How to be more ‘Craftable’

You are born before a canvas. You are invariably provided with tools, materials and paints. You, the Artist are left to create and form something beautiful from all that is laid before you: The ‘tools’ are experiences; the ‘canvas’ is life and self….er
Okay, fair enough, these sound like the ramblings of a long, greasy and greying haired someone, too old to be pursuing psychedelic highs, yet is nevertheless on one (which I am not. Honestly). I’ll cease at attempting to be overly-deep ‘cos all I want to say is that some people sit in self-bamboozlement and wonder what the meaning of life is (while said life passes them by), and others already know, obviously, it is- to live. Thus, they endeavour to do just that. The former bypass time lounging in the comfortable lap of complacency while life experiences just happen around them. The latter view each experience and experience-inducing opportunities as a starving man views a three-course meal (the latter are crazy hungry for growth and character). The latter recycle this great gift of a thing called ‘experience’ and draw every ounce of nutrition out of it (- try and keep up with my scatty metaphors). The latter are the ‘Crafty Ones’.
Friends, I beseech you- be cunning, wily, socially dexterous. Take advantage of others. In a good way. You think that’s not possible…Come with me on a four step journey through my ever fizzing cerebral cortex as I show you how to be more ‘Craftable’:

1) Use people. I use people up like a fast food chain uses up reconstituted meat. I get excited when I meet a new person, because no matter how ‘boring’ a person thinks they are, they have information, knowledge, ideas, resources etc that I don’t. And I want some more of all those things. People are the most precious and fascinating of creatures (-that’s right, lonely old Cat Lady) – talk to them, explore their minds, soak up their goodness.

2) Know that every mistake is a teacher. Try and trial. Make error. Learn; Re-asses/ re-evaluate. Move on. Re- execute. In an exponentially better way.
The crafty guy is so self-absorbed. He’s always thinking about himself and his own self improvement –the selfish thing- and crafts everything possible that he comes across into a means for this end. Look at every experience –especially ‘negative’ ones- as a chance to learn some nugget of life-truth and build character. Be devious and wily and manipulate these things into the shape of your success.

3) I’ve rammed the nutritional importance of taking advantage of “Experience” down your throat. Good. It’s important for progress. So important in fact, that you better just chase it down when you can get it. The wily eye is always on the look out for such chances. E.g. the painfully shy girl who took a job as a door to door salesperson –un unfairly much maligned profession, I might add!- knowing if there is anything that’s going to build obscene confidence, resilience, determination, sociability and break you out of your ‘shell’, it’s being forced (-Commission only. No sales=no eat!) to interact with and engage 100 completely different -and frankly quite strange in many cases- people everyday, in areas you’ve never been to, some you would never want to go to and get people to buy into you (-the real ‘product’ you are selling) at their homes when many of them don’t want to be bothered out of their comfortable homely sofa-haze. You have to admire someone who makes themselves take a flying leap so far outside their comfort zone to suck the rich juice out of a potentially mega rich –say it with me- EXPER-I-ENCE.

4)Slap your enemy in the face. Pummel him to the floor. Then drop kick him. Then twist his nips.

I’m not advocating physical violence here. Your enemy is the ‘thing’ that tries to make you give up and in when things don’t go your way. The thing that stops you from believing you are well able to prosper. Aggressively defy him and shame that fool with positive assertions and subsequent actions. Pow! Biff! Bash!
I don’t care what your name is, be a ‘Victor’.

The scary and striking (-in more ways than one. haha) supermodel Naomi Campbell was recently reported in the news as haughtily describing being adjured to be a witness in a serious war crimes trial as a ‘big inconvenience’ for her. I’m sure it was.
But if you are not a capricious celeb drunk off your own grandeur (disclaimer: I’m not saying Naomi is. I actually love you Miss Campbell. Mwah!!), you will realize so called ‘inconveniences’ to your comfortable life’s comfortable little plans can be a good thing. They are humbling, make you realize everything isn’t meant to go your way, life is an unpredictable 'box of chocolates', you are not the boss of everything, you have to learn to adapt, adjust and maintain dignity in the face of things that are not wholly pleasant to you..
Other manifestations of this thing ‘inconvenience’ are ‘chances to learn how to sacrifice’, ‘a chance to grow up’ and ‘a general chance to learn something from the greatest of learning devices…EXPERIENCES’ –pleasant, unpleasant, new and varied. But experience isn't just the thing, it's learning how to draw from and wisely RESPOND to it. As you grow older, and hopefully wiser, you should get better at responding well to different life situations, people and experiences.

-Thusly, you allow your ‘Craftability’ to flourish. Knowing the artwork you are crafting is Yourself- AKA your ideal person; one who is deftly knowledgeable, ‘people wise’, cool, creative, possessive of that certain je ne sais quoi (-basically- la confiance). And great for people to be around cos your wealth of experience has made you interesting, and people know you find them so too.

So pick up your tools and get crafting…


************************************************************************************
(-Blog inspired by Scott Ginsberg of "Hellomyname is" fame...)
www.hellomynameisblog.com

Une nouvelle poème

So, you know I’m a sucka for a good bit of poetic expression. I don’t want to put too much poetry into my blogs though, as I have other avenues for it. Nevertheless, here is another bit of rhythmic smulsch from my ever grafting cerebral cortex/ or my ‘soul’ if you wanna keep it deep. Many of you will know the iconic poem ‘If’’ by Rudyard Kipling (many have had to study it at school, some have heard it recited in films where they try to formulate a ‘profound’ scene etc).
Well; the brilliant (and long deceased) Mr Kipling has just been ripped off by me, as I’ve essentially penned my own version of that great work (more aimed towards us girlies). It’s called ‘When’. It reads as follows:

When

When you can stare fear in its dreadful face
And face it with expected triumph
When you treat your seen enemies with grace
And even extend to showing them love,
When you can leave critics in the foreground
While you press on ahead
Knowing their words are merely stepping stones
For your ground
Not worthy to trouble your head,
When you can recognize fading physical charms
As merely a veil for the greater beauty
When you can use life’s silent alarms
To equip you with strength and with duty,
When after moments of mourning we all traverse,
You can seek out cause again to smile,
When with an aged head you act
In matters of tact,
Yet in guile remain as a child,
When you have the lion-like loins to hold fast by yourself
In matters where conviction demands
Yet as well as your own, seek the good of all else
Knowing solitude, self interest
Are for fearful hearts and idle hands.
When you live life with eyes wide open, yet a heart the same,
Not left bitter by past foes who’ve hurt you
Then truly you’ve become a woman, my friend,
And one of great wisdom and virtue.

Get off your rear...AND... Do something this year...

La maladie de mon âme = la paresse. Oui, oui

An ailment which I have self-diagnosed and must address is idleness/ laziness/ slothfulness or however you want to term this debilitating disease. This condition is so heinous because it makes wastage of the gift of time (the ‘present’ is a present and all that), talent, opportunity and potential. It feeds regret, apathy, despondency and discarded dreams…all because one couldn’t be bovvered. No wonder it’s named as one of the apparent ‘Seven Deadly Sins’. It wraps mediocrity around me like a comfort blanket that I just can’t shrug off. But why am I –and why are so many others- so ready to rest in this state when we know there are so many things deep down we wish we could do, know we can do, dream of doing, know we are supposed to do. Is it fear of failure? Is it because motivation is hard to sustain and we doubt we could keep up a new good habit even if we began? Is it self-doubt, not believing we really can do that magnificent thing we dream of? Is it because we know some of these things may be hard and it’s in our nature to run away from things that are hard/ ignore them/ procrastinate to avoid facing them? Is it because we’ve developed expertise in excuse-making – “I can never find the time/ money etc”?
Many wish they’d paid more attention and acheived more in school, started that exercise programme, -as now they would be all toned and buff for this cracking summer-, spent more time with loved ones instead of always having something ‘better’ (i.e. not as ‘boring’) to do. Sometimes the regret of how much potential and chance I’ve wasted even in my young life thus far, presses down on me like a horrible weighty reminder. But if I don’t use this remorse to drive me forward and generate a new motivation, what else could possibly spur me on into changing my ways?




Proverbs 26:13-16 13The slothful man saith, There is a lion in the way; a lion is in the streets.

14As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed.

15The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom; it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth.

16The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit than seven men that can render a reason.

I shall be a weaver of words

I write poetry (and have done since I was a wee one). Mediocre poetry. But with much practice, determination and inspiration from the greats, I believe anyone can excel in any talent that is truly in their heart. And poetry is one of my many creative loves).
I usually am no fan of schmaltziness/ sentimental cheese, but nevertheless here is a poem I wrote. I can't deny it is kinda schmaltzy:

You’re Loved Regardless

When you’ve felt rejected
By this world which can seem so cruel and heartless
Remember, in my heart you’re always accepted
I will love you regardless.

When you slip, and fall, and turn around
And fear the faces of those who saw your disgrace
You’ll see my arms coming to hold you as you’re on the ground
And lift you back to your rightful place.

‘Sticks and stones will break your bones…’
Though don’t tell me words are always harmless.
And when they try
To hurt you with words like knives, and lies,
Keep your head high
-You’re loved regardless.

When you’re overwhelmed by this world’s pressures
And it’s ever changing exactions of ‘perfection’
Even though you are exquisitely precious
You might forget your value.
You need someone to remind you how wholly you’re loved…
I’ll be the one to tell you.

….Here’s a poem I wrote about a year later. I prefer it because though it’s along a similar theme, it is slightly less schmaltzy (although it doesn’t rhyme which I like poetry to when poss. ‘Cos rhymes are fun and I am quintessentially just a big kid like that.)

Beauty vs. Substance

I have lips as sweet and alluring as pomegranates,
Eyes so open and piercing you feel they can see through you,
And a body so generously formed
As if it’s sole purpose was intended for ensnaring men
-So I’m told.

My hands are as small and elegant as a weaver’s
My neck long and regal like a tribal queen
My smile can remind a blind man of brightness
-So I’m told.

But ruddy lips are nothing
Laughing eyes are nothing
A high behind is nothing.
-I’ve found
Spindly hands are nothing
A siren’s smile is nothing.
The stares and whistles that chase me are nothing.
Lust is fleeting and deceptive. It’s nothing
I’ve found.

Because what and all a woman really desires
Is to be wholly loved
For all that exists
Veiled behind skin.
‘Love’. Is indefinable. Yet it’s everything.
I’ve found.
That’s why in comparison, everything else is nothing.



I can still smell cheese in it. But I think I can see some development in my style. I've realised poetry is better when it is more abstract and less literal, as it gives the reader’s imagination more scope. So, I will continue to draw from the styles of poets I admire like Adam O’Riordan, William Wordsworth, Maya Angelou for example, I will continue to scrawl dozens more poems from my scatty thoughts. And hopefully one day I will get ‘there’. Maybe even publish some works if they prove good enough in quality. Watch this space.

So what are you doing today towards your dreams?


Make the most of ‘talents’;
Matthew 25:14 For the kingdom of heaven is as a man travelling into a far country, who called his own servants, and delivered unto them his goods (15) And unto one he gave five talents, to another two, and to another one; to every man according to his several ability

How to tell if you are an 'Insecure Female'...

How to tell if you are an 'Insecure Female'...
*You are constantly eyeing other women with a comparing eye. You and Mr Jealousy are bosom buddies

*You don’t let anyone see you without your ‘face’ on & you feel hurt when the builders you pass don’t whistle at you

*Being without a man is an unthinkable option

*You are clingier than Lil Kim’s / (recent update=) Nicki Minaj's cat suits when you’re with the man

*You are with a man that treats you like stale toe crust. You compromise your self-respect to keep said wastegarbage-man

*You enjoy knowing people who have less going on than you/ are less attractive/ less talented/ people who have ‘issues’ (they make you feel better about you and your life)

*Other people’s opinions and feelings about you affect your own. Deeply.

*You use unsubtle sexuality, humour, attitude or aloofness to keep people from getting close and knowing the real you (to be fair, geezers do this too)

We are all a little bit ‘insecuurr’ in one way or another, but if you suffer from several of these symptoms –you should have a word with yourself.

I’m gone like Dom Pérignon.
Peace. xx



Proverbs 31:18 (The virtuous woman)…Girdeth her loins with strength…perceiveth that her merchandise is good.