Shoot the puppy

Disclaimer: This post was written two days ago in hard copy on a plane and albeit a bit belated I am posting it anyway - because I can.

I've just returned from two days in JHB. Two long, hard, interesting, trying, yet exciting days. I'm now stuck on a plane a few thousand feet above mother earth and contrary to logic I don't want the flight to end.

Although arriving in CPT means seeing Parri and Bono (my cat) and being home, it also means I have to face the real world where work and deadlines consume my life and I am reaching a point of having to schedule loo breaks. So why so melancholy?

Well, last weekend Parri and I went to watch Wanted starring Angelina Jolie (have I mentioned that in my next life I want to be a non-famous version of Angelina?) and apart from the fact that it was a great movie, it also made me think about my life in general. After watching all the intrigue, drama and high speed car chases that come standard with movies about a secret society of assassins, the movie ends off with the lead character asking:"What have you done lately?" What he implies by this is what have you done to change your life.

This made me think about the following things, things I know to be true yet often ignore or avoid:

• I'm chicken.
  
• Things have to change and it's up to me to change them.
  
• I don't like change, yet I crave it.
• It depends on me. Always has, always will.
• When I get to the pearly gates one day there is only one question I need to answer to: Was I happy? And the only answer there can be is YES.
• Always be respectful, considerate and compassionate towards those around you, but never sacrifice your happiness in exchange for theirs.
• If you're good at something, if you enjoy it and if an opportunity presents itself, grab it with both hands and ride the wave.
• Don't let people fuck you over. Even if they don't mean to.
• Be clear on what you want from life.
• Learn to say no.
• Acknowledge yourself.
• Do everything in your power to learn more, to understand more, to see both sides of every coin and to experience life in its totality.
• Have a bucket list.
• Be clear on your stance on religion and change it as often as you like.
• Find 'me' time.
• Be proactive.
• Spread the love.
• See and experience life through your heart.
• Travel.
• Be the best person you can be and then some.
• Stop worrying about what others think. There is a very big chance that they are merely a figment of your imagination anyway.
• Shoot the puppy.

My puppy's days are counted.