EFFORT - THAT ALL IMPORTANT SECOND STEP

So, you've planned for the year and are all amped up for an awesome year. What now? How do you stay on it and not loose that oomph by March (we all know those people that have these amazing goals and resolutions in Jan, come march they're complaining like last march :-/) 

Its called EFFORT that's the secret.

You may be sitting there thinking, what the?? obviously, otherwise nothing at all, including the resolutions would have been accomplished. But wait, how much effort have you made towards your "new" goals today? That's the master question here... (before you throw a hissy fit, today I have successfully gotten my hands on a new piece of software that I need to fulfill my goals for the year ... thank you very much)

Way to often we make these amazing goals and plans and never follow through. One of the main reasons is that we just don't make enough effort to follow through. We see these challenges and obstacles and tell ourselves that it's all over :'( and that it will happen if it was meant to be.. TF! Meant to be my foot.... (you really believe that everything in your life was meant to be? so if you sit on a puddle of water it was meant to be that you remember what it feels like to wear a nappy? :-/ Really dude...) 

Try taking ownership of your life. Play an active role in your life, watch your decisions. And please note, the decisions that the world never see are the most important ones (if you decided today that you become celibate, the world might not necessarily know the decision. But the results and implications we will see... Thirsty peeps aren't that hard to spot :"D ). If you made a decision to always be early as of today, we won't know the decision, but we will definitely see the results and implications of that decision. Decisions like this change our lives, yet we so often neglect paying attention to them. The silent decisions that govern who we are, we leave to chance and say "if its meant to be"....

Look, I'm not Jesus, I've been an ass for 2 decades. But recently I've made an effort to be active about living, live life the way I desire and maaaaaan does it feel good :D Try it too. Make an effort to get closer to your goal everyday, a little effort (ever watch a baby learn how to walk, the bugger takes a step today, in a week hes at 3 steps, in a month he can walk across the room. BUT, he makes an effort EVERY SINGLE DAY WITHOUT FAIL) 

I leave you a (should be famous) quote:

"If I miss one day of practice, I notice it. If I miss two days, the critics notice it. If I miss three days, the audience notices it."- Ignacy Jan Padareskwi

Also check out --> http://thelifeofkingnzumbi.tumblr.com 

KingNzumbi(**p)

JUST DO IT... NO NIKE LOL (**P)

THREE WORDS THAT CAN CHANGE YOUR LIFE

Excuses Excuses and more bloody Excuses :-/

Have you ever asked yourself why you still can't swim? or still haven't learnt how to play chess? or even why your ass is still not reading a book or why you still smoke (chances are you been saying you need to get these done for the past 6 full moons already...)

Like there are so many things you've been saying you gotta do, places you gotta go and stuff you beeeeen saying you wanna learn. But here's the thing, YOU KEEP MAKING EXCUSES FOR YOUR SORRY ASS...

I mean, I'm not judging or anything (I'm guilty of this shit myself, it took me a very long time to even jump into a pool yo, and I'm still beating up the water instead of breast-stroking :-/). The fact of the matter is that we all, well most black people, are culprits when it comes to procrastination and blaming our lack of initiative on anyone and anything but US. It's a lot easier to say you can't swim cos there's no pool at home cos your family is a struggling township family that the govt. has screwed over, then to say you're headed to the beach to learn how to swim in a public pool (and some townships have public pools now, Umlazi has 2 even... smh).

Reality is that all of us can do whatever we want if we really put ourselves to it. Instead, we so often choose to come up with excuses. The 2 that just kill the life out of me, are "I don't have enough time" and "I don't have enough money". Lets analyse them:

I don't have enough time:

SO you say you don't have enough time huh? :-/ 

You come home from work/school at around 6. Lets say you cook etc. You're done by 8. You go to bed at 11, that's 3 hours of downtime. You can do sooo much in 3 hours buddy!!

You could read chapters in a book, play some chess, study, learn a new skill etc. This is the time you claim not to have ... RIIIIIGHT!! INSTEAD YOU WOULD RATHER WATCH TV :-/ (you don't enough time for personal growth, but you've got time for Generations ya ya I see you ...)

I don't have enough money

SO you say you don't have enough money huh? :-/

(On this one, I'll be fair. Firstly, I do understand that there are some people who truly cannot afford life. Poverty is real and I acknowledge that. This is aimed at the person reading it, if your ass can afford to be on the net reading this blog :-/ You're not poverty stricken so you have enough money :-/ )

We drink alcohol, we smoke and we eat fast food. These are all not just luxuries, but also very bad for well being. BUT we still would rather spend our money killing ourselves than building ourselves. Again, I'm not judging but merely observing AND I'm guilty of it too. I did smoke, drink and eat junk (it's called junk for a reason YO!! junk is stuff you don't need that you throw away. Well in our case, we throw into our bodies :-( Sad) But I've since realised that we can use our money for more productive things in life. 

Instead of a drinking spree maybe go on a little vacation. Instead of buying a huge ass junk meal maybe buy a book. Instead of a pack of cigarettes maybe buy a bag of fruits. These little changes will have a drastic impact on your lifestyle, they might be worth a try.

Resistance is the enemy 

I never understood why it was sooo hard to do stuff that we are not forced to do, until I read a particular book. THE WAR OF ART - STEVEN PRESSFIELD This is a book worth reading and is worth every penny. I strongly advise it if you wanna change your lifestyle for the better (**p) 

So my last message to you is this. TALKING THE TALK IS EASY, LET US NOW STRIVE TO  SHUT UP AND WALK THE WALK

JUST DO IT

KingNzumbi(**p)

AUDACIOUS DEFENCE FOR THE UNFORGIVABLE

SOME people among you saw this coming while others were in denial until the bitter, controversial end. But it happened all the same and no matter which way you look at it, it is a damn shame.

World renowned cyclist, Lance Armstrong, opened up to the world’s queen of talk Oprah Winfrey and finally confessed that he used performance enhancing drugs during the peak of his cycling career, which saw him win the Tour de France seven times (just by the way).

From Armstrong, we heard accounts of how he had become a megalomaniac bully who wanted to exert control over a sophisticated doping syndicate in the sport of cycling that when to great lengths to cheat and not get caught.

Any major accolade the man once accomplished is out the window now.  He was once known as a triumphant cancer survivor and role model but has been reduced to the ultimate villain of the sporting code in the biggest scandal 21^st century sport has seen yet. Some libraries have even moved his once-inspirational auto-biographies to the fiction section!

While Armstrong has lost a lot out of this (Tour de France record has been struck off completely as well as his any other notable accolade) and rightfully so, I cannot help but look at the broken man and feel sympathetic admiration for his actions in confessing.

Some of you might say: “Hold on! You’re saying that you admire a cheat who had his supporters going for over a decade on a lie?!”

And to you I say, YES!

This is why I believe what Lance Armstrong has done is considerably admirable in light of what has happened in the sport of cycling over the year.

1. In terms of doping, Lance Armstrong is one of many, many guilty individuals. Sure he cheated and lied about it, but the only think he is guilty of that no one else is, is the fact that he just happened to be the biggest personality in the sporting code at the time this can of worms burst open.

2. He confessed with dignity. Half the time Lance Armstrong spent on a podium celebrating a win accomplished by doping, he shared the podium with individuals who also doped. When some of these cyclists were caught out (before Armstrong’s confession) they chose to point the finger at Lance and highlight his evils. While it is important to ensure all transgressors feel the wrath of sporting regulation bodies, the moral integrity of this is quite questionable. When Lance made his confession, it was HIS confession. He was not out to destroy anyone’s reputation but to come clean.

3. While Armstrong’s career has just been pissed away over two hours of talking to Big Momma Winfrey, the only true damage that has been done is to the integrity of the sport. Cycling will have to start right from square one to re-establish a good, clean reputation, thanks to what some in the sport have done. Some say, “so what? If most of the competitors were doping, surely it just raised the performance levels for the majority and the best man still won anyway!” This is a good point. But what about the poor honest competitor who probably came in 8^th place off of nothing but his sweat, hard work and resolve to win? What happens to them? Nothing, I’m afraid. All they get is the benefit of keeping their integrity intact and knowing they tried.

There is a lot to be said about honesty being the best policy. It is also a bitter pill to swallow at the best of times.

Late last year I wrote another column about Armstrong saying I was disappointed by his decision to stop fighting the accusations that were being thrown at him. I gave him the benefit of a doubt and wrote it under the assumption that he was innocent.

I don’t apologise at all for that. In fact I am glad I acted in that way and I believe coming clean was not only the best choice but that the manner in which he did it was admirable. History might not thank him and the world might not forgive him but surely his conscience will grant him a night’s sleep.

President Nzumbi

COMPLAINING WON'T CHANGE THE CIRCUMSTANCES

COMPLAINING DOESN'T CHANGE A THING

The thing with complaining is, it gets you attention. And people love attention (thats just the way shit is)

There is a good kind of complaining, like when you don't receive the level of service you should for the money you pay etc. that shit sucks (like if I pay for a draught, I expect the damn beer glass to be FULL :-/ )...

Then there's the complaining that people love. The meaningless complaining that gets you nothing but attention. I mean there's a thin line between talking to someone and letting off some steam, and complaining. Where talking to someone or letting of some steam is cathartic, relieves one of stress, eases the load and can be very beneficial in insuring you don't keep shit in till you explode. Complaining is that nagging shit that people do to get a little attention, especially on social sites (count the number of people that complain in a day and you'll be shocked lol)...

I've seen all sorts of complains lol I don't even have the energy to waste on listing a few lol But the sad thing is people who complain don't ever get anything out of it (like, Generations won't change if you always watching and complaining :-/ )  It doesn't gain you a thing, yet you do it everyday. 

Complaining strips you of essential power of your will, which is something worth more than you know. Everytime you complain, you remind yourself that you don't have power to change that particular circumstance. Now!! Tell me how that is good for you O_o 

I urge you, chill out. If you don't like something, you don't have to complain about it all the time. Acknowledging it one thing, nagging about it is another thing. 

The things we cannot yet change however do feel like they are just defeating us don't they. Keep your head up, find someone who is always willing to listen  without judgement and you will be awesome. 

"If I don't like the shit around me, maybe I should change the shit that I'm around" - Joe Budden

KingNzumbi (**p) 

EVEN IN CRISIS GOOD LEADERSHIP MUST BE APPLAUDED

Disclaimer: The contents of this piece are not journalistic but merely opinions and are not, and should not, in any way to be associated with any editorial journalistic material also produced by the author.

THE year is 2012, close to twenty years of democracy for a country that has become the epitome of the unity that a once segregated nation can achieve…and yet, it is hard to believe times could possibly be harder.

As of late media, economists, analysts and social commentators have gone to town with criticism of the current South African government, more specifically, President Jacob Zuma.

Most prominently, Zuma has gotten flack over the revelation of astronomical amounts of fund, allegedly public funds, claimed to have been used to renovate and upgrade his private house in Nkandla of KZN.

The aftermath of these events has been disastrous to say the least. Not only has the president’s reputation taken a knock, but critics of the media have claimed reporting on this matter is motivated by little more than a malicious witch hunt against Zuma.

One always hopes common sense prevails in these kinds of disputes. Since this matter was reported, the alleged costs of these renovations have changed more times than a runway model changes outfits. Needless to say this takes a serious bite out of the credibility of what is reported at the end of the day.

None of these numbers are official and none have been proven and yet so many have claimed this house has cost a fraction of the construction costs of a FIFA World Cup stadium to renovate.

On the same token, just looking at images of the property itself, it is clear that those renovations are by no means cheap. This bids ill for President Zuma as this can of worms spilled open all while he told CEO’s of SA corporate entities to tighten their belts and take salary freezes.

With illegal mining strikes hurting the economy, textbooks dumped for reasons no one can understand, young people struggling to complete their education or get a job and a litany of other time bombs in SA waiting to explode, it becomes difficult to see the accomplishments of the current administration, and yes, there are many.

On Friday Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi made an announcement that essentially reversed South Africa’s previously dismal track record in the fight against HIV and Aids.

As of April next year a triple drug ARV will be available in SA. This means those living with HIV will have access to a drug that combines three important drugs, cutting doses from 3 to just 1 pill a day. Not only that, the South African product will be the cheapest of its kind in the world.

I know what you’re thinking: How did such a wonderful thing happen right under our noses with no one noticing? Who is responsible for this wonderful intervention?

Will look to Luthuli House at the man who has been blamed for all that is wrong in the country. Yes, even though Zuma has been criticized from pillar to post, his administration achieved something that would have been impossible in Mbeki’s “a virus cannot cause a syndrome” era.

Am I saying Jacob Zuma is perfect? Far from it. Am I saying he should spend hundreds of millions of state funds on a private home? Not at all and, if that is indeed the case, then he should indeed answer for it.

But as things currently stand, the man who has been written off has not been proven guilty. All this is happening while his accomplishments are blatantly ignore. And yet no one can answer the question of what Zuma is actually DOING to ruin the economy, persecute the poor or scare investors away.

It all seems to get lost in the murk of blind hatred for a man whom, while lacking formal education, seems to be the hardest working president our democracy has had yet.

As Mangaung approaches in a couple of weeks and 2014 national elections loom in the very distant future, I know that things are not perfect but I am aware that if this man is not at the helm of the nation’s leadership, it should be because he doesn't deserve it and not because someone out there doesn't like him.

President Nzumbi

IF YOUR TALK DOESN'T SERVE GOOD – EXERCISE YOUR RIGHT TO REMAIN SILENT

THIS past week we have seen a tragic turn of events in South Africa and the world.  One would have never thought that a video would cause so much harm. A Los Angeles producer who reportedly goes by the names Sam Bacile or Nakoula Basseley came into the lime light rather reluctantly this past week after a video that he made spark outrage from Muslim communities around the world.

An American diplomat in Libya was killed as a show of disdain from parts of the Muslim community, as the video portrayed Islam’s Prophet Mohamed as a “thug”, a “rogue” and “a womaniser”.

But the violent response did not stop there. People from many of the world’s Arab regions demonstrated their anger at the video by targeting American embassies and a female suicide bomber crashed a bomb-laced care into a vehicle in Afghanistan, an incident that claimed the lives of eight South Africans.

Before continuing it is important that I stress that any form of violent action that results in the death of innocent people is quite tragic and perpetrators must be brought to justice. It’s also important to note that generalising the actions of a small portion of a whole group is unfair and dangerous.

I am confident that the number of Muslims who resort to this kind of violence to express their anger is in the minority. The Muslims I know in my personal life are kind, amiable and peace-loving people.

But there is an underlying issue that is in this tragedy that has been beneath the surface for the Arab world that has been a bone of contention for a decade.

In 2001 the United States were the victims of perhaps the most horrendous crime ever committed when terrorists crashed planes into the New York’s twin towers. What followed was an invasion into a number of Arab nations in a search for weapons of mass destruction.

This “war on terror” devastated the nations affected and more than a decade later no weapons of mass destruction were found.

This stays fresh in the minds of angry people who have protested against the video and shows that parts of the Arab world were fed up with the West perpetuating Islamophobia after the difficult decade many people suffered at the hands of Americans.

So with all these sensitive elements, why would this person be foolish enough to further antagonise matters by mocking a figure that Islam regards so highly?

America as a nation endorses the right to freedom of expression, no matter how absurd the expression may be to others. I am a respecter of people’s rights and don’t believe this right should change.

However there is no denying that the importance of not causing harm through exercising rights is ignored when something is expressed.

Earlier this year South Africa had a similar debate around Brett Murray’s painting The Spear, which depicted the South Africa’s president Jacob Zuma with his genitals exposed in a pose modelled after an iconic painting of Vladimir Lenin.

Political parties and members of SA society were quite put off by the explicit nudity in the picture and were concerned about the President’s dignity which they felt was being undermined by the “artwork”.

My personal feelings about the painting set aside, there is a strong argument that while Brett Murray had the right to express himself in the way he did, he had a responsibility not to cause harm in the way he did it.

Responsibility has gone out of the window in this day and age when it comes to these matters. People seem to want all of the rights and none of the responsibility. When the damage is done they want to be protected from the public as a result of the harm their actions have caused.

The video in question resulted in many tragic, needless and violent deaths. The Spear caused a young man who was also expressing himself (by defacing a painting he didn’t like) to be assaulted by security. These things constitute harm done.

There is a lesson to be learnt in terms of tolerance in this matter. We need to be careful of how we express our views around things that people regard as sacred. We have seen the damage that people speaking their minds can do on the continent (The Hutu Ten Commandments in Rwanda’s 90’s tribal conflicts come to mind).

The world is becoming more integrated than ever and going forward we need constructive discussion and discourse around issues. If that is too much to ask of the freedom of expression rally club then we are headed for tough times. If your expression will cause damage keep it to yourself.

President Nzumbi

Are you living or are you alive?!?!

Being alive and living are 2 exclusively separated concepts

This feels weird, How do I pour out the thoughts that have haunted (or rather blessed) my mind for the past few months non-stop. The thoughts of living and being alive being totally unrelated (buuut obviously in one direction only lol cos yo! if your ass is dead you won't doing any living lol)

Without wasting anymore time let's get to it (I'll try and keep it short, but hey I'm already short and too many short things about me will feel weird lol). I've been alive for 23 years 11 months and 6 days ... But I've only been living for like 3 years. That's how long I've been a Nzumbi, that's how long I have adopted the motto Happiness is a choice and Success is a habit. 

My simple truth is this To be alive is to exist in the flesh, To live is to be alive and give life all that you can, all the time. The honest truth is that most of the world gives life less than half for less than half the time. The rest of the time they are bitching and whining (we all know that humans loooove complaining :-/ ). If every time you got the urge to do something you know you have to (or rather, that which you are aware will lead you to your desired goal), you just stopped hesitating and you did it, you'd be everything you've ever wanted to be. That my friend, is the shitty reality of it all. I could repeat this a million times, if you are still  lost :-/ Get a compass lol 

The self is a muscle - Pump some iron!!!

What is the hardest thing that you've done lately? How many really challenging things do you attempt every year? What is the last thing you taught yourself that you couldn't imagine doing just a year ago? (FYI I'm on it. I can't say what it is, but let's just say I always dreamed of doing it but never had the balls to do it. Now I am living it :D)

The only way to grow a muscle is to lift heavy objects (Challenge it), you feel pain the next day, and the next week your arm looks like Johnny Bravos!! How about you treat your life like a muscle, the muscle of existence. Think of the Self (That is, the entire you, mind body soul) as the muscle, the only muscle with no physical limit to it's growth. Think of the infinite possibilities with such a muscle, no steroids needed, this muscle is it's own steroid. Push yourself and bare through the pain and sacrifice, you shall reap the rewards. Do what you thought was impossible, Learn a new language. Learn to swim, start gym, write a novel, make a song, learn yoga. Whatever you have the most trouble getting started, Is important to your evolution.

We all have dreams and goals (If you don't, you're wasting valuable oxygen for someone who does, so humanly of you), we all wanna be somewhere in life higher than where we are. We are all on a journey to a destination of our desire, and this journey can only be carried out by living. Every second, every breath, every moment is one step closer to your goal. So then, is it not wise to live it as though it is the most important moment you have ever lived in your life. The truth is, it is. You'll never get it back (lol ya, even if you bribe the Gods, you eon't get it back. It's gone lol forever), you either use it or loose it. 

NIKE - JUST DO IT Everyone should take NIKE's advice, stop thinking about it, just do it (**p)

Must read!!

The best text I've ever read that wonderfully elaborates this idea is Steven Pressfield's - The war of art. He elaborates on the idea of Resistance and Procrastination in a way only mind can conceive, my fingers cannot type.

In closing, I wanna say this. Life is to be lived, every second, every moment, every breath as though it is sacred, because it is.

Yours Happily

KingNzumbi(**p)