Music Monday - Spanish Eyes

    What is your favourite song?
    This is a hard question to answer as we all have many
     favourite songs.
     But if you had to pick only one, which one would it be?


I've thought long and hard about this and the song that always comes to me is ... Spanish Eyes.

I think I have a karmic or spiritual connection to this song. Listening to this song, takes me to a
different world.

There are so many versions of this song, but I think Engelbert Humperdink's version is probably
the one I like best.

So here it is ... Spanish Eyes by Engelbert Humperdink.




And if you like instrumental music, check out Andre Rieu's version.
I love this version too as it is so soothing. And when I'm in a quiet mood,
this is the version I listen to.




Have an awesome day ... one that takes you to a magical different world.

Linking this to:













Warm Regards

Lyrics
Blue Spanish eyes teardrops are falling from your Spanish eyes
Please please don't cry, this is just adios and not good-bye
Soon I'll return, bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Si Si" say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me

Blue Spanish Eyes, prettiest eyes in all of Mexico
Blue Spanish Eyes, please smile for me once more before I go
Soon I'll return, bringing you all the love your heart can hold
Please say "Si Si" say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me
Say you and your Spanish eyes will wait for me

Two Wolves

A friend posted this story on Facebook and it was so good, I thought I would share it with all of you.

Two Wolves - a Cherokee story

One evening an old Cherokee told his grandson about a battle that goes on inside people.

He said, "My son, the battle is between two wolves inside us all."

"One is Evil - It is anger, envy, jealousy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego."

"The other is Good - It is joy, peace, love, hope, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith."

The grandson thought about it for a minute and then asked his grandfather" "Which wolf wins?"

The old Cherokee simply replied, "The one you feed."


I love this story. The way in which it is told is so effective.

Such a good reminder to keep our thoughts positive and that what we "feed' we create.

This is a good follow up to a previous post of mine Buddha - Our Thoughts

I am also always blown away by the answers I get from the Universe. Just this afternoon my thoughts began to spiral downwards. And then along comes this post on Facebook. Just perfect to get me out of a bad space and back into a happy one.

Have a happy day.

Warm Regards

Linking this to Inspiration Friday #39

Question of the Day - Romantic Chemistry or Friendship?

 


          Romantic Chemistry or Friendship?






So what makes a romantic relationship begin and what makes it last?

Romantic Chemistry will certainly start off the relationship with a bang but I don't believe that it alone will sustain the relationship over a lifetime. I think there needs to be more substance to a relationship to make it fulfilling and lasting.

Friendship may begin a relationship but I think for the relationship to progress, a degree of Romantic Chemistry is required. I cannot imagine a relationship with a friend that I have no romantic feelings for.

So I will take the middle road and conclude (for myself), that both Romantic Chemistry and Friendship are required. A friend that you enjoy being with and have a rapport with who then turns into a romantic interest would probably be an ideal person to share life with.

What do you think? Please share your thoughts.

Enjoy your day.

Warm Regards

Thankful Thursday - 27 October

I've spent a lot of time catching up with friends in the last week. I love this quote from Oprah "Lots of people want to ride with you in the limo, but what you want is someone who will take the bus with you when the limo breaks down". Amazing how many friends you have when you're riding the limo and how quickly they disappear when the bus comes along. So thankful for these lovely friends that take the bus with me.

Good health is something we take for granted until something happens. Had a bit of a scare last week with my eye and I'm so relieved that all is well. So thankful for good health.

My kids are my strength and joy. Whenever I'm down they lift my spirits and cheer me up. A hug is enough to brighten my day. So thankful and blessed to have such lovely kids.

The last 2 days I've been up and down. Just felt like I'd hit a wall and this afternoon I prayed for guidance. The Universe replied via so many nice blog posts. All providing the message (in different ways) to feel the fear but do it anyway, to have the faith and jump, visualise the life you want and know that it is yours. So thankful that the answers always come.

Wish you all good health, good friends, loving kids (for those who have them or wish for them), and answers to prayers.

Warm Regards

Linking to Black Tag Diaries Thankful Thursday

I Love Quotes - Buddha - Our Thoughts

Today (26 October), Indians all over the world celebrate Diwali, the festival of lights.

Diwali signifies the end of a year and the beginning of a new one, the end of any darkness in our lives and the hope of bright and happy days. Hence the lighting of lamps or diyas.

Some Indian communities celebrate the day after Diwali as the New Year.

I thought this quote would be very appropriate for today. A reminder that our thoughts lead us to our destiny. We should therefore try to think of good thoughts.

When my son was little, I would watch him play this imaginary game - all kinds of different scenarios. And when he didn't like where his thoughts were going, he would stop and say "Cancel, Rewind" and begin again.

And we can use the same technique to channel our thoughts so that we think our way to where we want to go and what we want to be or do.

So on this very auspicious day of Diwali, I wish you all a very Happy Diwali and a Happy New Year.

My thoughts for all of you today are that you all have good health, peace, joy, love, abundance and prosperity in your lives.

Check out my Diwali Lights on my Photos are Fun blog.

Linking this to Inspiration Friday #38   Potpourri Party #9


Warm Regards

Music Monday - Yesterday When I Was Young

 
   Having just celebrated a birthday, I sat back and thought about
   my life so far - all the ups and downs, the happy times and sad
   ones and then as I thought about a song for Music Monday,
   this one came to mind - "Yesterday When I Was Young" by
   Shirley Bassey.


Shirley Bassey is an amazing singer and I think amongst all my favourite female singers, she is my most favourite. I just love her voice. She also sang some amazing songs.

"Yesterday When I Was Young" reminds me that there are still many many years of living to do and many songs still left to sing.

So here it is:



Hope you enjoyed this song and wish you all a fabulous day.

Linking this to














Related post:  Music Monday - my song

Warm Regards

Lyrics:
Yesterday when I was young
The taste of life was sweet as rain upon my tongue
I teased at life as if it were a foolish game
The way the evening breeze may tease the candle flame 

A thousand dreams I dreamed
The splendid things I planned
I always built alas on weak and shifting sand
I lived by night and shunned the naked light of day
And only now I see how the years ran away

Yesterday when I was young
So many lovely songs were waiting to be sung
So many wayward pleasures lay in store for me
And so much pain my dazzled eyes refused to see 

I ran so fast that time and youth at last ran out
I never stopped to think what life was all about
And every conversation I can now recall
Concerned itself with me and nothing else at all

Yesterday the moon was blue
And every crazy day brought something new to do
I used my magic age as if it were a wand
That never saw the waste and emptiness beyond 

The game of love I played with arrogance and pride
And every flame I lit too quickly quickly died
The friends I made all seemed somehow drift away
And only I am left on stage to end the play 

There are so many songs in me that won't be sung
I feel the bitter taste of tears upon my tongue
The time has come for me to pay
For yesterday....
when I was young.....

Seven Snippets for Sunday

A quick run-down of 7 things that stood out in the last fortnight.

1. Rugby is the talk of the fortnight. Rugby fever is everywhere. Watched the semi finals of the Rugby
   World cup and now look forward to the finals tonight France vs New Zealand. Go the NZ All Blacks.
   I guess you wonder why there are so many rugby posts lately. It is New Zealand's national game and
   the NZ All Blacks are the world's number 1 team for many years. NZ is hosting the Rugby World Cup
   such a thrill for us and we feel so privileged to be part of such a large event.
   From Wikipedia Rugby World Cup
   The tournament (rugby world cup) is one of the largest international sporting events in the world,
   surpassed in scale only by the FIFA World Cup, the Olympics and the Tour de France.

2.  Walked around my city with a camera. Quite amazing what you see in your own city when you go
     looking for interesting things to photograph. Will post the pics on my Photos are Fun blog.

3.  Watched an interesting documentary on TV on the History Channel - 101 gadgets of the century -
     things that have changed the way we do things. Here are the top five:
         1. Smartphone   2. Short wave Radio   3. Television   4.  Hypodermic needle   5. Personal Computer
    Quite amazing that 4 of the 5 are communication / media related.

4.  Had to go to the hospital for an emergency eye check for a suspected retina detachment or as my GP
     put it to me, to rule it out. Thank God that we could rule it out. My eye is healthy and normal.
     I had a nervous week. So relieved now.

5.  Went to the movies and dinner with some girlfriends last night. We watched Johnny English Reborn.
     It was a laugh a minute. Rowan Atkinson did a great job of acting silly.  I think it must be so hard
     to act silly with a straight face. After the movie we had a Thai meal. I'm not a fan of Thai food but
     it was a pretty good meal. The meal was very large ... next time I'll skip the mains and do the entrees.
     They sounded yummier anyway!

6.  Organised a party for my mother's 75th birthday. We're celebrating next week. I wanted it to be a
     surprise party but knowing my mother, she'll probably organise to go out and she'll be too stressed
     with a surprise party so thought it would be best to tell her.  She's happy and looking forward to it.
     We're also going to celebrate my daughter's birthday - but she doesn't know that yet so a big surprise
     for her.

7.  I've been doing a lot of reading this fortnight - mostly blogs. Found so many blog parties - I didn't
     even know such things existed. Amazing what you learn everyday. Check out the blog parties I
     currently link to on the Blog Parties tab.

Hope all of you had an awesome fortnight. Please share your 7 snippets.

Warm Regards

3 words that inspire

Let it be
Staying on The Beatles theme today (see my post from yesterday Music Monday - my song), Let it Be was a song that was written and sung by them.

This is a song that constantly inspires me and helps me move on in difficult times.

This song has a spiritual meaning for me as strangely enough it plays whenever I really need to
 "let it be".

Some years ago an incident took place at work that made me quite upset. I had a fantastic manager who dealt  with it very promptly and that evening as I made my way home, a busker at the railway station was singing Let it Be! Brought a smile to my face - it was so apt.

Another incident took place quite recently. My project was going live and my team was having trouble installing the application. After spending a whole day trying to work it out, we decided to sleep on it. The next morning I woke up to the sound of music and this song - Let it Be - just what I needed to hear. We got the answers that day and managed to install it all successfully. (see lyrics below and this will make sense).

Let it be -
*  when you need the answers, ask the Universe and then let it be - the answer will come
*  when you need to let go of something or someone, let it be - something better will come along.
    sometimes, letting go is the most loving thing you can do for someone (see my related post below)
*  when something you long for isn't happening, let it be - it or something better will happen,
    the time may not be right for it just now and maybe there are some things you still need to learn
*  when someone hurts you or wrongs you, let it be - forgive yourself and move on
    (see my related post below)
*  when things aren't going well for you, let it be - know that when the time is right, all good things
    will come to you.

Hope today is the day you get all the answers and receive what you ask for.

Related posts:
Letting Go - Appreciate Life
Who do you need to forgive
Music Monday - my song

Linking this post to Inspiration Friday no 37



















Warm Regards

Lyrics
When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be.
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be.

And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree,
there will be an answer, let it be.
For though they may be parted there is still a chance that they will see,
there will be an answer. let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

And when the night is cloudy, there is still a light, that shines on me,
shine until tomorrow, let it be.
I wake up to the sound of music, mother Mary comes to me,
speaking words of wisdom, let it be.

Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be

Link to Youtube Let it be

Music Monday - my song

In the last few days I stumbled upon some interesting blog parties.

What a great idea. Thanks to these wonderful people who host them.




And today I stumbled upon this one

What a cool idea to share your songs and as I love music this is the perfect blog party for me.

So Monday will be Music Monday and I'm linking this post to Pinning and Singing.



   


Also linking to Weekend Bloggy Reading Link Up






But back to this post ... My Song

My favourite band of all time is The Beatles and their post on facebook today is:

The Beatles recorded "I Want to Hold Your Hand" at Abbey Road on this day in 1963. It reached Number One in the USA and UK charts. Following the success of the single they performed it on the Ed Sullivan show to an estimated 73 million viewers on February 9th 1964.
http://www.thebeatles.com/#/songs/I_Want_To_Hold_Your_Hand2 — with John Lennon and 3 others.

This is really special as today is my birthday and this is one of my favourite songs. I have now claimed it as my song!

Listening to The Beatles and their songs, takes me back to a time when life was innocent and so much fun.

This song is dedicated to a very special friend who led me to the facebook page and to another, wherever he may be xoxo.

So here it is:



Other parties I link to from my Photos are Fun blog:

  

Have an awesome day filled with songs and hope you all find some awesome parties to link to.

And everyone who has a birthday today wherever you are in the world - Happy Birthday.

Warm Regards

I Love Quotes - Dr Wayne Dyer - Enjoying the moment.

I chose this quote as the last week has been awesome for me.

I am currently taking time off to chill and do the things I want to do.

And the last week I have done just that - spending time with family and friends, blogging, reading amongst other things.

The quote also serves as a reminder that life will take me where I am supposed to go.  My job is to enjoy the journey.

Enjoy your day.

Warm Regards

My featured posts

I am so chuffed.

"Her Future" tweeted me as one of their favourite bloggers and also tweeted my recent post on "Broken Dreams"

"Like a Quote" featured my post "Little things in Life" as one of their top stories on 3 Oct.

Please check my featured posts:
       I Love Quotes - Robert Burdette - Broken Dreams
       I Love Quotes - Robert Brault - Little things in life

link to the post - scroll to the Sports section Like a Quote - Top Stories - 03 October 2011

Enjoy your Sunday - I'm all set for the Rugby Semi Finals, New Zealand vs Australia.  Go New Zealand, Go the All Blacks. - My flags are flying, Haka Bear all set for the game and I'm dressed in black with my RWC T shirt.  My pics at: Haka Bear (supporting the All Blacks)

Warm Regards

Be Inspired by Steve Jobs and Oprah

RIP Steve Jobs. His death and life are probably the most talked and reported subject in the last few days and there have been so many blogs written about him.

I came across one that had a link to his 2005 Stanford Commencement Address. And like everyone else I listened to it.  And then I noticed the link to the 2008 Commencement Address by Oprah Winfrey which also showed up at the conclusion of Steve Job's address.

Both addresses are so inspiring but I think Oprah's address touched my soul a little bit more. Probably because Steve Jobs address was more career focussed, Oprah's more on the humanitarian side.

But the sum total of both their addresses covers a wide spectrum and I took bits from both that I will draw on now and in the future.

So here are the links:
Oprah Winfrey - 2008 Stanford Commencement Address
Steve Jobs - 2005 Stanford Commencement Address

Be inspired.

Warm Regards

Friday Fives - Book 'Em

    As I am into reading right now this is a good one to attempt.
    (taken from Friday5.org)





1. What book did you struggle to get through but is something you're glad you've read?
     E.M. Foster's A Passage to India - was my book for Literature at University and was such a drag
     to read. Any book that you have to study is always a hard read. But I'm still glad I read it.


2. What's a book whose popularity has baffled you?
    Arundhati Roy's  God of Small Things - this book made no sense to me at all. Perhaps I should
    attempt reading it again.


3. If you could make everyone you know read one book, what would it be?
    Dan Millman's Way of the Peaceful Warrior - This book summed up the meaning of Life for me.


4. What book have you liked less and less as time has gone by?
    I don't think there is any book that falls into this category. I either like a book or don't.


5. What book have you loved more and more as time has gone by?
    Brian Weiss' Only Love is Real - a book that provides hope and an understanding of relationships
    from a spiritual perspective.


Please share your fives. Would love to read your answers.

Warm Regards

Thankful Thursday - 13 October

Usually towards the end of the year, the job market dries up and with the elections coming up in November, the biggest industry here - the Government is starting to put projects on hold. But I am ever so grateful that so many agencies have called with potential jobs. Crossing fingers that one of them will come through for me.

It's such a thrill to have a world cup sporting event held in your country. The Rugby World Cup is underway in New Zealand. So grateful to get a chance to be part of it. The semi finals are on Sunday - New Zealand vs Australia. Go New Zealand. It will be an even bigger thrill watching NZ play in the finals. So excited.

After my dad passed away about 1.5 years ago, each time a relative lands into hospital I get quite anxious. So glad my uncle recovered quickly.

Wishing you all a day of marvellous opportunities and good health.

linking this post to Black tag diaries Thankful Thursday

Warm Regards

Haiku Wednesday - Life

        Thought I should dedicate one haiku at least to Life
        as without that we simply don't exist.

I Love Quotes - Robert Burdette - Broken Dreams

Things just don't seem to happen quick enough for us. We want everything to happen instantly.

This poem is a nice reminder to me that once we send our request out to the Universe, it will undoubtedly be acted on and sent back to us.  But we need to be patient as all things happen in their own time.

Things and people will come to us when the time is right for them to appear in our lives. But as we are impatient, we try to force things and become our own blocks. 

When we try too hard to get the thing or person we want, it probably means that either that is not meant to be for us or that the time isn't right.

I truly believe that if we are meant to have it and at the time we are meant to have it, it will come to us easily. And if we miss the opportunity, the Universe will present it to us again and again until we finally accept it.

Enjoy your day and I hope it's the day your broken dream is mended.

Warm Regards

Seven Snippets for Sunday

Thought I would change the format of my "Snapshot of my Week" and instead list 7 things that I did during the fortnight.

Sometimes less is more so keeping the list as short and simple as I can. Here are my seven things in the last fortnight (in no particular order):

1.  Watched the quarter final games in the Rugby World Cup 

2.  Had lunch on my own at Gloria Jeans (something I've been wanting to do for a long time)

3.  Started reading my new book "Steering by Starlight" by Martha Beck

4.  Went for 3 interviews with Recruitment Agencies

5.  Had lunch with 2 friends - catching up after months

6.  Had Yum Cha lunch with my mother

7.  Went shopping to buy a birthday gift for my mother and my kids.

Check some of my other posts:  

Steering by Starlight - That Gut Feel

Rugby World Cup - New Zealand All Blacks      

Wellington Regional Stadium - Rugby World Cup 2011

Yum Cha - yum yum yum

Have an awesome Sunday and please share your "Sevens" too.

Warm Regards

Question of the Day - Do people have Free Will?

  Do we have free will?

   Here are my views.





I believe that in the journey of our life we have a major destiny and a multitude of  minor ones that lead us to our major destiny.

Our major and minor destinies are pre-determined and will eventually be reached but there are many pathways to each destiny point.

The choices we make during the journey will determine the road we take to those points and this is where our free will comes in. We have free will to choose the path to that destiny point.

Our gut feel or intuition signals unease if we are veering off the path and will plant the deep desire to turn towards our pre-determined destination. Often we will heed this very reliable indicator and change paths ourselves.

But the Universe also lends us a helping hand and gently points us back in the direction of our destiny when we veer off the path significantly.

An example of this has recently occurred in my life.

Having completed a big project, I was looking for a new job when an opportunity came my way. My gut feel on this was a resounding No but I choose not to heed that and accepted the job. 4 months later, the project got cancelled and the job ended. I was obviously not meant to be there as that job is not in alignment with my destiny and the Universe created a situation that now forces me off the path and hopefully onto the right one.

I will again have the free will to choose my next path but the next time I will heed that gut feel and I'm pretty sure it will set me off on the right one.

Free will was given to us so we could learn, experience and grow.  If everything was pre-determined, I don't think there would be any purpose in life. The choices we make and the journey itself  makes our life interesting, exciting, worthwhile and fulfilling.

Here are links to some related posts from my blog:  Experiences Strengthen   That Gut Feel - Is it real?

Also check out all my posts that touch on the subject of Destiny - see labels on the right.

Wish you all an interesting journey today.

Warm Regards

Thursday Thoughts - Emptying the cup

A university professor went to visit a famous Zen master in Kyoto, in search of knowledge. 
While the monk served tea, the professor commented exercises, analysed writing, interpreted stories and traditions, and deliberated on the ancient processes of meditation. 
He did everything to impress his host, in the hopes that he might be accepted as a disciple. 
As he spoke, the monk continued to fill his cup, until it overflowed and the tea began to flow across the whole table.  
The professor remarked - What are you doing? Can't you see the cup is full, and that nothing more will fit in it?
Your soul is like this cup - replied the master - How can I teach you the true art of Zen Buddhism, if it is already filled with theories?
                                                                      ~ from The Warrior of the Light Volume 3, Paulo Coelho 


Today I went for three interviews with recruitment agencies. And as I sat through each one, I reflected on all that I had learned, experienced and achieved.

One of the questions I got asked was ... if I rate you as 7/10 what would you do to get to 10/10? I gave him a pretty good answer but pondered on it almost all afternoon.

And then as today is a Thursday Thought day, I searched my "Warrior of the Light" book and came across the story above. Just what I needed. A confirmation of my answer to that recruitment agent.

At the end of every project I deliver or at the conclusion of each job I have to "empty my cup" and start again because each situation is different, each job / project presents different challenges and provides new knowledge. What works for one project may be the wrong way for another. Being prepared to re-learn, re-start, going back to zero, is how I move forward though on the surface it might look like "emptying the cup" moves you backwards. I'm not sure that the recruitment agent actually got that.

I have discovered that I have grown or discovered a new ability when I have been prepared to "empty my cup" - learn, change direction, re-start. This of course does not mean that I throw away all that I've learned it just means I am open to another way of looking at things or considering an alternative or relearning / enhancing a skill.

And it's quite refreshing to "empty the cup".

Enjoy your day.

Warm Regards

3 words that inspire

Follow your bliss
Is a phrase coined by Joseph Campbell that in essence tells us that we should pursue what gives us great joy, which we are passionate about, something that comes from deep within us. I will add here that "Following our bliss" is that which does not harm anyone but is achieved with love and kindness.

Each of us has a purpose to fulfil in our lives. Some have grand purposes and some have little ones. It does not matter which group you fall into. What matters is that we achieve what we are meant to achieve, what our soul is meant to learn or experience in this lifetime.

The way to fulfil that purpose is to "Follow our bliss".  Our passions, deep desires and all the things that bring us joy are indicators of the path we are meant to walk.

Even when the people around you think you are crazy, follow your bliss because, in the words of Mother Teresa, "In the final analysis, it is between you and God, it was never between you and them anyway".


Warm Regards

This post inspired by The Daily Love - what it means to follow your bliss

Links:  Joseph Campbell - Follow your bliss   Mother Teresa - Do it anyway