Being a Nit Twit

I've recently tried my hand at Twitter. I'm not sure if I really "get" the whole concept of it.

I am starting to follow more people, and now I have random people I've never met following me which I think is the whole point? Random strangers listening to me bleet about my thoughts and opinions?

I also need to learn about hashtagging - at the moment I am #RandomlyTagging on anything.

If it is one thing to make you feel totally ununique though - go google hashtag trends, you may have thought you were witty coming up with that new and fresh hashtag comment. You weren't. About a million other people are tweeting it already.

I think I've made a few bungles, thus I've dubbed myself a TweetTwit - I think I'll get there though. It's an interesting concept putting all your thoughts out there for anyone across the globe to read - she says as she expounds her theories on her public blog....

No wonder we have traffic dramas in Auckland

As I was walking back from picking up tickets to the Comedy Fest I was once again struck by how walking is often like driving in the sense of there should be specific lanes that we should stick to.

My rule of thumb, and usually the world round (for escalators etc) is that you walk the same way/side that your country drives on.

When I look at how people walk around Auckland CBD, up and down Queen Street it really shows me that the majority of people have no idea where they are going, are inconsiderate of others, or just generally useless/faffing about.

Example, the people who just stop , in the middle of the pavement , regardless of whether there are people following them or not. I'm putting YOU LOT on notice.

In this instance, I like to general walk right into them or lightly shoulder barge, making it obvious that I think where they have decided to stop is inappropriate.

I mean how hard is it to just move to the side. The same goes for people just "having a hui" in the middle of the footpath.

It doesn't surprise me that we have dramas on our Auckland roads given that our walking is so all over the show. I mean the thing is, alot of cultures plus ineffective driving equals painful commutes.

Finally for my traffic vent, I'd like to also put on notice YOU LOT who don't obey the "stand to the left" on escalators. Who died and made you special? Because I'm slightly evil I will make you move out of the way, pointing out you should stay left, even if I don't want to pass you. It's the principle.

Little steps

I've noticed a few things this year which seem to be working for me and I just wanted to share them.

1. Make small daily goals

I have been making small daily goals, which can often coincide with larger goals. For example I am trying not to drink from a minimum of one month to a maximum of four months. However I take this goal as a day-to-day.

This week I managed to go out for dinner and a movies with a friend and didn't have any wine, AND, I met a friend for an after work drink and drank soda, cranberry and lime. Which is a superly (I know not a word) lovely drink which usually has vodka in it but because I don't usually taste vodka. Tonight is Friday which is normally after work drinks night however I am heading to RPM (even though I've been a bit unwell) and then I am off home to do my ironing and laundry.

I WAS supposed to be meeting a friend for a degustation meal at Merediths but haven't heard from them and plus as my bro Vanh pointed out, you can't really do a degustation without sampling the wine as well.

2. Spending time with people that are really worth it

Interestingly enough this came to my attention when recently an ex of mine, who cheated on me, has been wanting to catch up. I have suggested if he wants to be friends then we can catch up and do a lunch however he is insistent that it is a "drinks" catch up or of the sort. Yeah, we all know what that means.

He insists he has changed and yet he refuses to acknowledge my suggestion of lunch and continues to say I am ignoring him , etc. The same games he has always played.

Not worth it. I don't need the stress. I want to spend time with my friends that I can relax around and enjoy myself with not being worried about the situation.

Following on from this is noting who I enjoy hanging out with even when I'm not drinking! That's a clear indication of who you can bear to be around!

Anyway just a couple of random thoughts - what have you noticed that is different about yourself this year?

Words of Wisdom from Oprah Winfrey

If a man wants you, nothing can keep him away. 
If he doesn't want you, nothing can make him stay. Stop making excuses for a man and his behavior. Allow your intuition (or spirit) to save you from heartache.

Stop trying to change yourself for a relationship that's not meant to be. Slower is better. Never live your life for a man before you find what makes you truly happy. If a relationship ends because the man was not treating you as you deserve then heck no, you can't "be friends". A friend wouldn't mistreat a friend. 

Don't settle. If you feel like he is stringing you along, then he probably is. Don't stay because you think "it will get better." You'll be mad at yourself a year later for staying when things are not better. The only person you can control in a relationship is you. Avoid men who have a bunch of children by a bunch of different women. He didn't marry them when he got them pregnant, why would he treat you any differently? Always have your own set of friends separate from his. Maintain boundaries in how a guy treats you. If something bothers you, speak up. Never let a man know everything. He will use it against you later. 

You cannot change a man's behavior. Change comes from within. Don't EVER make him feel he is more important than you are. Even if he has has more education or in a better job. Do not make him into a quasi-god. He is a man, nothing more nothing less. 

Never let a man define who you are. Never borrow someone else's man. If he cheated with you, he'll cheat on you. A man will only treat you the way you ALLOW him to treat you. All men are NOT dogs.

You should not be the one doing all the bending... Compromise is two way street. You need time to heal between relationships. There is nothing cute about baggage... Deal with your issues before pursuing a new
relationship. You should never look for someone to COMPLETE you. A relationship consists of two WHOLE
individuals. Look for someone complimentary...
not supplementary. 

Dating is fun... Even if he doesn't turn out to be Mr. Right. Make him miss you sometimes... When a man always know where you are, and you're always readily available to him ~ he takes it for granted. Never move into his mother's house. Never co-sign for a man. Don't fully commit to a man who doesn't give you everything that you need. Keep him in your radar but get to know others. 

Scared of being alone is what makes a lot of women stay in relationships that are abusive or hurtful: Dr. Phil says... You should know that: You're the best thing that could ever happen to anyone and if a man mistreats you, he'll miss out on a good thing. If he was attracted to you in the 1st place, just know that he's not the only one. They're all watching you, so you have a lot of choices. Make the right one. Ladies take care of your own hearts... ❤

Fighting the fat to get fit

So the challenge this week is to remove alcohol. I've done it before. The problem is a social one for me.

I was thinking how years ago, when I was earning much less than I am now I used to get a mani/pedi/facial and massage each month and could afford it and I haven't afforded it in ages and I was like "I wonder why" to myself.

In truthful honesty I did a check of the olde bank account and discovered it was "entertainment" and when I say "entertainment" I mean those $10.50 glasses of red wine that seem to slip down the throat oh so easily.

So the next move is to change to soda, cranberry and fresh lime, actually very refreshing, cheap and non-alcoholic.

I've just had a pedi and a mani and I tell you - the exchange is well worth it!!!!

My next little treat should I remain focused will be a nice back massage I think! I will keep you updated as to how this new track of mine goes.

I think its going to be a bit of a mission to just change my mindset a little - they do say it takes 21 days to change a habit so watch this space :-)

Feeling the need to get arty?

Interested in NZ artists? There are some great interviews online that you can check out. A fascinating look inside the creation of NZ art.


THE CULTURAL ICONS PROJECT
The Depot’s Cultural Icons project celebrates people who have contributed significantly to New Zealand’s creative landscape. It is a series of recorded interviews and programmes whose aim is to share the histories, stories and experiences of some of our most significant visual artists, architects, publishers, entrepreneurs, writers, musicians, arts commentators and philanthropists.

The interviews are between friends and contemporaries and form a fascinating cultural genealogy. Warm, informed and often intimate, the dialogues are a rare insight into these iconic people’s creative journeys, their youthful ambitions, their hurdles, successes and their contributions to New Zealand’s arts and culture scene.


http://culturalicons.co.nz/



Interested in heading to The Depot Artspace? A great chance to check out a local gallery, have a wander around a beautiful part of Auckland, grab a very expensive latte and get a bit cultural.

http://www.depotartspace.co.nz/


The Depot Artspace is a multi-disciplinary creative community based in Devonport, Auckland, New Zealand

In Devonport, New Zealand, a thriving multi-disciplinary creative centre is testimony to a clear vision, a strong philosophy of inclusiveness and accessibility, unfaltering tenacity and a large helping of community can-do.

The Depot is open and inclusive and encourages engagement in all art forms. To this end we offer a variety of facilities, services and events that both support the creative community and provide opportunities for public appreciation. You can explore them using the browser above.

Perspectives

Sometimes life is all about putting things into perspective. I've just had another tack thrown under my tire of life, a disappointment to see how someone in my life has handled some gossip about me. My response has been to cut ties becuse this is the year of no BS for me and I won't put up with negative people bringing my life down.

However, as I was wallowing  over the weekend (and I was eating pizza so I knew I was wallowing) in the disappointment that this had brought me I got to work this morning and found out that someone I knew from the Ports had passed on.

When I started at POAL he was such a support to me, helping me with setting up things when I had no idea what I was doing, and later on being a wonderful person who I could chat to.

Because of things that happened before I left and while I was away I lost touch , and didn't know about his illness. That makes me sad, but I think of everything that he has done, the people who mourn his loss and all the lives he touched and I think, I am blessed to have known such a person.

So while there are people who will try and bring you down, there are always people who try to raise you up, to help you, to want to make you be a nicer, better person.

And I am so grateful that I have these types of people in my life. So putting things into perspective for me today is the fact that I am actually blessed with many positive people in my life and I don't need to wallow or give the negative people anymore space to rent in my head.