In that moment, I thought to myself, "OMG, how pathetic. I've become so predictable and boring. I've forgotten that I have choices, even healthy ones. I have the same old thing every single day." Something in me rebelled. She had thrown down the veritable glove. I love challenges.

With a smirk (I really don't know if I pulled it off. The smirk, I mean), I said, "Erica, I'll have two eggs over and easy, wheat toast, bacon on the crispy side, but lets go with the usual grilled tomato slices." Poor Erica almost fainted. "Is something wrong?" she asked. I assured her that all was well.

The breakfast was outstanding and I left with a real sense of accomplishment!

If we come to think of it, many of us are creatures of habit. I know I am. We love our comfort zones and like to stay within them. Steffi used to often complain, "You never try anything new." Some habits just don't die. If we are predominantly left-brained and analytical, we tend to be less creative in our choices and are prone to becoming predictable in our thinking, in what we wear, what we eat, our relationships, and so much more.

After coming back from breakfast yesterday, I started thinking about this issue. I reviewed my behavior patterns - eating, dressing, reading, movies, music, choice of vacation destination, etc. - and actually began to write down these patterns. I was quite horrified to note how one-tracked the direction of my choices were! I then started to write down acceptable other tracks (and yes, the left-brain in me was analyzing). Wow, this was exciting and revealing!

Predictability can be a good trait, but it can also be synonymous with BORING. Bringing variety and new experiences into our lives can help us in our own personal growth and self-development, in our relationships and in how we view the world and our environment, in general. If we can begin to celebrate choices and act upon them, life becomes interesting and colorful and magical; and so do we as individuals.

Every day, I used to go to the gym and hit the treadmill and follow-up on the weight machines. Now, I supplement the treadmill every so often with a hike or a swim. It feels different not just physically, but emotionally too. I just have to start doing this with other choices too.

Researchers are finding out that people who live their lives with gusto in terms of the variety and breath of their choices, live healthier and more satisfied lives and have healthier and more satisfied relationships than those who confine themselves to a very limited palette.

And no, I'm not going to stray away from the Half Day Cafe anytime soon.

I just wonder, why can't professional designers make the leap to bring out a truely original game?  You don't have to have your game come out like everybody elses.  Katamari for an example, they went out on a limb and took a chance with this highly abstract game; and it was a commercial success.  Katamari proved that you can have a AAA game without having to kill something every five feet.  I feel that we as designers have an obligation to explore more abstract game concepts, because if we dont...our industry is going to get real stale really soon.

What this does is in effect shut down McCain's arguments that Barack Obama's lack of experience precludes him from becoming Commander In Chief. With this choice, McCain is telling the country that inexperience is just a heartbeat away from the Presidency. On the flip side political experience is a heartbeat away for the Democrats. Therefore any arguments by the Republicans regarding Obama's record should be handily cancelled by this surprising move by the Republicans.

Seeing all this transpire, I asked myself: When did experience become such a novelty? In every aspect of life, experience is a valued commodity. The job market requires it. If not, then any person could become a CEO, they just have to want it and sell themselves for that position. We live life and gather experiences so that we can teach the younger generations about the pitfalls so they do not experience the same or we tell them about the joys so they follow the same route to happiness. Experience has its place in our world yet this year's elections are telling us it is not as important. At least not in a Presidential race. While I know that is not the intended message, I can't help but feel that the revulsion some display when experience is mentioned makes the word taboo. We have always been taught to be judged by what we know, not who we know. Now what we know does not appear to have the same value. Does this mean I can run for president? Well, no one said I can't run for it, but I would immediately be stopped by arguments that I have no experience other than student body in high school. I studied politics but that does not make me a politician. I studied law but that does not make me president.

It all makes me wonder?

It made so much sense to me. When I was overeating, it would be me wanting to assuage my senses with all the tastes I could. I didn't want to miss out.

When I was dieting it was far far worse. Every meal was planned, everything was focussed on- and I couldn't lose weight.

The trick I have found is to surround yourself with the right food, then relax and not bother. I don't ALWAYS have breakfast, or I'll eat snacks through the day but miss lunch.. It's about listening and honouring your own hungers. If you remove all the artificial stuff, your body stops cravings, and you can hear what it really needs.

I know it's working- though I cna't give a report on my next loss as I lent my scales out- but I'm do a weigh in tomorrow morning instead.

Off for some muesli and yoghurt!

The stars stared back at me as if they were thoughts of thoughts that I had not done

Every star reminded me of an action that was not taken. 

a word unspoken, 

a deed half done, 

a line forgotten, 

a moment that just passed by,

a smile that I forgot to look at,

a tear that should not have been shed

a wound that left this mark...

As the stars stared back at me

my mind repeated these lines last night:

did i tell you that i did miss you

did i tell you that now it's no more so loud

did i tell you it's okay to leave the TV on

did i tell you a bill needs to be paid

did i tell you i had to walk longer today

did i tell you that the bus did not stop for me

did i tell you she was at the book store once again

did i tell you i exceeded the number of cups of coffee today

did i tell you i to switch off the toaster before you leave

did i tell you there was no milk for the cat

did i tell you i woke up to a bad dream

did i tell you i can't be home early tonight

did i tell you i did well on stage today

did i tell you i had flowers delivered before the show

did i tell you the water was nice and warm in the bath

did i tell you i might not be able to look into your eye

did i tell you i might not be able to write

did i tell you i needed one more minute 

did i tell you i am scared...

I've haven't hit the tracks for a week but still, I got a urge to go out for a jog although I don't feel like because I'm feeling very tired.

Once I started jogging, I couldn't stop although I told myself to finish up the last 500 metres.  I still continue on jog and told myself to stop again at the next junction but I still couldn't stop.  My mind kept on telling me to carry on and continue jogging.  In total, I jog for another 2km.  Suddenly, this thought came to me... "To defeat my enemy, first I have to conquer myself". I kept on carry on jogging until I reached the park near my house.

"Angel of mercy... come down before me..."

`lush;-

It may be true that not all your expectations are going to come to pass, you give yourself an infinitely better chance of succeeding by taking the proper steps. Regardless of your goal - losing weight, making more money, etc. - you can expect to achieve your goal if you plan and prepare for it.

You also need to understand that the path from where you are to where you want to be is not always smooth and straight. The reason for the twists and bumps is simple, and it has nothing to do with you.

It has more to do with the fact that not everyone is as interested in your success as you are. Some people may accidentally hinder your efforts; others who are in competition with you and have little or no integrity may try to sabotage your efforts.

Keep in mind, though, that when you hit those roadblocks or even reversals, your character, commitment, and attitude are the determining factors in your success. You need to carefully review your plan of action, seek wise counsel, and be particularly careful to feed your mind good information.

An optimistic, positive mind is far more likely to come up with creative solutions than a mind that dwells on setbacks and difficulties.

"An pessimist sees the difficulties in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunities in every difficulty" - Sir Winston Churchill

Another very important quality is having an open mind. This will probably open up more creative possibilities than any other single thing. A closed mind usually has pre-conceived ideas that limit your behavior. It also usually has prejudicial thinking which also severely limits. One needs to learn to take these blinders off.

"The comfort zone takes our greatest aspirations and turns them into excuses for not bothering to aspire."- Peter McWilliams

One of the challenges any individual must conquer first is pessimism. The fact that you are in an environment that spawns challenges and hindrances can make or break anyone.

Whenever someone says "I can't...", I always tell them not to think that way, instead think "How can I?". It took me a while to understand the power in thinking that way, but it's amazing how the mind works with just a little tweak to your thinking habits. And it's been scientifically proven by now that expectations change reality. If you expect to succeed there is a higher chance you will.

if you say that you cannot do something; you will not be able to do it at all. Success starts in believing victory is yours. Always look at the bright Side of Life.

if I can't avoid the mud, at least I don't have to stop and stand in it.