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Don't Wait Too Long ~ Madeleine Peyroux

31/12/2024

You can cry a million tears
You can wait a million years
If you think that time will change your ways
Don't wait too long

When your morning turns to night
Who'll be loving you by candlelight
If you think that time will change your ways
Don't wait too long

Maybe I've got a lot to learn
Time can slip away
Sometimes you got to lose it all
Before you find your way
Take a chance and play your part
Make romance, it might break your heart
But if you think that time will change your ways
Don't wait too long

It may rain, it may shine
Love will age like fine red wine
But if you think that time will change your ways
Don't wait too long

Baby, you and I got a lot to learn
Don't waste another day
Maybe you got to lose it all
Before you find your way
Take a chance, play your part
Make romance, it might break your heart
But if you think that time will change your ways
Don't wait too long

Don't wait
Don't wait

Art and Literature - Author Chloë Ashby

18/11/2024

It’s probably no surprise that an art critic would smuggle art into her fiction. I’m certainly not the first. Artists and writers have long been borrowing from one another, their work intertwining like ribbons. In the 19th century, the relationship deepened: art fired the imagination of French novelists Honoré de Balzac, Marcel Proust, Émile Zola.

My first novel, Wet Paint, began with an image, too. I first saw Édouard Manet’s A Bar at the Folies-Bergère in the flesh while I was studying at the Courtauld Institute of Art. The barmaid, Suzon, has been with me ever since, and she’s also a constant companion for my protagonist, Eve, who visits her once a week. Eve’s eyes snag on her pink cheeks, heavy eyes, pressed-together lips. She’s trying to work out how she’s feeling: sad, tired, stuck, the kind of lonely that can gnaw even in a crowd. When Eve becomes a barmaid herself, and a life model, the two women’s lives begin to blur.

Peace Train - Yusuf Islam/Cat Stevens

14/8/2024

Now I've been happy lately
Thinking about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun
Oh, I've been smiling lately
Dreaming about the world as one
And I believe it could be
Someday it's going to come

'Cause out on the edge of darkness
There rides the peace train
Oh, peace train take this country
Come take me home again

Now I've been smiling lately
Thinkin' about the good things to come
And I believe it could be
Something good has begun

Oh, peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on now, peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller
Everyone jump upon the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on now, peace train

Get your bags together
Go bring your good friends too
Because it's getting nearer
It soon will be with you
Now come and join the living
It's not so far from you
And it's getting nearer
Soon it will all be true

Oh, peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on now peace train
Peace train

Now I've been crying lately
Thinkin' about the world as it is
Why must we go on hating?
Why can't we live in bliss?

'Cause out on the edge of darkness
There rides a peace train
Oh, peace train take this country
Come take me home again

Oh, peace train sounding louder
Glide on the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on now, peace train
Yes, peace train holy roller
Everyone jump upon the peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on, come on, come on
Yes, come on, peace train
Yes, it's the peace train

Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah
Come on now, peace train
Oh, peace train
Ooh-ah, ee-ah, ooh-ah

Unruly - A History of England's Kings and Queens by David Mitchell

28/3/2024

As I confront my own puzzled sense of national identity, I have reached for the best way of explaining my own people, and people in general, and that’s history. So this book may be about all the kings and queens who ruled England – and it’s mainly kings, the olden days being, among many many many other flaws, extremely sexist – but it’s not really about the past. It’s about history. History the school subject, the hobby, the atmosphere, the wonky drawings of kings, the grist to heritage’s mill-that’s-been-converted-into-a-café, the sense of identity.

History is a very contemporary thing – it’s ours to think about, manipulate, use to win arguments or to justify patriotism, nationalism or group self-loathing, according to taste. In contrast, the past is unknowable. It’s as complicated as the present. It’s an infinity of former nows all as unfathomable as this one. That’s why historians end up specializing in tiny bits of it.

For England, in particular, history is about who we collectively are and how we feel about it. It’s one of the attempted answers to the great human question: what the hell is going on? Most animals don’t ask that question, which is why you can put a massive Ikea next to a field of sheep and they just keep on grazing. Not even twenty minutes of bleats and gestures and questioning looks, they’re just not interested. But a vast amount of human endeavour is an attempt to answer it in different ways: all the sciences and all the humanities. Microscopes, philosophies, expeditions, religions and poems are all having a go.

4 Japanese Secret Practices That Everyone Should Adopt - author Mahika Joshi

12/1/2024

IKIGAI
Iki means life and gai means value or worth. It will help you find a reason to wake up in the morning.

In simplest terms, ikigai means finding something that is the combination of what you love, what you are good at, what the world needs, and what you can be paid for.
Finding your ikigai is the foundation of living a life that aligns with your passions, strengths, and the needs of the world. It will help you find a balance between your work, relationships, and personal development.

Wabi-Sabi.
It’s a practice that allows you to embrace imperfections.

It teaches you the value of simplicity and minimalism. How uncluttered spaces are beautiful and peaceful. When I read this, my messy room, especially the cupboard filled with unfolded clothes, stared at me with sheer disappointment.
Wabi-Sabi says that flaws, imperfections, asymmetry, and irregularities add character and uniqueness to everything around us. It teaches you to stay connected to nature and accept things exactly as they are, rather than striving for an idealized version.
What a great thought, isn’t it? But I know those fictional characters from American teenage shows will not agree with me or this practice.

Hara Hachi Bu.
This practice tells you to eat in moderation. Maybe that’s the reason why Japanese people don’t suffer from obesity. Hara Hachi bu tells you to “Eat until you are 80% full”.

It emphasizes the concept of mindful eating to promote better digestion, prevent overeating, and maintain a healthy weight. If you follow this simple practice of Hara Hachi Bu, you are automatically preparing your body for longevity and good health.
Stop eating before you are completely full to allow the body more time to process and digest the food. You will have an improved metabolism, reduced risk of obesity-related diseases, and a greater sense of overall well-being when you are not continuously overloading your digestive system.

Kaizen.
It is the practice of continuous improvement.

It is a philosophy that focuses on taking small, manageable steps toward improvement. These small changes will accumulate over time to create significant progress through the power of compounding.
Kaizen teaches you patience and persistence. You will realize that success is not a one-time effort but a continuous process of refinement. This wisdom will help you commit to your goals and become a better version of yourself.
Your mindset will become solution-oriented, and you will always try to create a culture of engagement and innovation.
You can think of Kaizen as a growth mindset.
When you practice being in a growth mindset, you will automatically aim for improvement and betterment.
After learning about these practices, I must say, the Japanese are indeed very hardworking, mindful, and healthy individuals.

Lyrics of 'Change' by Charlie Puth and James Taylor

27/7/2023

One, two, three, four
Why are we looking down
On our sisters and brothers?
Isn't love, all that we got?
Don't we know everyone's
Got a father and mother?
The day we know we're all the same
Together we can make that change
Look around there are too many of us crying
And not enough love to go around
What a waste, another day
Another good one dying
But I know that the world will change
The day we know we're all the same
Why can't we just get along?
If loving one another's wrong
Then how are we supposed to
Get close to each other?
We gotta make that change, yeah
Why can't we just get along?
What a waste it would be to deny somebody
Of a chance to be theirselves
What a waste it would be if we hurt for nothing?
But I know that the world can change
The day we know we're all the same

Why can't we just get along?
(Why can't we just get along?)
If loving one another's wrong
(Why can't we just get along?)
Then how are we supposed to
Get close to each other?
We gotta make that change, yeah
I know we could break apart
We don't have to go that way
Not today
Why can't we just get along?
If loving one another's wrong
Then how are we supposed to
Get close to yeah

(Why can't we just get along?)
Why can't we just get along?
(Why can't we just get along?)
If loving one another's wrong
(Why can't we just get along?)
Then how are we supposed to
Get close to each other?
We gotta make that change, yeah
The change, yeah

Songwriters: Charlie Puth / James Taylor / Johan Jens Erik Carlsson / Ross Jacob Golan
Change lyrics © Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd., Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Warner Chappell Music, Inc

Finding Peace - composed by Opeloge Ah Sam

5/5/2023

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kfB6egZioWc

"Finding Peace" is a musical expression of the connection and peace we find from understanding our place in the world, through our identity regardless of the contexts, challenges we face in the spaces we live and move within as musicians and individuals. From the challenges, we find peace in the smiles, warmth and love of those around us who care. For me as a Samoan living and working in a context that is predominantly Maori in the beautiful Far North, Aotearoa, knowing my voice and identity helps me to navigate and feel a sense of comfort and connection in this space hence the final expression in Te Reo. Thank you to Parachute Studios for the recording session - thank you to Victoria University Research Fellow projects - I am proud to have completed this project even through all the challenges of the pandemic and isolations periods that had affected so many others. I am thankful to have a team of friends/musicians who were willing to stick it out with me and get this project recorded and completely eventually. Thank you - Fa'afetai tele Saia Folau - Vocals Joanna Strom - Cello Peter Mumby - Trumpet Alparslan Semiz - Saxophone Linda Filimoehala - Trombone Hannah Elise - Bass Eric Reid-Pihema - Guitar (proud to have had Eric one of my current year 12 music students from Kaitaia College be a part of this project) My son Opeloge - Conche / Purerehea Matua Tangira - Instrument maker Pops Arona - Instrument stands Thank you Olivia Just for your support with the filming and of course... Dexter Stanley-Tauvao - Drums - so proud of you and the pathway you are carving out for yourself and inspiring others to dream big and to not fear success and dreams in music. Dr Brian Diettrich for sticking it out, encouragement and supporting this all the way to the end Blessings to everyone out there and thank you for supporting this video Yours sincerely Dr Opeloge Ah Sam

This makes me proud to be a New Zealander <3

Alice Munro - Houses in my Village

1/5/2023

“A story is not like a road to follow … it’s more like a house. You go inside and stay there for a while, wandering back and forth and settling where you like and discovering how the room and corridors relate to each other, how the world outside is altered by being viewed from these windows. And you, the visitor, the reader, are altered as well by being in this enclosed space, whether it is ample and easy or full of crooked turns, or sparsely or opulently furnished. You can go back again and again, and the house, the story, always contains more than you saw the last time. It also has a sturdy sense of itself of being built out of its own necessity, not just to shelter or beguile you.”

An inspirational quote from 'Finding Your Feet' by Hanny Allston

11/2/2023

" We cannot define ourselves by what we have done. I am not my story, but rather the person who walked in the shoes while the story unfolded.

We are also not what happens to us. I am not the incidents, deaths, injuries, accolades or relationships. Rather, we are the attitudes, beliefs, values and emotions that define the way respond to these moments.

We cannot think our way through the challenges with a pen and paper. Instead I need to be willing to open my heart to the possibilities which can unfold, and to love.

I am not the gift I am giving others. I am the one giving the gift, and can only do so after I have given it to myself first."

When Artists and Our Society are 'in the Zone' ~ A Vision for Aotearoa New Zealand

1/2/2023

Excerpt from 'Recollections of my Life as a Woman' by Diane di Prima

Closeness vision energy exaltation. Some kind of peak of camaraderie and hope. Some confidence that we understood each other (in all our disparateness) and that we were working in tandem with all the physico/psycho/history. No Kidding. The secret ways of Art would change the world. And there was no need at all for us to agree with each other. There was room to spare for all our different ways.