The Fighter

In the spirit of the 2012 Olympics and multiple Facebook posts about how people have headed to London, here's my contribution to the sporting world... in the form of music. I'm a sucker for inspirational songs (hence, why I do so well in Body Combat classes... haha), and this song has a great beat. In fact, it's the track that I cool down too.

Also, Ryan Tedder is a musical genius and I want to have musical genius babies with him.

Drown Your Troubles in Coffee

Picture found on: ddiar

"Coffee is real good when you drink it. It gives you time to think. It's a lot more than just a drink; it's something happening. Not as in hip, but like an event, a place to be, but not like a location, but somewhere within yourself. It gives you time, but not actual hours or minutes, but a chance to be yourself and have a second cup."- Gertrude Stein

Lattes. Mochas. Iced Coffees. Frappacinos. I am not exactly certain why I find coffee so appealing. I know I love to drink it. Maybe it's the hidden philosopher in me, just waiting for the caffeine to spark some inspiration into my day. I saw it as a necessity to get through university, and now drinking the beverage is required for me to face those early mornings before heading into work. To be honest, I find it hard to drink a full cup of coffee in the mornings. My stomach isn't awake enough to process any solids or liquids at that stage. It is also the reason why I sometimes skip breakfast (Yes, I know that's a big no-no!). But I can never resist having just a smidgen of coffee, this ensures that you will receive the a happy-chappy Sabrina in the mornings. 

Unfortunately, all the coffees I've had the pleasure of tasting have been good to mediocre. Save for only one occasion when there was a Starbucks just around the corner from the building that I used to work in in Singapore - oh yes, I was a frequent frappacino girl. The cream, coffee beans, caramel syrup, and sugar high was a beverage dream for a sweet-tooth lass like myself. And with the severe humidity that was present, downing that icey-cold goodness was heaven. 

I revel in the warm, fuzzy feeling you receive when you take that first sip. Oh, the fuzziness is glorious! As well as the air of elegance and calm that surrounds a cup of coffee. A chance to think and be by yourself. Although, it also has many great advantages for social situations.

Me: "Let's catch up over coffee."

You: "Okay, sounds great."

It is a general consensus that coffee plays a vital importance in human life. But whatever the reason one may have for their love of coffee, everybody should harness their inner peace and have a cuppa. Who knows what brilliance lurks behind the caffeine? In fact, I just might have one right now.

Embrace the Mess

Source of pic: cultureclub.clubmonaco.com 

"What are you going to do? Everything, is my guess. It will be a little messy but embrace the mess. It will be complicated, but rejoice in the complications. It will not be anything like what you think it will be like, but surprises are good for you. And don't be frightened: you can always change your mind. I know: I've had four careers and three husbands."- Nora Ephron, 1996 Graduating class of Wellesly College, Massachusetts 

I've been feeling a bit lost lately. Whilst everyone seems to have their lust for life still in tact, I'm a bit flat - like when someone has forgotten to screw the cap on the 1.5l Coke bottle at a house party. In the midst of wrapping up my final exams for university and my degree, my motivation for anything that resembles aspiration or fun has been lacking. Yes, I've finished my degree I expected to be overcome with all sorts of elation. (As I type this, I received a graduation confirmation email from my university.) Sure, I danced my way out of my last exam, but what next? Do I really see myself in a office for the rest of my life? Dealing with difficult demands, paper, filing, photocopying, running down to the local court before 4pm... Urgh, Just thinking about it is creating goosebumps on my body.

Much of my time has been spent trying to get to this point - the point of completion, and now that I'm finally here, I am scared at what is (and what may not be) in my future. But mostly, I'm scared that I won't be able to achieve my potential, and that I will sit back on the sidebenches never being able to play in the main game. I'd wander through life from job to job, never finding the right fit. Never enjoying or loving what I do. Never being the best at anything.

The above quote is from the late Nora Ephron; part of a beautiful and humourous speech made to the graduating class of 1996 at Wellesly College, You can read it in full here. Most of her words are intended to empower the women in the graduating class. I found comfort in her words. Comfort in knowing that things will be messy and complicated - the most important thing is to embrace and survive it. These are meant to be the best years of my life, and maybe I do need to take a chill pill. So with that said, I am determined to make the second half of this year the most enjoyable I've had. People are always saying to me that they wished they didn't start work immediately, and that they would have wanted to take some time out for themselves. I agree. For me, travel is that comfort. And with India and Singapore waiting from me, I'm sure I can leave the self-doubt in the air for a while, until I return to reality. And maybe then, I'll have a clearer picture of where my life is headed.

Why Can't You Be Alone Without Yoko?

Picture found on: collthings

"Interviewer: Why can’t you be alone without Yoko?

John Lennon: But I can be alone without Yoko, but I just have no wish to be. There’s no reason on earth why I should be alone without Yoko. There’s nothing more important than our relationship, nothing. And we dig being together all the time. Both of us could survive apart but what for? I'm not going to sacrifice love, real love for any whore or any friend or any business, because in the end you’re alone at night and neither of us want to be. and you can’t fill a bed with groupies. It doesn’t work. I don't want to be a swinger. I’ve been through it all and nothing works better than to have someone you love hold you."

Everytime I think about John Lennon, I think of Yoko Ono. John Lennon and Yoko Ono. Their names can't be said without saying or thinking about the other. And although the Beatles were well before my time, I've come to appreciate their music and, in particular, love their story. I suppose the thing I love about their relationship is how they faced their adversities with as much love and courage as possible. Many parts of the music world frowned on their relationship and avid fans of The Beatles having blamed Yoko for the 'break-up'of the group. But, in spite of all of it, they still lived their lives by promoting peace and love throughout the world.

I can only hope to live a life and experience love like theirs - turbulent, wonderful, idealistic, right up to the bitter end. And isn't that what everyone wants in some way or another? Why wouldn't you want that? Why wouldn't you give up a current life of loneliness for a lifetime of happiness? There is no reason as to why anyone should be alone, knowing that their other half is there waiting with open arms. There is a comfort in the concept of 'soulmates'- a belief that living in this world doesn't have to be done alone.

For me, their relationship was a refreshing sense of the love they wanted to share with the world; their reconcilement, a testament to how strong their love for each other was. And deep down, I firmly believe everyone wants to find their other half, somewhere, somehow. To be known in their own special way, as a 'John Lennon and Yoko Ono'.

Shantaram

Source of picture: Socceraholic

"It is forgiveness that makes us what we are. Without forgiveness, our species would've annihilated itself in endless retributions. Without forgiveness, there would be no history. Without that hope, there would be no art, for every work of art is in some way an act of forgiveness. Without that dream, there would be no love, for every act of love is in some way a promise to forgive. We live on because we can love, and we love because we can forgive."

If there is one thing I hope for those who live in a perpetual state of discomfort, it is for the opportunity to find something or someone that changes their life for the better. Shantaram was my holy grail and it is by far the most soul inspiring book I've read to date. I urge everyone to find the time to read its many pages of Sufi wisdom, hope and faith. It took me just over a year to complete it but patience shouldn't be a terrible burden on those who want to read of stories great and grand. This book brings the meaning and importance of life, love, war, and friendship to untapped aspects of our hearts and souls.

It was difficult to choose just one quote to put at the beginning of this post. I settled on a passage Gregory David Roberts wrote anecdotally of being in a notorious Indian prison. He faced a wealth of terrible situations that were enough to destroy a human's mind and physical being. It was here that he gave great emphasis to the concept of 'forgiveness'. His many battles had taught him something fundamental about himself - not necessarily discovering it in the immediate aftermath of his consequences but in his conversations and connections with acquaintances, lovers, and other like-minded Indian companions who faced similar circumstances, or worse. And that is: forgiveness is a choice we always have, and when needed, acts as a weapon of freedom in its own right. 

The contours of our virtues are shaped by adversity.

As Roberts admits in one interview, a large majority of this book is fiction. But having said that, the basic ideas behind the pages are based on the culture, spirit and heart of India. In addition, Gregory's immediate connection to the country itself attributed to his adapting so quickly - having escaped from an Australian prison and finding himself in the welcoming arms of the Indian people. In times of sorrow, he found he had been blessed. He is able to give great examples of what the human mind and heart is capable of doing in times of distress; how our relationships are forged (as well as broken) with each decision that we make, and how our choices end up defining who we are as a person, a friend, a lover, and a fighter.

After reading the book, I jumped onto YouTube and sought out all the interviews that he gave to the media. My favourite is a speech he gave at a charity function, and it can be found here (it has been broken up into 6 parts but they can be easily followed). Furthermore, I have heard rumours that his sequel to Shantaram will be released sometime this year. I have my many fingers crossed.

*I'm extremely apologetic for the lack of posts in the last month. My internet connection decided to wander off into oblivion, leaving me utterly devastated that I couldn't watch all my favourite American TV shows online.