Look How Far We've Come

I wonder if anyone will actually read this blog.... seeing as I haven't blogged in forever, but whatever, it's not my idea of blogging anyway.

The most important thing to me right now is the number 6. That's because on Wednesday, Jonelle and I would have been going out for 6 months which is awesome! I've loved every moment of the last 6 months and she's made my life better and I can't imagine being without her. Seriously, best girlfriend ever!

I've found the last few weeks a bit rough though, not relationship wise, just in general life. Working 2 jobs (Woolworths Tawa and on the Trains for Tranz Metro/Kiwi Rail) while being at uni full time (if you can call it that) has been pretty tough. I end up working just under 30 hours a week and am missing some uni at the moment, but it's just getting used to it. I don't want to complain about it cause it's still awesome and I love it, and I love having some money again, WOOH HOO (lunch time with Sam Forty).

(Story time, which Johnnie is gonna tell me is lame) I was on the bus to uni the other week cause I didn't feel like biking cause I just finished 2 major assignments and this old guy got on and began talking to this old lady that was his friend. From what he was talking about and how he was saying it, he seemed like one of those old people who are real interesting and will turn anything into a story, I love those people. They begun talking about cellphones and how he didn't own one but knew that they carried benefits like getting into car trouble when he was in England or to find out where is wife is or to ring ahead to friends to let them know they want to come round. I think its brilliant the perception of the older generation. Some things I just find intriguing.

I am pumped about hanging out Dan Martin real soon. I have been spending heaps of time with Johnnie and working on Uni assignments, while fitting in a 90hr fortnight of training on the trains straight after the Easter break and because I'm not at Youth anymore, I don't see everyone as much. Don't get me wrong, this has already been one of the best years of my life, and a lot to do with that is having the best girlfriend I could ever ask for. I still don't want to be one of those guys that just never sees their friends though because relationships are important, at all levels. I feel this year that I'm close with God, continually growing at home with parents, strengthening my relationship with Jonelle and still have had some time for building and growing friendships. Really, I've come a long way, and I haven't done it all on my own, I've changed so much in the space of under a year and honestly by adopting positive change, even when it is hard, it is so worth it. 

It's much like the Social Marketing paper I'm doing at the moment, social marketing is different from commercial marketing as it attempts to 'sell' an idea to society that will influence or attempt to change a social norm or behaviour to benefit society. Why do we have such a bad view of smoking now compared to 50 odd years ago when it was considered as socially acceptable. That behaviour change isn't something that takes place over the short term but it is social marketing acting to attempt LONG term change for the better of society. Campaigns like Push Play, Sunsmart, txting and driving (Oprahs no phone zone) are great examples. (this is great learning!). So like this, I've changed my behaviour and the way I am to a degree to better the people around me and have a positive influence on them.

Regardless of the fact that this song is about the end of the world, Matchbox 20 has the lyrics "let's see how far we've come" which is actually phenomenal when you think about it how far have we come? From when we left primary/intermediate, when we left school, think about the changes that have gone on, the adaptions we've had to make, accepting that change is going to take place whether we like it or not, or even if we're ready for it.

There's a saying from Ralph Waldo Emerson that fits this that I quite like. He says: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters to what lies within us." It's amazing to think what we're actually capable of without even realising it or being able to remember it.

On the thought of change I'll finish with this, leaving you (and me) something to think about - "We must become the change we want to see" (Mahatma Ghani). 

Time Flies

I will blog next week..........

Indecision

Kia Ora blog, it's been a while! Thinking I should blog more, but I've got nothing that I can think if to blog about. The key to a good blog though is relating pictures.

Could do a speel about how cellphone services and plans in New Zealand suck. Or how De Winkel thick and creamy Greek honey flavored yoghurt does not have the slightest hint of honey and that it's a waste of money like those new yoghurts. Or even telling you about Luke Smith's excessive arguing that gets him and everyone else no where, it's a waste of time. Maybe I could blog about how I get to go on a roadtrip to the mount tomorrow. Or maybe express my thoughts about indecision and indecisiveness and how they surround my life. Should just blog about sweet dreams or stories from work. Or how lucky and well off I seem to be, how much I truly am thankful for so much. There's always God to blog about, but everyone seems to be doing a whole lot of that these days. I want to be different, post blogs that people can enjoy, laugh at, use to apply to their own lives and find some satisfaction in somehow.

But no, I'll just leave all that and say it is simply just not the same....

Life, But Not As We Know It

Well life has certainly become different. Not different in a bad way, but in way which is exciting because changes occur, new things happen and you begin to be opened up to things which previously were unknown, unrealised or that were never experienced. Suddenly life seems to have a lot more meaning to it, like songs have more meaning and you can actually relate to them, things like that, lol. And instead of thinking about random facts/info or mostly nothing, I constantly have my girlfriend (lol) on my mind. It's probably good I don't have uni right now, or much of a life, because I don't really have to think about much, apart from how to plug in some power or dmx or figuring out if I can fit stock on the shelf at work not.

Life is brilliant. I love Jesus and what he's doing/done in my life and the lives of people at youth and church. I always remind myself that I do what I do to see other people grow and experience a relationship with Jesus. It is so worth it and that's why I love what I do. As Levi said as well I guess, there is benefits in serving Jesus so much which I am definatly enjoying now. I would recommend it....

It is truly amazing what Jesus has done in my life, even over the last few months. I was DEFINATLY not ready for a relationship before. I have changed so much, and for the better. To be honest, I was a dooche and came across as a grump because things in my life were no where near as awesome as they are now. Now i just want to be the best person I can be, not only for myself, but for the people around me, especially Johnnie. I feel like nothing can hold me back and I'm just on the brink of what God has for me, it's awesome just thinking about it and that I have someone to share it with now.


I'm sure life will continue to become more interesting and I'm excited to see where this relationship will lead us. I do know one thing, and that's that it has started great and I'm sure it will just keep getting betterer!

What's on my mind you ask..?

A relationship...
A girlfriend...
Amazing first date...
Johnnie Mahima

Good times ahead
Living the dream!

Too Humble To Come Up With A Skux Blog Title

Just to clear the air, the reason I titled by last blog "Bernig" was because the rest of my blog was real serious and I was going to blog about Bernig as it was (and still is) rather lol. Classic people at Starbucks making spelling mistakes. Maybe I could tell them my name is Justin next time.... I don't think that will happen. I'll just stick with Gus.

I quite enjoy my job, even though it is flipn freezing sometimes doing freezer work like I was last Friday. I've never shared this with anyone but think about it whenever I do freezer work, so in the spirit of reviewing products, I enjoy dealing with Watties supersweet corn, it's just so malleable and can fit in anywhere, probably my favourite product to stock in the freezer. Woolies, skuxbus.

I don't know if this makes me wierd, bit sometimes I play random games with myself. Like guessing if a car has a towbar or not before it drives pass and I can see whether it has one or not. Or counting the amount of lefties in something like an exam. Or sometimes I wonder what it would be like to stop time. Sometimes I guess how many items I can put on the shelf before I put them up at work. I don't get any rewards from these games and more, but I like to think they make my life a little more interesting and more importantly make life funner for me!

Also, I would like to share with the world the correct way to eat toast (and cook it), my way, something only 2 people have had the privilege of hearing. When it comes to toast and doing it properly, I am rather OCD, it's become quite a ritual. It's got to be Quality Bakers-Natures Fresh-Superthick Toast Bread to be able to do it properly. Two pieces of toast at a time only (unless there's only 1 slice left), and it has to be put in upside down. The piece I eat first will be put in the side closest to the chopping board and the other one on the other side (even though it's a 4 toast toaster). I decide which piece I will eat 1st of 2nd determined by the look of the crust. Perfect amount of toasting and crisping which I have got real good at. Then I have to use Anchor Country Soft Butter (no other softened butter is acceptable and margarine is the devil in fake butter form). Butter the 1st piece real nice and evenly and then the 2nd, as soon as they pop from the toaster or the butter doesn't melt the same and everything's not as hot or fresh. Eating the first piece, I eat the side crust which does not look as nice, then eat half of the top and bottom crusts, then eat out half of the middle and roll it in my mouth so it's upside down so the butter is straight in my tounge (stuff tastes different upside down). then eat the other half of the bottom crust and half of the good side crust. Then eat out other middle half bit (upside down again). Then sometimes take a small bite off the top crust depending on the crust. then put the last bit in my mouth upside down. The 2nd piece of toast is eaten the same except there is no upside-down actions. And that's it! Best toast ever!!

This blog just isn't complete without the telling of a dream. I was waiting till I had a dream to finish this and I had one last night. I had left my house for some reason with a towel and wearing no clothes or anything (kinda awkward. I was catching a bus to Johnsonville that had a shower in it, yet I didn't have a shower. I got to J'Ville Shopping Mall (probs worst shopping mall ever by the way, apart from Tawa) and was jumping round the place in a sleeping bag until I got into Halensteins, which was all done up and woah, not like a normal rubbish one. I was looking for clothes because I needed some. Andy Grieves was at the counter but we didn't really say anything to each other. I saw this sweet white t-shirt with black sleeves and a grey cardy with pockets so was going to get those and then some random girl with her random friend asked me if I grew taller everyday. I was just like "I dunno". Then I woke up. Hopefully I got some pants too...

Peace out, time to study.
I am now friends with Luke Smith on Facebook again.

Life is brilliant!

Bernig

So I've written down this whole list of things that I was going to blog about, that's just how passionate I really am about this! But I decided 10mins before this to change my mind.

I got home on Wednesday night and really just felt like looking at old photos of myself from the 90's (which were the sweetest of days). So I started at 1991 when I was born until I got to 1999. There were 100's of pictures and moments I'd completely forgotten about and it was all real emotional.

Looking back, I don't think at all that I've given my parents enough recognition or the thanks they deserve. They were always there and have done so much for me. I do love my parents. I hope I can do the same for my kids. I remember my dad telling me every now and then how excited and pumped he was that he had a son when I was born and how proud he was to be a dad.

So much has changed since then and stuffs happened, things have been said. By why did it have to change?? Why do I have to be legit crying as I'm writing this, I guess heaps of stuff is just hitting home and I'm grown up enough to understand more and be more aware. It's so easy to remember the times that suck and hurt instead of the great times. Then kinda disappointing to realize that they didn't really have to happen anyway.

When I look at photos of me as a kid, in so many of them, I'm just having the time of my life, care free. It's awesome what time can do, but also saddening. Not that I'm not doing awesome now, life is brilliant, Jesus is cranking and there are so many opportunities out there, but simply because of how things change, not always for the better.

Life's a journey, and I think I understand what God showed me at Huge! Camp on Saturday night. I'm stuck on a tiny island in the ocean and can only see water on every horizon. I know with everything in me that no matter what I've got to start swimming. Who knows where or for how long, I just am. Yet I find myself still standing on the island, why?! There's things I need to do before I can do what I want to do, if that even makes sense.

I guess I do have a softer side and can get emotional. There's so much more I could say. Makes me think, a lot. I blame it on reading Mollie's blog before doing this! Haha, but not really, it's from the heart!