Friday, October 12, 2012

Sometimes You Have To Be Just A Little Bit Naughty

“Jack and Jill went up the hill to fetch a pail of water.
So they say. Their subsequent fall was inevitable.
They never stood a chance; they were written that way –
Innocent victims of their story.

Like Romeo and Juliet,
'Twas written in the stars before they even met
That love and fate (and a touch of stupidity)
Would rob them of their hope of living happily.

The endings are often a little bit gory.
I wonder why they didn't just change their story.
We're told we have to do what we're told, but surely
Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.

Just because you find that life's not fair, it
Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it.
If you always take it on the chin and wear it,
Nothing will change.

Even if you're little you can do a lot, you
Mustn't let a little thing like 'little' stop you.
If you sit around and let them get on top, you
Might as well be saying you think that it's OK,
And that's not right.

Cinderella, in the cellar,
Didn't have to do much as far as I could tell.
Her Godmother was two thirds fairy.
Suddenly her lot was a lot less scary.
But what if you haven't got a fairy to fix it?
Sometimes you have to make a little bit of mischief.

Just because you find that life's not fair, it
Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it.
If you always take it on the chin and wear it,
Nothing will change.

Even if you're little you can do a lot, you
Mustn't let a little thing like 'little' stop you.
If you sit around and let them get on top, you
Might as well be saying you think that it's OK,
And that's not right.

And if it's not right, you have to put it right.

In the slip of a bolt, there's a tiny revolt.
The seeds of a war in the creak of a floorboard.
A storm can begin with the flap of a wing.
The tiniest mite packs the mightiest sting.
Every day starts with the tick of a clock.
All escapes start with the click of a lock.
If you're stuck in your story and want to get out,
You don't have to cry; you don't have to shout.

'Cause if you're little, you can do a lot, you
Mustn't let a little thing like 'little' stop you.
If you sit around and let them get on top, you
Won't change a thing.

Just because you find that life's not fair, it
Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it.
If you always take it on the chin and wear it,
You might as well be saying you think that it's OK.
And that's not right.

And if it's not right, you have to put it right.

But nobody else is gonna put it right for me.
Nobody but me is gonna change my story.
Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty. “

So you may wonder what this is all about. It’s actually one of the many awesome songs from Matilda: the Musical, which I was very fortunate to see while I was in London. And I felt that it was a very appropriate song for things that are happening in my life at the moment.

My UK holiday was the perfect break for me. I’ve come back refreshed and mentally rejuvenated. I also did a lot of thinking about my life in general.

One of the topics that seems to come up quite often in my shrink sessions is the fact that I tend to get frustrated (and tired) at the fact that I’m always the one contacting my friends to organise outings. It’s very rare that it is reciprocated. I don’t actually bear my friends a grudge. The majority of them are couples (the single ones are hermits mostly), have families and other priorities. And it’s quite OK. I am, after all, single and have a tiny family.  That is why I tend to put my friends quite high on my priority list. I have accepted that if I want to see them I must make the effort.

One of my realisations has been that I need to expand my horizons and meet new people, create a circle of acquaintances with whom I do activities on a regular basis. Maybe through me getting out and about more and meeting new people will open new doors and who knows, I may actually meet that man who actually values me for who I am and will love me (a girl can dream). But none of this will happen if I sit at home and mope.

“If you sit around and let them get on top, you
Won't change a thing.
Just because you find that life's not fair, it
Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it.
If you always take it on the chin and wear it,
You might as well be saying you think that it's OK.
And that's not right.
And if it's not right, you have to put it right.”

Of course the challenge is finding a way to meet new people. I’ve realise that my bucket list will help with that problem. Here’s a look again at the list and what I’ve achieved so far since I started it:

1. Canopy Tours.  The Magaliesberg Tour was epic! Now I need to plan for other tours.
2. Hot air balloon ride. It’s quite pricey and I’m waiting for a special offer to afford it. And then Mom and I will go. I found out with great surprise that she’s always wanted to do a balloon ride (and she’s afraid of heights). Go mom!
3. Visit the Irene Country Market. B&B, let’s make a date of this and take the boys along.
4. Visit the Pretoria Botanical Gardens, and other parks in and around Gauteng. I actually went with Kerri, Nick, Calvin and Melissa to the Walter Sisulu Gardens for a Concert in the Park event. That was great fun!
5. Going to the Pretoria Zoo. A friend of Erica and Hendri is actually coming to SA in December, A visitor will be perfect for showing around!
6. Visit Erica and Hendri in the UK in September. This was an utterly amazing holiday! More to come regarding this.
7. Regular attendance to the Bioscope. I’ve been a few times this year already, the most classic being a Noodlebox screening of Drunken Master (with dubbing jumping from English back to the original Chinese very randomly).
8. Taking up ballroom dancing. Believe it or not, I’ve actually taken up salsa classes. There was a Wicount special and I jumped on the opportunity. I went to my first class this week and it was so much fun. Of course there was an overabundance of girls. It’s not surprising as I find that the vast majority of men in this country are allergic to dancing (though much less prominent in black and coloured communities. They don’t have hang-ups about dancing). Men have obviously not figured out that women really like it when a guy can dance. So come on, put the word out! And Kerri may actually join me!
9. Teach myself photography through an online course. I have a pretty good eye, but I need to learn about settings and options.
10. Going to HQ for 60 day matured sirloin steak. The correct word was OMNOMNOMNOM! And with the Supper Club we’ve been to quite a few good places.
11. Explore and discover the hidden gems in Joburg. I have found a partner in crime to join me. Talita and I truly enjoy getting out and about. She’s already introduced me to the Neighbourgoods Market and the Peach Café. Next on our list are The Whippet and Indulgence Café.
12. Visit art galleries and markets. On Sunday Talita and I are going to an exhibition opening at Arts on Main.

Other achievements not on the list include going to concerts/plays. I got to see Nutcracker on Ice, Phantom of the Opera, Matilda (I hope they bring it to SA) and Switchfoot. And I’ll be going to Linkin Park and Red Hot Chilli Peppers. And of course my weight loss and increasing fitness levels. How can I forget that. I’m feeling more confident and I have new found energy levels. A boost to the ego to defeat my tendency to not see myself in a positive light.

And there are a couple of additional things I have decided to do:
13. Volunteer with FreeMe. One of the lady volunteers for them and she’s offered to let me shadow her one Sunday. We humans can be quite selfish and we need to give back at times. It will also be an opportunity to meet new people.
14. Start hiking. I’m thinking of taking it up. Kerri, Nick, Calvin and Melissa enjoy hiking and it would be fun to get out and about every now and again.

Phew! That’s one busy schedule! I’ll keep you posted on how it all pans out. At this rate I’m going to have to create a new list! But that is the point after all. To live my life to its fullest. I don’t want to look back when I’m 80 and realise that I’ve frittered my life away doing nothing, feeling sorry for myself.

Once more with feeling:
“But nobody else is gonna put it right for me.
Nobody but me is gonna change my story.
Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty. “