Wednesday, November 9, 2011
Life is but a series of good days and bad days...
Wow...what an incredibly awesome day I had today! Cleaned the flat, went to gym...had a really good and ENJOYABLE workout (say whaaat?!?!), cooked a delish pasta, took the pooch for a looong walk, prepared a radio piece, wrote an audition soliloquy and then did my absolute favourite thing in the world to do...watched test cricket (SA vs. Australia)! And then I came to this really important realisation...life is but a series of good days and bad days. I found such comfort in the simplicity of it all. Then I basked in the glory of my "Ah moment" and just HAD to blog about it...cos that's just what we do!
Wednesday, May 4, 2011
Happiness is…
There are those who believe that happiness is a state of mind. These are generally the same people who subscribe to the ideology that it is the power of positive thinking that invokes a sense of happiness and contentment in an otherwise miserable existence. Then there are those who believe that happiness comes from achieving one’s goals, acquiring wealth and utilizing said wealth to realize the dreams one has nurtured since childhood – dreams of flashy sports cars, expensive and elaborately decorated mansions in affluent neighbourhoods, designer clothing and membership to the most elite country club. In short, the ‘top billing’ lifestyle that only a vulgar excess of money can bring. These people are usually the ones who would do anything to clinch the deal or get their hands on the largest piece of the profit pie.
Me, I believe that happiness is a secret your heart keeps. It can be likened to a coy young bride who reveals only the slightest glimpses of skin on her wedding day. She looks so beautiful, pure and attractive. This is not the type of attraction that leads to a one night stand…not lust. This is love, for a lifetime. He knows all that he could have when he decides to spend the rest of his life loving that girl. But he has to work for it, work for her affection. It’s the same way with happiness. It’s not a quick fix, a feeling we can summon whenever we are feeling like life has got the better of us. Happiness, you may be amazed to hear, is not a “pick-me-upper.” It’s in the moments we spend in the midst of good friends and good conversation, in the long summer days spent with family on the beach, in the hours spent showering our loyal and loving dogs with the attention and affection they so desperately desire and deserve for being there when no-one else was, in the lazy mornings we waste in front of the television in our pyjamas, eating a bowl of cornflakes. It’s in the loud, action packed Saturday afternoons enjoyed at sports bars amongst fellow sports fans, wearing our colours and watching our favourite teams battling it out on the soccer/cricket/rugby field for pride and glory and in the Sunday afternoon naps we steal after a big, greasy, indulgent breakfast. It’s in hearing an old song that transports you to a time gone by, or in seeing that the boyband of your high school fantasies has reunited to do another tour – except now they’re all men, balding and fat with no business claiming to be a boyband any longer. It’s in the Christmas carols that take us back to when we were kids, putting out milk and cookies for Santa Claus.
It’s in the everyday moments, and not necessarily in every momentous day. Happiness is there, inside every one of us. All we have to do is fine-tune the eyes of our soul to sneak a glance at those fleeting moments when our heart reveals a part of the secret…
Me, I believe that happiness is a secret your heart keeps. It can be likened to a coy young bride who reveals only the slightest glimpses of skin on her wedding day. She looks so beautiful, pure and attractive. This is not the type of attraction that leads to a one night stand…not lust. This is love, for a lifetime. He knows all that he could have when he decides to spend the rest of his life loving that girl. But he has to work for it, work for her affection. It’s the same way with happiness. It’s not a quick fix, a feeling we can summon whenever we are feeling like life has got the better of us. Happiness, you may be amazed to hear, is not a “pick-me-upper.” It’s in the moments we spend in the midst of good friends and good conversation, in the long summer days spent with family on the beach, in the hours spent showering our loyal and loving dogs with the attention and affection they so desperately desire and deserve for being there when no-one else was, in the lazy mornings we waste in front of the television in our pyjamas, eating a bowl of cornflakes. It’s in the loud, action packed Saturday afternoons enjoyed at sports bars amongst fellow sports fans, wearing our colours and watching our favourite teams battling it out on the soccer/cricket/rugby field for pride and glory and in the Sunday afternoon naps we steal after a big, greasy, indulgent breakfast. It’s in hearing an old song that transports you to a time gone by, or in seeing that the boyband of your high school fantasies has reunited to do another tour – except now they’re all men, balding and fat with no business claiming to be a boyband any longer. It’s in the Christmas carols that take us back to when we were kids, putting out milk and cookies for Santa Claus.
It’s in the everyday moments, and not necessarily in every momentous day. Happiness is there, inside every one of us. All we have to do is fine-tune the eyes of our soul to sneak a glance at those fleeting moments when our heart reveals a part of the secret…
Life is a funny thing…
I’ve travelled down this road in my mind so many times…visualizing every step of the way; every major milestone. I thought I knew how things would turn out, or at very least the closest possible permutation.
See as children we all have dreams, which turn into hopes by the time we hit high school. These hopes form the basis of goals when we embark on the university journey, and by the time we start our first job they’ve usually evolved into a checklist.
When I was a child I had dreams of being a doctor, or a politician, or a singer, or a Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer. By high-school, I had taken to idolizing the Mousketeers, but I realized I couldn’t be one…it just wasn’t going to happen. I was not a blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty queen wannabe from a small town in Texas, Arkansas or Louisiana…and I didn’t have a single parent bussing me around the American countryside to audition for everything and the Cat’s Pyjamas! So I studied subjects that would help me fulfil my hopes of becoming a doctor. By this point all my family and their family had caught onto this dream and harboured and nurtured and fed it every chance they got. I thrived on the idea of helping people and said the things everyone wanted to hear. School was never a struggle, but perhaps if I had taken subjects that I was passionate about, I may have been more inspired to study harder. Instead, I just plodded along and most of high school, as enjoyable as it was, is now a vague and distant memory.
I didn’t get into medical school because of a quota system to regulate the opportunity in a once apartheid-ruled state. So I took the next best thing – Biomedical Science. A year of plants, plants and more plants…NOT EXACTLY what I had in mind! After failing my Chemistry theory exam miserably (17%) to be exact, I decided to opt for laziness and went the route of a private party college, 3 hours of lectures a day…and completed my B.Com in Applied Economics.
Then I went to London for two amazing years but had to return to sunny (did I mention I hate the sun) South Africa thanks once again to the fact that I was born in this once apartheid-ruled state and I have no British ancestry.
After a few years of Marketing Communications, which I found frightfully enjoyable, I am now a Research Executive...go figure!
So now I am 27. A researcher, not a doctor. I still love to sing, but alas after 3 Idols appearances still not a famous singer. Where I once had dreams of being a beautiful bride at my winter wonderland white wedding at 27, I don’t even know one guy I would consider spending forever with (forever is a LOOOOOONG time). I don’t drive a Matte black BMW X5 with titanium spinners and blacked out windows. And I don’t live on a palatial estate with 15 bedrooms and a grass tennis court for a lawn in Kent.
So it begs the question, do there exist people in this strange world of ours whose lives turn out exactly as they planned? And if so, how do they do it? And if not, well…life is a funny thing, isn’t it?
See as children we all have dreams, which turn into hopes by the time we hit high school. These hopes form the basis of goals when we embark on the university journey, and by the time we start our first job they’ve usually evolved into a checklist.
When I was a child I had dreams of being a doctor, or a politician, or a singer, or a Mickey Mouse Club Mouseketeer. By high-school, I had taken to idolizing the Mousketeers, but I realized I couldn’t be one…it just wasn’t going to happen. I was not a blond-haired, blue-eyed beauty queen wannabe from a small town in Texas, Arkansas or Louisiana…and I didn’t have a single parent bussing me around the American countryside to audition for everything and the Cat’s Pyjamas! So I studied subjects that would help me fulfil my hopes of becoming a doctor. By this point all my family and their family had caught onto this dream and harboured and nurtured and fed it every chance they got. I thrived on the idea of helping people and said the things everyone wanted to hear. School was never a struggle, but perhaps if I had taken subjects that I was passionate about, I may have been more inspired to study harder. Instead, I just plodded along and most of high school, as enjoyable as it was, is now a vague and distant memory.
I didn’t get into medical school because of a quota system to regulate the opportunity in a once apartheid-ruled state. So I took the next best thing – Biomedical Science. A year of plants, plants and more plants…NOT EXACTLY what I had in mind! After failing my Chemistry theory exam miserably (17%) to be exact, I decided to opt for laziness and went the route of a private party college, 3 hours of lectures a day…and completed my B.Com in Applied Economics.
Then I went to London for two amazing years but had to return to sunny (did I mention I hate the sun) South Africa thanks once again to the fact that I was born in this once apartheid-ruled state and I have no British ancestry.
After a few years of Marketing Communications, which I found frightfully enjoyable, I am now a Research Executive...go figure!
So now I am 27. A researcher, not a doctor. I still love to sing, but alas after 3 Idols appearances still not a famous singer. Where I once had dreams of being a beautiful bride at my winter wonderland white wedding at 27, I don’t even know one guy I would consider spending forever with (forever is a LOOOOOONG time). I don’t drive a Matte black BMW X5 with titanium spinners and blacked out windows. And I don’t live on a palatial estate with 15 bedrooms and a grass tennis court for a lawn in Kent.
So it begs the question, do there exist people in this strange world of ours whose lives turn out exactly as they planned? And if so, how do they do it? And if not, well…life is a funny thing, isn’t it?
For Club or Country…
There are 50 million South Africans. Of that, approximately 24.5 million are male. To break it down further, about 13 million, give or take a few, are between the ages of 16 and 35 years old. There are 11 places in the national cricket team. 5 of those are pretty much cemented. This leaves 6 much coveted spots to be fought over by these millions.
Cricket is widely regarded as the unofficial national sport of South Africa. It is the second most popular sport in the country, and the most popular amongst English-speaking nationals. School boys dream of walking out onto the pitch at the Wanderers, dressed in the “Green and Gold,” representing the land of their birth. They envision themselves stepping up to the crease; Gunn & Moore bat in hand (the bat of choice for most South Africans), in crisp whites, Protea emblem proudly emblazoned on their chest, playing England in a test at Lords.
These are the dreams of a nation who give their all to win, be it representing their school, province or South Africa. Their talents are cultivated in the hopes that they will one day play for the Proteas. Then one day a Pakistani gets selected to play in the World Cup team. I don’t mean for this to sound xenophobic in any way, but it hardly seems fair for the millions of South African boys who have toiled under the African sun, sacrificed weekends, nights out, childhood fun and even academics to pay their dues to the South African cricketing fraternity, with their eyes ever-fixed on the ultimate prize-representing their country. In essence, the selection of a Pakistani has robbed a South African of their dream, their place in the national side. I am all for the idea that we need to pick the best eleven and give our country the best chance at winning the World Cup. But this is the WORLD CUP. This is not the IPL or any other such franchise league. This is the most prestigious trophy in world cricket. It is a tournament played by countries. Some reports on the 2011 World Cup state that there are no fewer than 25 South African born players in this year’s tournament. In essence, South Africa could have two squads playing in this World Cup. Surely then, this cannot be labelled a tournament of countries. South Africa should be represented by the best eleven South African cricketers, India by the best Indians, the Netherlands by the best Dutch players and England by the best English players and so on and so forth.
I have absolutely nothing against Imraan Tahir, he seems a very talented, more than capable cricketer. But there are plenty leagues in the world for cricketers to be transferred and paid what they are worth. The World Cup, however, should showcase the best homegrown talent that each country has to offer.
Cricket is widely regarded as the unofficial national sport of South Africa. It is the second most popular sport in the country, and the most popular amongst English-speaking nationals. School boys dream of walking out onto the pitch at the Wanderers, dressed in the “Green and Gold,” representing the land of their birth. They envision themselves stepping up to the crease; Gunn & Moore bat in hand (the bat of choice for most South Africans), in crisp whites, Protea emblem proudly emblazoned on their chest, playing England in a test at Lords.
These are the dreams of a nation who give their all to win, be it representing their school, province or South Africa. Their talents are cultivated in the hopes that they will one day play for the Proteas. Then one day a Pakistani gets selected to play in the World Cup team. I don’t mean for this to sound xenophobic in any way, but it hardly seems fair for the millions of South African boys who have toiled under the African sun, sacrificed weekends, nights out, childhood fun and even academics to pay their dues to the South African cricketing fraternity, with their eyes ever-fixed on the ultimate prize-representing their country. In essence, the selection of a Pakistani has robbed a South African of their dream, their place in the national side. I am all for the idea that we need to pick the best eleven and give our country the best chance at winning the World Cup. But this is the WORLD CUP. This is not the IPL or any other such franchise league. This is the most prestigious trophy in world cricket. It is a tournament played by countries. Some reports on the 2011 World Cup state that there are no fewer than 25 South African born players in this year’s tournament. In essence, South Africa could have two squads playing in this World Cup. Surely then, this cannot be labelled a tournament of countries. South Africa should be represented by the best eleven South African cricketers, India by the best Indians, the Netherlands by the best Dutch players and England by the best English players and so on and so forth.
I have absolutely nothing against Imraan Tahir, he seems a very talented, more than capable cricketer. But there are plenty leagues in the world for cricketers to be transferred and paid what they are worth. The World Cup, however, should showcase the best homegrown talent that each country has to offer.
Thursday, April 15, 2010
Highlights of IPL 3
Ok, so we all know who the star performers of IPL 3 have been thus far. That's what the Orange and Purple cap rankings tell us. To date, Sachin Tendulkar, Jacques Kallis, Suresh Raina, M.Vijay and "Dada" have performed superbly with the bat. The pick of the bowlers has been Deccan Chargers' Pragyan Ojha, with R.Vinay Kumar of the Royal Challengers Bangalore and Delhi's Amit Mishra not too far behind.
The cricket has been entertaining; the batting's been explosive, the bowling magnificent and the fielding...well...let's just say some of those catches were bordering on supernatural - motivated by the Karbonn Kamaal prizemoney no doubt! Then there have been the "dancing girls"...scantily clad cheerleaders who provide a source of eye-candy to the legions of male fans watching across the world.
Another highlight of this edition of the IPL has been the plethora of Bollywood stars pledging their allegiance to specific franchises and turning up at matches to show their support (we're sure this is purely driven by a passion for the game, with the thought of publicity implications not even once having crossed their minds...).
Harsha Bhogle and Danny Morrison's rapport has been a great source of comic relief for many, and of the countless quotes that have made me laugh so hard that I cried, I have to say my favourite has been:
Harsha: "Danny, why do you use one eye when you can use two?"
Speaking of hilarious quotes, who nearly experienced heart failure when Chennai & Team India Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni told of his biking escapades in the still of the night, around Chennai's "Red Light Areas"??? Ok so we all know he meant red light (as in traffic light), but that doesn't make it any less funny! Hmmm...honest mistake or Freudian Slip? You decide...
But of all the enjoyment IPL 3 has provided, one of my favourite things to see was the metamorphosis of previously ordinary looking players into serious HOTTIES (sorry, there's no better word to describe them).
So here are my Top 10 Hotties of IPL 3, counting down from 10 to 1:
10. Shikar Dhawan - This guy has performed relatively well with the bat, and his muscle definition has improved drastically between IPL 2 & 3, but he needs to know that sunglasses are for when the sun is out. Wearing sunnies at 9pm leads to one thing and one thing only - dropped catches!
9. Ravi Bopara - Boy has this lad's look changed! Formerly known as "Puppy", teammates now refer to him as "Pitbull" for sure. Just a word of advice though, if you want to keep that physique...go easy on Preity's Parathas;-)
8. Saurabh Tiwary - Commonly referred to as the new Mahi (huge shoes to fill), I must admit only the hair and the massive shots with the willow resemble MSD. A tall and strapping youngster with one of the prettiest faces in the tournament, his chiseled features will ensure that even if cricket doesn't work out for him (which I do believe it will as he is quite a talent), he can always venture into the glitz and glamour of the modelling world.
7. Dmitri Mascarenhas- Ok, so we know his involvement in IPL 3 ground to a halt fairly early on in the competition - when he sustained an Achilles injury - but Dimi has definitely transformed into something of a hottie this season. It seems he just gets better with age!
The cricket has been entertaining; the batting's been explosive, the bowling magnificent and the fielding...well...let's just say some of those catches were bordering on supernatural - motivated by the Karbonn Kamaal prizemoney no doubt! Then there have been the "dancing girls"...scantily clad cheerleaders who provide a source of eye-candy to the legions of male fans watching across the world.
Another highlight of this edition of the IPL has been the plethora of Bollywood stars pledging their allegiance to specific franchises and turning up at matches to show their support (we're sure this is purely driven by a passion for the game, with the thought of publicity implications not even once having crossed their minds...).
Harsha Bhogle and Danny Morrison's rapport has been a great source of comic relief for many, and of the countless quotes that have made me laugh so hard that I cried, I have to say my favourite has been:
Harsha: "Danny, why do you use one eye when you can use two?"
Speaking of hilarious quotes, who nearly experienced heart failure when Chennai & Team India Skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni told of his biking escapades in the still of the night, around Chennai's "Red Light Areas"??? Ok so we all know he meant red light (as in traffic light), but that doesn't make it any less funny! Hmmm...honest mistake or Freudian Slip? You decide...
But of all the enjoyment IPL 3 has provided, one of my favourite things to see was the metamorphosis of previously ordinary looking players into serious HOTTIES (sorry, there's no better word to describe them).
So here are my Top 10 Hotties of IPL 3, counting down from 10 to 1:
10. Shikar Dhawan - This guy has performed relatively well with the bat, and his muscle definition has improved drastically between IPL 2 & 3, but he needs to know that sunglasses are for when the sun is out. Wearing sunnies at 9pm leads to one thing and one thing only - dropped catches!
9. Ravi Bopara - Boy has this lad's look changed! Formerly known as "Puppy", teammates now refer to him as "Pitbull" for sure. Just a word of advice though, if you want to keep that physique...go easy on Preity's Parathas;-)
8. Saurabh Tiwary - Commonly referred to as the new Mahi (huge shoes to fill), I must admit only the hair and the massive shots with the willow resemble MSD. A tall and strapping youngster with one of the prettiest faces in the tournament, his chiseled features will ensure that even if cricket doesn't work out for him (which I do believe it will as he is quite a talent), he can always venture into the glitz and glamour of the modelling world.
7. Dmitri Mascarenhas- Ok, so we know his involvement in IPL 3 ground to a halt fairly early on in the competition - when he sustained an Achilles injury - but Dimi has definitely transformed into something of a hottie this season. It seems he just gets better with age!
6. Robin Uthappa - With a name change to suit the newfound coolness, Robbie's strength training has done wonders for him in more ways than one. Robbie has increased his strength by 70%, completely transformed his physique and is hitting the ball out the park every match! It has to be said...this guy's got game!
5. Irfan Pathan - So we always knew he had potential in the looks department (well, I did), but this season he has us clean BOWLED! That strapping form running in to bowl a length delivery, and then taking a wicket, is certainly a sight to behold. What have the Indians been eating?
4. Dwayne Bravo - For those of you who thought Ackee was the tastiest island delight the Carribbean had to offer, think again! Dwayne Bravo, with those diamond studs, gold chain that looks heavier than Dinesh Karthik, and that Rap Star Swagger, is enough to make any girl weak at the knees...yeah maaan! And did I mention...he packs a punch with bat and ball?
3. Manpreet Gony - Well this guy's been a hottie for a while, but this season he's unleashed a whole new can of hotness on the world of cricket. He may not be performing with the ball, but his bedroom eyes, 6.4 frame and inked arms have left many a broken heart in their wake!
2. Zaheer Khan - Age really is nothing but a number, and in Zak's case, it's a lucky number! This fast bowler is 1.85 metres of hotness personified! Having a great run with the ball in IPL 3, he's taking wickets faster than we can say "Bowl me over!" What makes him even better is the genuine nice guy persona. We hope to see Zak for many more IPL editions to come!
And now...in Pole Position...the number one hottie of IPL 3...
1. ANGELO MATHEWS - One of Sri Lanka's finest. 6 feet of pure, dark chocolate indulgence. Angelo Mathews has been in fine form with the bat and has even taken a few wickets for the Knight Riders this season. His cool and composed nature on the field, along with his superb stroke play and 100% dedication to every single game make him this IPL's hottest property.
Hope you've enjoyed this highlights package! Please let me know who made the grade for your IPL 3 Hotties list.
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
IPL the Modern-day Mahatma
I read today that the Chennai Super Kings and the Mumbai Indians are the two IPL teams that have garnered the most support here in SA. Having been to some of the games and just observing people and their opinions toward the IPL, it seems as though this is not merely a coincidence. In my opinion, this may not even be attributed to the marketing campaigns of these two teams...as the Kolkata Knight Riders have a pretty impressive marketing strategy too. In my humble opinion, being a South African Indian whose great great grandparents were brought here as indentured labourers from Chennai (then known as Madras), the thing that makes these two teams the obvious choice to support is that most Indians in South Africa have their roots in either Mumbai or Chennai. You see there exists a generation of South Africans, mostly those born in the eighties, who are proud of their Indian heritage and are desperately seeking a way back to their roots.
The IPL has showcased a brand of "Desi Cool" that has blown South Africans away. Suddenly us SA Indians are not "coolies" anymore, just COOL. To some extent it angers me (ever so slightly) that it took bright lights, bollywood superstars and international cricketers to highlight the greatness of Indians, when for years we have worked hard, educated ourselves and made the transition from worthless slaves to integral cogs in the wheel of South African society. But it also brings great joy to see people of all races cheering on the Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders and the like.
Thank you to the IPL for what you have done in elevating our status!
Here's hoping Chennai wins it!
The IPL has showcased a brand of "Desi Cool" that has blown South Africans away. Suddenly us SA Indians are not "coolies" anymore, just COOL. To some extent it angers me (ever so slightly) that it took bright lights, bollywood superstars and international cricketers to highlight the greatness of Indians, when for years we have worked hard, educated ourselves and made the transition from worthless slaves to integral cogs in the wheel of South African society. But it also brings great joy to see people of all races cheering on the Chennai Super Kings, Mumbai Indians, Delhi Daredevils, Kolkata Knight Riders and the like.
Thank you to the IPL for what you have done in elevating our status!
Here's hoping Chennai wins it!
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Does a woman have to lead a solitary life in pursuit of success?
Condoleezza Rice, former US Secretary of State, has at the age of 55 never been married. She has no children. She has been romantically linked to only one man, in 1970, and that alledgedly ended because "the relationship would not work on an intellectual level."
Condoleezza Rice was the first woman in the history of the United States to hold the position of National Security Advisor (under the Bush Administration 2001-2005). She was the first black woman, the second African-American (after predecessor Colin Powell) and the second woman (Madeleine Allbright being the first) to hold the office of US Secretary of State (under the Bush Administration 2005-2009).
She was named "Most Powerful Woman in the World" by Forbes magazine in 2004 and 2005, and ranked second on that list in 2006.
In addition, Condoleezza appeared on Time magazine's "World's 100 Most Influential People" list four times. There are only six other people in the world who have made the list that frequently.
Yet if she were to visit my hometown, all people would say is "Shame, she's still not married."
In a world full of women that claim to be so "liberated," a woman's worth is apparently still based on the husband she does or does not have.
Condoleezza Rice was the first woman in the history of the United States to hold the position of National Security Advisor (under the Bush Administration 2001-2005). She was the first black woman, the second African-American (after predecessor Colin Powell) and the second woman (Madeleine Allbright being the first) to hold the office of US Secretary of State (under the Bush Administration 2005-2009).
She was named "Most Powerful Woman in the World" by Forbes magazine in 2004 and 2005, and ranked second on that list in 2006.
In addition, Condoleezza appeared on Time magazine's "World's 100 Most Influential People" list four times. There are only six other people in the world who have made the list that frequently.
Yet if she were to visit my hometown, all people would say is "Shame, she's still not married."
In a world full of women that claim to be so "liberated," a woman's worth is apparently still based on the husband she does or does not have.
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