Adele

Someone like you - The Brit Awards 2011

Isn't she fantastic? This came on shuffle today, because I decided to listen to my iPad but I've not updated the music in years so it's loads of throwbacks :'-) 

I remember Adele very well from when she first came out, being a Londoner and she got a lot of exposure here before she became more well known everywhere else.  

I used to lie in my bed listening to her music (and many others) when I was younger (I still listen to music in bed every day). I have one memory of Maria and I texting each other the lines to this song that got to us- we happened to be listening and crying at the same time.  Haha, ahh nostalgia is sweet...

For fun, here's an old and rather embarrassing picture of me from around that era (May 2010 to be precise). I didn't leave the house like that, it's just what my hair looks like when I take my braids out. I must have taken a cheeky selfie before washing my hair (might explain the annoyance in my face, properly washing and conditioning Afro hair is a long and painful process)

Haha, well I've looked pissed off in pictures since birth too so... *shrugs*

I hope you have a wonderful and blessed week everyone! :-) 

Love and light,

-Dalanda 

xoxo

P.S- I'm listening to my iPad again as I'm typing and I need a dollar by Aloe Blacc just came on. Maria and I loved that song, and I remember me telling her that it'd be great if Adele covered it xD synchronicity! 

Thanks for the reminder, Bill...

"This is not a dress rehearsal, this is your life."

Give me love

Give me love like her,

'Cause lately I've been waking up alone,

Paint splattered teardrops on my shirt,

Told you I'd let them go,

And that I'll fight my corner,

Maybe tonight I'll call ya,

After my blood turns into alcohol,

No, I just wanna hold ya.

Give a little time to me or burn this out,

We'll play hide and seek to turn this around,

All I want is the taste that your lips allow,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, give me love,

Give me love like never before,

'Cause lately I've been craving more,

And it's been a while but I still feel the same,

Maybe I should let you go,

You know I'll fight my corner,

And that tonight I'll call ya,

After my blood is drowning in alcohol,

No, I just wanna hold ya.

Give a little time to me or burn this out,

We'll play hide and seek to turn this around,

All I want is the taste that your lips allow,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

Give a little time to me or burn this out,

We'll play hide and seek to turn this around,

All I want is the taste that your lips allow,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love.

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover,

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover,

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover,

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover.

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover,

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover,

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover,

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover (love me, love me, love me).

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover (give me love),

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover (give me love),

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover (give me love, love me),

M-my my, m-my my, m-my my, give me love, lover (give me love).

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love,

My, my, my, my, oh give me love.

[Break]

[Hidden track "The Parting Glass"]

Of all the money that e'er I had

I've spent it in good company

And all the harm that e'er I've done

Alas it was to none but me

And all I've done for want of with

To memory now I can't recall

So fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be with you all

Of all the comrades that e'er I had

They are sorry for my going away

And all the sweethearts that e'er I had

They would wish me one more day to stay

But since it falls unto my lot

That I should rise and you should not

I'll gently rise and I'll softly call

Good night and joy be with you all

A man may drink and not be drunk

A man may fight and not be slain

A man may court a pretty girl

And perhaps be welcomed back again

But since it has so ought to be

By a time to rise and a time to fall

Come fill to me the parting glass

Good night and joy be with you all

Good night and joy be with you all

Ed Sheeran 

xo

                              ❤️

The Golden Rules

The real principles we should live our lives by. 

Happy Lenny Kravitz scarf day!

It's three years since Lenny Kravitz went out in this truly enormous scarf.   

#NeverForget

World behind my wall

It's raining today

The blinds are shut, it's always the same

I tried all the games that they play

But they made me insane

Life on TV

It's random, it means nothing to me

I'm writing down what I cannot see

Wanna wake up in a dream...

Whoa, whoa

They're telling me it's beautiful

I believe them but will I ever know,

The world behind my wall?

Whoa, whoa

The sun will shine like never before

One day I will be ready to go

See the world behind my wall

Trains in the sky

Are traveling through fragments of time

They're taking me to parts of my mind

That no one can find

I'm ready to fall

I'm ready to crawl on my knees to know it all

I'm ready to heal, I'm ready to feel

Whoa, whoa

They're telling me it's beautiful

I believe them but will I ever know

The world behind my wall?

Whoa, whoa

The sun will shine like never before

One day I will be ready to go

See the world behind my wall

See the world behind my wall

See the world behind my wall

See the world behind my wall

I'm ready to fall

I'm ready to crawl on my knees to know it all

I'm ready to heal, I'm ready to feel

Take me there

Take me there

Take me there

Whoa, whoa

They're telling me it's beautiful

I believe them but will I ever know

The world behind my wall?

-Tokio Hotel

These lyrics are perfect.

Here's the video!

On a side note, Bill's face is unreal!

What did the poor baby do?!

Hi! :-)

So, I wasn't able to fall asleep till almost 5am and then the postman woke me up at 7:30am this morning D-:

I mean, I'm not hugely pissed off because he delivered my new Yankee Candle, but still.

 I've not been back to sleep since then and I won't be able to for some time. It's annoying because I'll try to fall asleep again, but I can't so I waste time or lose track of time doing something meaningless. People underestimate how easy it is to lose time when you aren't 100% with it. 

I try to not wake up properly unless I have to... But when I'm tired my perception of necessities are a little skewed. This can be a problem when your mother comes in to tell you something important in the morning before work, and you manage to have a conversation to get rid of her; but you were half asleep and don't remember what on earth she was talking about as you weren't listening to begin with. 

She took to leaving me notes or things on my desk after some time, often waking me just to tell me where specifically on the table she left the note (tbh, my desk can get pretty bad... I'm better this year xD). She obviously secretly enjoys it, I know I'm half asleep but I can pick up on that much... She shouts SLEEPING BEAUTY! and some other silly things at me to wake me up and then she starts smiling and asking how I am as if she's not just disturbed me when I was just entering REM sleep.

She still calls me now in the morning sometimes, but not as early as before. 

It really burns my soul when people wake me up unnecessarily. I mean of course I wouldn't mind waking up, or losing sleep for a good reason but I would have to REALLY like someone for me to be okay with being woken up randomly. I don't think I've found anyone yet actually... Maybe when life and reality start being more pleasant, and I sleep better I might enjoy being woken up in general. That's what I hope for because if I've not had a bad night and I go to sleep at say 1 or 2, I usually wake up around 7 ish anyway and stay in bed for a bit. 

 I just really enjoy sleep, man! It's a privilege I'm often denied because my mind doesn't want to cooperate- even though I don't drink caffeine. Tbh, my life is more than enough to keep me up at night anyways so I don't need it :3 But being up doesn't mean I can actually be productive and nothing is more annoying than a restless mind... 

Hmm, well I was saying I'm not that mad at being woken up, but looking back over this mini rant about sleep maybe I'm just a tad salty. And possibly delirious from extended amounts of not enough sleep, stress, etc xD. 

Anyways, back on track...

We all get overwhelmed but it's really important to hold on to the hope that you'll get stronger and things will get better. That's what I am trying to do as I know my hope will attract better things or at least give me something to hold on to. 

If they don't, well I'm still trying. I know I could do more, but can't everyone? We could all be better but sometimes it's enough to just do the best with what we have because nothing, and no one is perfect. 

Seeking perfection only leads to fear and anxiety because it's an unobtainable which you can end up driving yourself crazy over. It's difficult to get over, but possible in little steps... Remember details make up the masterpiece but the masterpiece is more than just the tiny details so don't sweat it. 

It's important to overcome problems caused by the ego and find little victories for yourself in things you didn't have the strength to do before. There is strength in and around you so please harness it for yourself! 

We are strong. We are always supported- internally and externally. Just look at the signs around you and trust yourself. They're there... 

Notice little coincidences and synchronicities... It's usually things trying to get your attention and give you messages. They can come in many ways...

Today, there was another knock on the door, I presumed it was the postman again as I'm waiting on a few bits and bobs (I do like online shopping, I like normal shopping a lot too, but there's people there). Anyways, it was some Jehovah's Witensses- if I had known I wouldn't have opened the door. 

If you know me by now, you'd know I personally don't believe in organised religion. I don't believe religion should be abolished, because some really need it and there's a sense of community etc... As Marx said, 'Religion is the opium of the masses.' and we all need consolation and relief. At the heart of religious teachings there are some great lessons. 

However, I wouldn't tie myself down to any religion as it's too heavily influenced by man and ego. To be honest, I think there are lessons to be learned everywhere in every belief if you're open... I don't really want to restrict myself as I feel what's most important is being a loving, kind person and being grateful for what I have. I enjoy and/or appreciate aspects of most religions I've read about. For example, there are some beautiful prayers out there in many different languages- Hebrew and Arabic being some of my favourites. Your dialogue with God doesn't have to be formal, but I appreciate the beauty and intent in words. I also personally do my best to respect and understand the laws behind a religion too if I want to do some direct research or in general which I think is really important. You don't have to agree, but you must be respectful and tolerant of others and what they believe. 

 From the religions I've read about, they are all fundamentally about basic human principles like: not harming or hurting others/ living beings/ innocent people, being kind, generous, sharing love, being grateful and accepting that there is a higher power. 

My belief is that religion is man made and spirituality is divine- so I do have belief and faith in most of the things that come with a religion but without a bunch of old men grossly misinterpreting holy books as a means of control, oppression or negative indoctrination. Not all do, but a fair few do, or there's laws that are social more than they are religious which I don't agree with. And if I don't share in those views or agree with many parts of the religion and/or how it's interpreted I can't comfortably call myself a member of that religion. It's out of respect to the people that do actually follow and dedicate their lives to faith, and following that path... It's not the way I would personally like to experience faith so I create my own experience. Which can be distilled to: be love! Seriously, it's so important to spread that shit everywhere because it feels we are in a world that's been plunged into darkness with all of this hatred, and reluctance to share the love even though we are all connected. Be grateful for what you have, and no matter what, don't lose touch with the world. I mean I'm just a student, but I can still appreciate that I'm better off and have more than millions of people on earth. Humility is important- you should respect your fellow man and realise no one is better or worse, we are all part of the same human race. Like Lennon sang 'a brotherhood of man'. Never sacrifice your integrity and last but not least Don't be an arsehole. It doesn't really matter about what or who you believe in to me, it matters more if you're a kind and loving person. 

For me love and kindness basic human principles that should transcend religion. I personally believe that needing religion to be a good person means you lack morality and empathy.

 It does happen sometimes, some people can take being horrible better, some even enjoy or get pleasure from it but that's only bad if you do nothing about  fixing it or continue to give into negativity. Many (too many for my liking) have less empathy or are super selfish, maybe because of their life or just how they as a person but that falls under the argument that it's what and not who you are. Urges can be suppressed, just like how many suppress the urge to do the right thing. 'The right thing' can appear the most difficult thing at first but the ends will  always justify the means if you follow your heart and decide to do the right things. If one is sincere, and doing the right thing, they'll never be shamed. 

Compassion and empathy can be learned, and religion does teach that to some extent which is also why I don't completely oppose it. 

So I don't have have a labelled religion, but principles and morals that fall under love which I live my life on and will continue to until I die. Even when things fall apart, and even when it's not returned. If the world and the people around you turn nasty, that doesn't mean it's okay for you to do the same. That's when being a decent human being matters the most. 

But to explain my belief to deeply religious people is incredibly jarring as it usually results in cognitive dissonance, and then me having to go into detail and explain with examples etc so that it makes sense whilst also pointing out I don't have a problem with them having a religion, I'm not a satan worshiper (never) and I do believe in God. You're sometimes met with hostility and I can rarely be arsed for a confrontation. 

So anyways, the Jehovah's Witness asked me if I believe in God and I said yes I was raised Catholic- which is true. I still think churches, mass and the music is beautiful, I still believe in the message of the Gospel (but there are many disappointing and sometimes hateful interpretations flying around about them). And then they asked me about the future, to which I replied that I don't know and I don't like to think about it because our future is created by our present. So I like to try and take each day at a time. 

To which she asked if I thought that our future is affected by other people. I mean, the answer is obviously yes but that bothers me. Our life could be and is affected often quite severely both positively and negatively depending on people's roles in your life, how they treat you and also the world at large, and people collectively fucking up the planet, portaying negative messages and creating the next heartbreak/fuckperson generation. 

But it ultimately comes down free will which we were all gifted with. I can't change how people are going to behave, how people going to treat me, or the planet. Whether people decide if they will hurt and hinder me or not. But I can try and minimise the impact it'll have on my life and hope and pray that the people around me all the people that have my heart won't hurt me or be careless. I try and be strong and deal with things as best I can when situations, people and opportunities let me down and/or things go wrong. 

I just trust. Because there's nothing else I can do and if I do, I've got nothing to lose. 

I pondered this for a few seconds and then she handed me this leaflet. 

It's probably one of my favourite parts of the Bible. Just because it's about a world and life I have always dreamed of. Comfort, your pain, hurt and tears wiped away, your problems gone. Not needing to worry because it's all okay and it's all going to be okay too. Just beautiful, and sadly far from many people's realities. 

But I take this as a sign to hold on to hope. 

Honestly, all I live for are those little pieces of heaven that we are gifted in our lives which we sometimes miss when we don't live in the moment. The little things that break up the mundane nature of day-to-day life and make it more bearable. 

I do realise that thiis in essence, living life waiting for good things that may never happen to happen but if I try hard enough maybe I can create the life I've always dreamed of, or something better. And you can too. Don't leave room for doubt. 

Consider it a message for all of us. 

There will be brighter days, and they will shine brighter than all the dark days put together. Just be proactive as things don't always necessarily land on your lap. There's a bit of co-creation involved in miracles, but you'll know what to do if you quiet your mind and give your heart a chance to speak. 

Be the best that you can be, and don't ever think you're not worthy of good things. We were put on this earth to learn and not suffer, don't torture yourselves for you might trigger something off in your head that you have far less control over.  

Take care!

Love as always,

-Dalanda

xoxo

I thought you might like to join me on my impromptu afternoon stroll through the park. - I was taking the scenic route back home, you see...

'Twas a rather fortunate accident though! Finally not being able to see properly or know immediately which direction to go in has a plus! (I still have to think about my left and right and my eyes can't even be fixed with glasses T_T)

I love to be in nature of most kinds. It's such a good place to just breathe, look around and see the little gifts of beauty in the world that we so often walk past and/or destroy. 

 Sadly I couldn't stay there very long at all, but it was a nice little treat. I grow weary of the same scenes every day. 

I hope you like these pictures and can share in some of the small joys of nature with me. 

Take care!

Love,

-Dalanda

xoxo

A few of my favourite Van Gough quotes...

-Rumi

Is it true that you've been a very good boy?

Suga, suga how you get so fly?

Peace. Peace of mind, body, soul, spirit and our planet. 

Comfort. 

Courage. 

Strength. 

Love.

Help. 

Light. 

Mercy.

Healing.  

Humanity.  

(I ran out of normal sized candles, but the intent is still there... I wrote some of my intentions on the back of the tea light)

Please join me in sending thoughts and prayers to all the people whos lives have been changed forever today. And lest we forget the poor souls who live in terror, war, oppression... Those living and seeing nightmares every single day. 

I want to see peace in my lifetime. We need to stop hurting each other, an eye for an eye and the world would be blind. 

I spotted this at 11:11, the wishing hour.

It's funny because I was wishing for a better, happier and peaceful planet that would be easier to live in and then an atrocity like that happens. 

I don't understand how some can be so cruel to their fellow man... How they can discard them as though we aren't one in the same and as though they aren't innocent people just trying to live their lives in peace and find some happiness in this crazy, harsh world we live in. 

 I keep looking and I just can't see many signs of humanity around me. 

Events like this serve as a bitter reminder of how fragile and destructive the human mind can be (as you can't be of sound mind to do something like that) and how fragile life is. 

The unfortunate victims were people like you and I... someone's child, friend, sibling, neighbour, partner, parent etc and their lives were cut short. 

I fear for humanity, or what's left of it. I don't know what's happening to the world and the people that inhabit it but it's making me sick. 

Please keep all those affected in your prayers- including the attackers because there's something very wrong with them.  

Stay safe everyone and cherish your loved ones as you always should. 

As these tragedies often prove, tomorrow is never promised and the cold hand of death can touch the shoulder of you or someone you love at any moment. It's not nice to think about, but it's real. It's a part of life and it's why we should live every second the best way we can, instead of trudging through life doing mundane things day by day. 

Learn to appreciate the beauty in the world around you, even in those monotonous tasks for there is a lot that we take for granted.

I'll light a candle for them now, maybe join me in doing this, or light one in your head... It's all about intent. 

Take care!

Love you,

-Dalanda 

xoxo

I made an interesting realisation today...

In case anyone wondered what my hair inspo is! xo

(I'm just pulling your leg :-P)

I'm quite enjoying my little Afro puff, it's quite spongy. I would comb it out into a bigger Afro, but the wind would leave me looking like syndrome from The Incredibles >_>. 

Anyways, 

Take care as always and deep condition your hair. 

Love,

-Dalanda

xoxo

This train seat looks like it's trying to DJ

Lmao

Oh Nicki. 

But tbh, it's a spectrum and that's just the pretty accurate initial external reaction so here's some more pics for you to relate to on a deeper level xD (but I hope you don't have to). 

(This would also be me if I was a stop sign)

I'll stop here xD

Enjoy the relatability! (yes, I've just made that word up)  

Remember to take care of yourselves, and others! 

When it gets hard, or people really take it out of you and hit you where it hurt, for the love of all that is good, do NOT do this. 

Don't let pain turn you into a monster, bless even those that hurt you and then move on having learnt your lesson and left the toxic people or situations behind. 

If you switch off your heart, you'll turn yourself into a monster that will hurt people without remorse or regard for anyone (but yourself maybe). 

Having a heart and empathy is what makes us decent human beings. Those detached from their heart are ruthless and don't care or even think about who or what they trample on, scar and disturb. Those are the people that can bring themselves to hurt people, animals, the earth etc. 

The cycle of heartlessness may even continue through the people they've encountered in life and screwed over too. In fact, maybe that might be why there are so many horrible people in the world. They switch off their hearts and ethics either because they've been hurt and/or wish to delve into the sweet nectar of that capitalist and hedonistic small % of society ... 

Massive co-operations for example. They don't care that taxes pay for education, health, welfare etc, they just care about keeping their designer wallets fat, and buying their sixth holiday home. Fuck the poor people, the starving kids, the underpaid healthcare staff and teachers, the others... 'If it isn't making me money I'm not interested.' It's BS, but they've sold it pretty well to us all because tbh, it isn't even exclusively co-operations behave in this way, even people fall into that category in varying degrees. They've created invisible borders, an invisible concept called money that runs the world when we were born here for free and there's enough for everyone.... We pay to live in our own planet and money can make people do some horrible and/or stupid things. 

I would personally rather invest in what is real... That which was there before man created all this shit to distract us from our hearts and become miserable, consumerist, zombies buying into crap we don't need to fill the void we switched off to chase this 'dream'.

I hate to ruin the ending, but the capitalist dream is an unobtainable one because you'll never have enough (think the Great Gatsby). 

The system capitalises on greed, insecurities and numbers... And numbers are infinite so each goal will be met with another goal, and another target and it's endless. 

But our time on this planet isn't. It's something to think about and consider...

Tomorrow isn't promised. 

When you die, you only take your soul with you, so be remembered for your good character, kindness, and honesty not for buying into false dreams, being a pretentious arsehole or just not remembered at all because you never bothered to form any decent relationships so when you die all people care about is who gets what.

But of course we have free will, it's always up to you to decide how it ends. 

I suggest you start savouring every day, and doing things for your heart, soul, and body... 

It's important to heal yourself, grow as a soul, as a person and be active about your healing. Put the same effort into helping yourself that you would to making billions because you are priceless. And if you don't look after your body, you'll feel like shit and not enjoy being around. You can't buy health. 

You can't wait around for time to heal things or situations to remedy themselves either because nothing ever does.

Tbh, I don't know how that notion got around, it's absolute bollocks. It's like messing your room up and thinking that if you wait long enough your clothes will fly back into the closet, your bed will make itself and your floor will be hoovered. It doesn't work like that. You can wait to find strength and then go tidy, or maybe  get a friend to help you and do it together but until you deal with it, you'll be standing in your own mess which is unpleasant and quite unnecessary. 

Look after your soul, if you don't feel comfortable in your own skin or within yourself you need to look at why and fix it. You deserve peace of mind. 

The world needs peace of mind, help create it. 

Break the cycle of pain. 

Love,

-Dalanda 

xo