2013 came with a number of surprises. I suspect 2014 is going to produce more of the same. Surprises are excellent things. You should give yourself surprises all the time, just to keep yourself from getting complacent. It is not difficult to give yourself surprises. You just need to be aware of what comes into your days. Whatever you find on your path is meant to be on it. Take note, is all. What you do with each ‘ever’ you find along your way, is your business. A trip to the seaside can be a surprise for yourself. A day immersed in Nature. An ice-cream when you are on a diet. A day off work when you should really be working. Sometimes these things are what you need.
Surprises are good things to give. If you have money spare, buy an unbirthday present for someone you are close to. An unbirthday present is honestly the best present to receive, it never fails to bring a smile to the face of the recipient. Buy flowers. For others, yourself. Remember that a lot of men like flowers, too. There is a legitimate business in cut flowers. It is honest, and it is sustainable. Support it – they are grown for their beauty – their ability to transform a living space. Invest in your senses. If you cannot afford to buy flowers, then pick flowers in Nature. She does not mind. It is important to know that flowers do not cry when they get cut. They don’t feel a thing.
Keep in mind that there are two kinds of surprises. Those that we like – and those that we don’t. We do not like being surprised by the sudden injury to – or death of – a loved one, for instance. That is always a big surprise to swallow. We do not like the surprise news of two young suicide-bombers being used in the past two weeks. Used. Who is busy bending those young heads? They must watch themselves. In fact, why don’t we just dispel the big fat urban myth right here, right now: you blow up other people and you do not get rewarded on your ‘other’ side. There are no rewards for your ‘allegiance’ to a flawed cause. Is it true that the pushers of these exploding people reward the family that is left behind for their relative’s ‘bravery’? That is untidy if it is the case. Blood money.