perplex : perspex : perspective

per-plex: (of something complicated or unaccountable) Cause (someone) to feel completely baffled.
perspex: Solid transparent plastic
perspective: A mental view or outlook

Being 31 is a really weird age, for me anyway, and for many more out there I am sure. It seems that changing career paths here is common place. We have been working for almost 10-12 years now, a bit of travel here and there, explored some of the world, settled a little, know our selves better, know whats out there and what is possible. So we crave more, we want more, we strive for more, we begin to feel unsettled. We decide to change things, to break routine, to up heave any sort of stability and move in a different direction.

I’m sure there are some out there, whereby change freaks them out, makes them uneasy, scared, uncertain. But for me, I love all these qualities in change. I embrace it in fact. I’m like tactical response. But being reactive is different from being in control and being proactive as to the direction or the strategy you will follow to stage your life. In saying that, I also like to go with the flow. But going with the flow is difficult if you are adverse to change. Being able to respond and re-direct your life is a skill learned through experience and the ability to be open to life’s mysteries. Not knowing the potential outcome and being able to adapt readily is something that is acquired only when we have learnt from life’s lessons and are able to live by our own morals and values.

For me, being compassionate, loving, open and honest are some of the key values to being a good human being. For others, status, wealth, cars, houses and money may be of virtue. But stripping all of this away, our essence, our core none of this is necessary for our happiness.
What boggles my mind, every time I stress out about something silly is coming back to a neutral space and how in the grand scheme of things (world poverty, starving children, war) our core values are moving further and further away from Maslows Heirarchy of Needs!

Our stresses are created by us. The drive to WANT more, to BE more, to DO more.

Don’t get me wrong. I know we are from cities whereby our hierarchy of needs are different to that of a caveman. But it is so easy to get lost and caught up in “the rat race” that we no longer know what we want. We lose touch of what it is that drives us. There is going with the flow of life and going with the “flow” of life. By this I mean, to go with the flow of the mundane, routine, snakes and ladders. Or the “flow” of knowing what drives, keeps you passionate, stimulated and expressive to your essence.

I only realised this now...in 2011 after meeting a great girl. She is younger than me yet offered me loads of wisdom by being a direct reflection of me and what I needed to learn at this stage of my life. She and I are now apart as she is off pursuing her dream and career. ☺ …and now my path has changed and blocks in my mind have also being removed.

Since my return from London in 2007 I have really felt stuck. I have been in relationships with great girls that sooner rather than later come to an end because of them, traveling and doing what they want to do. I am not bitter about this, as now I can see that the message here was for me to get unstuck and do my own thing regardless of what anyone else is doing.
In retrospect as short and as sweet as these relationships were, each taught me something slightly different about Liz Smiz. But it really was the last love that was the straw that broke (lets say stroked) the camels back and propelled me into action. For that baby, I thank you.
More on this….