WHO'S WORLD OF FANTASY WILL YOU DIVE INTO NEXT?

ALRIGHT, ALRIGHT, BEFORE YOU kill me to death for my absence, allow me to defend myself by saying that I was trying to figure out this El Nino (or rather, El Jua, hehe). Kenyan weather is one of the hardest things to predict – and I’m pretty sure you can relate with thinking it would shine the whole day only to have it rain when you had worn your favourite heels to work. In my case, I was wondering whether to re-take swimming classes or buy an umbrella that could be used in either circumstance. Hehe. Does this not-guilty plea serve to alleviate the charges?

On a serious note, though, I am terribly sorry for having missed our interactions for 2 weeks in a row! Life really does hit different when one transitions from a state of near relaxation – holiday – to a state of schedules and timetables and deadlines – school. I do not promise that I will be as consistent as I have been so far, but you can bet that there will always be something worth your time when you get into this space. 🙂

Before any further ado, allow me to celebrate one of my closest friends who has recently published his second book (at this very young age!) “Dreamland Adventure: Exploring the World of Sleep”. The author answers to the name Lorence Ishuga, an accomplised rugby referee – with a book to boot – and one hell of a guy. He says that his favourite line in the entire book is:

“No one can ever know what is in another person’s dream. No one. Not even your priests, pastors, or sheikhs. I know they call themselves God’s messengers on earth and want you to think they know the meaning of your dream, but they do not. ‘Dreams are written by you and for you, about your life’ (Teresa DeCicco, head of Sleep and Dream Lab at Trent University, Canada)”, pg 82-92.

Have you ever wondered what happens when you sleep? This could be during the night or even during the Italian ‘siesta’. 😉 I was having a conversation with a classmate of mine last Friday on more or less the same subject, and the questions hit around a similar area. There was a hypothesis (and speculation on my part) of a multiverse with different rules and Physics Laws – explaining why it’s hard to run away from monsters in a nightmare, what’s the deal with that anyway? – and the ability of the human soul (or our dreaming self) to teleport to and from said location.

An interesting thought that she brought out was, “Perhaps when we dream, we achieve a state of being that is superior to and limited by the human body”. Hehe, don’t worry, we were both sober during this meditative state, lol. Anyway, her comment does tend to touch on Garth Nix’s book series “The Keys to the Kingdom”, filled with Superior and Lesser Beings and…. I would totally recommend that book for entertainment purposes.

All in all, Lorence’s book does question and attempt to answer queries surrounding sleep and dreams, and it’s quite the adventure! You can get yourself a copy here, or alternatively call +254708650453.

Brilliant!

Now, I have a question for you: how important do you suppose the things we think are unimportant actually are?

Confusing? Okay, suppose you once considered something to be vitally important only to later convince yourself – perhaps through suggestive psychology – that it really isn’t that important?

An example, which I will pose as a question: do you suppose the Olympic Swimming Games should have a Lifeguard on duty? I mean, the swimmers know how to swim, right? Would hiring a Lifeguard be a waste of funds that could be used elsewhere?

Another example: is hiring a (personal) coach or trainer really that necessary? I mean, you have been running – or whichever other activity you do – for the last couple of years and you’re doing quite well without a trainer. Surely, would it not be a waste of time and money looking for someone to tell you how to do what you already know?

A final example: is dedicating time to exercise during my day really worth it? I mean, I have a great body, I am in great shape, I eat well…and I have achieved all this without exercising. Why would I want to stress myself and waste time when I am already doing so well both physically and healthically – is that a word? XD Lol.

Fear not, I am not here to disclaim your standing nor convince you that there may be a better way of doing things. I mean, after all, you do know yourself best, no? 🙂

In the initial example, it would be very easy to get rid of the Lifeguard with the explanation that all Olympic competitors are World-Class swimmers – which they are, of course. And getting rid of the Lifeguard would be very suitable to the pockets since that would be a cost-efficient measure? Forget the Olympics since they may be slightly too far removed from where you stand. Think about a high school or collegiate swimming gala with competent swimmers, is there really a need for a Lifeguard?

Those of us who may be familiar with contracts, does the phrase “Terms and Conditions apply” have any effect? Taking a look at alcohol and tobacco companies, does highlighting the caution of the product harming one’s health and limiting the sale of the product to those above the age of 18 carry any significance? I mean, some of these lines have been repeated so many times on advertisements that we could recite them off-head. In that case, is there still a need to put the warnings on the product packages?

I would think – and I could be wrong, I tend to be a lot of the time – that having them on the package disclaims the company from legal action. Yes, it does take more ink to print them on the bottles and cigarette packs, yet the cost pales in comparison to what would be owed should the company be found guilty of negligence. Yes, it does hit the pocket a little harder hiring a Lifeguard even at such a prestigious event, yet the cost of a life lost to drowning is unimaginable.

PS: I am definitely not marketing (or advocating) for alcohol and tobacco companies. Lol, perhaps that is an example of a disclaimer I could use. 🙂

When it comes to personal training, have you considered the benefits accrued with a reputable someone in this field monitoring your progress, and constantly seeking ways to improve your output? You could always look at your numbers or performance data on your own and make your own judgements, which is totally okay, and you could also have someone make your work so much easier for you…provided they aren’t a quack. There are a little too many of them around.

As much as I may be a Physical Educator and coach, working with a coach in my personal exercise program helped me get back on my feet and aim for goals I didn’t think were possible to achieve. I thought I was fine before we started working together, until I realised there was so much more I could accomplish in the right setting.

Perhaps the same is true of you – I wouldn’t be in a position to make this conclusion on your behalf. Perhaps you really are okay working solo (or not at all). As I had mentioned earlier, you do know yourself best. In case you do ever get to reconsider your position (or ‘consider reconsidering’ quoting Rango IYKYK), a different path, for better or worse, may just be waiting for you at the fork in the road.

As I conclude, swimming pools and swimming competitions should NEVER not have Lifeguards on duty. If they do, and an incident were to occur, you are very much allowed to sue for negligence. A rule among triathletes and scuba divers is: never swim/dive alone. A similar rule applies in Outdoor Adventures, but that’s a story for another day.

I wish you all the best this week, and I look forward to seeing you at November’s KR-ITT Series #3 scheduled for next Sunday (5th) at Theta Hotel. Registration is ongoing through this link.

Cheers!