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Confidence comes not from knowing you know everything, but from knowing you can handle what comes up. - Donn King

What comes to mind when you think of the word 'Confidence' ?  Who comes to mind when you think about 'Confident People' ? What is it about that person that makes you think they are confident ? 

 Confidence is knowing what you are good at; knowing the value that you can provide to a situation; and the ability to convey this to others by way of speech, mannerisms and body language.  Confidence also indicates that you are aware of your weaknesses and the ability to accept that your point of view may not be the only one around. [Let's not confuse confidence with arrogance]

Sometimes I think of life as one big obstacle course.  Once you have accepted that life is going to throw the good, the bad and the ugly at you; you need to start believing that you can get through it no matter what - and that is confidence.  

 Personally - I'm a confident person.  I'm very comfortable with myself and my point of view on various topics; and I'm not afraid to ask questions or learn about the subject areas that are not my forte.  Over the years I've learned that unless one is willing to take a risk - you'll never know what the outcome was (and that may leave some feelings of regret at some point in time).  Just remember that nothing can substitute experience. 

 A simple example.  If you're the kind of person who loves the idea of exploring new countries but can't find a have a travel companion - why not go traveling on your own ? The idea can seem daunting but think about all the people you will meet and all the places that you will see.  Once you get the flight booking done - it's just about sorting out your accommodation; then heading over to TripAdvisor to check out places to visit; maybe join a social network where you plan to visit and meet a few people.  Once you start setting small goals for yourself - everything falls in place.  So just be confident.  Life is about doing things now and not letting opportunities pass you by.   

 What about you ? How confident are you as an individual ? Have you ever felt a lack of self-confidence ? What did you do to overcome that ? 


Why don't you start believing that that no matter what you have or haven't done, that your best days are still out in front of you. - Joel Osteen 

Sometimes it's really hard to 'believe'.  Life isn't easy.  Life is a test of everything we have ever learned.  It throws things at you when you least expect it.  Sometimes circumstances leave you emotionally and mentally drained and we lose belief in ourselves and that is okay.  As long as you get right back up and have faith in yourself and your abilities - you'll be able to deal with whatever life hurdles come your way.

I'd like to believe that despite everything I have been through over the years - there's something better out there for me.  I can't possibly be working this hard to just be where I am right ? I have to believe that I have the skill sets that will help get me to where I want to be - no matter how hard it is or how long it takes me.  That belief in myself is my survival skill and I give myself a pat on the back for all my accomplishments. You should do that too ! 

We aren't all born with silver spoons in our mouths - but we all have the capability of purchasing said silver spoons as an indulgence at some point or another.  We've all heard people go on about how everything happens for a reason .. and in all honesty - it does (at least 90% of the time, the other 10% is out of sheer bad luck!)  Life is about acceptance of all things good and bad - and after that it's about taking all the chances that you get and see how far you are willing to go in order to pursue your hearts desires.  It's about believing that you are worth it ! It's about having confidence.  Believing in yourself is being sure that you are going to go after whatever you want even if others are against you.  If you have confidence in yourself - so will others. 

How do you assert your belief in yourself ? What dis-empowering beliefs do you have that you want to change ?  I recently read 'Believe In Yourself - A Self Care Strategy' on Huffingtonpost and 'Life Is A Result of Your Beliefs & Expectations' on TinyBuddha and would recommend that you have a read as well when you get the chance.  
Acceptance of what has happened is the first step to overcoming the consequences of any misfortune.  - William James

How many times have you heard men & women say that "life is not fair" or "why does this happen to me" ?  Life isn't fair - it never is ! 


We have no 'real' control over what life has in store for us.  We don't know how our day will go or whether we will wake to see another sunrise.  Nothing is permanent; you could have all the riches in the world today but tomorrow it could be gone.  Things happen; all that you've ever known could change and everything you've ever experienced can transform or have an impact on your life.  It's our approach and outlook to life that can determine whether we are going to spend it happily or just be miserable about it.  Simply put - bitch less, enjoy more ! 

Over the years I've learned (and trust me when I say that I struggle with this) that one must learn to 'Accept' the way things are; one must stop complaining and that when thrown in a situation - one must embrace it and find a way to cope in order to thrive.  Basically one must learn to look at each situation / circumstance in a positive manner rather than in a negative manner.  When it comes to relationships - the only way one can move on with life is 'acceptance & moving forward' without looking back. 

Another thing I've learned is that in order to be truly accepting of all that is around you - one must look beyond their own point of view and open their mind to the perceptions of those around them.  This doesn't mean you blindly agree to everything that you see or hear but this will make you more accepting and tolerant to others around you.  

How accepting are you to those around you that share different perceptions to you ?  Have you found yourself saying 'life isn't fair' ? What are you going to do about that ?  Have you noticed any changes in your life since you started 'accepting' things around you ? Do you believe that everything happens for a reason ? 
I noticed that the A to Z Challenge was hosting a 'Theme Reveal Blogfest' (which unfortunately I didn't get to sign up for in time) and realized that over the last 2 years that I have always 'revealed' my theme beforehand and now it's a part of a lot of linky love as of 2013 ! 


Those of you who have followed my blog will recall that my theme in 2012 was the A to Z of Blogging and then in 2013 it was the A to Z of Sex (yes a tad racy but I got a lot of positive feedback and re-tweets on those posts).  

I've been through a lot emotionally over the last 7 months which resulted in me in neglecting my blog; and I thought it would be apt to choose the theme I've chosen. 

So without further ado - the theme for my 2014 A to Z Challenge is the A to Z of Life !  I'll be posting about the things I think are important in life including traits that can help enhance our day to day lifestyle.  I hope you are able to join me on this journey and share your thoughts to my two bits ! 
After what seems to be a lifetime of silence on my blog - I'm getting myself back into it ! 

This will be the 3rd A to Z Blogging Challenge that I'll be participating in and I'm looking forward to getting out of my writers block.  I know where the block is and I suppose I could have found a way to express myself but I think it was a bit too much for me to deal with at the time.  


For those of you that don't know about this challenge : basically you need to post every day except Sundays during the month of April and to make things interesting, you have to blog thematically from A to Z about anything and everything or you can even follow a theme.  

The posts should be at least 100 words to show that you’ve put some kind of effort into the topic.  Then it's time to share your posts on the A to Z Facebook Page; and share your posts on Twitter using @AprilA2Z and the #atozchallenge hash tag.

I've known about the challenge for months and I really should have planned ahead better but I have an idea about what I want to write about and will reveal my theme on the 21st of March along with all the other bloggers participating in the challenge. 

Are you participating in the challenge ? If so - don't forget to share your blog link in the comments below so I can come visit your website.  For those of you that haven't participated before - would you consider joining up ? 

I've often wondered about this (and it seems like the ideal quote for a wrap up post).  I'm the type of person who has a folder on my laptop filled with various images, quotes and even cartoon strips that have caught my fancy over the years. 

Some of the content would cause those acquainted to me to reassess their perception of who I really am.  At end of the day - we are all 'someone' on the surface but there is much more to our individual characters than what we allow the world to see.  I can be an extremely expressive person except when it comes to being 'emotional', 'mushy' or 'overly romantic'.  Don't get me wrong - I can - it's just not in my comfort zone.   Having said that, I've found a way to express myself by way of some of the lovely content available online and those few lines of expression are what I can relate to immediately.  It's as if someone else has read my mind and penned it down.  

Thanks to social media - I feel that I gain a better insight to a person when I see some of the articles, links and images that they post via Facebook or Twitter. It's those things that we no longer talk about or express in person that we do by way of social media (through images / quotes etc) that says more about an individual than words could justify.  

Think about it ... if I shared something today that appealed to you and it was something you didn't expect from me - your perception of me would be altered. Try it out within your own social network and see how many people surprise you. 

What are your thoughts ? Do you think our favourite quotations say more about us than we let on in person ? If you've been following my blog through the Ultimate Blog Challenge - have you enjoyed the quotes that I have used ? Were you able to relate to any of them ? 

 p.s. If you're a lurker and came by without leaving a comment - now would be a great time to delurk and reveal yourself to me. 
I like this quote because it perplexes me in a way.  Based on numerous conversations with people and reading various blogs - it seems like individual self-worth is down and people don't realize that they 'deserve' the good things out there and they just need to find the path to lead them to it.  

Who doesn't want to be a laid-back billionaire with a private jet ? That's aiming pretty high but that doesn't mean one doesn't 'deserve' to go on a few holidays a year.  We all struggle with this balance of being financially stable and having the good life and sometimes it so happens that to have the good life - your finances can take a bit of a hit.  That is one of areas I find that makes me anxious BUT in the last few years I've sort of tossed it in the air and said that I deserve that luxury week long trip or the extravagant annual birthday weekend because if I don't spoil myself now in my prime years - when the hell am I going to do that ?? 

I know I can afford to do this because I have my own business and I'm my own boss; but I also have friends in corporate houses who make it a point to take a long weekend or a week off every quarter because they damn well deserve it for working their asses off all year round.  Obviously one can't go completely off the chain and pour their hard earned money down the drain; but the point is that stop worrying about the what ifs and learn to spoil yourself - you've earned it.  

On the other hand if I apply this to my personal life - it makes me sit back and think.  There are days I don't even know how I feel about relationships; it's been a while since I've been in one and I know I'm very good in one as well - but business is booming and my personal life has been sacrificed for the time being and I'm left wondering one of two things.  How is it that I haven't found myself in a relationship and then the immediate thought after that is because I deserve better than what is currently around me.  Perhaps a tad cocky - but I really think so and that's why I'm okay with where I am today.  

What are your thoughts ? How do you feel when you read this quote ? 
Do you ever find yourself wondering 'oh I could have done XYZ' or 'I should have done ABC' ?  The thing about human nature is that it's only natural that we wonder and cross-examine the ifs, buts, whys, who and wheres in our lives .. but the problem with that is that we end up setting ourselves up for disappointment.

Have you ever found yourself trying really hard to achieve something but you end up struggling with it ? And at times, the minute you just stop and let go - things seem to fall into place ? 

I'm a self proclaimed workaholic - I like the buzz and the random stress that comes with the job of an events & wedding planner.  Having said that, I also decided that life is too short to stress oneself out and made a conscious decision to let things come and go naturally to me.  As harsh as it may sound - I apply this to people around me as well.  I know which friends I am certain of ; I know that other people are all passing by to share a lesson or two and then there are some people we need to let go off.  We must rid ourselves of fears because fear stumps our growth and crushes the potential we have deep inside.   I rather live a life stating 'oh well' than thinking 'what if'.

What are your thoughts ? How do you avoid stress ? Do you dwell on the could have / should have of things ? Or do you go with the universal flow and see where it takes you ?  
I've always believed and felt that we meet the people we do for a reason.  As a child I used to think we were characters in one massive story - The Storybook Life - and each person we met had their own chapter and our lives / chapters merged together.  When I look back at those thoughts now - I reckon I was on the right track. 

I've had the pleasure of meeting some amazing people over the last 3 decades of my life who have given me so much.  There are some people who have opened my mind and heart to the possibilities of so much more just when I thought I didn't have it in me to 'feel' a certain way.  Not all of those experiences ended in a positive way - in fact probably more painful than I care to admit - but definitely an experience I'm glad to have had because it just leaves me in a better place overall.  

Life is as complex as it can get and each of us has our own experiences to add to it and I just feel that there's a reason we choose to interact with certain people - it's because we were meant to (for whatever time  period it may be).  Every interaction has taught me a valuable lesson (good and bad); has made me evolve more into the person I am and added to my own character.

So if you’re reading this, you are in some way a part of my story –and I want to say ‘thanks for reading’ !  (just de-lurk in the comments so I know how to find you)


We all have expectations about something or the other - it could be about the work environment one is in or it could be what one expects from friends and family .. and it all boils down to the perception of expectations.

Last year the subject hit home to me and I wrote a post 'To Expect or Not To Expect?' and did a quick follow up on that with a new post 'Lowering Expectations'  .. and I've noticed that quite a few people around me were all discussing 'expectations' on social media platforms. 

I've already admitted that my personal expectation levels from my nearest and dearest are on the higher side despite having lowered my expectations when it comes to other things.  I suppose it's because if I can't expect those closest to me to do what it takes then who else can I expect that from other than myself ?   
The minute I saw this quote I knew it was one of the ones I had to share with all of the folks out in blogosphere. 

I hate being in a 'what if' situation.  I rather have tried & tested and come out saying 'oh well' this worked / this didn't than be left wondering 'what if I did this or did that instead'.

I've been in situations where the 'oh well' result wasn't the best but I'm glad I did because I finally knew what would happen.  I wasn't twiddling my thumbs away.  I rather just go out there; speak my mind and see what happens - the outcome can only be good, bad or neutral right ?  

How many times have you wondered 'what if' ? Do you regret those what ifs ? How many 'oh wells' are you glad that you followed through with ? 
Life is too short to be left wondering 'what if' .. when was the last time you pushed yourself to take a risk where you weren't sure what the outcome would be ? 

 Ask yourself a this question -  Are you living your dream ? If you aren't then start building your dreams before someone asks you to build theirs for them ! 

 I believe that nothing can substitute experience and one must challenge their limits to see how far they can reach.   Don't be a afraid of failing because failure leads to innovation and adds to your experience.  The next time you try - you will know what pitfalls to avoid. 

 So today I ask you - have you ever risked going too far to see how far you can go ? How did you feel about it ? Are you glad you did what you did ? 


Okay maybe 'wonderful' isn't the word I'd use but time does show us what really matters. 

The trouble with people (or society in general) is that we all think we have time.  But in reality we don't have a clue how much time we have.  

When someone says something to you - we tend to hold on to that in some way.  Someone told me that I would see a definite change in their attitude & behaviour towards me as a friend and two months later I do see the change - there's nothing.  It probably doesn't matter to that person - but my perspective has changed and what was important to me then is no longer the case.   In fact I've lowered my expectations altogether because I don't have the time to get annoyed or disappointed by people. 

Ever since my Dad passed away - time just seems to be of essence to me.  I have very limited free time and if I want to maximize that when I can.  As days, weeks and months pass - if you dig deep down into your heart and soul - you will now what really matters to you.  Take all the chances that you get so that you can happily say 'oh well and not what if'   

Whilst I understand that it's inevitable that everyone has advice to offer - and it's probably very good advice as well .. sometimes you just have to go through the motions to 'experience' life by yourself.  If we took all the advice ever given to us would we really have lived at all ? Wouldn't we be in this safe haven where everything was always alright ? 

 Sometimes you have to suck it up and just be brave, confront your fears and take that risk because YOUR experience is going to be different to someone else's experience.  It's better to say 'oh well' than keep wondering 'what if' right ? 

 Is there something that you've always wanted to do ? Perhaps start a new business ? Or take a sabbatical from a Big 5 corporation to pursue a culinary course in the Big Apple  (a dear friend is doing this now) ? I've moved to two different countries to pursue my event management business and I can assure you that it's been on hell of an experience.  My advice - take all the chances you get - after all it's right there in front of you !  Have you taken a risk that resulted in an experience that you are grateful for ? 
When was the last time you took the time to appreciate someone who does something you take for granted ? 

I know I'm guilty of not doing it as often as I should and my only excuse is that I'll do it later or I'll let that person know tomorrow.  Life does get in the way of the smaller things you do want to do and I'm trying to find that balance to be able to take the time to appreciate everyone else around me. 

So today I'd like to pen my appreciation down.  The one person we all take for granted the most are our mothers ! Why the hell do we do that ? Every since my Dad passed away 2 months ago - I've been making it a point to compliment her or encourage her to go out with her friends and even thank her for thinking about me when she's out shopping (seriously she's too cute - she sends pictures of shoes she knows I will like and tells me where the sales are !) 

The other person I'd like to show some appreciation for is Kathy Hadley, a life coach, from the UBC FB page.  She's the host / group monitor and hats off to the lady for updating the page DAILY (and not just during the month of the challenge) and also finding the time to write her own blog posts; read & comment on other posts; and encourage others to keep blogging.  We just wander along to the UBC FB page and leave our posts around for anyone to see without thinking about the effort it takes to maintain such a page.  So cheers to you Kathy ! 

What about you ? Is there someone that you'd like to express your appreciation to ? Who does something that you take for granted ?