Counting Stars

It takes a lot or very little to make someone happy. And there are times when a lot of small or medium-sized things add up and make a huge difference. That's quite cliché yes, but how many actually realise when that happens to them? If you do take the time to count the stars, you'll begin to realise just how many of them there are.

When a month goes by where you inevitably realise just what all it is that you have been blessed with, and then handed even more once-dreams and the responsibilities which come with them; it's a feeling which combines the essence of joy, satisfaction, contentment, excitement and gratitude. As I turn another page, nay,a chapter, I find myself looking just a little bit further, with a view set to encompass not just plain sight, but the bits I would hope to uncover as well. Whatever the possibilities ahead, I want to at least know of their existence. Mario's 1-up mushroom never had a visible hiding place; you would just have to jump free and bump your head into somewhere you thought there was absolutely nothing.

In the last six or seven weeks, the people I've met, the places I've seen, the experiences I've enjoyed and the absolute awesomeness of the sets of wheels I've been given a shot at have been astounding. I thank my stars, my heavens or insert word of choice here that these steps were mine to take, sample and enjoy.

It's not everyday you make new friends and drive 3, 4, 6 and 8-cylinder engined creations in the span of a few hours. Glorious indeed.

And now, contrary to my last post. I find out first hand that some singles are better off than many pairs.

"I will love the light for it shows me the way, yet I will endure the darkness because it shows me the stars." ~Og Mandino (Thank you, Cressida.)

Forever Single?

There comes a time when you begin to wonder, 'How long can one go on?'. It's like that guy at the ice cream parlour who makes your scoop bigger and bigger, filling up the whole cup, or cone, till it cannot hold any more. Yet, a second scoop is always refused. Is it too expensive? Will they not work together? No, it's neither.

Some are just content with one. And that's the problem, complacence raises its ugly head yet again. It's been years. It's time to move on. Why can't it just become better for everyone? How long can someone keep dragging the ancient idea, blowing into it and scraping out a little more each time to make just that little bit larger? There comes a time and a place when you have to stop and start over. There will be an all-new one, something more powerful and engaging than ever before. And it won't be one, it will be two, or three or even four.

The KTM 390 Duke has shown that while twins were promised, here we are with yet another single. When will it stop? Harley-Davidson has had twins for over a century now. If the Americans can make something like that 100 years ago, why can't we? Is a little cost holding us back? The market is there for those who dare to venture. No one wants to stay single forever!

Move Along

Move along.. Nothing to see here...

*bzzt*

Dream Big

Been a while I haven't been here, and for good reason. A transformation has occurred. I see things differently. Yet, there is something that hasn't changed. The dream. Yes, there's a big dream and several little dreams. Not so little, mind you, just some not as important as the big one.

That being said, belief in dreams is indeed a statement. Those who say they don't come true, haven't really set milestones or believed strongly. The way has to be the right one. Or s it may seem, cos it's not always easy to tell. In fact, it almost always isn't. Anyone would want to head to a glitzy life in Europe. But if you have no choice but to go to South Africa, you must. But while South Africa is a great place to be, it really isn't where you want to be. So you must gather up every ounce of courage and step out. Step out to the journey which lies ahead that will take you to where you want, nay, need to be. And that means crossing the toughest, most demanding circumstances. You will even have to battle for life, because giving it all up will seem like an option when you're in the middle of the desert and think that everything's done. Just when you think it is though, you may just hitch upon a camel ride; one which takes you through the tough times and into less dry pastures. Maybe they were once green, who knows? Your journey must continue though. Take those steps, they are what will take you to the place from your dreams. You must go on.

Through the hot sands and colourful desert town, and the ever so rare oasis, you come across a glimmer of hope - a sign - which tells you you're close. You must now take everything you've got and give it your best. Tread lightly, but tread forward nonetheless. Morocco. The gateway to Europe. And there you stand: wiser, stronger and more determined than ever.

No dream is too small or too large, it is only that which you choose to achieve, and that which you consider too unimportant to pursue, thus leading to complacence and the place you never wanted to be for the rest of your life.

I wanted a Royal Enfield motorcycle. I wanted to ride through the snow. I wanted to drive a big V8. I wanted to ride a Harley-Davidson. I wanted to ride along the Indian coast-line on a big V-twin cruiser.

I got my Enfield. I rode through the snow. I drove two big V8s, I rode a big V-twin Harley-Davidson along the Indian coast-line. And now I'm looking forward to more small ones and that big one. Next!

View From The Clouds

Forget the whole 'behind every cloud is a silver lining" thing. Let's face it, the sun is always shining. It doesn't stop shining at night; the world turns its back to it. And you wouldn't have dark clouds if the sun were facing them. Clouds don't have a tailor sew on shiny linings to each of them. No,they're special those linings and if you spot a good one, it stays in your memory for a while.

So what when you have your own clouds to deal with. All that heat getting to you, sucking the life from you and then having to deal with evaporation is no easy task. But then again, when in the air, you see how beautiful it can look. That's just it. Those dark clouds can be protectors. As I type that I see flashes of the Silver Surfer and it makes me smile. There is no Galactus or other aliens to worry about. They don't want our world, not like this. We have our own problems to deal with right here. But snapping back to reality, it would be fair to recognise these clouds as inevitable parts of our being. They're just some more things we have to deal with until we get clear skies. Clear skies don't always mean the sun will shine. Half the time, you have to take in the beauty of the moon and other little suns from afar taking care of their own little handful of planets others call home.

What we see, what we touch and what we imagine are far too limited to perceive what the universe has to offer. Open up. Embrace how tiny we are to the universe, yet how much we can be to some people and how much of a change you can make.

The End of the Beginning

There comes a time, always. It must, lest you fail to survive. It comes quietly, suddenly. You walk ahead; half-expecting each step to be the last before you stop; regroup with your thoughts, hopes and ambitions; rest; and a new day has come.

Realisation that life is passing by has been the most important. All those inspirational thoughts, life goes by reading those too. It's all a facade. Time. The concept creates a whole new set of emotions to go with your already back-breaking burden. Forget about time. Do what you must. Do what makes you happy. Then, when you least expect it, when the last candle of hope is about to burn away into a shapeless pile of hardening heat; there's that knock. A knock so clear you know there's a package for you; what you signed up for ages ago when you thought you had found yourself. Those thoughts fade too, of course; and with them your belief starts to die. It doesn't ever really go away. It's a cool down. Like when you die in a video game only to respawn a few seconds later. But it's always there. It doesn't go anywhere. And then you realise what that feeling was; being saved; ending a new beginning before it began to change you.

This is what you were meant to do. At least, it's all you can do with what you have. Now to create some more of me and pile it on. Oh yes!

A New Chance

Another new year is upon us and like the ones before; we promise ourselves and others to do something different or change what we're doing, or pretty much just aim to be a little better. There's nothing wrong with a little wishful thinking. Yet, there are some who do more than that. Be among those few who dare to do what they foresaw themselves doing. It's not too difficult to take the first step once you know where you want to be and how you want to be. The trouble is, many of us need to collect our thoughts, guts, feelings and our soul and put them all together in order to take what we can and make that first step. It's never always easy.

Everyone wants to turn over a new leaf. It's not that hard. It's as simple as turning over a leaf on the road. Start small. Appreciate the little things. Realise that these little things can make a big difference. Once you get past that, every little action seems substantial and you know that it will make a difference. Not everyone will respond the way you expect; do it anyway. Someone will come along and respond like you had originally hoped and that gives you the reason you need to try again with a hundred more.

The turn of this new year has seen many events take place. Some of extreme magnitude, but if that's what it takes to get the ball rolling, so be it. Some people die to live, while some die so others can truly live. There is always hope. There is always will. And when united, they can battle ignorance and win.

Here I am, hoping for a better tomorrow. Happy New Year!