Are You a Morning Person?

It is well to be up before daybreak, for such habits contribute to health, wealth, and wisdom. - Aristotle

Do you wake up; half asleep, put your trousers on backwards, forget things for work or breathe fire at anyone who dares ask you something before your morning coffee? Then you, are not a morning person.

I on the otherhand am. Yes, thats right, I am a morning person. I love the mornings. I drive to work in my little Clio singing away to the radio and laughing along with Jonny Vaughn. I drum away on my steering wheel and, on very special occasioons I even dance along with my windscreen wipers. I drive along feeling very sorry for the 'Not a morning person' people. Yes! The 'Not a morning person' people; those of you who I see everyday in your cars looking like it's the end of the world, and you hate your life. Never smiling before 11am and disliking anyone who does. You see me laughing and singing away like a lunatic and think I HATE HER!!

I am sorry you feel that way, but I can't help it; I am irrecoverably in love with mornings. I love being up early, I love the feeling of mornings and I love the smell of mornings. My sleeping in tends to end by 9am, anything past that and I feel like I've wasted my day, I do, I feel really guilty.

So, you say, how do I become a morning person? Simples! I reply, here are a few tips:

• People think it's important to get 8 hours of sleep a day, this is not always the case. Our demands for sleep vary and change everday. If you do not feel tired, then don't force yourself to try and sleep, it doesn't work and it just causes you to become stressed out. Instead, sleep when you can't keep your eyes open and set an alarm for 7 am the next day. You may struggle at first but after a week or two your body will set an internal clock and you will start waking up natrually early. On weekends, allow a lie-in till 9.
  
• Create reasons to get up! Work does not have to be and should not be your only reason to get up in the morning. Get up in the morning because you can. What about a decent breakfast, that first cup of coffee, the fresh air, these should be your reasons to get up in the morning, so start counting your blessings and enjoy them.
  
• Reality check. You can be a morning person, change your attitude and start seeing that you are the only thing preventing yourself for having a more constructive day before 12pm.
  
• SMILE. Everyday wake up, stretch and smile. Smiling releases endorphins and makes us feel better. Even when we fake a smile we feel better. Not only that but a person that smiles is seen to be more pleasent, sincere, attractive and more gregarious than a person who does not. Promotion anyone?

Give it a go

Bxx

Serenity

Whatever religion you follow or whether you follow none at all, at one point or another I’m sure you’ve believed in yourself. Like love, faith is of no use, unless you believe in your own capability. However sometimes we forget what we are capable of, and sometimes we need a little courage or a simple reminder. Here is a little prayer for those of you struggling to find that courage. Just remember that nothing is impossible.

Grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that everything will be alright
if I believe;

(‘The Serenity Prayer' - Altered by Bezine so not to offend those of you, not of a religious nature)

Eat Pray Love

The streets of Rome are full of history; Every ruin, every bend, every wall, would tell you a story if it could. Magnificent Rome. The city is passionate, the language beautiful and the architecture heavenly. What more could one want.

The only place in the world you can eat a pizza whilst gazing at the grandeur of The Pantheon, the resting place of the Renaissance master Raphael. Home of the Fontana de Trevi, at once Home to John Keats, Home to the Spanish Steps and the vibrant Trastevere.

Elizabeth Gilbert captures the very essence of the Italian Capital in her autobiography 'Eat Prey Love', (Now a major motion picture starring Julia Roberts'.)

The book is broken into 3 parts: Italy, India and Bali.

I am writing my review based on the completion of Italy, and I am so sure of my adoration of Gilbert's writing that I will happily advise every woman I know to read Eat Prey Love, after only completing 36 chapters. Her ability to describe the feelings of emptiness, heartbreak and vulnerability so precisely, is incredible. You will find yourself empathising throughout, when reading her accounts of love, lost love, hope and adventure. Prepare to crave all things carbohydrate during part 1, I even recommend buying a decent gelato to accompany it.

So, wherever you are, when you have time, I'd advise you to walk to your nearest bookstore or log onto your Amazon account and purchase Eat Prey Love. If you can't pack up your troubles and leave, read the book, then see the movie. Hand on my heart, I can honestly say, that this is the most deliciously brilliant read.

Be Aware With Bezine

Careful is a word that often occurs in sentences as we tell our loved ones Goodbye for the day. 'Be careful crossing the road'. 'Drive Carefully'. However, I'm not sure how many parents say 'careful not to get raped on your way home from school!' as their children leave the house. It almost seems totally absurd, but in the light of the recent rape of a 14 year old in broad daylight, I'm starting to wonder whether we've become too relaxed in the notion of making children aware of sexual predators, and thinking maybe more should be done to increase this awareness.

On Thursday 16th September at 3pm near London Road, Guildford a young school girl was raped on her walk home. This news was really shocking, because if you know Guildford, you know it as a pleasant town in the heart of Surrey largely populated with Mums, Range Rovers and students. You'd assume it's a perfectly safe town and that any 14 year old would be fine walking home alone at 3pm. You'd assume that because there are people everywhere and most of the roads are constantly occupied with cars; no one would be able to attack someone in broad daylight and go unnoticed. You'd assume wrong.

This incident although horrific is a great reality check. Living outside major cities may lessen the threat of being attacked, but it does not abolish it and we shouldn't be fooled into thinking otherwise.

I've lived in the city, and now I live in Surrey, but I never feel completely safe walking home in the winter months, even in well lit areas, and it turns out I'm not alone. An article published in the Guardian stated that 'almost half of the girls up to the age of 18 feel unsafe in Britain's biggest cities'. The article goes onto say that 'One in five of these girls feel threatened by gangs and more than 40% knew of someone who had been attacked'. This disturbing fact is sad but true, and although we can't stop every attack that occurs, we may be able to prevent a few.

Its a shame that any girl should be scared to go out, and a fear of being attacked seems to be preventing people from fully living their lives. Poor street lighting should not be an issue but '91% of the questioned girls claimed it was'. Most girls would feel safer with an increased police presence, and I have to agree. Take for example the increased security after and before football games, there are police everywhere, and on those occasions I'd never have a problem walking home or going for a run, because I knew there was always someone to help near by.

People in authority need to do more to make people feel safer outside their homes. Whether it be supplying more street lighting in poorly lit areas, increasing police presence, introducing self defence classes into after school activities or simply reeducating young people to the dangers of walking/travelling alone. The last thing we want is to create a neurotic fearful society, but it seems that not doing anything is doing that anyway.

Bezine tips for staying safe:

1. Keep to well lit areas

2. Do not walk with your headphones in

3. Be aware of your surroundings

4. Always take a sensible pair of shoes to walk home in (You aren't going anywhere fast in stilettos)

5. Get a Taxi where possible (Registered)

6. Always travel in twos

7. Call someone before you leave to let them know where you are going

8. Don't talk on your mobile when walking alone

9. Fight or Run = Always Run

10. Don't let fear get the better of you

Evening Words

Our decisions can make or break us. The directions and paths we chose often change not only our lives but those around us. In one moment your life can change. All it takes is a second. The missed goal. The wrong answer. The right direction. The missed opportunity...

No matter how obsolete these decisions seem at the time, they all have their place, and they can alter everything that happens thereafter.

The outcome of our choices is inevitable. You cannot take back what was said. You cannot pretend it didn’t happen. You cannot re-take that missed opportunity. You cannot change the past. What’s done is done. A split second can change the world. So, think before you act. Be kind with your words. Always say what is in your mind. Never be too proud to apologise.

And, always try to be the best you can be

Bezine xx

The Journey Begins

So it all begins. Just like that you wake up one day with an undeniable need to run! Run as fast as you can into the distance and not look back. Nothing can stop you, not even the people you love. It's like an inexplicable force. A desire so strong, you leave the people you love, you put your career on hold, and you book yourself onto a volunteer programme the other side of the world. You question your own motives and even wonder whether it's the right thing to do, but not even your own doubts or fears can break the pull into the unknown.

From October 29th to December 29th I will be volunteering at an Orphanage in Mexico.

Mexico has recently been in the papers for all the wrong reasons; Drug Wars, Civil Unrest, Murders and Kidnapping. In 2009 alone, 10,000 children were left orphaned in the city of Ciudad Juarez, due to the drug wars.

However, Mexico is a very large country with a very large population, and not everyone is involved in crime. I'm just as likely to get attacked walking alone at night in East London, and apparently more recently in 'Victoria Station'. I've spoken to a number of people who disagree with the bad press Mexico is receiving. From what I have been told Mexicans are some of the friendliest people you will ever meet, with a passion for music, work, life and most importantly they are very proud of their culture.

I cannot wait to experience life out there, and I'm truly excited to be working with other like minded people, partaking in festival season, eating real Mexican food and last but far from least I'm excited about meeting the children, and the challenge of learning all their names. My 'Mexican for Beginners' book is in the post, my place is certain, my mind made up, now all I have to do is book the flights. I will be keeping a diary about my time in Mexico, I hope you enjoy reading it. Let the journey begin......

Love
B xx