Facing your fears

We are all human. And one unfortunate fact about being human is that we all have fears. Whether they be logical or silly, useful or just... frightening, we all have them.

And in having fears, we also need to face them. Sometimes, we grow out of fears, like the fear of what is in your closet... although with the mess in my room that is still valid. Other times, we face them head on, bite the bullet and get it  over with. This works best but is often the most painful at the time.

I'll give you two examples: Firstly, I'm seriously afraid of heights. On the third floor of my school I get jumpy and feel chills down my spine when I look over the balcony.

So how did I help to fight this, or at least prove that I could face it when necessary?

I did something both very stupid and very clever: I went to a theme park and tried out a rollercoaster. Well, actually, 5 or 6 rollercoasters. And you know what? It's some of the most fun I've ever had.

                                                                             Pure evil, pure evil little buggers...

Second example, I hate Black widow spiders (black button spiders). They are evil creatures and our garden is full of them. My gran was bitten by one and was hospitalised for weeks. They are everywhere and they can stuff you up with a potent Neuro-toxin. And just one of the places they settle in is our pile of bricks. So with my luck, my dad starts a building project and requests that I bring him two loads of bricks. Aww... snap.

I have to take these bricks out of the filthy, web-ridden pile and stuff them into a wheelbarrow. Without getting bitten. By the time I was done, I had seen about ten of the things and had almost touched a couple of those.
But it taught me that they aren't that scary or dangerous, and while I should keep a healthy respect for them, I didn't need to freak out.

I hope that whatever fear is holding your sanity in its clutches is overcome soon and I wish you a great day.

It's Furnace day today...

Carrying on from How to beat the heat, I must just say, that today is damn hot. It is too bright and hot with our South African weather to even consider going outside, the dogs have become semi-comatose in an attempt to stave off heat stroke and the birds have all hidden in the trees.

I have determined that the sun is currently enjoying a good old game of fire and yet more fire with my head. The temperature is a jaw melting 28 degrees Celsius in my cool room with a fan blowing at full speed. This is madness!

< It's so far away, but still so hot. 5505 °C hot at that on the surface.
No wonder we need sunblock to survive.


I have found that a wet face cloth is the only long-term solution to fighting this kind of heat. The kind of heat that melts thermometers.


I have just left mine in the sun for a while and it registers a mind-frying 42 °C! For any of you in the Southern hemisphere, I wish you a freezing cold night to even this out, and for those in the North, I ask for a donation of Aircons!


Cheers everyone and happy tanning.

My updates

The face of the blog needs to be constantly shifting a little, now doesn't it? Well, yes, of course it does. So every Sunday, I will change the first astronomy picture and the insanity quote. Every Sunday, I will also post a video of the month and discuss it, I will also change the month in space picture every month.

And so for the first video of the month, something in theme with astronomy:

Here, we can see just how small we really are. The universe truly is a massive place. So no matter how much of a big deal the fact that you spilled just-microwaved coffee on your trouser pants, your fax machine and your cat seems, it is small on the grand scale of things and your cat will forgive you... well, probably.

Always see things in proportion, don't make mountains out of anthills and learn to let go. Forgive, forget and be happy with the world around you, a little positivity can make a big difference. Just like little gravity can make stars bigger and brighter than the imagination could ever comprehend.

A purpose...

We all need one, but do we all have one? That thing that makes us just know, that we are needed for something. A purpose in life, if you will. 


But what is the purpose of a purpose? Why have one, why find one? Whether you are happy, depressed or just content, I think it is important. Regardless of how you feel, it is always good to be needed, to feel needed. So that no matter what may come, you should just hang on, not give up, but be there, be helpful or do whatever it is that you must. Feeling needed also adds a sense of caution, the knowledge that you can't let anything happen, and if something does, the knowledge that you HAVE to help. This is one thing that can truly make us Human, a part of our world. Indeed, for a few it is all that they have.


There are many things that can give one purpose, but the best is other people. Knowing that there are people out there who want you to be around the next day and the day after that too. Knowing that you keep however many people afloat and happy, there is nothing like that. 


And while some may struggle to find themselves now, a time will come for eveyone, when they know, that they are needed.


Until next time, stay well and live life.