We're all addicts!

"We are addicted to our thoughts. We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking.”

Addictions.

What do you think of when you hear the word "addict"? I guarantee I can guess exactly what you just thought of as you read that - a dirty, down and out person addicted to drugs/ alcohol. Maybe in the gutter? Injecting? Looking pale, worn out?

Hmmm... me too. But have you ever stopped to think "What makes something an addiction?"

Quite simply it's something in your life that you've come to rely on so much that you can't get rid of it, and more often than not they are not good for us.

Life is full of addictions that maybe you don't realise are even there. If we are not talking about alcoholics or drug addicts then what exactly are the addictions I'm talking about?

When you got up out of bed this morning, or even before you got out of bed, what did you do? Open the curtains? Step outside and take a fresh morning breath? NOPE! I know what you did! You more than likely checked your mobile for texts or even your iPad for emails.  - Technoaddict

And as you left your house? Was the last thought that left your mind "I'm thankful I am alive and have a roof over my head?" NOPE! Your thought was, 'Check my pockets, have I got my phone?" - Phoneaddict

And how many times did you check Twitter and Facebook today? Anything change your world? NOPE. You just get addicted to checking for updates and tweets, and for what? Nothing. I wonder if you counted up all the time you spent on Facebook how much of your life would have been wasted today on doing nothing? - FADDICT (Facebook addict)

So many things have crept into our lives that take our time and become addictions, and for what? Facebook and Twitter are social sites, for you to be social with people. If you're not being social with someone then what are you doing on there?

Just this week I made the decision to come off Facebook...I know, I know. I started sweating, having jitters and multiple withdrawals too, but I can safely say that life has continued. Hoorah! Im still alive and I've made it to the the other side! In fact I don't miss it at all. So much of my time was wasted flicking into Facebook and checking status updates. WHAT A WASTE OF TIME! Now I'm Facebook free and proud of it!

And so I end with this thought.

What sorts of things have you come to rely on in life? Those things that have become addictions. Those things you think you can't live without when actually, you can!

Life is too short and too precious to waste on "addictions". It's time to start waking up and smelling the coffee. Kick the addiction and start realising that there's more to life than a little blue bird or a blue and white F.  It's more than a text or an email. Life is about living, so do it!

Addictions will only last as long as you let them. Break the mould. Break the trend and start living life as it should be. The only addiction that should be in your life is an addiction to life! That's certainly something we couldn't do without.

So, let me ask you, what type of addict are you?

Bywyd sydd yn byw! - Just living life!

RM

Be a hero!!

2000 readers!!!!!!

Firstly I just want to say how awesome it is to have reacher 2000 readers of my blog. It's crazy to think that what started as just simple thoughts that I wrote down, have now been read by over 2000 people in countries all around the world. I don't know how it happened but its great! So thank you all!

Every year here in the UK, people take part in a fundraiser called "Children in Need." CIN is a charity that is setup to help those children who, all around the world, are in great need of the basic rights that so many of us enjoy. It's a great cause and you can read more about it here, as well as donate to this great cause.

Children in Need

Each year there is a particular theme that Children in Need use to promote their cause. This year the theme is heroes. A theme that is not only currently used with CIN but also with the Blood Service here in Wales.

I wonder what you think of when you think of a hero? Maybe someone who flies up skyscrapers or can swing between buildings? Heroes have come to be something of an imagined character but how would you feel if I said that YOU could be a hero? A Real life hero!!!

A few weeks back I blogged about my good friend Laura who is currently the face and voice of the blood service, as well as being my vlogging partner. If you haven't seen our blogs you can over on our YouTube Channel.

Currently our blood service here in Wales are looking for people to help out others and donate blood to become real life heroes! Not to be just a man with a cape or someone who can shoot web from their hands, but real life heroes! You never know when one small thing you do, can have a life changing effect on others.

Laura's story is going to be on the blog very shortly, but until then here is a taster of her story and how you too can become a hero today.

This blog is dedicated to all those real life heroes who already have made a difference in so many people's lives. This blog is for all of you heroes out there!

Bywyd sydd yn byw! - Just living life!

RM

What's your point?

"Life is always at some turning point"

- Irwin Edman

So it's the first Wednesday blog back for a while (If you want to know where the video blog has gone, go back a few blogs! All back Saturday!)

It's a funny old day Wednesday. Smack bang in the middle of the week. Its a day that marks a turning point in the week for many. A time when people's view changes from focussing on the working week ahead, to focussing on working towards the weekend. The big countdown! It just seems that the weekend is that much closer, once Wednesday has been and gone. Quite simply, Wednesday is a great turning point for everyone.

And it's not only in the days of week that we find those times that are turning points.

Maybe it's in a film where the turning point reveals a murderer? Maybe its in a book where the plot thickens and the turning point comes along? Maybe it's a more personal time in life, where you face your own turning point? Wherever you go in life you will always find a "Wednesday" moment - a turning point in life. And the thing is, we all have them! No matter who you are.

And so I end with this thought.

Throughout life there are times and moments where for a small part in time, or from one small event that occurs, we find ourselves at a turning point. A place where our outlook on life goes from one way to another. Sometimes this can be going from good to bad, and those turning points are not always the easiest to live through. However, for most of the time turning points are a sign of something good. A time which marks a change in life. From the mundane to something exciting, from the old to the new, from the bad to the good!

Life is filled with turning points.You may have even had a turning point today. A point of realising or seeing something in a way you never had before. Whatever it is you do, wherever it is you do it, try to find a "Wednesday" moment in your daily life. You never know when a turning point could just lead you in a totally different way!

Bywyd sydd yn byw! - Just living life!

RM

Watch out for the bangers!

"Tradition becomes our security, and when the mind is secure it is in decay"

- Jiddu Kirishmurti

Well it's the time of year again....bonfire night! The old British tradition of blowing up rockets and burning giant figures shaped like pirates....perfect to celebrate the life of a criminal. Not sure of the story? Click here for more:

Story of Guy Fawkes & Bonfire night

I'm sure to people outside of the UK it seems strange to celebrate someone getting hung for trying to kill the King. And I guess the more you think about why we have bonfire night and celebrate Guy Fawkes, the more you realise what a strange event it is. But it's just what we brits do. It's a tradition. Something we've always done, so guess what....we're going to keep doing it. I'm certainly not one to change things or turn down exploding things, even if it's just done out of tradition!

The same can be said for lots of times in life. There are many where we do things just because its the way it's always been done. Traditions are traditions, and although at times traditions can be good things, like sending up fireworks and building massive fires, there can also be times where traditions are not necessarily such good things. Tradition isn't always good.

There's a saying that goes, "If you always do what you've always done, you'll always get what you've always got!"

So, what is tradition exactly? We might know the word, but what exactly does it mean? The dictionary defines 'tradition' as ;

"A time honoured practice or set of practices." 

In other words something or somethings that have always been done, and so continue to be done. Tradition.

I recently heard a story that highlights this concept perfectly. One of the key ingredients to a bonfire net celebration is a hot dog or two afterwards. Nothing beats a good old fashioned sausage in a bun! Now if you ask most people how to best cook a sausage, the majority of people would reply, "prick it with a fork and then cook it." Why? Because that was the tradition that was passed down. Truth is, you don't need to prick sausages anymore. For those of you who are interested in all things sausage related here's why.

Sausages used to contain a lot of water during the war times, as meat quality was very poor. If you heated up the sausages the steam would build up in the sausage and explode - hence the term 'bangers' which is often used for sausage. So pricking the sausage would prevent that and allow the steam out.

Nowadays though, the sausage meat is much higher in quality and therefore has less water. So it doesn't need pricking. But we do it anyway....why? TRADITION!

It's surprising how many things we do just because that's the way it's been passed down, and we just accept it.

And so I end with this thought.

What things are in your life that you have let creep in and become a routine in your life? Something you do out of tradition. When you sit and think there are probably lots of things you do, day in day out, and really you don't really know why you are still doing them. They've just become tradition - the done thing.

But life is too short and too important to waste on doing things out of tradition. If all we did is stick to tradition then we would soon get very bored in life.

In life, try to do new things, keeping life fresh and exciting. Sure there are times when traditions are good for us, but also there are times where doing something new is ten times better than doing the old.

Today, try something new, ditch the routines in life and change it up. You never know when trying something new might just bring you a new outlook on life!

Bywyd sydd yn byw! - Just living life!

RM

Today you are old!!

"Experience is not what happens to you, it's what you do with what happens to you"

So it's been a while since I blogged last. I really am slipping here! Apologies to all who are regular readers of the blog. Recently been away and not had chance to blog but now it's back to normal, usually blog service shall resume and the count down to Christmas can begin. All is right in the world!

Have you ever come across a tweet or a status that stands out from the rest? Something that maybe catches your eye that isn't the usually a twit pic of someone's evening meal or some random comment about the weekend's antics. Well today was one of those days. One of the moments that stops you in your tracks and makes you think.

As I was scrolling through my tweets catching up with the days events, I came across a tweet that said these words,

"Today is the oldest you've been, and the wisest you've ever been!"

Hmmm....pause and think. Cue thinking time. Good isn't it. And, what's best is that it's true. 

Today is the oldest you have ever been, and it's the wisest you've ever been. So what have you done today to show that? What have you done today or said today that shows your wisdom or your age? 

Life provides us with events that give us wisdom and knowledge that stay with us our whole lies. No matter what point in our lives we find ourselves now, there will always be things going on that prepare us for our future.

So how have you shown your wisdom today? Maybe you don't even realise how something you've done today, will impact you in the future. 

And so I end with this thought.

Life is filled with experiences that set us up for life, that give us a little bit more wisdom to carry with us as we continue to walk the path we call life. It's a bit like a suitcase, packing in all you need for your trip. Everything we do has a point, has a reason. Just like when you pack for a holiday. Everything you put in the case is put in for a reason. So too can be said for wisdom. Everything you go through in life, every experience, every challenge, packs in plenty of wisdom that goes along with you for the journey of life.

So, how's your suitcase looking? Have you packed what you need or just still preparing?

Bywyd sydd yn byw! - Just living life!

RM