Eye for an eye...

"The Future is Bright, The Future is You!"

There's nothing worse than early morning traffic. It is honestly the one thing that really gets my bacon! Sat there, engine running, looking intently at the car in front trying to wish the traffic away, and usually to no success. Even with all the traffic going on this morning I saw something that made my journey a little better.

Today as I was sat in traffic I noticed a sticker someone had put on their car that really got me thinking. Now, there are lots of cool sayings in the world, and lots of them are certainly over used, but this one I'd never seen. It was a sticker of a saying by Gahndi and it said this;

"An eye for an eye makes the world a blind place."

A great saying. Of course this is a take on an ancient quote, "An eye for an eye," meaning that if someone does something to you that hurts you or offends you, then do the same back. I'm sure the world was a great place to be when people were living by this...not!

But the fact is that it's not as alien to many of us as we might think. Ok, so people may not be going around pulling each others eyes out, or ripping limbs off, but I wonder how many times you and I have treated someone in the same way we've been treated? How many times have you come to blows with someone and ended up holding the grudge or really been harsh to someone because of something they've done to you...come on...we've all been there. That's an eye right there!

And what happens if we keep "taking eyes"? Suddenly our world becomes a blind place. What does blind feel like? Well I don't know how that must feel but I suppose it's dark. You can't see in front of you. Everything can be a struggle.

The thing is when we hold grudges and treat people in ways we know aren't probably helpful, then all of a sudden we find ourselves in a place that's dark. A place where we are so consumed by that person and feeling of anger that we struggle to see anything and anyone else around us. A place where because of our actions and thoughts we end up living a life full of negativity.

Truth is an "eye for an eye" is definitely not going to end well, and no one wants to live in a blind world.

And so I end with this thought.

No one wants a life that's dark, a life we live where we can't appreciate those things around us, a life where everything becomes a struggle. Life can be hard enough at times so why make it worse?

Instead of living in "blindness" try to live life in full colour. A life where everything is clear, where you can see and appreciate all around you. A life which is not filled with struggles and hurt, but filled with opportunities and times where everything is ....well.... bright!

So don't go looking for eyes to pull out! Don't go trying to cause blindness around you. Live life in full bright HD colour, where there is nothing to hold you back or cause you struggles.

"An eye for an eye makes the world a blind place" - so don't be the one that causes the blindeness.

Ryan :)

Keep your focus!

"For me, I'm focused on what I want to do. I know what I need to do to be a champion, so I'm working on it."

-Usain Bolt

Have you ever had a "What was that" moment? Let me explain what I mean.

Imagine you wake in the middle of the night and hear a noise outside your house. No matter how sleepy you are, the minute you hear the sound you immediately wake up. It's like there's something inside of you that gives you an immediate boost, sending you into over drive. Or maybe you have had a time when you wake in the middle of the night because you heard a noise inside your house. First thing that comes to mind...."What was that?"

Tonight I had one of those moments. I was busy doing my own thing, minding my own business, when suddenly a glass smashed in my kitchen. BOOSH! Everywhere. There's nothing quite like the sound of glass shattering. I don't know about you, but it usually seems to sound ten times worse than what it actually is.

But, just as with the examples above, the minute I hear glass break my usual response is ... "What was that?" Even though I knew it was a glass that had smashed, I still sprung in to action, forgetting about what I was doing and dashing to the scene of the crime!!!

It's funny how we have those moments in life where in one small instant, everything can so quickly change. Those moments when because of one small event, our whole attention and focus shifts. I was simply working away on the computer, minding my own business, engrossed in spreadsheets (sad!). But as soon as the glass broke....BOOM... straight in there. It took my focus completely, that incident took priority. One small incident - one major impact!

As I thought about the crazy "What was that" moments in life, it got me thinking about other times in life when our focus or attention gets shifted. It's not only during the times that shock us, like the glass, but very often its the small things that can come across our paths which distract us. Things which may ordinarily seem small on the outside, but yet immediately take our focus. It's funny how something which is really not that important at all, can so quickly grab our attention.

And so I end with this thought.

Life is full of moments which grab our attention. Those times when we're happy doing our own thing, focussing on one thing and then, in an instant, everything is shifted. I'm sure you can think of your own examples - those times when thing come to distract you or shift your focus.

The funny thing is I had a choice tonight. When the glass broke I could have just ignored it and carried on with what I was focussed on doing, but I didn't, I chose to leave what I was doing and have my focus changed.

In life, don't let the small things shift your attention from the bigger things that are going on. Sure, there are times when it can be tricky to ignore what's going on around you, but when you begin to put things in to perspective and think about the whole picture of your life, letting the small things distract you really isn't worth it.

Wherever you are at this point in life, whatever it is you are working towards, keep focussed! Don't let the little things distract you. Focus on the bigger picture of life and keep on aiming for your goals, without your focus being shifted.

So who cares if the glass breaks? - There's always a cupboard full of more of them anyway.

Ryan :)

"Because I'm HAPPY"

Don't worry, be happy!

Well it's certainly been a while. The last time I wrote a blog it was January. It's now been 3 months since I wrote my last blog...not exactly kept on top of it. Anyway, I thought I'd get back to it. No time like the present and all that.

So how has your 3 months been since we spoke last? 

We're a quarter of a way into the year and I don't know about you but this year is flying by. At the start of the year I had a list of things that I wanted to accomplish and, considering we're almost half way through, I'm not doing as well as I should be. There are a couple of things that I have been able to cross off the list, and a good few others lined up, so I suppose overall 2014, so far, is going well. I'm enjoying life and above everything else I'm happy. 

Happy... interesting word. Very generic. It can be used to describe so many things (It's also the theme of a very catchy Pharell song which seems to be played everywhere!).

I don't know about you but recently a lot of friends of mine are taking part in something called "100 Days of Happiness." The idea...simple... do 100 things that make you happy. From going to the cinema to bungee jumping, to visiting family - 100 different things to keep you happy.
It's been interesting to see the sorts of things that make people happy. There have been some really different ideas as well as the ones you usually expect. 

As I started to think about this word 'happy' and the idea of "100 Days of happiness" I thought about those things that make me happy, and there was one thing that they all had in common...others. The things that make me most happy are usually those times when I'm with others. Whether in work, at home, out with friends, socialising, whatever it is, it usually involves other people.  

So if I were to take part in 100 days of happiness it would be no problem to do....spend it with people. And seeing as this world is full of people then that shouldn't be to hard.

Click here to see the current population of Earth

Maybe I could start a new idea '100 people' - spending 100 days with 100 different people. Ok, maybe not, but if you think about what makes you happy it probably involves people too!

And so this got me thinking.

What would life be like without people? If you lived in a world with no people...what would it be like? It's my idea of a nightmare and I'm pretty sure that 100 days of happiness would be impossible without others around to share it with.

Of course there are always people who rub us up the wrong way and maybe people who we'd rather not have to be with, we're human and that's normal, but having people around us makes us who we are. It's also the type of people we have around us that make us who we are. Surround yourself with negative people and your outlook on life will become very negative. Surround yourself with positive people and life all of a sudden becomes a much better place.

A man once said, "Be a yardstick (measurement) of quality. Some people aren't used to an environment where excellence is expected." In other words, whatever you do in life, live your life to an excellent standard. Soon others around you will start to live up to the same standard as you, and the man that said that knew a thing or two about being a standard above everyone else. I guess Steve Jobs knew exactly what it was to be happy!

Whatever you're doing for 100 days, if you are doing it all, make sure it involves people because ultimately your happiness comes from them.

Ryan! :)

STOP CHASING SHEEP.....unless you can!

"Your talent hits a target that only you can strike"

Ever found yourself in a place where you ask yourself, "What on earth is going on?"

Those times where things go on and you can't believe what you're seeing. Not in a bad way, in a hilarious, belly laughingly, laugh until your sides are hurting way. Last Friday was one of those times for me.

For those of you that don't know I'm a teacher. Most days are filled with something crazy going on, and moments that make you laugh, but Friday was different. As I was minding my own business, going about my usual work, I just happened to look out of the window to notice that the school yard had been taken over by a flock of sheep! 25 sheep to be precise! The sheep had broken free from the farm behind the school and made their way on to the school yard. It was hilarious.

What was even more hilarious was the sight of the head teacher running round the yard chasing the sheep, trying to round them up and get them out. But the truth was, neither of us could, we weren't farmers! We couldn't round them up. I couldn't help but stand back and laugh. The sight of us 2 trying to chase these sheep out of the school was hilarious. It's just not what we're used to. Sheep herding is definitely a talent, and not one that I possess.

However, this incident reminded me of a video I had once seen online. The video is of a farmer who, unlike me, has a very real talent for sheep herding. But this isn't just any old sheep herding. Watch this clip;

AMAZING!

Ok, maybe it's a welsh thing, but this is pretty impressive. Someone who really is using his talents to do something new. Something original. Something that hasn't been done before.

As I sat watching this video I started to think of those sorts of things I am talented at, seeing as sheep herding isn't one of them.

Tomorrow is my birthday (No blog tomorrow!) and it got me thinking, "What have I spent my time doing with my talents and abilities?"

And so I end with this thought.

All of us have talents. No matter what they are, they are talents all the same. We might not think they are much, but to others they are something.

So many times it can be easy for us to try and do something, or pursue something that really we're not cut out to do, just like me and the sheep. Very often when we try to do that which we're not meant to do in life, we fail. We get disheartened because the sheep just don't want to play.

But when we find what it is we're good at, what our talents are, and begin to use them, then suddenly we find ourselves using our talents to do new and exciting things.

I might not have a talent for sheep herding but there's plenty I am good at. How about you?

In life stop chasing the sheep, and start doing something new! Only you do, what you do.

Bywyd yn digwydd! - Life Happens!

Ryan :)

Jacket potato or chips?

I wonder how many times you've been out for a meal and been faced with the option of what side to have as part of your meal?

Very often, I've found that reasturants, in an attempt to seem healthy, give you the option of chips or jacket potatoes, or just plain potatoes. Ever had that experience? 

Over the weekend I managed to go out for a few meals. People who know me well will know that eating out is probably one of my favourite things to do. As I sat looking through the menu of this one particular reasturant, it was clear to see people trying to be healthy. All I could hear on the tables around me were, "I'll have the steak but with a jacket potato...I'm on a diet." 

This might be news to some of you but having a jacket potato is probably not going to balance out the steak or double burger you've just ordered.

As I heard all these options being given out, something occured to me. It was like a eureka moment. POTATOES! All these sides come from potatoes! Ok, so it wasn't rocket science but I suddenly started to think about how one particular way of cooking a potato can have so much of an impact.

At the end of the day, they might be three different options but they all come from the same place - the potato.

So where am I going with this?

I end with this thought...

In life we will come across all sorts of people. Different backgrounds, status, colour, country etc. Everyone is different just like chips and a jacket: completely different. But when you look past the differences you begin to see that actually, we're all made of potato.

Ok so some people might speak a different language, or look a certain way but ultimately we are all part of the big old potato we call the human race.

So often people treat others differently because they are different. Because they are a chip and the others are a jacket potato. But really, when we look past the differences, we are all the same. 

In life, dont catagorise people, like chips or jackets, don't treat people differently because they arent like you, don't focus on things that make you different but focus on thos thing that link you, realise that you are an equal to those around you. 

And remember - at the end of the day we're all just a bunch of potatoes.

Bywyd yn digwydd - life happens!

Ryan :)

Blog

Website of the Week!

So today's blog is just a short one! I've been a bit busy preparing for a special trip to London next week, which I will let you all know about next weekend! But I thought I would share something! Don't let a day go by without a blog....that's what I say!

Today I came across a site that I thought was brilliant and thought I would share with you. It's my Website of the Week!

Click here : Cardboard Box Office

Hope you've had a great day!

Life happens - Bywyd yn Digwydd!

Ryan :)