Monthly Archives: December 2017

Learnings, Writing Prompts

Finally

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“Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one.” – – Brad Paisley

The Bolo Rei is in its final(ly) rise.

Last years Bolo Rei
©2017 Regina Martins

The triffle is in the fridge.

As soon as the Bolo Rei is in the oven I will start on the lasagne. It’s simple wholesome food tonight.

For tomorrow, the first day of 2018, we braai.

“For last year's words belong to last year's language 
And next year's words await another voice.” 
? T.S. Eliot, Four Quartets

Have an amazing evening.

Wishing you 2018 that will bring you all that you desire.

Until tomorrow…
“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes.

Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You're doing things you've never done before, and more importantly, you're Doing Something.

So that's my wish for you, and all of us, and my wish for myself. Make New Mistakes. Make glorious, amazing mistakes. Make mistakes nobody's ever made before. Don't freeze, don't stop, don't worry that it isn't good enough, or it isn't perfect, whatever it is: art, or love, or work or family or life.

Whatever it is you're scared of doing, Do it.

Make your mistakes, next year and forever.” 
? Neil Gaiman
Learnings, Writing Prompts

A Maxim To Live By – Emptying Your Cup

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“If you always do what you’ve always done you’ll always get what you’ve always got.”

Have you read the koan called A Cup Of Tea? It goes like this:

Nan-in, a Japanese master during the Meiji era (1868-1912), received a university professor who came to inquire about Zen.

Nan-in served tea. He poured his visitor’s cup full and then kept on pouring.

The professor watched the overflow until he no longer could restrain himself. “It is overfull. No more will go in!”

“Like this cup,” Nan-in said, “you are full of your own opinions and speculations. How can I show you Zen unless you first empty your cup?”

Practically, if you want different results you need to think about something in a different way.

Do things differently.

Step out of your comfort zone.

No almosts.

Try something new.

Take a risk, perhaps one you’ve never taken before.

This is key to growing and developing as a person.

It may seem daunting at first…try it on small things like driving a different route to work, wearing a colour you’ve never worn before and trying a dish you’ve in the past sworn never to try.

Different results need the cup to be empty of preconceived ideas, judgement and notions about what you know.