Sharas Blog

This morning I got up early, dragged on a few layers of clothing to combat the icy wind, and headed out the front door, keys jangling and ipod blasting an audio book in my ears. Early morning and late at night are my favorite times to walk, so I like to make the most of it. Both times are so peaceful and quiet, and I get to be alone with myself, thinking about whatever’s on my mind, and appreciating the world around me.
This morning was, for no particular reason, an amazing walk. The weather was crisp and clear, and I could feel the air rushing past my face, reminding me that I was right here in this world. I passed the straggling trees that cling to the edges of the huge park that’s local to me, and watched a series of dozing pigeons huddle together in soft lumps on the ground. Occasionally, a car or a truck would go by, and I would wonder what it was that made these people get up so early. Why they had to be up and about, perhaps working, perhaps coming home. I walked past pensioners who had also been up bright and early in order to get their daily newspaper before the usual rush.
Walking is one of those things that can tell you so much about yourself and about the world in which you live. Today, looking around at the small terraced houses, and the larger ones that bully their way on to the small blocks of land, I got a better feel for the neighborhood in which I live, and the kinds of people who live all around me. It was an amazing walk because it gave me a chance to reflect on the reasons why I live here myself, and on those things that are important to me as an individual.

So you may have realized I am in a very good mood today, so I thought I would let you all in on a website that makes me very happy! There is this enigin PLC blog, focusing on the digital aspect of the company. It just makes me really happy that someone is caring about the environment!

Saying goodbye to my educational years was probably one of the most memorable days of my life, but at the same time one of the scariest. The day I packed my school bag for the last time and realised I wouldn’t have to sit through another nerve racking exam was a thought that had me smiling for days. However, it was also at this point I knew I was going to have to make life changing decisions about my career which I knew wasn’t going to be easy.

I had it all planned out. College was the first step, followed by University and then onto my Masters. I had already decided from an early age that my creative skills had me destined to be a Journalist, so as far as I was concerned my mindset was pretty clear.

Unfortunately, things didn’t quite go to plan, and after leaving school and attending college for a short while, I decided I wasn’t quite enjoying what college life had to offer. So midway into my A-Levels, I decided to ‘jump ship’ and start my search for a good job in the city rather than finish college.

My auntie had carved out a successful career in Banking, and part of me wanted to be part of that world. The socialising, the lifestyle and finally feeling as though I was a ‘big girl’ in a grownups world. So when she put me in contact with a colleague for one of the ‘big players’ in the City I was over the moon. As an in-experienced, college leaver of 17, I didn’t think I had much chance, nevertheless within a few weeks, I got an interview, was offered a job and my career was off to a good start.

Although Banking isn’t what I set out to do, as a career choice it isn’t such a bad option. Generally bankers are paid well and there is a lot of opportunity to progress and develop. However, as somebody with a creative flair with a passion for writing, I do just see it as ‘a job’ rather than something I enjoy.

Thankfully, I still managed to graduate with a degree in Business Studies specialising in Marketing in 2008. It is one of my biggest achievements to date, having completed it on a part time basis whilst working full time. It was a battle, but it was a battle I was determined to win, so when the envelope containing my grade for everything I had worked for fell through the door, I vividly remember breaking out into a sweat. Thankfully, on learning I secured a 2:1, I happily punched the air and convinced myself this was the start of a brighter future.

At the moment im still in the Banking industry, thankfully on the Marketing side which is bringing me closer to my creative side, however I still have a long way to go before I am content with where im at in my career. My passion for Journalism is still alight; however im also realistic in the fact it’s a difficult market to enter, competition is fierce and the pay is very low. I do sometimes wonder if I made the right choice when I stepped into Investment Banking, and im still undecided. There are a lot of people who are very fulfilled in what they do, sadly im not, but on the flip side I have accomplished things (like buying a house, driving a nice car) that I wouldn’t have been able to do on a Journalist’s wage.

What I would say to people reading this is follow your dream. If you have a passion for something and visualise yourself doing it, then go for it. With enough guidance and support from family, friends and outside sources, there is no reason why you can’t achieve success in your ideal career path. In today’s economical world there are so many options available after our school years, and it’s important we make use of the resources out there. Internships, Voluntary work, work experience are just some of the options available to give inexperienced people an insight into a profession they are interested in. Remember, determination = success.

Nevertheless, wherever your career takes you, I wish you all the best!

Every so often, an album will come along that you absolutely must have in your collection. To not own music of this status is a terrible crime and your friends will look at you in disbelief. One such album is ‘Disintegration’ by The Cure; back in the eighties you were a nobody if this was not a part of your record collection.

The overall atmosphere of ‘Disintegration’ is very difficult to describe. It may have the unmistakable voice of Robert Smith and The Cure’s trademark ‘jangling guitar’ sound, but has a different feel to their other albums. It conjures up such a wonderful variety of images and emotions. Beautiful, sad, icy, mellow, angry. All of these words can be attributed to ‘Disintegration’. One moment it is incredibly introspective and the next minute you are in the middle of a not-too-catchy pop number.

The album was one of the band’s most commercially successful and acted as a vehicle for ‘Lovesong’, ‘Lullaby’ and ‘Pictures of You’. These all did really well in the Top 40 and, at the time, it seemed as though everyone loved The Cure.

Before the album was released, Robert Smith teased an interviewer by telling him that ‘Disintegration’ was ‘fun’. When it did come out, one critic famously said that it was ‘as much ‘fun’ as losing a limb’. But do not take this the wrong way; ‘Disintegration’ is by no means a depressing record. The Cure have explored far darker waters than this over the years. It’s just that ‘fun’ is not the best description…

‘Disintegration’ is an amazing album with many amazing songs. For me, stand-out tracks would have to include; ‘Prayers for Rain’ and the sublime, ‘The Same Deep Water as You’. Several years later, Robert Smith said it had been a painful to record ‘Disintegration’ as it was a deeply personal album. When you listen to it you will probably be able to see where he was coming from.

Attention everyone: how does a three valleys ski contest sound to you?? All of you must put your names in, I am convinced we need to to win this for something to do during our next term break!

We all need to have some degree of privacy in our lives; it is something that is essential to all human beings. But is the ‘right-to-forget’ idea that is being talked about at the moment really the answer?

It is all too easy to give out personal information when we are on the internet. In fact, a lot of the time, we are actually encouraged to. Social networking websites like Facebook or My Space can be very dangerous places indeed and we have all heard about some of the terrible things that have taken place on (or because of) them.

Something else that seems to be an integral part of human beings is gossip. This may not be a part of us all that is essential, but it is enormously popular. And when you apply this to some of the sites on the net it can bring about some very dangerous results…

A right-to-forget strategy may be a good idea, but what time limit would actually be attached? No matter what length of time was decided upon, it would not please everyone.

What we don’t want is to end up in a world where our movements are constantly being monitored. That is the side of the right-to-forget idea that needs to be carefully watched. If it is going to turn the internet into a cyber ‘police state’ then it is just taking things to the other extreme. I suppose that it is all a very fine balance to achieve; we need our privacy, but we must also have our freedom.

And one last thing; if the right-to-forget idea comes into place, and someone posts an unfair accusation, then what is there to stop them from re-posting it after it has been erased? If someone enjoys dragging your name through the dirt that much then the right-to-forget thing will not put them off.

Just before I go: The Italy ski holidays booking is sorted all of you who are coming, I am really excited about our long weekend trip. I need part of the payment by Saturday.

Growing up, you tend to meet a very wide variety of people, for better or for worse. One of these people was in the least expected place and taught me the simplest lesson, and the one I had gone through my young life refusing to learn. There is not a lot to do where I lived, you go to school and then as much as it shames me to admit now, you go out into a field and drink. You drink a lot. Then against your better judgement you get in your pickup truck and drive it home.

It was at this moment of my young life that I encountered a tree with my front grill. As I stumbled out of the Ford I was met by an older Native American gentleman. To make things even worse, I had crashed my truck on an Indian reserve, which if you don’t know means twice the fine. Hanging my head in embarrassment and a little bit to hide the whiskey on my breath, I stood expecting my retribution. Instead I got a story.

He told me a story of a young boy in his tribe that had the same troubles as I did, was wild and gave no regard for other people. Then he told me that this boy grew up into one of the most intelligent leaders that he ever had the pleasure of meeting. I asked him how this happened, what had changed and this was what he told me.

Every person on this earth is born with two wolves inside of them. One is the considerate, intelligent and loving. The other wolf is the wild and careless, they are forever fighting for control of your mind. The boy had a much stronger ‘wild wolf’ and caused trouble throughout most of his young life. I asked how he had changed into the later man that he was describing. His answer was to change the rest of my life at the massively influential age of 16 years.

The stronger wolf is always the one that you feed.

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Not to undermine the poignant life lesson that I learned on this particular evening while breathing in the potent musk of red diesel from my wreaked truck. I also learned that even if you are driving home instead of walking, always have running shoes in the back seat so that in cases such as this, you can change out of your heels.

Have you got a creative streak? Is there something that you make in your spare time?

You could be sitting on a potential goldmine. Have a read of; ‘Turn Your Crafts Hobby into a Money Machine’ and you will see what I mean. If you don’t have a hobby at the moment then you could always have a go at something. People love to buy handmade things and at this time of year you could sell lots of things for people to use as Christmas presents.

Go and get a book of crafts from the library. There are literally hundreds of different things to make and do!

To finish off, I am offically very outraged at Amelia! My silly and very slim best friend is under the impression that she needs to visit websites about weight loss treatments! This all came about because I was on her computer the other week and may have stumbled into the history. Why in the world is she contemplating she needs this? I hate the media today.

The post, ‘What is Beauty?’ raises some very interesting questions. We all have different ideas about who is or is not pleasing to the eye. One person may find someone drop dead gorgeous, whilst another sees them as a minger!

Beauty, at the end of the day, is very much in the eye of the beholder. This may be corny but it is still true. And whilst we are on the subject of clichés, ‘beauty is skin deep is’ also worth remembering.

Sometimes we become so obsessed with how we want someone to look that we forget to wonder what they are like as a person. Ever since I started to do some work for court house clinic I’ve started to really realise how crazy the world of beauty is and how amazing some of the extremes are that people will go to. It’s almost a little scarey botox and laser hair removal are just the tip of the icebreg.

What a terrible story.

All that I kept thinking after I had read about this old man was; ‘Why?’

Why, in this day and age, do things like this still happen?

Why does a man who fought for his country have to die in such an appalling way?

Why is it that money is so important to some people that they value it more than human life?

Why don’t electric companies take time to assess a situation instead of simply pulling the plug on people?

But the other question that I have is this;

Will the people responsible for this sleep well tonight?

If you fancy having a good laugh at the absurdity of life then have a look at the post, ‘Feeling a Bit Fruity’ on this blog. This is one of the most bizarre news stories that I have ever come across.

Can you believe this? There is actually a really serious debate going on around some sweet wrappers that some people think are pornographic.

There is a link included in the post which takes you to the original article that was featured in The Daily Mail. Have a look at the sweet wrappers in question and then make up your own mind.