The Smiles of Sarah

It's been well over a year since I’ve blogged and I’ve been reluctant to submit anything else for the fear that I would not adhere to my promise to keep it up (as I committed to doing in my August 2011 post).  I am not going to promise this time that I will be back or that I will write that book based on my SOS experiences, as I had originally planned.  But “The Smiles of Sarah” has been something that I have wanted to submit for a long time, and I have had a folder of photos (of people smiling) I have wanted to share since the beginning of my journey in 2010.  

So why now?  On the heels of the first annual International Happiness Day, declared by the United

Nations as March 20^th in hopes of creating and spreading happiness across the globe, I am starting a Facebook Page called “She Smiles”.  Most that know me know I'm a genuinely happy person.  I always try to look on the bright side, think positive, and share my energy and happiness with others.  I'm sure some people "roll their eyes" when I express my happiness and share my words of inspiration and deep quotes on Facebook, but haters gonna' hate no matter what, and if I can make just one person smile a day, that is all I can ask for - whether it be with a compliment, a kind gesture, a deep thought, or me just being my silly self.  Often times I take a picture and send it to a friend that it reminds me of or post it on Facebook, with hopes it will brighten their day.  I find myself smiling and laughing a lot and smiles are contagious.  They are even known to reduce stress and lower blood pressure and I think we could all relax and not take life so seriously once in awhile.  Recently I was sitting at Whole Foods when the song Sara Smiles started playing.  Since then I have been contemplating the idea of starting a new blog or a website, and it keeps coming back up for me. Just last week I received a note from a friend that said she loves my posts because they always make her smile!  If that isn’t a telltale sign that now is a good time, I’m not sure what is!  

I figure I will just start out with a Facebook page because I am on Facebook daily, meaning it’s easier to stay committed.  I'm going to share what makes me happy and what makes me smile - maybe not every day, but often.  It may be a quote, it may be a picture or video that makes me laugh, maybe it's an amazing travel setting that I can just envision myself in.

I even have ideas of eventually turning it into something more – think an organization that provides young girls with subsidized or free dental work - all which stems from my 13 year old Little Sister from Big Brothers Big Sisters who never wants to smile in our pictures together because she hates her teeth and needs braces.  A little confidence for young girls goes a long way! 

Do I think this idea is ground breaking?  Of course not.  Will some people think this is just another one of those inspirational sites that is flooding their Facebook feed?  Probably.  Do I know if it will be sustainable?  Nope.  But that is A-OK.  For now, I'm doing something I enjoy.  After all, I think author H. Jackson Brown Jr. was onto something when he said, "Today, give a stranger one of your smiles.  It might be the only sunshine he sees all day."

So look out for my Facebook page request for "She Smiles" coming soon!  

Just a few smiles that have touched me over the years...

The Six Month Hiatus of Sarah

Meh...Yes, it's been that long.  Not intentional.  Life just gets in the way sometimes...  You know, things like work, family, friends, love, yoga, moving, traveling, reading, sleeping, eating, dating, studying, facebooking, shopping, volunteering, chasing dreams, and simply living.

Frankly, this blogging thing is difficult for me.  Not that I don't have anything to say or to talk about (Dear Lord, that's never a problem!). Writing for me is tough - never my strong subject in school.  I liked Math.  Finite things.  Things I could get results & definitive answers from.  I was terrified to start this blog a year & a half ago before I went on my journey to travel the world.  It was the very last thing I did before I walked out the door to the airport.  I pushed it off to the last possible second - so afraid how it would be perceived.  Then my friends & family began asking for more.  I was flattered, but even as I traveled, there were long bouts of silence because the thought of sitting at a computer for hours, making sure my posts were perfect, was torturous.  I even bought a netbook on my travels so that I would always have a notepad on hand; but I still fell behind, and then got shit from my travel buddies (That would be you, Erika & Charity! ;)) that my nose was stuck in my computer trying to "catch up" while we should have been relaxing on the beach.  They were right. This should be easier for me.  It should just flow - whatever is on my mind.  Unfortunately, for me, it's still easier said than done...

A friend of mine recently started a blog and it got me thinking.  What about my blog?  I still have so much to talk about.  Over the last 2 years I have had the most amazing adventures that I've learned and grown so much from.  I have a list in the back of my journal of subjects I still want to write about - Self Realization, Speaking English, Sanskrit, Spirituality, Strength, Second Chance, Spain, Saints, etc., etc....  Some are more personal than others - those of which will probably never make my blog, but maybe my memoir someday - which at my rate, will take a lifetime..

Over the past 6 months, people have asked if I will continue to post, but the guilt of being so far behind has deterred me.  The blog HAS been on my mind.  And then 2 days ago I sent a letter to a friend, whom I respect a ton.  I received positive feedback of how well of a writer I was.  Really?  Little did they know I had spent two hours reading, re-reading, formatting, deleting, copying, and pasting until it was just right.  I guess that's just that little bit of Type A left in me... But I think I just needed that little spark of encouragement.  Get over my fear of writing.  I'm a talker.  I have things to share.  Who cares if someone wants to critique it - in my opinion, then they shouldn't be reading it.  There are plenty of other blogs out there to enjoy.  I may not have the best grammar, or be the best speller.  I probably have a lot of run-on sentences, and use way too many commas (I heart commas, big time!).  But it's me.  It's raw.  It should be as if it were coming straight out of my mouth, right?

So here I am.  Ready to re-commit.  Maybe as a challenge for myself, I will set a timer.  Every time I post, I will aim for a minute shorter.  Starting with my next post, of course...

The Stick Shift of Sarah

Or “Manual”, as they call it here in South Africa (and most other parts of the world)…

After being in Cape Town for a week, I quickly realized how much a car would be beneficial. I found that an automatic car costs twice as much money to rent than a manual car and it has always been something I’ve wanted to learn.  I looked into driving lessons and said “Sign me up!”

Prior to my first lesson, I understood the concept of driving stick.  I got that the clutch needs to be pressed down when changing gears.  I’ve heard the phrase, “If you can’t find it, grind it”.  I knew there was a chance I could “kill the car”.  I understood the car would roll backwards if the parking break wasn’t on.  I had actually tried to drive stick a few times many years ago, but my “teacher” was easily frustrated and gave up on me…

Just a few minor differences when driving stick shift in Cape Town…

They drive on the left side of the road and sit on the right side of the car, which means the stick is on the left.  Completely opposite to everything we do in Chicago!  The roads aren’t exactly flat here.  I live on one side of a pretty decent size mountain and have to go up and over the mountain to get anywhere, which equals lots of hills!  Not to mention, the people here tend to drive a little crazy and there aren’t many “rules of the road”. 

Now I have driven an automatic on the left side of the road on the right side of the car when I was in Australia and New Zealand, which was a challenge in and of itself; so as you can imagine, I was terrified for my first lesson.  I kept trying to tell myself that so many people learn to do it, but for some reason, I didn’t have any confidence in myself.  I had this feeling I would never pick it up. 

Thankfully my instructor, Riyone, took me out of Camps Bay into town, where there is much less traffic and the roads are a bit more flat.  During my first 2 hour session, I was sweating bullets.  I didn’t take long for me to realize that I probably shouldn’t have worn flip flops for my first lesson because the bottom of the flop kept getting caught on the mat… And it took me a few times to realize what Riyone was referring to when he would tell me to turn at the Robot (the traffic light).  Who knows where they came up with that term because the things don’t have arms and legs…But, this is Africa!

I felt like I was 15 again.  Not only was I learning manual, but I was getting a refresh on drivers education, as a few of the bad driving habits I picked up over the years kept slipping out.  For example, not leaving enough space between me and the car in front of me, not slowing down soon enough before the traffic lights, and taking my turns a bit too fast.   Oopsy!  But apparently completely stopping at a stop sign is not required in South Africa.  My teacher even said so.  I didn't ask questions… ;) 

It took a few lessons to build up my ankle strength (lots of pedal pushing going on).  After 6 hours of lessons and practice over the last couple of weeks, I’m not doing too bad…I’m still killing the car once in awhile and have a little bit of trouble knowing when to down shift…The roundabouts are not my favorite b/c I don’t like slowing down once I have momentum…and my professional Chicago parallel parking skills aren’t so professional in Cape Town…

Needless to say, I can get myself from point A to point B, and it may just take a little bit of time before I can drink my coffee, put my lipstick on in the mirror, and text on my phone, all while driving manual… ;)  Kidding!