Winning at life by being a good professional - Great guide

Print screen of The Good Professional by Don Turner

I am so impressed with The Good Professional. I cannot recommend it enough! This is a great gift for any age, from high school and up. It is a gift you can give to yourself, and you will be coming back to this.

I got this book through Booktasters. I get a free copy of the book for an honest review on Goodreads and Amazon. I have read the most interesting books because of Booktasters. Check them out!

I love my work and when I reflect on it, I always feel so grateful that I enjoy the work that I do. But sometimes we need a bit of challenge to keep going, and searching for meaning in the mundane daily grind. This has given me oomph to carry on again.

This is my review on Goodreads:

This is 51

What I wanted!

At the age of 51 we can poke fun at ourselves. I am constantly amazed at the number, because I don't feel it at all! I am supposed to be wise and have all the answers... Most of the times I think I do have all the answers! But I know for a fact that the more I think I do know all the answers, is that I don't! Life shows it to me in so many ways! Ha! Life! You are so funny!

Most of the times I ignore my own wisdom in any case. For example: Who wants to drink water, when you can drink wine? Or: Who wants to hike at Kloofendal, when you can stay in pajamas until 10 on a Saturday? Me, of course! Life is short! Ha!

I wanted to be in Mauritius last year on my 50th birthday, and this year we are doing the wedding! The engagement has come and now it is the preparations. It is also exciting, and we are looking forward to it.

Coffee makes me happy!

Coffee on my iPhone feed

Coffee is one of the things that makes me happy! It's usually the little things! (That is also the very biggest things in life.)

If something makes you happy, why can't you spoil yourself with it on a regular basis? I am specifically thinking here about coffee. I love buying a filter coffee to brighten up my day. Sure, I can make a Ricoffy at my office, but it is just not the same as a great filter coffee! Weighing up the cost of a cup of filter coffee against saving a bit of money...

Coffee wins every time! 

(I just need to let go of the guilt!)


What makes you happy?



Related: Coffee on my blog.

Kindness - what I want my kids to be!

Kindness! We always aspire to be happy, and I want my kids to be happy! But how do we get happy? Because "Happiness is an inside job!" (My Eldest's most favourite expression!)

In most recent times I have read a number of thoughts around happiness and kindness! A most sure way to get to happiness is through kindness! It makes so much sense!

The prompt for Roxy Hutton's #cgscreative monthly Instagram last week was kindness. How do you show kindness! For sure it is in the little things! Trying to help others as far as possible. Giving that coin at the robot, or helping to collect for a worthy goal. Even kindness to everybody around you, and most of all, your own family!

Kindness is the one thing I can show and learn my youngest as well! It makes me extremely happy when she see people we can help! When she tells me that me must help the man at the robot who she has seen has children. They are sometimes at the robot with him...

To teach kindness is not a difficult thing! We need so much of it in our world!

How do you teach kindness to your children?

10 Things that make me Happy

I was tagged on Instagram by Moipone Islam at ferocioushaven

Here is mine:

10 Things that make me happy!

(Not necessarily in this order)

1. Happy is a choice! I choose Happy!

2. My Eldest. When she’s happy, I am happy! It is so-so-so GREAT that everything is working out this year for her. She is finishing up with her studies, she got a REAL job, she is madly in love and she’s got a car!

3. My Youngest. She makes us happy every day! (Sometimes crazy, but mostly happy!) Just being her! So glad that she is in our lives!

4.  My Husband!  He’s our rock and showing us each day what a good husband, father and provider he is! He is the best chef as well!!

5.  The extended family that cares about us

6. Friends that care

7.  Our dogs (Hubby won’t agree on this one! ;-) )

      8.  Coffee/Red wine (equally happy!)

      9. Books/reading.

      10. Blogging

What makes you happy?

Happy family - update

At the airport

This is the busiest time of the year. I don't know why everybody waits until the end of the year for everything to start happening?

But this is not a post loaded with complaints...

It happens each year, and we are actually going with the "flow". December is not that far away, and there is still lots to be done and accomplished!

I was in Cape Town last week for a conference, which I absolutely loved and learnt so many new things in the world of archives. I also loved being in the centre of Cape Town. It is such an inspiring city against the backdrop of Table Mountain.
(Next time I am definitely going to be born on the slopes of that mountain. In one of those mansions!)

I missed my family very much, and so did they! I realized again how much I enjoy being with them and going on adventures with them. Each of my experiences in Cape Town was loaded with the thoughts of "wishing they were there!"

The eldest did a week of shadowing as part of her practicals for her third year. She enjoyed it so much, and she saw the shadow of her future self emerge! It looks as if everything is coming together with her studies, and she has now decided on her post-degree studies as well! I am so proud of her!
Now it is just getting through the last part of the year with lots of tests, assignments and exams to get through.

The youngest and her Dad bonded very well, and it was good for them to spend some time together.
She is beginning to look forward to Grade One, and we have to count each day until her birthday and until it is Grade One. Dad forgot about the OT appointment last week. Luckily he sent me a picture of his cappuccino, and there was still time for him to go and fetch the Little Miss and take her for her OT.
He told me after the week that he did not get much done than focus on her, and that he don't know how single parents cope...

Luckily we are a family that likes being together!
Happy family!
Happy times!


Keep calm!
Breath deep!
December is a month and a half away!

Wordless Wednesday #220 - Happy face sketch

2011 – Here we come!

I feel in my bones that this is going to be a good year! We are going to make a few changes, and we are going to have lots of fun!

I saw a Twitter update of somebody (can’t remember who) saying that they do not believe people who say that they are always happy, and that everything always run smoothly! Of course, it’s not possible, and stuff sometimes does happen! But it is our own perception of things and our own decision of how to interpret life that makes us happy or not! I believe people who say that they are happy and that things are going well!

I have decided to be happy, and I will make changes to things that change my state of happiness. (I have done it before, such as making a change in my marital status: getting divorced, being single, and getting married again! *Winky smile*)

The toddler is a big girl now. I started making two ponies (see photo), and she doesn’t look like a baby anymore!  Hello, big girl! She is getting more independent by the day... It is entirely possible to start making changes in our lives, again. We can’t blame our little one for bad habits anymore... (Such as not sleeping, and eating junk because we are tired!)

CHANGES in 2011:

• Health wise – we need to start eating healthily again. (I can’t keep on faking health! It doesn’t work! Unfortunately - *wry smile*))

• EXERCISE! From today!  (Enough said. It is time for ACTION!)

• Mind – I am going to find something to study again. I am going to study something to do with social media and Web 3.0.

FUN IN 2011:

• We are going on regular holidays. Every quarter, at least!

• We are going on monthly weekend getaways.

• We are going to plan and spend time on family outings.

• I am going on more dates with Hubby! (Hint!)

• I am going to read more books! The stack next to my bed is LARGE!

• Exercise will be part of the fun! I used to enjoy going to the gym.

Hello 2011! You are going to be GREAT!  

I hope your year will be just as great!

What are your plans for 2011?

Choosing happiness

I was helping to dish out cards at work yesterday at the entrance of our building. We noticed how people came in with a positive or negative energy. Now I know what the security guards experience every day. Poor guys! I definitely have more respect for what they do, and have decided that I will put on my happy face, no matter what! Some were huff-and-puff, most probable because they are late. Some were grumpy, and some were downright rude. “I don’t do cards!”
But the ones with the sunny dispositions and the friendly hellos all made it worthwhile. It’s a decision to be happy and friendly. I will definitely teach my daughter to make a decision for her own happiness, and not wait for the weather to influence how you are going to feel!