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).