Lockdown 219

Lockdown Day 219 - 31 October 2020

This morning I am confronted with bad customer service in a time like this. One would think after lockdown everyone knows the customer is really king!  

I don't know about you, but I am not a bickering miserable customer looking for things to fight about. But I do value good and friendly service when I need help or have a question. I actually found myself wishing I had ordered online. 

The search was for Nataniël Green Fig Preserve. I conducted this in the supermarket he signed with. In Pretoria. I am to make my famous fig salad tonight when visiting precious friends from varsity years. 

The first shop was dirty, disorganised and looked like there was no manager there who cared a hoot about the customer. After asking 3 shop assistants and a "manager", having to explain exactly what it was I am looking for, I left, frustrated as well as relieved that I didn't have to stand in the three open till queues which went to the back of the shop. 

After that, I did a hyper store that didn't do much better ecxept for the fact that I was confidently told those figs (having to again explain exactly what I wanted) were discontinued. 

Telling him I make the salad at least twice a month and that Bloem never has a shortage, I saw in his far off look he has cut out of this conversation long ago and gave it up to bad self-centered management. He couldn't even access the system to see if such a product is in stock. I actually had to tell him about other Nataniël products I saw on the shelf which he seemed surprised to hear. 

And then, just when I thought I should mail Nataniël, I entered the Olympus Village supermarket and what a joy it was. Friendly staff, eager to usher me to a fully stocked Nataniël shelf, clean floors and efficient and fast processing at the till. Now that's what I'm talking about. 

The whole fig shopping experience just highlighted how different people view basic conduct. Pride in what we do and gratitude for the opportunity afforded us (or the lack of both) show abundantly clear to all those we deal with. And even a little of both goes a long way. 

So tonight I go to bed with another corner in my life river drawing with a little nook of clear water, willow trees and lots of joy springing from hearts growing on the green river banks. And I vow to always review, repent and lay down any ill will I may have presented, also asking of God to help me show more of His joy and passion for His creation in my daily walk. 

#Ggt

Lockdown 218

Lockdown Day 218 - 30 October 2020

Day 218 of Lockdown. The Northern Hemisphere is experiencing a spike in virus cases, totalling 400 thousand reported cases today. Talk of vaccines is getting more urgent, with plans being made how it will be administered. 

I realise we have slowly become "used to" or accustomed to the ways of the virus-regulations, complying with what is expected of us for all the right, moral and self-explanatory reasons. I read of a traveler on a local airline refusing to wear a mask, causing the already taxying airplane to turn around on the runway, disembark all the passengers and removing the "tantruming" culprit by wheelcair/force. 

Tonight I had a night out with family and friends, visiting a night market where fresh local produce was available. Except for the mask, I felt like myself for the first time in a long time. I could be the happy I always used to be, albeit a little 'bipolar' for some or a bit 'off-the-wall' for others, it was something that just clicked inside of me. In a sense lockdown constriction has brought a return to a self I had pushed aside for a while. 

The music was psychedelic with a  Savage-Garden-sound, whisking me back to the days of flower power and hippie kaftans. And the lamb pita, burgers and pork schwarma were enjoyed by all. Fresh warm waffles served with a choice of strawberries & cream or choc sauce & ice cream was a good end to a heart warming dinner. 

Sitting under the night sky under a canopy of green, I was reminded of a song by Laurika Rauch starting with the words "Die mense wat ek liefhet, kom groei op my soos mos".  And I felt blessed by God with everyone He has placed in my life. I looked up and saw the full moon in conjunction with Mars.

Tonight I praise the God of the heavens whose Son Yeshua came to earth in the flesh, who chose to shed all His blood so we could have life. 

"By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, " 

I John 4:2 

#Ggt

Lockdown 217

Lockdown Day 217 - 29 October 2020

Ending this long and hot day in a cool breeze with a cup of illy coffee is just how it should be. Watching people walk by, busy with their own things made me think of how everyone who walks this earth have their own stuff they carry with them through this life. And most of the time we have no clue what the person in the queue in front of us is going through. 

I imagine life as a river. The movement of the water represents life. As in oxygen, momentum, flow. The river can run fast, slow or not at all. The riverbed can be flooded, dry or only have a trickle of water running over it. 

The surrounding area represents the stuff. This ranges from relationships, work life, health, general wellbeing and spiritual life. It also represents our chronological life from birth to death. 

If we were to draw this river what would we insert into the picture? What colours would we use and how would the river flow? And what pivotal happenings would we add from our past and present? There are so many variables, the result would almost certainly different for every person. 

I decided today I will draw my river in my journal. So I offer up a prayer of thanks for my design, my life and yes, my stuff too. And I hope you will join me in appreciating the cloudy and dry parts of the river as much as the sunny and the overflowing parts, and the reasons for them all. 

Because God definitely designed us. And He's got us, and our stuff. 

And He's definitely still got this.

Lockdown 216

Lockdown Day 216 - 28 October 2020

The fun fact about fantasy and reality sparked a couple of ideas in me while I was navigating the internet, searching for non-slip stair treads. At first I got all excited when I saw the long list of results, perfect pictures and all.  

Armed with saved screenshots and telephone numbers added to my diary, I started calling down the list. This was the fantasy part, pre-choosing my favourite design and colour, affordable prices, etc. How easy could it be, I thought. Online is the new thing. It's time I tried it out. 

Well, after phoning one supplier after the other my fantasy turned into a reality. Some of them had answering machines stating their email address and some of them were only accessible via their websites. Others' phone numbers just disconnected upon calling.  After all that, only one replied on my emails, informing me they do not carry stock I can come and view. Up to now they have not replied my question about return policies and payment.

After taking a break, I returned to my PC with new ideas, searching for south African stores where I could physically go and view the product, changing my search lingo to more industrial keywords. Nominating a couple of companies that looked legit, I started with the bottom one, and bingo! A person actually answered the Jo'burg number. And he said he might have what I'm looking for. Well well. We will visit them in the near future. 

This is where my information traffic (imagination) definitely flowed in an opposite direction of the reality. Despite the fact that I voiced my frustration with the companies I did manage to speak to, such as flooring and carpet experts (they sounded like I was asking for a ton of gold coins), I could hear they were not in the least interested in my sorry opinion of not finding what I was looking for. (Builders offered a sticker so coarse, my feet will have to be bandaged if I ever tried walking on those strips).

Question after question ran through my mind: Is it just European people and pets who risk slipping on stairs? Why is stair-safety only important for big buildings and not houses? How does a company who calls itself an expert, not even know what I'm talking about? And how has no-one ever come up with a LOCAL solution? Why are the only companies who sell the carpet type treads abroad? Does anyone still want to actually see the product they buy anymore? 

I came to the conclusion our world has adopted the internet of things as the norm. Gone is personal service, customer satisfaction, etc. Those adverts really are just more lies mixed with half truths. 

I offer up a prayer of thanksgiving to our God who is a hands-on personal God, who does not promise in half truths and fairy dust. He is Truth, and we can trust Him no matter what. I also repent for not asking Him first where I would find those treads. He is, after all, my Leader and my Teacher. 

And He's got this.

Lockdown 215

Lockdown Day 215 - 27 October 2020

After struggling with a bad bout of sinusitis I decided there is only one thing to do: keep my brain busy with laughs and life hacks! So here goes (enjoy!) :

😀

#GGT #gbwy

Lockdown 214

Lockdown Day 214 - 26 October 2020

Viktor Frankl once said, "Forces beyond your control can take away everything you possess except one thing - your freedom to choose how you will respond to the situation." There's that choice thing again (coupled with that no-control thing again). 

So my 2020 rephrasing of Frankl's quote will be something like this: (Post) Pandemic life is mostly because of a virus that is out of control, and because of it, you can find yourself robbed from everything that makes you you. Except one thing - your freedom of choice and how you choose to react.

When you find yourself in that "I-reacted-before-I-chose" scenario, it helps to divert your attention for a while, then re-frame the circumstances and look at it from a different perspective. 

It is important to make sense of what is happening to you.  You don't necessarily have to be cheerily positive, but being honest toward yourself is paramount in a time such as this. Also, finding one thing to be grateful for in a day can put you on the right track to overcoming (post) pandemic stress. 

I believe we all need these (post) pandemic survival tools:

1. Walk with faith in God. 
2. Keep your amygdala happy. 
3. Take time to acknowledge and validate yourself in the now. 
4. Exercise....... Get the oxygen flowing. 
5. Don't overburden yourself. Think balance! 

And now, I would like to rephrase Frankl's quote again. This time from a spiritual perspective:

In a world where everything is changing and people find themselves lost in a sea of regulations, laws and rules, the only choice is to cling to Christ our eternal hope. 

In Him, there is Life, Freedom and complete Joy. And this is proven by Jesus' own words in Matthew 24:35, "The earth and sky will wear out and fade away before one Word I speak loses its power or fails to accomplish its purpose.”

Enjoy this 10 minute clip from the movie Mission 3:16.  In a way we are all on a mission to know Christ and to make Him known:

https://youtu.be/PA3zXRFy9Lc

As choosers of Christ, we can live a free life because He's got this in every possible way imaginable.

Lockdown 213

Lockdown Day 213 - 25 October 2020

Today, while waiting for the rain to appear out of a heat wave, I mused about the balance in life, natural and spiritual law. Have you ever noticed how little is said/published about the obvious two sides of balance? Just as a scale needs weight on both sides to be in balance, artists also use light and dark to complete a picture. Even in Science and Math a positive and negative produces zero(balance). 

In order to understand the laws of the universe, it is important to note the balance between positive and negative, light and dark. According to these laws, where the one is, the other will inadvertently be/follow. 

So too, is thinking positively. To always have to be positive can actually cause a negative effect. And have you ever tried being negative 100% of the time? Both are incredibly hard to keep up. We also have a default way of viewing life. 

Some of us always see the negative and potential harmful things of something before seeing what's good about it. Like engineers who are trained to look for faults.... and rightly so, because who would want to drive over a bridge with faults that could cause an accident. 

Then there are the bohemian types who feel everything is okay, no matter if the boat they're standing on is sinking, somehow they are not moved by fear of drowning. 

An artist believes that shadows highlight the light in the picture and even if they portray something "negative", they always believe the audience will be inspired. 

The binding glue between positive and negative is faith. Faith that Murphy's law is not always right, but God's plan A always works. Faith also brings the correct perspective of Light and darkness. Just as light and dark cannot be quantified (light is light and dark is dark), positivity and negativity also have no unit of measure. 

So it is with faith. You either have faith or you don't. 

I believe we have been created with all these abilities embedded in our design. Faith will ensure you move from negative to positive when danger lurks. Put your Faith in the Light 

and the darkness will take its designated place. To keep your eye on the Creator will bring the balance He intended you to live in. Because He's got you. 

And because He's got this.

Lockdown 212

Lockdown Day 212 - 24 October 2020

Still on the topic of a happy brain, something else I discovered is how to solve difficult problems easier.

Logic says you need to keep at it untill you crack the solution. For anything in life, doing difficult things is always a challenge. But if you can learn to keep your amygdala happy you can trick your brain into thinking the difficult task is easier than it looks. 

Our preference for easy rather than difficult is such a strong human characteristic that always takes the lead in "prepping" the brain to procrastinate - putting off the difficult task. 

To counter procrastination you need to mix a little easy with the expected difficult task. Diverting the brain causes the same effect as the changing of gears I wrote about yesterday. 

In my line of work we talk about Hard Start Jump Easy. Whether in work, studies or doing life, álways start with the hard part to give your brain time to upload the initial scope of the challenge. And then, just before you feel deflated, you jump to something easy you can do, then take a break after which you return to the difficult part again. 

Hard Start Jump Easy also works in our spiritual walk with God. So many people find themselves in eternal guilt because they feel they don't spend enough time with God or simply don't find the time in the day to be 'alert' or 'in tune enough' to sit down with God and His Word. 

Using the Hard Start Jump Easy technique can help us tune in to the Word in bite size portions. Then, while your spirit digests the initial 'upload', do something else for a bit like taking a short walk. You might just find when you come back you actually crave more. Do this often enough and practise will make easy. 

Easy does it!!! 🤸🏼

So today, PLAN to try to do at least one thing you find difficult and beat the "amygdala hijack". You have an amazing brain! And you were designed for more.  Just trying will glorify God's design. 

He's worth it. 

Because He's got you. And He's got this.

Lockdown 211

Lockdown Day 211 - 23 October 2020

From today I will post my blog somewhere during the day in stead of late night. The purpose of the late night posting was to allow for daily happenings, because I did not want to be a "content" planner and writer. This means you create a content calendar where you decide what you are going to write about ahead of time. 

This blog is called Diary of a Brain for the exclusive reason that I want to write what I think about day by day. By choosing NOT to write my content ahead of time, I post honest in-the-moment things that are in my brain and/or happening right now. So everything you read is like freshly printed newspaper, hot off my brain's press. 

Posting during the day will afford my brain some night time thinking time, which is what I want to talk about today.

I have recently discovered the brain learns and works harder, faster and with more ease when you take breaks more often. Now I know this sounds like some kind of excuse not to do your work, but it is found the amygdala (part of the limbic system, it is our emotional memory centre) needs to be happy in order to learn/work effectively. 

Say you need to do an assignment, or you are having 8 people over for dinner (assignment!). There is a deadline for both and you keep thinking if you just dive in and keep going till you're finished it will be best.  Not so. Somewhere between diving in and the deadline you find yourself either losing the plot or extremely tired. This especially doesn't work is you're a number 99 person who finishes almost late.

The common denominator is TIME. If you do not take enough time ahead of the deadline to plan your execution (plus breaks) and allow time for your brain to diffuse/recharge, you will fall short somewhere. Maybe you will accidentally miss a whole topic or forget the eggs in the baked pudding. Or you will be extremely tired come deadline or an irritated dinner host who can't wait for the last guest to leave so you can get some shut-eye. 

To most students and working people alike, extremely tired is a sign of being a good student/employee. This couldn't be farther from the truth. To run the "extra mile" has never meant burnout.  It means to make sure your timing and planning feeds your brain and amygdala rather than burning up everything you have. 

So, to keep your working memory accessible and your brain alert, you need to change gears every 25 minutes or so. Even if you keep the "work" sessions 25 minutes and break for 10, it will be effective. What do you do in that break? Everything that is NOT reading or any type of screen or device. If possible, go horizontal, meaning a fast nap or something in nature. This affords your brain thinking time where it can work "behind the scenes", loading what you have already done, sorting out what needs to be done and finding more creative ways to finish the job with.

A whole night's sleep can unglue a "stuck" brain, giving you a new and fresh perspective or great ideas when you wake up. If you know your best brain time is in the morning, chances are your amygdala recharge ought to happen at night. If you are a night owl, remember to take into account your human design by making sure to be in bed not later than 23h30, also taking care to start planning earlier when a deadline is due.

Night owl or daybreaker, one thing is for sure. We were designed by God to use, not abuse our brain. To care for it and nurture it so we can lead productive and fulfilling lives. Maybe Lockdown came to teach us it is never too late to start now. 

Because your brain is worth it. Because you are worth it. And because God's got this.

Lockdown 210

Lockdown Day 2010 - 22 October 2020

Today became another scorcher. Having many errands and personal things going on, I was busy all day. Getting in and out the car made the heat even worse. And shaded parking is few and far between with most offices' staff using them full time. At one point I registered the temperature as 36°C in the shade. With the seasonal changes and the rain that eludes us, I have been observing people for some time now. Everyone is complaining about the regulations, but after this past week I find myself wishing they would just keep to it. 

One one of these days, I saw a man sneeze without using his elbow, mask or anything as a shield. The morning sunlight caught the "sneeze droplets", highlighting them each with a drop of sunlight. They wallowed like a ball of sardines in the sardine run, slowly landing on a widespread area while moving with the air, landing a few steps away from me on a veranda I was standing on. 

And then, he sneezed again! And a second wallowing droplet ball followed the path of the first, perfectly visible in the morning sun. I have to say, that was scary to watch! I had my mask firmly in place, covered by a screen. I left and after sanitising profusely, decided to talk about what I saw.  It was too late to tell the sneezer as he had left while the wallowing ball had my attention.

I also saw a mother and child, both with masks hanging beneath the chin in a busy supermarket. While thinking I can understand it when you feel out of breath to just drop the mask for a second to catch your breath, I saw the mother cough profusely. After the wallowing ball episode, I imagined another wallowing over the child and the yoghurt fridge directly in front of her. 

I kept going, went to the another aisle after which I went to pay. Sure enough, the still coughing mother, now with child on hip and still hanging masks stood behind me in the queue. The only thing I could think was "and everyone wonders why the numbers are climbing again" while inwardly rolling my eyes.

I get that we all feel trapped from time to time and we all feel we are not to blame. But untill we really know for sure how this virus operates and we regain control, we need to act as if all the ICU's are full (which they are) and the hospitals admit more and more people (which they do). Fearless and strong, as children of God need to do.

But most of all, we need to look up. Look full into the face of God, not diverting our attention to earthly things. I am reminded of a song I would like to bless you with, " Turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in His wonderful face, and the things of the world will grow strangely dim, in the light of His glory and grace."

https://youtu.be/2TH70QX3oyM

Because He's got this.

Lockdown 209

Lockdown Day 209 - 21 October 2020

The unknown chambers of the mind is an enigma. Has been for centuries. Many movies have been made about it and many more books have been written on the topic. And yet, it is like the abyss in the deepest parts of the ocean where man has not yet gone; much speculated about but still frustratingly unknown. 

The fateful flight of Malaysia Airlines, Flight MH370 that disappeared in March 2014 is said to have suffered an extremely deep water death in a seabed abyss where all searches were eventually called off after 4 years, only finding very few washed up pieces of scattered debris that could be identified as parts of the aeroplane.  

In my mind I see this 'hidden' crash site as an example of how deep and intricate the brain integrative functions are, most of which have not yet been researched or identified. So, in a way, humankind are still in the dark when it comes to discovering ALL the brain has to offer; much like the search for MH370, which was conducted in the dark, leaving everyone in the dark as to the what, why and how it all happened.

To me, in a way, being in the dark is not necessarily a bad place to be. Being in the dark physically in terms of finding something tangible to work with is one thing, but being in the dark in terms of 'not knowing' spiritually, is sometimes a blessing. 

Who knows what the MH370 team would've found, had their physical search been successful. Maybe not knowing is better in this case. Or maybe humankind will only be ready for it in 10 years. Who knows.

Rod Serling said, “There is nothing in the dark that isn’t there when the lights are on.” 

To discover or explore, means a certain time will be spent in the dark, before the lights are switched on. This applies to physical darkness as well as spiritual darkness. Truth is, Rod Serling was right. Things that can be seen are there, regardless if it's dark or not. This is also true for us followers of God. We may not be able to see Him, but we know He's there. 

In 1John1:5b it is written, "God is light, pure light; there’s not a trace of darkness in Him." 

In Him, there is no darkness at all. Where He is, there is Light, enlightenment and Truth to be found. So, if we say we follow Him, we should know that being in the dark is merely an earth-bound place where we need to Trust wholly and completely in His will to lead us where we need to go. 

So let us follow Him wholeheartedly so we can posess this Light to the full. Jesus said, "“I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall by no means walk in darkness, but possess the light of life.” 

#Ggt

Lockdown 208

Lockdown Day 208 - 20 October 2020

Today I did week 4 of a Deep Impact Learning Course. One of the things said about being a better learner (this included non students who for instance want to learn a language or skill too) is exercise! You heard right, exercise is better than any other way to enhance concentration. It is the catalyst for brain and body wiring not only on a soul level but is governed by our spirit as well. 

Furthermore, exercise has a profound impact on happy hormone secretion as well as general brain fitness. When your brain is fit, it has the ability to access and actively engage both your left analytical and right big picture hemispheres simultaneously. 

This makes for super neuron development and interaction which in turn optimises brain performance. 

Your eat life, sleep life and thought life impact the way your body soul and spirit is wired and together it is possible to achieve the peace that is talked of in Phillipians 4:6-9. And I share The Passion Translation with you tonight as a prayer and a blessing:

"Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. 

Tell Him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ. 

So keep your thoughts continually fixed on all that is authentic and real, honorable and admirable, beautiful and respectful, pure and holy, merciful and kind. 

And fasten your thoughts on every glorious work of God, praising Him always. Follow the example of all that we have imparted to you and the God of peace will be with you in all things."

#Ggt

Lockdown 207

Lockdown Day 207 - 19 October 2020

Another heat wave day. Cleaning house was particularly challenging, and I ended up feeling as though I have been in a long sauna session. Fortunately the weather forecast had some talk of a cooler night temperature. Thank goodness. 

Catching up on my reading, I came across an article about a man who has mastered control over his autonomous nervous system and became the well known "Ice Man". Now that was an awesome article to read on a hot day!  

His name is Wim Hof . Born in the Netherlands, at the age of 17 he decided to jump into the freezing Beatrixpark Canal in Amsterdam, where he experienced a clarity of mind that changed his life. He developed a breathing method that activates the body's inner heat. It comprises a series of inhale/exhale exercises to kick start a biochemical cascade of reactions in the body, after which air is withheld which then triggers all kinds of survival mechanisms. 

I can identify with the method, although I have only survived surfing in 10°C water for a couple of hours. 

In Lockdown this is exactly what we need: survival mechanisms tailored to help us in our own unique way to get through this. Ultimately the answer lies within ourselves. How much we want to survive and thrive in the face of this adversity we face. Being the masters of our own destiny is sometimes the very reason we get stuck. To become unstuck, we need life support that gives the trigger to will our survival. And of course, to believe in our God who has a plan. Our God who's got this.

Lockdown 206

Lockdown Day 206 - 18 October 2020

Yesterday, hubby and I were blessed by a couple of friends with a belated and birthday lunch, complete with a cake and flowers! In the really hot heat wave central South Africa is currently experiencing, the wind atop Naval Hill was welcome and the cool gin made the the heat disappear. We were once again reminded of the value of people in our own world we move and live in. Of the blessing of the goodness and richness of joy they bring to this Lockdown life in particular. 

Today, after yesterday's 38°C, we saw the thermometer climb once again to 38. With a mean cloud cover by nightfall, no cooling down is expected. This is when I am so thankful for our matchbox that has a little aircon in our room. Continuous heat like this makes for a tired me at night, and can I look forward to sleeping in a cool room. 

What does not help, are rowdy neighours not keeping to curfew regulations. These people are not in the matchboxes adjacent to ours, there is a road and empty property between us. So they are not nearby. 

This means they are really really loud if we are woken up by the noise they make. Our Estate rules state no disturbance to neigbours allowed after 23h00. Also curfew demands everyone in their own homes by 12 midnight. 

We fell asleep with the noise in our ears somewhere around 23h00 thinking they will stop after 12. You know that feeling when you sleep but you still hear the noise on and off. The first time we were really awake was at 02h00. 

We called security, who went to tell them to stop. But they just got louder after that, and we couldn't sleep at all. At 04h00 the screaming was the last straw and we called security again who went and forced them to stop and the guests to leave the premises. 

What gets me is their lack of respect and consideration for their fellow man, and the self righteous way they go about displaying it. What stark contrast to the people I know and love and call my friends. 

Such is life: for every good choice there is a bad choice too. For every right also a wrong. And the attitude with which we approach  everything makes for blessing or adversity. The choice is ours. 

Tonight I pray that God will never allow me to become so important in my own eyes that I become blind for the silent witness of my own self-degradation. That He would instead inhabit me with His fullness so I can be a loud witness to His abounding grace and unending peace. 

"Never doubt God’s mighty power to work in you and accomplish all this. He will achieve infinitely more than your greatest request, your most unbelievable dream, and exceed your wildest imagination! He will outdo them all, for his miraculous power constantly energizes you."

Ephesians 3:20 TPT

God's got this.