2013 ends and 2014 begins

2013 has been a year of memorable moments....Some good some bad......I've laughed a lot, cried a little but above all else I think I just remembered that it's life, you've got one chance at it so make the most of it........

I think as an Aussie living in America that we got the mix of work life balance right....Over here there is a lot of work and not much down time....Now some may say that, that's a residency.....just plain hard work....However, I feel that if you miss the highs and lows during this time, how can that be considered living.......???

I consider myself very lucky in life for several reasons.......

The first and foremost thing is that I have accepted what happens in life and that I often am unable to control what happens most of the time........

I also have come to terms with my past....It has made me what I am but does not define who I will be.....It's full of memories, some sad some happy, but above all else they are memories.......

I also stopped taking things for granted and recognized that certain opportunities may present themselves only once and to not take advantage of them would not be living.......

I also learnt from the loss of a dear friend that to not express yourself and say what you mean in life is a crime in itself......Because like I said, you only have one chance at life so make the most of it......I also learned from that loss, that you should never compromise in any aspect of your life and to surround yourself with friends who treat you with love and respect and not as an afterthought

So what's in stall for 2014....???
Truth about it is.........I don't know. I've stopped trying to predict what's going to happen.....I think you have to.......My wish list is endless and there is not enough time..........

George Washington Carver once wrote "How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant with the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these."
or better still from the Chinese philosopher Lao Tzu

"Life is a series of natural and spontaneous changes. Don't resist them - that only creates sorrow. Let reality be reality. Let things flow naturally forward in whatever way they like."

Happy New Year !!! May it be prosperous for everyone!!!!

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/georgewash106292.html#uwp6VDb7poDC3Cm3.99

How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in your life you will have been all of these.
Read more at http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/g/georgewash106292.html#uwp6VDb7poDC3Cm3.99

My last post seemed to send a flurry of emails re my mental status.....I can assure you that I have not lost any more of my now dwindling mental capacity that I have always had....
The point of my last post was to highlight that there are some people who accept who they are. I have accepted this.

I made some choices in life, be they right or wrong, which have defined me and who I am. I can't look back and won't look back on the decisions and think about the what if's......

I accept who I am in life. I cannot reiterate this enough....But I am also accepting that the ideal person that I want in my life is just not there. And you know what, I accept that.

Part of living is being able to accept things in your life that are out of your control. This is one of these things. Does my life lose meaning if I do not have a soul mate. The simple answer is "No". I would not have been able to do all the things that I have done in life if I locked myself up and said "F*#@k it I have no one and so what's the point".....

The reality is that there are people like me in the world that would much rather be alone and happy than be with someone that does not fulfil every fibre of their being.........

Food for thought........

Reality bites

You get to a point in time when you are mentally and physically exhausted. Fear of being alone is present and that sick feeling that you will be looking over your shoulder for the rest of your life wondering what the f*#@k happened and what could have I have done differently.

Moments in life define who we are and whether or not we really want to be caught in a situation like this. And sometimes it is so very hard because in truth no one ever wants to be alone and there is always that fear that you will be, if you elect to not be boxed in or treated like a doormat on life.

And where do you find that balance......I think I have looked for so long for a person that just wants to travel through life with me and walk next to me, not in-front nor behind me that I have resigned myself to the fact that this person for me, does not exist......Your parents always say "that there is someone out there for all of us" and for a lot of people that is true. If you find that true soul mate that simply appreciates you for being you remember to thank them every day and let them know how much you really appreciate them in your life......

In truth I have given up the search and I think now am closed to finding that person in life as I have found most people want something from me and in truth I have nothing left to give.....

I found this quote this evening that pretty much sums it up for me:

 "When you're missing a piece of yourself, aching, gut wrenching emptiness begins to take over. Until you find the link that completes your very soul, the feeling will never go away. Most people find a way to fill this void, material possessions, a string of relationships, affairs, food...I bear my soul, with words, for all to see.” Anon.

Mid life crisis or Forty's Bucketlist

When I was growing up my dad would be frequently absent from life events. I thought that was the norm and that this was a routine event for most families. Then, as I grew older and he grew older, I watched him regret not being able to spend time with his family.
I have a much different opinion about what is the norm these days. I would much prefer to sit, and smell the roses than be like this. In his final years he regretted doing a lot of things, not travelling, not spending time with his children, and giving too much of his time to a job that could and would exist without him.

So as I have now hit 40, I decided to make my mid life crisis bucket list. This is more so that I don't forget to sometimes smell the roses.......These are just things i'd like to accomplish before I turn 50......

Now, i'm a simple guy that thinks about things in a simple way.....The way I look at a bucket list is simple. It should be things that you have wanted to do that are within reason and that you can still enjoy, like swimming with the great white sharks off south Africa, helping build a school in Africa, or trekking through the mountains of Uganda to spend some time with the Gorillas......And when that is done watching the sunset over the mountains on with good alcohol, food and friends.....
It's a real challenge to set time aside to do this but is essential in life............

I read this quote and loved it...
"In the end, it's not going to matter how many breaths you took, but how many moments took your breath away" -shing xiong

Home

Finally got some down time that I can write......The challenge about living overseas is not being at home. Not being able to do the things I would normally do and be with both friends and family. The loss of some close friends whilst being over here has left me at times feeling numb and wondering why you would elect to leave family and friends and rip up and move half way around the world. I think it takes a special person to be able to do this.......
For right or wrong I am not this person. Being a typical Leo family and friends are important and although I have enjoyed my time overseas I look forward to the day I set foot back on home ground for good.....

Robin Hood wrote "Home is people. Not a place. If you go back there after the people are gone, then all you can see is what is not there any more"

Although I have made some great friends here, it just doesn't feel like home.....

Bystander phenomenon

I just realized it has been nearly 12 months since I posted on this. Time has flown. 12 months in a foreign country......It's amazing what you become accustomed to and desensitize yourself to when you are just trying to get by. Doing a residency, is to me like treading water. I'm just trying to survive until it's all over. There are very many things you come to accept when you know they are wrong because you are concentrating so much on just staying afloat yourself. I looked it up this morning.....It's known as 'diffusion of responsibility' part of 'the bystander effect phenomenon'. It's you knowing that something is wrong but not doing anything about the situation because you figure someone more qualified will take some responsibility or ownership and do something about the goings on.........The problem for me and the frustration I have is that no one does. So what do you do ?
Truth about it is I don't know!! Edmund Burke once wrote "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing."  Here are the scenarios for you to consider:
1. You do nothing and continue the cycle that was there long before you arrived and let history repeat itself......
2. You mention it to someone...Someone who has more power and responsibility than you. Problem is when they do nothing what do you do??
3. You do something....It has the potential to cost you a lot personally and professionally.......
WHAT do you do??