Steve's space: January, 2007

Stephen's profileSteve's spacePhotosBlogListsMore

Tools

Help

<< First < Previous Next > Last >>

January 10

Summer, summer, summer-time!

The mercury is on the rise ... Today was forecast at 31° C (88° F) and we're not even in the hot pat of summer yet! I can see things getting really toasty in Cape Town during the next few months!

Fortunately for me I work in an airconditioned office, but there is is a down-side: The cool, dry air really dries out my eyes, and I find myself screwing them up by seven in the evening. Eye-drops seem to help, but I can't help wondering if there might be long term consequences to living with dry eyes. Still, I'd rather be cool with dry eyes than too hot to even think!

There's a strong breeze blowing this evening (actually it's more like a gentle gale,) but the air isn't really cool at the moment. I'm hoping the temperature will drop sharply before I need to try and sleep, but I'm not holding my breath... One of my collegues has just had air conditioning installed at home, and I'm starting to envy her, and there's no hope for me because they don't allow external installations in the block of flats I live in. My next best option is a portable air conditioner, and they cost twice as much as installed units!

Anyway, enough moaning for one day. I received an email from a friend I haven't heard from in a while today! Isn't it great when you get word from someone you haven't heard from in a while? It always warms my heart to know someone thought of me and cared enough to drop me a line.

January 09

Life in the fast lane

I'm not sure when I moved into the fast lane. I was cruising along quite happily, and then the other day I woke up tired! When did the number of hours in a day suddenly become too few? Where is my time going? It seems to me as if December - with all its parties, presents, and general hustle and bustle just didn't go away!

I'm sitting at my laptop here, typing out this quick entry and watching in horror as the minutes slip steadily away. It almost seems like the time passes more quickly if I don't keep a beady eye on my watch! Perhaps my internal clock has slowed down a whole lot, and I'm just moving much more slowly. It's frustrating.

I'm not ready to start this new year yet either. I was barely getting used to the previous one, and enjoying the slighlty more sedate pace of the holidays, but all that is over now, and we're rushing headlong into January, with scarely enough time to see the scenery!

This afternoon I left work, popped into the store to buy one or two necessities, and then went to the gym. At the gym I got through half my workout and then gave up in disgust because I just couldn't get time on the machines I need to use! So ... in theory I've saved half the time I would have spent in the gym. Next I stopped for a short while at my folks to collect some fruit which they bought in bulk, and wanted me to help them consume. I must have spent a half-an-hour there, and then I came straight home, made some supper, watched thirty minutes of TV, ironed a couple of shirts and suddenly it's almost time for bed! Where did the evening go??

This has got to stop! Life is rushing by way too quickly for my liking.

January 03

Looking Back

I wanted to write this entry on new year's eve, but I haven't had personal time with my computer until today! I think it's useful to look back on the year passed, and try to distil what I've learned, and reminisce over some of the experiences I had during the year.

I moved into my flat late in 2005, in December in fact! I spent January and February getting used to living alone, and getting used to running a household. I'd say I've become reasonably good at it, and I keep a reasonably clean and tidy place. It's not perfect, but I'm not prepared to spend the time to make it so - there are so many other things which take higher priority in my life.

March was when I was burgled and attacked, and I suppose it took probably the next three months for me to reach some semblance of sanity again. I think my confidence took a huge blow, and it has taken me a long time to come to terms with the fact that I am not necessarily able to fend off an attack without help. What have I learned from this awful experience? I have learned that taking personal security seriously is worthwhile and necessary. I have learned that being male does not automatically mean that I can take care of myself in all circumstances. I have learned that when you are down, your friends and family are all you have.

Work has been difficult this year, both in learning to run a business and emotionally in terms of the people I work with. I have learned that you should be sure about who you give your heart to before you let it go. I have learned that the government bureaucracy doesn't care about you as long as you pay your taxes. I have learned that good-will can sometimes mean more to a client than the ability to get the work done.

I helped lead a group in our church's Alpha mission which ran during April and May (if I remember correctly.) I believe that the members of the group and I both learned a great deal from our meetings. I learned that I don't know as much about my faith as I would like to. Some of the people in my group learned that Christians are real people with real struggles, but that we have God to guide us make a path for our lives. After Alpha had finished, I had to take over leadership of the bible-study I attend because the then leader had to lead another group. I have learned that God will meet you when you put in the effort to seek Him out. I have learned that true strength is to be found in God when you give Him control of your life.

My health has been up and down his year, and I have learned that growing older requires you to listen more carefully to your body. I used to be able to cheat for a day or two and get away with it - now I have to look after my body and health every day.

Romantically, I have struggled with confidence and ended up in a couple of false starts. Finally in December I met and began seeing someone who I believe is good for me. What have I learned from this? Well, I learned that I shouldn't try to force things, and that what I really needed to do was focus my life on God's will. He had someone in mind for me (probably for a while now,) and what I needed to do was get on with His tasks for me. He knows my heart's desires and I bet was delighted to give them to me once I had focused on what is really important. The bible says it clearly in Matthew 6:33, "Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need." (NLT)

So to end: Another year has finished, and too soon the next one starts. I cannot say that 2006 was a particularly good year for me, but I have learned a great deal and grown a lot too. Hopefully 2007 will be a year I will look back on with fondness.