Friction! As soon as we start to move in any one direction - as in gaining a vision and pushing ourselves towards it - it's like moving a solid mass [as in a large rock (with apologies if you are of Afrikaans descent)]. The darn thing doesn't want to budge so we gotta push real hard to start the motion - and that's exactly what happens when we want to start moving in a new direction. Expect friction. It's part of the deal! There are only 2 types of experiences - successes and learning experiences - and that bad experience sure was a learning one was a learning one, wasn't it?

Each chunk of friction represents something we're learning. And each piece of friction stops more people from progressing - which is why so few of us ever achieve those lofty goals we sometimes have. We think the friction is Gods way of telling us to do something else because this one is too hard. And even our parents heklp in this conspiracy by not wanting us to get hurt - so they stop us from aspiring too high just in case we get hurt when we don't get there. But if we're not dreaming big dreams then surely we're settling for a whole lot less than we deserve?

Now let's talk about reality. it doesn't exist. Two people sitting on the same rock, watching the same sea - the same waves breaking over the same rocks - and having two completely different experiences. One rejoicing in the fact that he can be there, and watching the sea do what it has done for eons and will probably do forever. The other wondering how far he can swim before he gets tired and can give up. Yet the reality is the same - same waves...

Each of us can free up half our time immediately if we concern ourselves only with stuff that we can change. Instead of tilting at Quixotic windmills - fighting battles that we lost a long time ago. Move on, for heavens sake. learn the lesson and stop fighting it. If we can't influence the way taxi drivers drive - why waste our life essence constantly whining about it? And if the tax laws are not quite to our liking - then stop complaining about it and do something. After all - we choose to live here, and we could equally easily choose to live elsewwhere - that would be a proactive way of showing our concern - and we'd feel a whole lot better by taking some action.

The problem with all this free time [and not being able to carp about other people] is that it brings each of us up to the starting line - and suddenly it's just me on the track - entirely responsible for what happens to me. And that's pretty scary.

This article was written last week over 5 dinners and 4 lunches in an incredible Japanese Restaurant - Tare Panda - in the Gateway Centre in Umhlanga. If you have a chance check out their sushi and teppanyaki - it restores your soul! And the vintage wine selection is quite enticing. If you haven't tried sushi or teppanyaki - stretch yourself! For what it's worth - a week of sushi and I shed 5 KG! I know that I only weigh 75KG, if only someone could remove this excess baggage! I think we should call this the Sushi Diet! Maybe we can trademark that? And what a pleasure. I wish I lived there! You can book your table now by dialing 031-5663138 - trust me when I say that your partner will love you for it. And if you're cynical about this - I really don't get any benefit from this recommendation. Trust me - your stock will improve!