2008: The year of living dangerously – WELL!

Jo! I am going to live dangerously – well. 2008 is the year for it – surely?

The last year has blitzed by me but at least it provided me with some valuable lessons which I am hoping to apply next year. Growing up sucks but what I have learnt while doing it is that you have to learn while doing it.
And the one thing I have learnt is that you have only truly learnt something when you can apply it or remove it from your life voluntarily.
It’s easy to say you know that picking at a scab hurts and leaves a scar but have you really learnt anything if you continue to do it.

Well I hear you asking what the hell have you learnt this year that you will put into place next year? Not to sound to grown up and all – because I am Peter Pan after all – I think there are a few lessons learnt that are knowledge gained for me in 2007.

Working hard in the gym and eating properly are the only ways you are going to lose weight and get into shape. – Well I can amend that slightly to apply to how hard you exercise. You don’t have to do it in a gym. It wouldn’t be a stretch for me to say that my mountain bike saved my life. It’s when you can’t get up in the morning, it’s when you are cold and miserable, when you feel fat and messy – its when you feel like that and you still get up and get on your bike and go to the gym and lift like your heart is going to break – that is when you will love yourself the most.


Drinking will make you fat and stupid.
Don’t get me wrong I still like a dop as much as I always did but spending 7 months sober will open your eyes to just how stupid drinking can be. The amount of times my question “Was I like that?” was met with the answer “You were worse” is immeasurable. Drinking can ruin friendships, a relationship, your job and your life if you are not careful so learn to stop when you wake up in the morning and feel like shit and don’t really want to carry on.

Having your heart broken is not the end of the world.
It can feel like it. It can make you writhe around in bed for hours asking stupid questions like “Did she cheat?”, “What did I do wrong?”, “If I change will she take me back?”. But with everyday you ask less questions and you lose less sleep. For sure some days are better than others and there will be days when you think you are finally over it only to hear a song on the radio or see a tag on facebook that makes it all seem so fresh again. But everyday you live a little longer, smile and cry a little more and learn to breathe a little deeper. And you survive and before you know it you are doing more than that you are living and at the end of the day that is all you can do.

It’s ok to talk to God.
Even if its just quietly by yourself in a room for a few seconds. The rest can come later if you want it to not because someone told you to. And that’s all I have to say about that.

Looking good is akin to feeling good.
It’s true vanity is a terrible sin but for me 2007 was a year of self indulgence. I got my mind and my body back and I figured out that there is nothing better than the cut of a good suit. Also it costs more because it fits better, lasts longer and is more comfortable. When it comes to clothing nothing beats quality – so spoil yourself and buy that R800 golf shirt trust me people will notice.

Money is not the root of all evil – a lack of money is.
I am not rich yet – but this year has been good to me money wise. What I have learnt from this is that it is time to invest – it takes money to make money but everybody has to start somewhere.

There is nothing better than the love of a good woman.
Not just a woman – a good woman. It’s hard to explain. But when you spend time with a person who makes you feel better by yourself by association you’ll know what I mean.


So there you go seven things that I have learnt this year. There’s an eighth and to be honest it’s the most important thing I have learnt all year. It is simply this. Always keep your promise to yourself because at the end of the day the only person who you can make sure doesn’t let you down is yourself and in 2008 - the year of living dangerously - that is the one thing you don’t want to do.

Love peace and happiness
The John