COINCIDENCE

Every now and then something unforeseen and special happens. Something that logic or reason will tell you is either impossible or that the odds against it happening is too overwhelming. Yet when those things happen occasionally, it fills us with so much wonderment.

The question that comes to mind: Are they miracles, may be flukes or coincidences? Or do they hint at some sort of superior or philosophical power? Perhaps it could be another dimension of reality that exists just beyond the range of the human mind, something like karma, fate, destiny or divinity?

Before we go further, let’s explain what is Coincidence?

It is an occasion when two or more similar things happen at the same time, especially in a way that is unlikely and surprising.

 

Whether coincidences are meaningful remains a mystery.

People tell stories and make connections in an attempt to justify coincidences. They almost seem unwilling to admit that things could have been different. A typical coincidence story is about how they met their partners… If only they had not gone on that date, if only this.., if only that… well, what about it..? Even if they had not met their current partner they would have met someone else and may be could have been happier or unhappier or maybe they would not have been at the same place or in the same situation they find themselves now. Often people get caught up on some weird coincidences they share with their partner or how they met as if this means it is a sign from the Universe that they should be together.. Those coincidences actually has nothing to do with the quality of their relationship.

I am a firm believer that things are as they are for a purpose and that it always work out for the best. You might not understand the purpose at the time but eventually you will (or may be not). Each one of us exists due to a single extraordinary event.

One thing we can ask about coincidence, is whether the events in our lives are objective or subjective? Is there perhaps a deeper order, an overarching purpose to the universe? Or are we the lucky accidents of evolution, living our precious lives in a random world that only has the meaning we choose to give it?

Do you believe in coincidences OR do you believe that everything happens for a reason?

“The things that come to us easily, our propensities, are carried on a deep subconscious level into our next life. There are no coincidences.”  ― Raquel Cepeda

 “Do you think the universe fights for souls to be together? Some things are too strange and strong to be coincidences.” ― Emery Allen

Switch Off

Social Media overwhelm?

"I’m curled up on the couch, watching television and trying to browse through the days' newspaper, but my right hand keeps twitching for my cell phone. If anything on the TV or newspaper seems interesting and I want more information, I’ll go online to find out more about the topic." Does that sound familiar & can you relate to this behaviour?

A few interesting stats:
Most people basically spend every second of their day with their phone at arm’s reach. The average person checks their phone every 6 and a half minutes – that is almost 200 times a day!  One in 4 admits to spending more time online each day than what they do on sleep, while 73% say that they find it hard to go the entire day without using their phone or computer. Source: CapeTownMagazine.com

Let's take a step back & think about this craziness for a moment.

Social media and simply being connected online has become a big part of our lives. Within a matter of seconds a story can reach a global audience, you can easily locate a friend via a social media platform of your choice, or even Google them. If you want to listen to a song, YouTube is a free online jukebox, if you would like to check the weather, there is no need to watch the 7 o'clock news because there are apps that provide the most updated weather reports! 

There's literally an App for everything; from sleep cycle alarm clocks, to running apps, grocery list reminders, drunk dial apps(yes, you actually get an app for that too - it prevents you from calling certain #'s when under the influence...). Apps to improve your "performance" in bed (YES, you get those too - Passion), another silly one, Amazing girlfriend manager - this app actually allows you to keep track of important dates, information and reminds you timeously - it can even keep track of multiple girlfriends! I guess i need to do a post on unusual & funny Apps so that I can elaborate more..

Back to switch off, see with all these Apps to our disposal, it makes it very difficult to stay focussed on one thing.

Besides the Apps, you get websites that target different audiences. Most of you are familiar with Facebook & Twitter, but there are many other well known ones. For example; professional networking like  LinkedIn, online dating-focussed sites like DatingBuzz, Ashley Madison and Badoo, but to name a few. There are also various news sources, like news24, iol, cnn, ewn etc. Everything looks & feels so much easier to do with all the resources made available to us.

The big question that arises is: "How does a person switch off from all of this?"

With fast internet, more capable smartphones & increasingly versatile tablets/laptops, it is becoming so much harder to unplug. Majority of us can admit to always having an urge to somehow be connected online. Whether it is via social media, reading the news, checking the weather, whatever the form - it all comes down to our attention being drawn to an electronic device giving us access to endless possibilities.

In short, WE'RE ADDICTED!!
 

Like any bad habit, if you really want to abstain or cut back, you need to make a concerted effort. To help you switch off & reclaim a slice of a life outside of the internet try some of the following.

• Go without your phone for 1 day OR try at least for half a day. 
• Spend an evening without browsing the Internet.
• Instead of sending a WhatsApp, FB msg or Tweet call the person OR meet with them in person.

For now, these 3 should suffice. Believe me it's not going to be easy but give it a try! Test yourself and see if you can indeed Switch off.

With the festive season on hand, make a conscious effort to Switch Off. Put down that device and reclaim your life. Engage with others in person, you'll be amazed at the impact social media has on our day-to-day lives and relationships. The media we call social, is anything but...

 

Check out this video "Look Up". So beautiful, true and very appropriate!

Platoniese vriendskappe

Die vraag wat dikwels gevra word, kan daar ‘n bloot platoniese vrienskap tussen ‘n man en vrou bestaan?

 

Sommige sal van opinie verskil, maar uit ondervinding weet ek dat ‘n suiwer platoniese vriendskap tussen mans en vroue wel moontlik is. Hulle werk en sosialiseer saam, maar kan tog uit mekaar se bed bly. Openhartige, ware platoniese vriendskappe bestaan wel. Om te kan praat van ‘n platoniese vriendskap moes jy dit al ervaar het of een het, anders sal jy altyd van ander mening wees. Nie alle verhoudings met vriende/vriendinne is bedoel om romanties of seksueel geortienteerd te wees nie.

 As mens, is ons is as verhoudingswesens geskep en deur ons lewens het ons verskeie verhoudings, elkeen met sy eie aard. Daar is familie, kollegas, ’n huweliksmaat, vriende, vriendinne en kennisse. Elkeen in jou lewe vir ‘n spesifieke doel. Jy het ‘n kollega met wie jy sekere hoogte- en laagte punte deel, dan is daar die ‘n vriend/vriendin met wie jy oor godsdiens/politiek/seks/algemene nuus ens kan praat. Julle argumenteer maar word nie kwaad nie, daar is geen afguns en eerlikheid is die grondslag van die vriendskap. Belangrik om te onthou, vriende help mekaar om te groei maak dus altyd seker dat jou platoniese vriendskap hierdie aspek vervul.

Die uitkyk op vriendskap vanaf ‘n man / vrou se perspektief kan baie verskillend kan wees. ‘n Platoniese verhouding tussen twee mense van die teenoorgestelde geslag is wel moontlik. Kies vriendskappe met uiterste sorg & hou die romanse slegs vir dié een aan wie jou hart behoort.

Met alles hierbo gese, nie alle vriendskappe is platonies nie, wees bedag en baie versigitig vir die gevaar tekens. Hier is ‘n paar reëls van die webwerf Woes - (http://www.woes.co.za)

§  Al voel jy ‘n wedersydse aantrekkingskrag, beteken dit nie dis is OK om daarop te reageer nie.

§  Verstaan die grense & hou daarby.

§  Moet nie die skinderbekke ‘n rede gee om te wonder nie.

§  Bly uit situasies wat intimiteit kan laat opvlam.

§  Wees op die uitkyk vir gevoelens van jaloesie.

§  Wees openhartig teenoor jou éie maat oor die aard van hierdie vriendskap.

§  Gebruik die geleentheid om by jou vriend/vriendin te leer.

Die sleutel tot enige vriendskap is ’n gesonde waardestelsel. Vriende vorm en slyp mekaar. As jy ‘n platoniese vriendskap het, koester dit, in vandag se lewe is dit iets baie raars. Moenie iets onverwoordelike of irrasioneel doen om dit te bederf nie.