My favourite

Realign the mind....

It's easy to get caught up in a moment..... it's easy to let go and forget to stop and think.... it's easy to hold onto the good times in order to ignore the bad times... and it's easy to stop thinking about others and their problems. Ask people things, let them talk, and listen... no when to talk back, and know when not to. Sometimes people want advice, sometimes they just want you to listen....... Know the difference. If I do it all right - as best I know how - that's when self peace of mind comes. Then no one can tell you that you aren't doing enough or are doing it wrong. But self peace of mind is what we all need to reach... Be your own best. It's all we can do. But on the same token, if you know you could have done more, should have done more, or would have appreciated more done for you if you were in that position, then don't run from or deny the implications that come from not having been your best for that person, situation or time of your life. Friday vibes..... and taking stock of what I have.... and remembering some important things... Humble pie Friday...... mmmm, pie.... no really.. say no to pie... unless it's Jaymor. hahahahaha Some cool things to remember and humble your thoughts....

Ride more.... Drive less...

Ok so a beach cruiser's outta the question... coz, wellll they're only somewhere far away from here and like all things that need to make their way here - they come at a price... A shipping price... and it aint cheap :/ So While mountain bikes and road bikes and motorbikes and scooters are run of mill as far as a change up from the car goes.... I don't want to do that for anything other than fun. So when I think fun... I think Vespa, I think rollerblades, I think beach cruisers and fixed gear bikes aka 'fixies'. Well let's just say that our bicycle culture here is virtually non-existent and therefore just getting a bicycle and hoping to join the masses on the leisure side of it wouldn't be an option. I would need to other road race (yeah......um......not for me) or mountain bike (cool, seems fun, little injury prone and thinking maybe not ideal) I just think to myself we live in a small enough place to ride more and drive less. We literally jump in our car for anything... and God forbid we have the windows down for fresh air... no no, its all about aircon. So when is there time to be more natural and economical and fun when it comes to getting from A-B...? So, ok gonna start small and see 'where it takes me...' Seems more and more people are slowly doing this.. and to keep up with doing the cool fun things in life... having the right stuff keeps you involved in the circles of those doing it. Life is all about living in the moment and doing as many cool things with cool people as often as possible. The rest is 'on paper' but paper doesn't count when you're looking back on the memories you made......

 

2013 - Vespa vibes.....

'You are.... I pad.....'

So it arrived... I stared at it for a little while... then I opened it a little.... stared a little more... opened it some more... and then eventually gave in to temptation. (Sometimes this form of surrender isn't all headed towards a fiery furnace of judgement) I must say I can list a set of 'caryns loves' and you might sum me up or think you have. But anything creative (design, ideas, concepts, pictures) anything media related (ie movies, series, music), and anything electronic (gadgetzz) lives on my radar. Social networking is lame... social upkeep is impossible what with everyone talking such bullshit half the time.. But the gadgets that have me edit my 'pictures' listen to my 'music' and watch my 'videos' are like priceless assets to me. They keep me sane... in their own form of comfort. So here it is... my new addition. It's exciting more than consuming. And in knowing it's mine and it's not going anywhere... I use it when I have the time. In love with it so far..... don't think that love will fade....

My love relationship with Retro

I've always had a fond love of instruments, vinyl players and anything really that projects music.. but my appreciation goes deeper for the vintage pieces which, still, in very few homes these days you will find. There is a certain type that really makes old school look flippen cool. And how we know it to be is - Retro. I would only come to appreciate ALL things retro upon browsing for hours at pictures of old music systems, radios and headphones etc. It's been my thing forever but never have i seen and loved the look of retro 'everything'! Anyway, it's a toss up between ultra mod with clean lines and crisp finishes and that of retro - which too has clean lines and crisp finishes... but it's something about the colour that does it for me........... colours and pictures and colours IN pictures.. Well let's just say my love for it has grown... and in having a photo blog - by now you understand me in this pictures fanatic regard... well some do....

Retail Therapy

Happiness isn’t there every day of the week. Sometimes it’s there abundantly and other times you feel like you’re the only one without it. We are told to do things that we love to do and to do them often. If one does this.... we should be rich with bliss all our days. On the days where happiness is hard to feel, find or show, there are material goods that for some unknown reason can turn a dark day bright, can eliminate negative emotions and can literally bring about a smile and joy that resembles that of someone having just received the best news they could ever hear. Strange, but true.. Hence the idea of retail ‘therapy’ For some reason material desires can make all our problems seem so far away. Anyway, back to my point.... these are the types of material desires that would make me smile on even the glummest of days..

Zoom Nikon Lens or Fish Eye Lens

 Schwinn Beach Cruiser

Vintage Vinyl Player

Beats by Dre Headphones

Soft side....

If you try and fail... are you any better that those who haven't tried at all? It is fair to know that the most successful thing would be to try and succeed. I have come to realise in all I've experienced and witnessed in others how we react to things, when we react to things, what our thoughts are when we do... that it is ALL governed by emotion. We can try as hard as we can to be rational and reasonable when we are content in our emotion and in our minds. But when we are challenged emotionally, it's quite extraordinary how less level-headed we become, we try so hard to maintain the rationality and keep ourselves poised in a situation that causes distress or upset. The look on the face, the change in our tones, the body language all changes. This i deem to be natural. I don't see how we as human beings, can ensure that we 'look' like absolutely nothing is wrong, when the important part is to make certain that we don't act badly on it or unreasonably. That is the part that matters, that is the part that counts and that is the part that saves you from handling something badly. That is where the trying and succeeding comes into play. But the looks and feelings are natural. If they weren't there, then quite honestly - you wouldn't really be being faced with an emotional situation at all. As there was no emotion it would seem. This is impossible. We are all just bodies walking the earth.... but emotion is what makes us human. Controlling it makes us strong..... showing it means we trust and care for those who we let see it..

Rose among the thorns

It's not every day that I am enchanted by something in the areas I work in from day to day. In fact, there is never a day where something will have me say 'woow' in these under resourced and very poverty stricken areas. I have switched off to the pollution, the broken roads, dilapidated 'housing' and looks I get from the people who fill the streets aimlessly in the areas of mention. It's far easier and safer to not appear out of place.... this is why my GPS is vital.. (My co-ords are known to have been shit at times - or maybe the fact that I never wore my contact lenses so consequently couldn't read the road signs til i was passing it :/) I have heard a lot about and seen photo's of the Red Location in New Brighton and did some research into it to see what it was all about. But upon the topic coming up with one of my Dr's in the nearby area, and then further - the recommendation of going to at least take a look, I couldn't resist the urge... was it possible that something of this distinction could be hiding at the end of a street I frequent? Where up until now all I have known is desperation and devastation? I would soon see......

Not all is a pretty sight.... But Red Location is a good depiction of how no matter how dark something may seem, somewhere there is always a little light to inspire...

From A to B

It takes time to take 'leaps of faith' or 'steps in the right direction' and in all this time all I know is that I was always just ...getting there... Cool to finally have arrived at that place in my mind. For all other means of 'getting there' is my still very beloved White A3... Proof that people can achieve things and get things when they put their minds to it coupled with other things that make it happen....

Logic

You may never know what results come from your action. But if you do nothing, there will be no result. - Mahatma Gandhi

And if you are able enough to learn from other people's mistakes then kudos to you... But learn nonetheless....

Food for thought...

When did we all start deciding that in life it's easier to settle? When did we stop searching for enlightenment? And when did we stop striving to do better and ultimately be better? Why has is it become the socially accepted 'norm' to be the perfect average? It seems as though a natural trend to measure oneself against others is the reason. Or at least it’s the ‘excuse’. In a circle of 5 friends for example, 4 of them are on top of their lives 50% and the other 50% needs improvement, sorting, consists of serious issues, whatever the case might be. Then the 5th friend has their life sorted at 80% and feels completely content with how their life is because, well... people maybe compliment them on how they’re so this and so that.. and has their shit together and perhaps that person feels good about themselves at that point and feels like the 20% of life that they don’t get right day in and day out doesn’t really matter because no one is saying to them... ‘Um... why do you do that? Why don’t you sort that out? Why do you believe that choosing that route every time is cool?’ And the result of the lack of motivation coming from those we surround ourselves by, is causing us to settle with our lives, attitudes and decorum. When did we stop motivating each other? But..... if that 80% person had to put themselves in the company of people of a higher ‘standard’ of living or way of life... they might feel the need to improve that 20% they have so easily pretended doesn’t matter in order to live a reasonable life. So then, why aren’t we putting ourselves in the company of those who inspire us, those who can teach us and those who we can be motivated by constantly.... When you see people who you believe (as we all believe differently) are getting it right, why not, talk to them.... pick their minds for stories and ideas and learn to get back to the mindset of seeking enlightenment in order to be better people.  Why aren't we thinking about these things? It’s easy to just be the perfect average.... Without facing resistance and challenge in life – what value at the end of the day does your life hold? Vs the person who took the path less travelled and at the end the reward felt far greater and satisfying, because the reward was having the best as a result of being your best. We need to start trying to be more. And we need to measure ourselves against ourselves, not others. Be your best, not just the best in the company in you keep... otherwise you’re not keeping the best company.....

enlightenment - education that results in understanding...

Rest and Recuperate

Sometimes you need a time out from your life... sometimes you need a holiday... sometimes a getaway is the ideal solution or way to spend it after a long year. With packed bags, music, camera and a brand new book and little clothing other than my bikini... it seemed like it was going to be the perfect R&R vibe. And that it was..

A rested mind is a refreshed mind....

Cheers 2011... Hello 2012

Will blog soon.... so much to say.... so much to show, tell and write.. except it requires some thought first, and I am still in the 'smooth' (haha, sure) transition of holiday to work mode and need to get my ducks in a row first... as they say.