Dominance

Dominance. This word is reminiscent of those nature documentaries one watches lazily on a Sunday Afternoon.

Dogs for instance, show their dominance to one another by making sure their heads are higher than their opponents. I remember this from my childhood observations when our small, mix-breed bitch would use our Labrador bitch as a stand post on which she lent to display her dominance. Of course, the Labrador was not fond of this treatment and responded by body-slamming her down WWE style, thereby showing her whose "Boss".

What gets to me though, is that people scuff and dismiss this as prime and instinctive animal behaviour. i.e. this is not what us civilized people do.

Whilst going for a drive the other day, we noticed houses build all the way up the slope of a mountain. Curiously, we wondered how on earth those people got to their houses, and proceeded to drive up that way to investigate. After criss-crossing our winding path up to the houses (or rather, mansions) we eventually got to the top. Beautiful and expensive-looking as the houses were, we both had to ask, was it all worth it when it was such a belated mission to reach home?

Why were the houses right at the top more expensive and more wealthily looked after than the houses that were only slightly less escalated? One of the answers I could come to: Dominance. This I suppose, is the civilised method of 'dominance'. It boosts the esteem of people to know that their 'heads' are highest above all, to know that there's no one above them, that they are in fact the highest they can get.

Just a thought... Just pondering about the strangeness of mankind.

My Life this Year

Wow! It certainly has been a while since I've last posted. This is probably inexcusable on my behalf, but I will try to justify it nonetheless.

Since My last post, I have started the life of a student, which is altogether a new and different experience. Apart from knowing absolutely no one (since it is a new Town I moved to), there was a flurry of colour I am unused to (for one having occupied dryer regions of South Africa and attending a school with uniform) and a frenzy of others just as confused and unfamiliar as I was. It was exciting, but nerve wrecking as well, and before long, I realized what I had had in friendship back home, and longed to have it back.

I soon managed to adjust however, and new friends came, new opportunities, and ultimately a new me developed. Independence took its natural course and shifted to its rightful place as instinct. Its strange to me how people are capable of adapting to their situation, and wonderful. How, lost and confused, they can soon find their wings and soar. The town I now live in is the most beautiful I have ever seen, and has a piece of everything to offer: From mountains, to ocean, to forest and sun. In spring when the flowers bloom there is the most exquisite display of colours so bright! I find the quote by Lester Burnham in the 1999 film, American Beauty sums up my feelings and experiences of life quite accurately,

"I guess I could be pretty pissed off about what happened to me... but it's hard to stay mad, when there's so much beauty in the world. Sometimes I feel like I'm seeing it all at once, and it's too much, my heart fills up like a balloon that's about to burst... And then I remember to relax, and stop trying to hold on to it, and then it flows through me like rain and I can't feel anything but gratitude for every single moment of my stupid little life... "

Many things have changed, but I feel my life surging forward like the waves of the sea, and its leading me to exciting places and possibilities that I never dreamed possible. Where I am, right now, is where I feel I aught to be, and I feel that this year has been one of constant mobility and development, springing forth towards who I can and want to become. And in all this, I wasn't completely left in solitude. Without this, I don't think I would have gotten half as far as I have. I'm overjoyed that I could share my experiences, joys and fears with another...

Until my next post, (which I promise, will not be seven months later this time)

Keep breathing, stop and listen, and enjoy Life!

Picture from: http://gilad.deviantart.com/art/A-slice-of-life-64298703

A New Year; a new lifestyle

Well, well, well... We all well into a new year, Chinese included and I must say that it's been a very busy one so far! What with all the piles of boxes and furniture we had to labor 1000 kilometers, squeeze through the door and unpack its been exhausting really.

I like to think of us as squirrels, gathering nuts like maniacs to prepare for the battle of an upcoming winter. Yet now I think we can begin to settle, start getting back our shapes, further our educations, live off a healthy diet and generally upgrade our lives.

I have many plans and goals for the new year, most of which are not so much goals as maintenance. To push myself to my limits, and try to be as overall as I can. I also want to start painting again. My soul thirsts for a blank canvas and the smoothness of a brush between my fingers, but all in good time. First, I must sculpt my body and then I think all else will fall into place as it should be. My stress relieved, my body tired and yet burning with a passionate flame, and the will of a war horse to prance fiercely into the new battle; the challenge of change...

Image found at: http://www.feverishthoughts.com/2008/05/21/two-squirrels-sitting-in-a-tree/

May It Be

Ah! November... its funny how a year can sit still and quiet upon a rock, sunbathing and at the strangest of times, take flight like a seabird. Yes, my mind is already at the seaside as I sit day dreaming at my desk, the open textbook beyond my vision, waiting patiently for my attention.

My final Matric exams are underway, and I can only wonder through them, lost at sea until the day comes when I spot an island of comfort. It is a strange feeling though, this leaving business. One I cannot fully comprehend or yet come to any direct terms. I feel the excitement, splendor, jubilation of the first toddling steps of my future and career beginning, and yet, left on the shores of childhood so many friends and family that watch me take off with... how did Shakespeare put it? "drowning an eye, unused to flow."

But change is an inevitable factor within the lives of individuals. Some for the worse, others for the better, but I plan on making the most of my ever changing livelihood, ans as for so far the changes have brought me all the more joy, and I plan to keep it that way. For now I must sit though, in the dusty exam room, watching the hours tick by, the low scribble of light pens dancing frantically on their pages, filling out inevitable futures that I can wonder further, deeper perhaps than my minds knowledge and find wisdom there?

May it be an evening star shines down upon your papers, fellow matrics,

and May it be you journey on into your futures, to light the day!

Have a smashing matric rage! ;P

~Eden~

fulfillment

Today, I can honestly say that I've had a good day's work.

Thinking of my last blogging, I can honestly say that all the needs on my hierarchy are met and I am content with my life. The only really pressing thing on my mind is that my gym card has expired and I am in need of a good work out!

I managed good results for last term and all went well. Now the pressure is on to just keep it up. But through my happiness and contentment, I am confident that I can tackle any challenge that surfaces, or at least most. oh, beautiful life and all its intricate complexities. How beautiful it is to experience it to its fullest and to highest fulfillment. Sweet, wonderful pleasures!

I'm done Hippie-ing now... ha ha! just thought I'd drop by with a post to say that my hierarchy for this time is complete.

Take care!

Eden

Picture from: flickr.com

It's been a while I guess... In fact almost two months have passed and I am absolutely exhausted by the fast paced life I've been forced to lead. Constant school work with no tourniquet to its ceaseless flow and then the gyming in between which I can't complain about. Sculpting my body and exhausting every inch of my being physically is a pass time I have become almost addicted to. :)

Now, after four weeks of exams, tomorrow is finally the final curtain and I can only imagine the feeling of relief and almost confusion of release and freedom that will overcome me. It's been a while.

And now, having poured over Maslow's hierarchy of basic needs, I feel that most of my primary needs are met, most anyways :P, I now feel the need in the esteem department, and to get the results I have worked hard for this term. Seeings though I won't have the full fulfillment of that until next term, I believe that it is now time to fulfill the needs that I seem to miss on this scale... excitement, rest, adventure and escape! probably falls under the purple category, but anyways, Tomorrow I shall set myself off into a new day of hope and release!

Hope all out there have the same sensations and the best holiday ever! :D

~all from me for now~

Eden

Maslow's hierarchy was found at: "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Maslow%27s_hierarchy_of_needs.svg"

Published

Second dream underway in what feels in some ways like no time at all and in some ways, like an eternity of wait. I'm not even sure its sunk in properly yet, that I am an author. It's an overwhelming feeling to know that you've now done what you dreamed of as a child, what you've always aspired to. All it takes is a bit of hard work, planning, dedication and determination. One should never give up on what you wish to do with yourself. I never intended to.

"Intelligence without ambition is a bird without wings" - Salvador Dali

Let me set the next challenge to flight!