrative careers and apprenticeships, my friend and I—despite our massive age difference—are very much tied to a menial existence based on poor choices, indecision or fear.

It’s so interesting that with so many opportunities out there, we often baulk at a chance to change our life because it either takes us from our comfort zone or we feel inadequate. And so, we tend to complain about our current set of circumstances, knowing that we are the only ones with the power to change our existence, but remain unwilling to be culpable.

Perhaps it’s time to stop make excuses and start moving forward with a solution. I’ll keep you posted.

Kristy J

The Doctor!

Do you ever head to the doctors and exit your appointment even more confused than when you entered?

Well, take The Cockney; he’s middle-aged, in good general health, but like many of us, concerned about our aging issues and how best to maintain a good standard of healthy living. Gone are the days where there’s nothing we can do about our high blood pressure or rising cholesterol; there’s a medicinal or natural solution to most situations and given The Cockney’s obsession with staying fit, active and healthy, he goes regularly to the doctor in search of it.

Last night we were seated at dinner (our weekly romantic date) and discussing his latest visit with his general practitioner. I know, not exactly scintillating stuff, but I have to tell you he made me laugh so hard I almost spat my drink clear across the room.

Picture this; I sat sipping on my lemon, lime and bitters, pretending to be interested in his latest results for his cholesterol and dietary requirements when he tells me the doctor sent him for blood test and sample collection. Naturally I started to listen, as taking blood sounds semi-serious to those of us that generally run right past those clinics in a bid to ignore whatever health concerns can’t be diagnosed without peeing in a cup.

Anyway, next thing I know he explains that the doctor hands him a cup and says, ‘I need a sample’.

My dear, sweet Cockney glanced at the little plastic cup and yellow lid and failed to ask the most paramount question of all: ‘What sort of sample?’ And thus, he headed off to the bathroom, clueless, but determined not to fail in this medical mission.

With baited breath I sat waiting for the punchline. When I asked him exactly what he’d filled the cup with, his response had been, ‘Well, I went with what I needed to do most, so went with that.’

Drink now expelled from my lips and my laughter shaking the very foundations of the restaurant we sat in, I explained that he probably just wanted a urine sample.

‘Oh,’ The Cockney answered. ‘Well I guess that explains the look on his face when I handed back a full jar of my poo.’

Kristy :) 

T&C OR C&T

Well as you know Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are one of the hot topics of the NOW for American politics:

The American charge to elect a new president is really heating up and is probably the most talked about election of the century. Never have two candidates been more polarised, globally discussed or in a position to either instigate crucial change or bring the world’s most powerful nation to its knees. America has the unenviable task of deciding the suitability of two essentially inexperienced individuals to run a country with the highest mainstream influence in the areas of: business and finance, international political relations as well as entertainment and media persuasion.

It’s no wonder Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump are turning up the volume on their policies and obvious dislike for one another. With so much at stake, it makes sense to drag your opponent through the verbal mud in the hopes of sullying their good name and disguising any viable policies with a media frenzy. Or does it?

Do voters really want to waste time listening to the theatrics of the ego-driven antics of politicians determined to have their point heard even to the detriment of their political image?

I say no.

Politicians are under the impression that voters are incapable of making decisions without influence and thus spend half of their campaign—as these two have done—slagging each other off in an attempt to vilify their opponent and destroy their credibility. Ironically, if the same amount of time used to insult and insinuate lack of suitability for the slot of president were devoted to genuinely forging stronger policies, I expect the American people would be happier.

And, if you take the time to read the policies that Hilary and Donald stand for, it becomes clear that these two incredibly driven and passionate individuals are fighting for exactly the same cause; a stronger, more well-rounded American economy with better infrastructure, new immigration reforms, education and health care systems. Does it not scream ludicrous to continue to hold these popularity contests when both campaigners appear to be largely in sync?

It’s only now as we globally view this election and the sensationalised candidates do we take a step back and consider the possibility of unity. Yes, it is essential that one person occupies the seat of national leader and yes, of course there is opposing opinions and different goals for each party, but surely more can be accomplished on a global scale if the parties work together for the greater good of the country, not just the betterment of themselves?

Kristy J

100 Days of Happiness

The good, the bad and the ugly--phrasing used many times by a variety of people to describe personality, food, travel and situations of happenstance.

100 Days of Happiness encompasses this paraphrasing and although the title suggests 'happiness', what does happiness really mean? Is it a session embodied with hysteria or is it the physical act or smiling?

Happiness--to me--is a multi-faceted act of being, that can include even the darkest of emotions. It's rather simple to find happiness in celebrated moments or circumstances bearing positive results, but what would it mean to find happiness while discovering oneself after family tragedy? What if happiness was unearthed because one overcame the spiralling torment of depression without drugs or the help of bystanders?

Surely happiness can take the form of a lesson learned or an unexpected twist in fate that may lead to a life saved despite the loss of another?

The question of happiness is of course subjective and addressed via many facets within the novel. Sadness does not always equate to misery, but in fact an opportunity to change your circumstances. The truth of anyone's happiness stems from the personal experience and the choice of interpretation.

Where would 100 Days of 'Happiness' take you if you allowed the idea of multiple emotions to collaborate?



Kristy J

Expectations

We all have certain expectations when it comes to our friends, family and of course, our significant other. My expectations may differ from others as I never expect anything from anyone that I wouldn’t otherwise do myself.

For example: I hate to call anyone. This may mean that I am incredibly lazy, but I do honestly find it tedious to talk to a faceless person about menial topics. Thus, I never expect someone keep in touch via phone when I’m not willing to do so myself.

When it comes to family, my only expectation is to always be there for each other when needed; whether that’s advice, cuddles, a well-timed lecture or to re-stock the refrigerator.

Significant others … hmm.

This is tricky as we tend to place multiple expectations on these poor, helpless creatures without knowledge on how to find the grocery store, where the washer and dryer is located or even when the best time to load and unload the dishwasher may be. And eating? The poor buggers would starve to death if dinner wasn’t in regular, constant supply. I also suspect they have no idea what a hospital corner is because they have never made the bed.

But these are the small things, aren’t they? It’s not the end of the world if your partner isn’t domestically trained or a Michelin star chef. What does tend to make the blood boil is the lack of listening skills. Like the action of high-fiving, I absolutely hate to repeat myself. I figure if I’ve said my peace once, repeating it is simply a good waste of a busy woman’s time.

Enter my significant other … The Cockney. I’m fairly certain he spends his days plotting to drive me wild with his incessant habit of ignoring every word that ever leaves my mouth. My phone is constantly lighting up with missed calls because he’s forgotten I was going out with a friend or that I wouldn’t be home for dinner. Weekends can be filled with dour moods because I’m on a flight across country, he didn’t mark it in his calendar and woken up to an empty house—breakfast now in jeopardy.

I’ve now reached a point in my life where I accept two week old clothes still hanging over the bedroom chair yet to be put away, but absolutely fly off the handle if I’m asked how I have my coffee …. again.

I’m sure the lesson in this is not to ever have expectations of another human being. It would reduce the amount of teeth-clenching adopted and dramatically lower my blood pressure. I guess the real question is: when did we start placing roles and expectations on one another? When did life become divided by gender roles and how can we sit back and relax our ideals a bit more?

I don’t know the answer, but I’ll figure it out … right after I cook dinner, do the washing, vacuum the floors … etc, etc, etc.

Kristy :)