TOP THIS

Dear World,

As they say,
"the bare necessities of life will come to you"
"simplicity is key"
  etc.

One of my beautiful friends, +Cara Welker, is currently in her final months volunteering at a girls' orphanage in Bolivia. She just posted about donating clothes and food to an impoverished local community, where they had to drop the clothes in many inconspicuous places in order to avoid being ambushed by the locals. The community is so dire that these donations are fought over with desperation; a hazardous situation that I akin to Black Friday in any American Walmart.

And that's where I stop and think: where does this animalistic desperation come from? For the impoverished locals, I can only imagine that t-shirt could be the difference between being clothed and naked; and for the US bargain hunter, the difference of spending $100 rather than $300 on the latest gadget.

Regardless of the situation, we all seem to want to come out on top. Perhaps it is an imbedded survival instinct, cultured over centuries of human evolution, that renders us with this passion to win.... That's all it is, right? Fine-tuning our animalistic aptitude?

Looking at many ads for London housing, I am in eager search of a "value for money" home; I am thwarted by space-constraints, outdated appliances, and gosh, we all know how location is key.

Wait.... Wasn't it that "simplicity is key"?

And just to juxtapose ideas again, I visited the Patek Philippe Watch Grand Exhibition at the Saatchi Gallery in London. I was a bit overwhelmed with all the lavish watches that made me feel a mixture of claustrophobia, boredom and inferiority, until I came to this display...

And I thought: I'll take the one with the most diamonds, thanks!

So how do I rationalise this behaviour? Easy. Our individual cultures develop at different speeds and directions than each other. What use would an iPhone be in rural Bolivia, where there would be limited phone service and wifi? Likewise, what use would an old t-shirt be here, where good presentation is rewarded exponentially? As much as you might feel guilty for having more material goods than another culture, it is also obvious that these goods have a different inherent value based on their suitability to the culture.

So I guess the moral of the story is: donate your old t-shirts.

London w Marius

Per usual, my time with +Marius Inisconi, albeit limited, was a blast. He was eager to have the "London experience" which includes a warm beer, a pie and a fish and chips. We sat at the Round Table and ordered without restraint. 

Best Fish Batter in Britain (according to us)

The day was beautiful (London always seems to be beautiful when I visit; I take that as a good omen), and we enjoyed our trek, beginning with Hyde Park, traversing to Buckingham Palace, the London Eye and Big Ben, and finishing at Leicester Square. Marius says I carry myself with more poise and confidence; it must be all the balancing acts I do at work and the "deportment lessons" I have (according to my boss at the Café).

!CAUTION! Tourists in Britain.

When talking about my reserves regarding London, Marius the Sage said: "Sally, the more you challenge yourself, the more you accomplish. Do whatever it takes and find a way." And so, I will.

The End of an "Era"

Thus my time in Cardiff comes to a close. In one month, I will be graduating from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, and in that same day, I will be performing a set with my lovely(?) friend +James Golborn. Perhaps this will be our final set, perhaps it won't. Nonetheless, I am overjoyed for this opportunity (slash any of you Cardiffians want to come, contact me ASAP and I'll let you know more; strictly limited capacity in the café).

This move not only emulates my next career advancement, it also represents a departure of life as a student. Sure, I will continue to learn and grow, but I won't be guided by an institution striving for great alumni. I am one of the great, and now I must use my own fuel and pursue my own dreams. No one else can spell these things out for me.

I have found, now that I grow further and further away from my origins, that my path is highly distinct and almost foreign to my hard-working, stability-seeking parents. When Dad tried to suggest a path where I'd be "set for life", I grew adamant against the suggestion. "Set for life" is not the life I have set out to achieve. Terra Incognita - that is what I choose. 

With that, I also have adopted a flexibility in taste. In many cases, those I used to envy as "pretty" or dub "handsome", I no longer consider as such. Perhaps this just proves that our exteriors will always age differently to our expectations. Moreover, our tastes will develop as well. Does this not provide compelling evidence to choose relationships based on integrity rather than looks? 

In terms of my friends, I value those who share my passion for knowledge, expression, honesty and growth. Let's find that happy place, be passionate about our goals and let our world mould us into responsive, responsible human beings.

And I'll finish with a little exchange with James, who often doubts his abilities (he's awesome, without a doubt).

There we have it, Everyone. 

let's "try it tomorrow anyway"

sally forth

&

 "achieve all things"