If I want to be like anyone, it's you!

My grandmother is the most exemplary person in my life; she is as innocent as an angel and as sweet as a Sweeti Pie (that’s chocolate filled with a yummy, soft and delicious centre – for those of you who have never heard of it).

I can’t see how anyone could ever live up to the holy standard she sets. I am sure that in her past she has made mistakes , as everyone does, but at the age of 86 she has learned from all of them and is teaching her children, grandchildren and great grandchild how to be an example to others.

There is no one I would want to be like more than my grandma, with more money in my bank account of course.

I am...?

As Eminem so rightly put it: I am whatever I say I am!

Right now, I am a journalism graduate who is working hard to complete my degree in public relations. I am a New Apostolic Christian, I am a motivator, I am a friend and I am more than I can explain in words. Everyone might not believe it but I feel strongly that I have the power to be whatever I want to be and what I want to be is: a successful public relations professional, with a balanced between: work, family fun, and faith!

Lamebook

This is one of the funniest websites I’ve ever come across. I’ve been visiting this website since 2008 and have enjoyed the humour of Facebook users mistakes and stupidity ever since.

Social media should not be taken lightly, it is a mirror of the person that you are or would like to be. If what your viewers are seeing is not of a dignified standard, you will be judged, be sure of that. And, if you are really unlikely you’ll end up on Lamebook for everyone to laugh at. 

My 15 minutes of fame

Andy Warhol said, “In the future everybody will be world famous for fifteen minutes.”

I was asked: You can’t choose the 15 minutes but why would you be world famous? Here’s what I think.

I am and never will aspire to be like any so-called-famous person. Those who have been chosen by other people to be the elite of this world have hardly done anything to astound me. Singers, dancers and actors/actresses are just normal people like you and me, thus I will not put them on a pedicle. However, if I were to be famous for at least 15 minutes in my lifetime it would be for something worth while, like helping to save a country from starvation… now that’s something cool … at least to me it is.

And you? 

I don't wanna be famous!
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Smiling really does help

So here I am, sitting at home and feeling a little down because I am due to go back to CPUT in only a few days. So, I decided  to tweet. However, before I could tweet about how sad I was that I would have to start stressing again, I came across a tweet which said: even a fake smile releases happy endorphins and makes you feel happier, even if you are not in the mood to feel happier. 

Well, I tried it and it actually works! I genuinely feel happier! What happens is: when you have a fake smile, that actions tricks your brain into thinking you are happy, eventually you begin feel happier.

The human anatomy  never fails to amaze me! 

bestthinking.com

A skill set called leadership.

Leadership has and will always be an imperative characteristic in any good manager, leader or director. Furthermore, it is an important characteristic for anyone to have. You never know when you will be faced with a challenge where you will have to take charge and be a leader.

Other characteristics which are important in any leader are:

-       Efficient

-       Deadline driven

-       Productive

-       Creative

-       Knowledgeable

-       Trustworthy

-       Organised

One other characteristic which can be a blessing and a curse is OCD and perfectionism. When you have these characteristics you are able to produce work of a high standard, however you are likely to suffer from ridiculous stress levels and fear.

Being a perfectionist can get you very far in the world, and perfectionist are generally the greatest leaders. 

sheebaskidz.blogspot.com

Lexical gap

Have you ever tried to express yourself, but there is just NO word to describe how you are feeling?  I know that all to well, I have suffered from that far too often, it might be because my vocabulary is slightly limited. However, lexical gap is an existent and genuine problem, which is the technical term for this.

Feminist believe that women suffer from this frequently as the English language was developed by men, and they did not take women’s emotions and feelings into consideration. This is why they believe that we often suffer from the lexical gap.

It is for this reason that many feminist believe the English language needs to be redeveloped. Personally, I think that’s a big joke! Why would we need to do that? Yes, SOMETIMES struggle to find a word to describe what we are feeling BUT the English language is sufficient and does not need a replacement.

What are your thoughts? 

What'cha say about Rock Journalism?

Being asked to comment on the legendary quote by Frank Zappa where he said:  [Most] Rock journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read, got me thinking about the 21^st century musicians.

Zappa was quoting during an interview with Bruce Kirkland, a writer for the Toronto Star newspaper and writers have agreed he doesn’t like many people and doesn’t leave much room for people to like him. During the time of “music journalism/ rock journalism” journalists where criticising musicians and their music, this made it hard for musicians to interact with them or response positively towards them.

However, he used these words to express that musicians [rock] musicians speak on behalf of the masses that don’t have the platform to do it themselves. It is scary to think that in today’s society those who are speaking on behalf of those who don’t have the platform to do so, are freaking insane people, and are no example to any one! If only being on drugs was the only issue we were faced with, in terms of our “celebrities”.

It is most certainly a scary world.

Is this what our children are going to aspire to be?  

Quote by Frank Zappa

Being asked to comment on the legendary quote by Frank Zappa where he said:  [Most] Rock journalism is people who can’t write interviewing people who can’t talk for people who can’t read, got me thinking about the 21^st century musicians.

Zappa was quoting during an interview with Bruce Kirkland, a writer for the Toronto Star newspaper and writers have agreed he doesn’t like many people and doesn’t leave much room for people to like him. During the time of “music journalism/ rock journalism” journalists where criticising musicians and their music, this made it hard for musicians to interact with them or response positively towards them.

However, he used these words to express that musicians [rock] musicians speak on behalf of the masses that don’t have the platform to do it themselves. It is scary to think that in today’s society those who are speaking on behalf of those who don’t have the platform to do so, are freaking insane people, and are no example to any one! If only being on drugs was the only issue we were faced with, in terms of our “celebrities”.

It is most certainly a scary world. 

Puma and Adidas

I just came across an interesting fact – it is an old one though – that the inventors of two of the world’s leading sports brands: Adidas and Puma were actually brothers. The brothers Rudolf and Adolf Dassler started as designers of footwear and decided to specialised in athletic footwear.

Soon the brothers could no longer agree on the image of the company nor on politics or anything else for that matter. Due to their lack of agreement they decided to dissolve the partnership and start separate companies. This is how Adidas (brainchild of Adolf Dassler) and Puma (brainchild of Rudolf Dassler) were born.

I can just imagine how rich the Dassler family must be, inventing either of those brands would have resulted in millions of dollars for the family. However, this family developed two leading and widely recognised footwear brands.

Whoever said that a little family rivalry couldn’t be beneficial? 

thesissocialjamsession.blogspot.com

A list of my top 200 achievements

Honestly, this is going to be a really hard post for me. However, here goes...

1.       Completing my national diploma in journalism

2.       Passing my first year in journalism with distinction, after lecturers doubted my abilities

3.       Being accepted into the fourth year of public relations

4.       Currently working hard to get my degree in public relations

5.       Working at Women24.com

6.       Working at Food24.com

7.       Working at Shape magazine

8.       Working at Younique Concepts

9.       Pulling off my first event on my own, with an attendance of over 900 people

10.   Pulling off my second successful event, with an attendance of over 700 people

11.   Being able to handle three clients on my own, with no experience in public relations

12.   Being able to say NO to things I did not want to be a part of   

13.   Getting my first set of straight A’s in grade 4

14.   Handling the pressures of being a fourth year public relations student with no prior studies of public relations experience

15.   Being a true friend to my brother and sisters

16.   Passing Matric

17.   Receiving the Success trophy for netball in grade 9

18.   Helping lead my netball team to the semi-finals

19.   Writing  my first story for Women24

20.   Publishing my first newsletter for the Elsies River community centre

21.   Publishing my first newsletter for the Vredendal community centre

22.   Getting 96% for a test that most others in my journalism class failed

23.   Being chosen as the first princess for my school when I was eight years old

24.   Receiving the diploma for being the all-rounder for my primary school (excelling in sport and academics)

25.   Being the second fastest 200m hurdles athlete at my high school

26.   Being a Sunday school teacher for three years already

27.   Receiving an offer as an account manager after working for a company with no prior experience (at the age of 21)

28.   Receiving distinction for my communication science assignment for my first and second semester

29.   Being able to type over 45 words per minute (sounds like a stupid thing, but I love it)

30.   Not bumping into anything or causing any accidents during my driving lessons

31. Celebrating my 21st birthday as a virgin

32. Being a proud and grateful and child

Wow, this list needs to be continued, I will have to think about this long and hard.

List to be continued...

 That's my boyfriend and me at our graduation 

That's me at my 21st 

Children born with deformities

Children are precious and we need to take care of them
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Recently there have been many reports regarding the shocking figures of children born with deformities in the Eastern Cape.

Just a few days ago SA Breaking News reported that yet another little girl was born with a deformity. She was born with the skin grown over her eyes, one eye was positioned above her eye socket and next to that, strangely, was a penis.

Doctors do not have scientific reasons for the deformities yet, but they do believe that mothers are using muti and other witchdoctor medication during their pregnancy, which may be the cause.

Since last year more than 50 children were born with deformities: a boy was born with four legs, another was born with two penises and many other cases. These children usually die soon after birth or during correctional surgery.

This is truly frightening, I urge all mothers to look after their children and to consult a professionally trained doctor during and after pregnancy. 

What motivates me?

I guess I am a typical cliche. Growing up without being able to have whatever I wanted, whenever I wanted it has lead me to be hardworking and truly driven. Success is what I strive for with every task I tackle (okay, honestly, I do have my lazy moments - totally natural). 

Then of course, I have my family who are amazing and help me reach by full potential by encouraging me and allowing me to make mistakes and learn from them. They are a wonderful part of my life and are more than just my family, they are also my friends. Also, I have an amazing boyfriend who challenges my mind and inspires me to do my best.

I don’t have a particular person whom I look up to for encouragement; I take motivation from many aspects of different people and situations.

Personally, there cannot only be one thing that can be your motivation and strength, unless you are referring to God - through who everything is possible.

These are some of my motivators among others
Picture: writers own