My word of 2016: Engage

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

Every year I pick a word which I try to live by for the whole year. Last year it was Adventure and the year before that Happiness...

This year I picked the word: Engage!

I haven't blogged in AGES, because life was happening to me.... 

"Life happens when you are busy making other plans"-John Lennon.

In a car accident, in September, I broke my arm very badly. I had to get an operation on my broken arm, so it would heal correctly. I was down in the dumps and feeling very negative about the whole situation, but the later I got a Robocop-arm and the humor about it started to set in and I started embracing it!

My beautiful iron arm!

The Robocop-arm/ Arm brace

After I started embracing my situation, as well as my beautiful, recovering arm; I started thinking about what I learned and what I would like to change about my life. There are a lot of things that I want to change, but there was one aspect that I wanted to change and that is to be more PRESENT. I want to be in the moment. 

How often does it happen right in a conversation that you are not really present. Constantly thinking about other stuff like: "Does this person like me?", "What is that story that Kate told me the other day that is also about Christmas, which was so funny?" You forget to enjoy the moment for what it is. Your head is occupied with other BS, instead of enjoying the moment for what it is!

I want to stop listening to that inner voice constantly thinking of a reply or great stories to tell. I want to LISTEN! I want to ENGAGE in the conversation! I want to ENGAGE in the world around me! I want to be in the car, playing the music real loud and look with wondering eyes at the world outside. Not thinking about the great night I had or about what is next. Just being.  Just being there in the moment. 

Listening. 

Speaking. 

Enjoying. 

Simply engaging in the world around me and with the people around me!

May you all have a prosperous 2016 and have all the happiness!

What are your words for 2016?

When dreams have to be put on hold

By Arnia Kiara Oosthuizen

When you know you have given your all, there is nothing more you can do.

I have failed my accounting exam. I have failed. I cannot write the rewrite, because we will be in San Antonio Texas! In your final year, you sometimes get a second rewrite, but you have to write the first rewrite and fail to get the opportunity to the second rewrite.

Unfortunately, I cannot write the first rewrite, which means I have to do it again next year. I was planning to Au pair in the Netherlands next year and travel the world a bit. But that dream has to be put on hold.

Everything happens for a reason. Therefore, I will make the best of this major  minor set back. I will get a job close to the university or maybe at the university if I am lucky. I will complete accounting and maybe do a creative course or two in Communication related things. But while I'm working, I will try to save loads of money to travel the world in 2017.

I will make the best of this set back, like I said, everything happens for a reason. Maybe I will save enough money to have a royal time overseas. Haha wishful thinking! The Rand is so weak against the Dollar, Pound and Euro that our money means almost nothing! But every bit helps!

I shall make the best of 2016! Nothing will get me down! Challenge accepted!