That day in February last year...

Have a wonderful Sunday! 

Smile! And wish me a safe journey xD I need to transfer my things to another box. It's so LONG! 

Take care of yourself my lovelies,

-Dalanda

xoxo

The camera is ready ;-)

Salomé

- Jean Benner 

The video

Thank you Kira Brandon, couldn't have said it better myself... People, please take note.

Know your worth. Don't treat people like crap. There's never really a good enough excuse and it's never okay to inflict emotional scars on another human being... Especially not one you claim to have feelings for. Seemingly little acts to you could be huge to others and this could be either positive or negative. Both decisions make a big difference to someone so you should choose compassionately.

I can't speak for everyone but in my experience I find that it's not the callous acts that upset you so much but the fact that someone could treat you in such a way. I have love for everyone I have a relationship with (of any kind) and when I love people, I don't hurt them or do things that I know will upset them. It is shitty to know that some won't grant you the same courtesy back but at least you know the true people who truly love you. 

And if someone claims to love you, but treats you like crap or won't make an effort leave. And don't believe they love you, because if they had true love in their heart for you, they would never hurt you, leave you to face things alone, or be one of the causes of your pain and problems. People fight for what they love. For some you can see their priorities are clearly in the wrong place.

And I speak of relationships of any form because it's nothing to do with titles or who's there for the longest but how they treat you. The behaviour of some friends, partners or even family members can be disgusting and you shouldn't stand for it or feel obliged to keep them in their life if they're hurting you. Similarly, you can just have met someone and they can care more for you than any close friends ever did. 

In terms of love relationships, I was going to post this but separately but it all ties in: 

 

Don’t be selfish. If you do not love the way her hair curls at the ends or her nose wrinkles when she laughs then let her go. If you don’t see her as a fucking masterpiece then let her go, because someone else will. Don’t be selfish. If you don’t love the way she sneezes or the way she dribbles the toothpaste down her chin when she brushes her teeth then let her go. If your heart doesn’t almost beat out of your chest when you wake up and the first thing you see is her soundly sleeping on your shoulder. Someone else would kill for that. Being with someone when you know you don’t love them is cruel. It’s not only cruel it’s holding them back from someone that could give them everything. Someone that feels waves breaking in their ribcage when they see her walk around the corner. Someone that has had the worst of days, but rainbows suddenly appear at the thought of her. Someone who hears the sound of her voice and it soothes the darkest of nightmares. If that is not you, let her go. She is wonder, she is magic, she deserves someone who believes that every single day, not just on certain days.

Love someone completely or not at all, who the hell wants to be half-loved? Who the hell wants the knowledge that the person they're in love with doesn't see them as a priority. 

Be present in any way you can and if the love is there, put your heart into it and share it. For any relationship... Feelings are there for a reason and should be acted on and not supressed. Maybe someone really needs your love...

Take care, I'm with you all in spirit :-)

Love,

-Dalanda

xoxo

None are as blind as the ones who don't want to see...

Trying out a shorter fringe...

Shall I cut it or not? 

What do you think? Let me know :-)

Hugs,

-Dalanda

xoxo

Thank you for this, Barbara Goldsmith. 

I hope it's helpful for you all too!

Love and empathy are so, so important. 

All my love,

-Dee

xoxo

Happy Birthday Maria!!

MY BABES!! MY WIFE!!! It's her special day today... It's crazy, we aren't teenagers anymore and we've gone from teens to adults together and she'll be my babes for life! 

In life, I often feel misunderstood because it's rare people get close, and get to know and understand me/ how I work. 

Maria does, and is always there when I deal with stupid people, she will always remind me 'no, you're not going crazy, they're just wankers.' Many people in the world are mean, misguided or selfish and if you don't have good people around you, you could turn in to one or be manipulated and hurt by them. They'll honestly have you questioning yourself, your behaviour and make you feel bad for something they did. 

Maria will always tell me I'm justified in my anger when I am and through her, I am reminded there are people in the world that understand me. She understands the big and little things about me.... For example I can't sleep properly and so she won't call/wake me up if she suspects I'm sleeping... Even if it's at a normal time. Sometimes I wake up to 'are you up, want to go for lunch?' or 'fancy a trip to town?' texts and I get disappointed. xD (I do suspect the kindness is partly because I'm not very good with being woken up because it's so hard to sleep, but I'll go with the cute option because I know that's part of it xD) 

We even got the same shoes recently but we had bought them separately and didn't tell each other. Then we wore them on the same day- she saw my shoes in my snapchat and snap chatted me back like SNAP! We have quite different styles which suit us individually so it was exciting to own the same thing and be twinning! Speaking of twinning, HAPPY BIRTHDAY HARRY! Or as I like to refer to him as, Hazza (Maria's twin brother).

Anyways, I'm going on... But I want to end with saying I'm so grateful for Maria's life, she makes me smile, she cares for me and she's been a supportive, helpful and peng friend for 8 years now. I know I'll care for her, love, support and still talk to her until I go... Even if I don't discuss all my problems with her, I know she cares and wants the best for me. 

Maria, thank you, I love you. Happy birthday girl... We will renew our vows with haribo rings once more...

Love,

-Your wife. xoxo

Part II

Fire in the sky...

The sky was so beautiful, it gave me feels. 

This is the kind of sky you float through dreams in... I'm truly grateful I was able to see this stunning sunrise. With sublime things like this that exist in the world, you can learn to cherish your experience here on earth. Even amongst bad times and hardships, there is beauty in moments like this which you could never pay for or buy. 

And that my friends is the true essence of life. You strive for all these creature comforts and forget to look around you, and grab on to the best things- which just so happen to be free. You shun the real things to get more numbers and things that you'll die and leave behind. 

I would rather leave with memories. I would rather leave with meaningful relationships and delightful lasting memories for those left behind. I would rather leave happy, satisfied and not wanting more. So I do my best to hold on to, and find things in life that are real. 

Take care!

Love, 

-Dalanda

xoxo

There can be things in your life you pray for, look for and truly want... And if you're lucky you'll finally find it one day- or most likely it will find you. The path will be lit and what you dream of is right there for the taking. 

Most people are like omg, thank you universe, God, whatever they believe in, yes! Then they grab it, and go along their very merry way with their blessing in hand. Life isn't completely perfect from there- because it's life but it's a lot better and easier to deal with. 

However, many run away empty handed leaving the thing they were dreaming and hoping for behind. Why? I don't know... Fear? Masochism? Or Maybe sometimes what we wish for isn't really what we want and so when we actually have it, it's easier to just turn our backs to it and hope it goes away. It's easier to kick our blessings instead of taking them and knowing we're worthy and deserving of a happier life. 

Sometimes, maybe it's the people around us who are jealous or wouldn't like to see us better off. Sometimes we are sabotaged or given bad advice intentionally by people that are meant to be in our best interests. Be very careful, people around you could be trying to ruin you and be passing it off as a joke or a bit of fun. Some will have you cursing your blessings and ignoring your gut. Misery loves company. 

 Don't forget, when you get a sudden feeling, it's from somewhere and something beyond you and I. You'd be doing yourself a great disservice to ignore it. At times you have to stand up and know that you deserve better in life. If you put yourself first, you'll be in a better position to help everyone else instead of not being in the right place to help, helping anyway and doing more harm than good. It's a skill to be able to function whilst you're internally fucked and that takes years of practice, discipline and work... Even so, many don't have the strength for it and most don't succeed very well. 

But just keep fighting your corner, if you're lucky maybe someone will come and help you out. 

I pray you find courage. I pray you appreciate the blessings that lay before you in life. I pray that wonderful opportunities continue to flow abundantly like a beautiful stream. I pray you are wise enough to grab all the blessings & good things meant for you in life because you deserve it. We weren't born to suffer, we were born to learn, grow, enjoy and be happy. 

And that is my final wish for you. 

Wherever you can, choose happiness because life is over in a blink of an eye... We can't procrastinate and wait for things, sometimes we have to just try our best. If it doesn't work out, we learned, we tried and that's better than doing nothing and expecting the world to change for us because it won't. We create our own reality. 

So, create your reality and make it beautiful. Go for the life you've always dreamed of. Take a break if you need it. Smile. Be kind. 

Love,

-Dalanda

xoxo

For the sake of your own integrity, and respect- for yourself and others you should be truthful and honest. No matter what, the truth is reality so you should let people deal with reality, even if it's hard... No one wants to be comforted with a lie. If you try and protect someone with a lie, and they find out- which they will or already know as the truth always comes to light... It'll be so much worse than if you were simply honest in the first place. 

It's genuinely really upsetting to be lied to, or have people being dishonest to you. It can mess you up and make you question yourself and wonder why you weren't worth the truth. People can learn, and people are understanding or can be taught so I don't think there's ever a good reason to take the choice away from them and be straight up dishonest. 

Ultimately, if you don't value your relationship with a person at all, or you don't value them and their feelings then be dishonest. If you don't care how you're seen by that person you've lied to and others, or how your actions can affect people negatively then by all means be dishonest. However if not, then my dears the truth will set you free...  Follow it, make people feel special and happy, and don't spread sadness and misery. Seek to uplift with truth, love and light everywhere you go. Give people a little glimpse of heaven. 

Have a great day,

-Dalanda

xoxo

(I wasn't ready, but she likes this one)

This girl is me, but with no chill... I love her lots ❤️

It started raining so a selfie commenced

I hope you're feeling good. Good vibes are being sent as always. 

Love you,

-Dalanda

xoxo

Hold back the river...

Tried to keep you close to me,

But life got in between

Tried to square not being there

But think that I should've been

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes

Hold back the river, so I

Can stop for a minute and see where you hide

Hold back the river, hold back

Once upon a different life

We rode our bikes into the sky

But now we're caught against the tide

Those distant days all flashing by

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes

Hold back the river, so I

Can stop for a minute and be by your side

Hold back the river, hold back

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes

Hold back the river, so I

Can stop for a minute and see where you hide

Hold back the river, hold back

Oh, oho, oho, oho, oho

Oho, oho, oho, oho

Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander

Let us hold each other

Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander

Let us hold each other

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes

Hold back the river, so I

Can stop for a minute and be by your side

Hold back the river, hold back

Hold back the river, let me look in your eyes

Hold back the river, so I

Can stop for a minute and be by your side

Hold back the river, hold

Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander

Let us hold each other

Lonely water, lonely water, won't you let us wander

Let us hold each other

-James Bay

Don't be a fool...

^ credits to the author. 

At the end of the day, there's always someone going through more BS than you that's still happier/more successful... Just be you, do you, don't compare yourself to someone else's model of success/ happiness & try not to become a victim of circumstance...

 I feel this kind of rhetoric is somewhat damaging though. Some simply don't have the strength to pick themselves up & make these miraculous chsnges. Don't beat yourself up for taking time out or just not being well enough to be 'normal'. I'm sure you'll find the strength and courage one day to be & do the best you can. One day, you'll feel emotions other than the negative ones, be grateful & count your blessings. You may have more than you realise. 

"It's okay not to be okay." A difficult concept to grasp but you're not weak if you're a little damaged inside... You've just tried to be very strong for too long and it's caught up to you. Now slow down & catch up to yourself. Find those that will help you to see your light :-)

Love & blessings,

-Dalanda 

xoxo

Here's a pretty picture from last night :-)

I gave you £10, and they gave you £20. You felt that was better just because they gave you more when they had £200 and all I had was £10. 

Sometimes no matter what you do, or say you'll never be enough, have enough or be worth making a sacrifice for... And that's life. Sometimes trying isn't enough, sometimes wanting something really really badly can never bring it to you because life isn't always fair. The best things in life aren't promised... You must fight for them sometimes or just try to be brave and try to keep it all together when things fall apart or don't do your way. 

Hope for the best and pray you encounter people on your path that won't damage you. If you're really lucky, maybe someone might put you first for once... If you already have people or a person like that feel blessed and be grateful, it's rare that one is gifted with that privilege. Regardless of whether you have that privilege or not, try and be the person you wish you had in your life. A touch love and kindness goes a long way, don't keep it all to yourself! :-D

I hope all the good things and people come your way. If you don't feel good, I hope you feel better soon and I hope you have the courage to let go of that which no longer serves you. 

Love,

-Dalanda

xoxo

Never forget...

Leave your lover

I don't have much to give, but I don't care for gold

What use is money, when you need someone to hold?

Don't have direction, I'm just rolling down this road

Waiting for you to bring me in from out the cold

You'll never know the endless nights, the rhyming of the rain,

Or how it feels to fall behind and watch you call his name

Pack up and leave everything,

Don't you see what I can bring

Can't keep this beating heart at bay

Set my midnight sorrow free,

I will give you all of me

Just leave your lover, leave him for me.

Leave your lover, leave him for me.

We sit in bars and raise our drinks to growing old

Oh, I'm in love with you and you will never know,

But if I can't have you I want this life alone

Spare you the rising storms and let the rivers flow

You'll never know the endless nights, the rhyming of the rain

Or how it feels to fall behind and watch you call his name

Pack up and leave everything,

Don't you see what I can bring

Can't keep this beating heart at bay

Set my midnight sorrow free,

I will give you all of me

Just leave your lover, leave him for me

Leave your lover, leave him for me.

Leave your lover, leave him for me.

-Sam Smith 

The accuracy is real...

Thanks, Bill!

I can't seem to embed the video, but click here to watch, Bill nails it...

It's some good food for thought...

Have a lovely day guys!

-Dalanda
xoxo

Every prayer is one for happiness & peace...

You won't have to be alone, or let down. I'm there with you that may be suffering in spirit, I understand how painful it is to be alone. You're in my prayers and if ever you need me you know where to find me. I'm glad for the people that have already reached out... So much love to you all, you are all beautiful and amazing. You deserve to smile. Don't take the people that hurt you to heart, your pain doesn't make you weak. You are stronger than you believe and worth more than what the people who don't see your worth make you seem to be worth. 

Don't be scared, I've got you. 

Love you,

-Dalanda 

xoxo

Wrote this yesterday and it didn't upload... Ugh. The cellphone turned 40 yesterday! :-)

You don't hear much about great POC like him at school... I bet you've not heard of him, it's a shame. I hadn't either till today... Probably due to the west-centric curriculum in our modern education system. Heck, they've managed to infiltrate so much through colonisation that developing countries are mostly denied the right of education. This is due to poverty caused by western countries ruining their infrastructure in a bid to spread their ideals & religion in so called 'poor' countries who ironically sit on the gold, diamonds and oil that adorn our leaders & help us run our 'first world' countries. 

What's funny is that even when these developing countries have education, they like us also don't have full curriculums that encourage free thinking, holistic teaching and learning. Instead, we are indoctrinated & shown how and what we are meant to think. 

Knowledge is meant to expand your mind but the education system just serves to narrow it down and put you in a box. We're being fed dreams of the wrong variety and sent to chase after them like fools. 

Let us learn to think outside the box by exploring ideas, themes & taught beliefs critically... Also, we must trust ourselves. If something doesn't seem quite right and it doesn't resonate with you, it's probably BS. Don't forget you have an inner compass, dear. It's essential especially now at a time when truths are trying to be hidden from the public because less people are (metaphorically) sleeping & more are starting to realise the violence perpetuated through our system on every level. Cases like Sandra Bland, or even more recently Christian Taylor- an unarmed 19 year old black boy shot by the police. 

It's scary to think it has been going on for so long and only now people are standing up. You've got shit like the war on drugs to punish poor POC instead of offering help. I'm pretty sure things like the 'war on drugs' have nothing to do with drugs themselves because if it did, all of the police officers would be at places like music festivals where the general demographic is white, middle/ upper class and off their face on all kinds of party drugs. Instead, they are breaking down the doors of houses in poor areas with people selling drugs to make ends meet. Drugs are bad for you don't get me wrong, but I feel like people take them to escape things and so they should be helped, not criminalised. Addiction is a far bigger and more dangerous problem than drug use. 

Losing ignorance might not change the world but it will change your perspective. It may help you to understand life better and allow you to not fall into any traps. Soon, if enough people wake up maybe more things will come to light, and truths revealed. Also, like I've said before, don't take everything you're told or fed lying down- especially from the media, mass co-operations and schools. Nothing is ever as it seems. 

In the words of my homeboy Karl Marx (yes, I refer to philosophers as my homeboys cause they're pretty fucking cool) 'You have nothing to lose but your chains!'

Have your own quiet revolution until the sleepy ones wake up. If you revolt, there will be a revolution. It starts in your mind...

Love,

-Dalanda

xoxo