Return of the Blogger

I am incredibly excited and happy to be back on my keyboard to bring you a new blog post! I was shocked when I logged into the blogger account and saw that my last post was the 26^th of July!! *hides face in shame*. But to be brutally honest I just haven’t had the time to blog. As desperately as I’ve wanted to and all the ideas I’ve come up with, I just never found the time. However, I shall be making it up to you in the next few weeks. I have so much to share about the past three and a half months... It’s crazy!

Since I last blogged, some interesting things have happened around here that I would love to share in more detail. So, it snowed all over South Africa, I did a bunch of tests and assignments, I surprised my boyfriend with a troll cake for his birthday, we took a trip to Hazyview, more assignments, a long weekend in Clarens, more tests and assignments, some work here and there, some music along the way, an inspirational Jo’burg skyline, I lost 5kgs and started exercising, four exams later, and I finally finished my first year of varsity yesterday! That’s basically the past three months in a whirlwind, but I will be sharing more in the next few days... so stick around! And I might throw in a Snapshot post or two as well... Don’t miss out!

I went back and read the last post I wrote and I was actually surprised with myself. Embarrassingly, I had forgotten what I had even written about, but upon reading it I felt a sense of pride and satisfaction. While writing a motivational post such as that one, I didn’t think of how I would stay true to my word. Everything I mentioned about being a postage stamp and getting there rings true to my final months of the varsity year. I am quite proud to say that I did just that! I put my mind to it, I worked hard and I came out stronger on the other side. I’m hoping you can say the same for yourselves. Let me know of your motivational success stories and post a comment below. I’d love to hear from you!

Until next time,

Keep your head up, and smile!

<3 Nicole_Kayley

Be Like A Postage Stamp

The second semester has started and I can already smell the smoke of a fried brain... Eek! However, I seem to have a very positive feeling about the next half of the year. Having settled into varsity life and found my bearings and a routine (although I still haven’t adapted to waking up at 5:30am yet...), I think on one hand it will be easier than the first semester, yet still  throw out a few curve balls along the way.

I’ve already begun frantically organising my calendar with deadlines and so forth, and even begun my first project. For now I’m ahead with all my reading material, and hoping to keep it that way! It’s a whole lot easier when you know what your lecturers are talking about.

While everything sounds like a walk in the park, I realised its only still the beginning and things are about to start picking up in the next two to three weeks. Today I noticed the quote I stuck up under my mirror last year to motivate myself throughout Matric:

 “Be like a postage stamp. Stick to it until you get there.” – Harvey Mackay,

 and I remembered the powerful motivating source it was for my final school year. That is why I decided to share it with all of you. It may be just the words you need right now. I certainly did, as I realised that if I just keep sticking to my ways and stay motivated, I can make it through anything and accomplish any obstacle life drops in my path. No matter how long the essay, complex the assignment or difficult the test paper, I can do it (shouts from the audience: “yes we can!” *insert laughs here*).  

That being your motivational post for the month, I wish you all the best in all your endeavours for the remainder of 2012. Be that postage stamp and you will get there!

All the best,

Much love and motivation,

Nicole_Kayley <3

Summer Sunshine and Building Nerves

The greatest thing, in my opinion, about finishing school is the extra long holiday before varsity starts. Although it is a time to put my feet up, chill out and soak up Summer, the nerves are starting to take up residence in my core. As exciting as it is to be starting this new chapter in life, I am also scared to death. What if this is not for me? What if I don’t fit in or fail at what I set out to do? What’s plan B? If you know me, you know I don’t handle failure well, which is why I have a plan! (something else I’m always ready with). I’m going to stay true to myself, believe in myself and work my little behind off! (I’m hoping it will be little by the end of the year- a girl can dream, can't she?).

I read a quote that gave me all the inspiration I need this year: “The cave you most fear to enter contains the greatest treasure” ~ Joseph Campbell. So, this year I’m going to dive head first into all those tasks I feared before. You only live once, right? So why not jump in head first?

This is the part of that motivational talk where the speaker raises his/her hands in the air and shouts: “Who’s with me?” and that is your cue to join me. Stand up and take the lead role in your life. It is your life, after all. And you have every right to change the script as you go along. Follow your heart and give your best performance possible.

Keep your head up and smile,

Much Love,

<3 Nicole_Kayley

P.S. I’m thinking, after this post, I should change my career option to: Motivational Speaker. It may work for me. What do you think?