magicsmith

Alright, so we've all figured out that I'm not terribly adept at keeping my journal up to date. I'm rather busy and this isn't at the top of my priorities, so please do bear with me!

So it's been quite some time since my last update when I shared my venture in my professional capacity. My original goal was to start up my own boxing and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) gymnasium. That's still on the cards but in the mean time I've found a fantastic gym which has become my home away from home and I work there as a personal boxing and MMA trainer. I absolutely love it! Long days though. I'm normally up at 4am and take clients in the morning and the evenings and finish only at 9pm on certain days. Then in between I do alot of my own training and exercising. Then I'm also able to make time for my photography, my other great passion. All in all, I'm really busy and incredibly happy with it all!

Over the years that I've done MMA and boxing, I've competed in several small "club" competitions. Ive generally done rather well, especially where the boxing is concerned. I now have my biggest fight to date ahead of me. On 6th August 2011, I have a fight coming up of which my bout is the final and main bout of the evening. I'm fighting an older opponent with good experience and I believe that he's tough as nails, and I can't wait! I'm so excited! This I believe will be televised. The event is a "Box and Dine" evening, and a portion of the proceeds will be given to a Childrens Foundation. The winners from the evening will be selected to represent South Africa in the WCBA in Liverpool in England in December. This for me is a phenomenal opportunity as I've never been overseas before, so definitely a goal to work towards.

Then as to where my photography is concerned, I am thoroughly enjoying my latest project regarding "secrets". I'm finding the results fascinating! I also feel that artistically, this project has the legs to actually go somewhere. Where that is, I'm not too sure yet, but I'm certainly learning alot about people, and alot about myself through these different people. The only thing that I'm battling with is finding men that are willing to share their secrets. Interesting that the men that I've approached are generally far more uncomfortable with the idea of sharing their secrets as opposed to the women that I've approached... Regardless, keep a look out; I'll definitely find men and more women to share their secrets. I also have a few of my regular shoots lined up, as I really enjoy those too. All in all, I'm loving the ability to find more time to shoot.

Anyway, let's leave that at that...

Alright, so we've all figured out that I'm not terribly adept at keeping my journal up to date. I'm rather busy and this isn't at the top of my priorities, so please do bear with me!

So it's been quite some time since my last update when I shared my venture in my professional capacity. My original goal was to start up my own boxing and MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) gymnasium. That's still on the cards but in the mean time I've found a fantastic gym which has become my home away from home and I work there as a personal boxing and MMA trainer. I absolutely love it! Long days though. I'm normally up at 4am and take clients in the morning and the evenings and finish only at 9pm on certain days. Then in between I do alot of my own training and exercising. Then I'm also able to make time for my photography, my other great passion. All in all, I'm really busy and incredibly happy with it all!

Over the years that I've done MMA and boxing, I've competed in several small "club" competitions. Ive generally done rather well, especially where the boxing is concerned. I now have my biggest fight to date ahead of me. On 6th August 2011, I have a fight coming up of which my bout is the final and main bout of the evening. I'm fighting an older opponent with good experience and I believe that he's tough as nails, and I can't wait! I'm so excited! This I believe will be televised. The event is a "Box and Dine" evening, and a portion of the proceeds will be given to a Childrens Foundation. The winners from the evening will be selected to represent South Africa in the WCBA in Liverpool in England in December. This for me is a phenomenal opportunity as I've never been overseas before, so definitely a goal to work towards.

Then as to where my photography is concerned, I am thoroughly enjoying my latest project regarding "secrets". I'm finding the results fascinating! I also feel that artistically, this project has the legs to actually go somewhere. Where that is, I'm not too sure yet, but I'm certainly learning alot about people, and alot about myself through these different people. The only thing that I'm battling with is finding men that are willing to share their secrets. Interesting that the men that I've approached are generally far more uncomfortable with the idea of sharing their secrets as opposed to the women that I've approached... Regardless, keep a look out; I'll definitely find men and more women to share their secrets. I also have a few of my regular shoots lined up, as I really enjoy those too. All in all, I'm loving the ability to find more time to shoot.

Anyway, let's leave that at that...

Gallery l Watch Me

So this is rather overdue, but when life happens, well; you get busy...

Since my last journal update, all sorts of rather interesting things have happened.

The Soccer World Cup has come and gone, and not without it's peculiarities, and not to forget all the fascinating tourists. I must say that I learnt alot about some of the people out there on this planet, and about the places that they call their home. And in turn, these people got to share a slice of my home country, the very same country that I am so proud to be a part of, that I find incredibly beautiful and diverse with something to offer absolutely everyone.
I will admit though, that when it comes to politics and South Africa, one should do what a frightened Ostrich does, and stick your head in the ground and hope that if you can't see "it", that "it" won't see you...

I think that the one thing that people took away with them is that South Africa truly is a world class country. We are most certainly not a third world country. Our infrastructure is rather impressive, our food and water is of some of the best on the globe, our sites and tourism "hot spots" are truly magnificent and worth thousands of memories and will leave you in awe. And I must touch on the fact that we really do have some of the most beautiful people on the planet (Alot of the tourists could not stop talking about this last point). The weather is fantastic. I truly am happy to say that I love this country and I'm proud of it. Again, however, let's stay away from the politics. That remains a disgrace. I say no more.

Then, in a more personal capacity, my last journal was all about happiness  versus work. Do you do for a living something that you're actually happy doing, or do you dislike your job? Well, I planned to change what I did for a living to something that I would enjoy and still be able to sustain a living.
I've done that, I've taken the leap...

I've left a rather secure job in a senior management position with the head office of a very reputable clothing retail company to do my own thing.

Boxing and Mixed Martial Arts has been a major passion of mine for over 16 years, and I've decided to take it to the next level in which I now teach on a personal session basis. I have a few full time clients which I teach either boxing, mma, or simply; fitness development to. It's a fantastic way to get or stay fit.
My ultimate goal is to open my own gym, but humble beginings is the way to start...
I've been doing this for the month of August, and so far, so good. I won't lie, it's tough doing your own thing, but it's also so rewarding! I'm absolutely loving it, and I'm a much happier person because of it!

Furthermore, it allows me to manage my time in such a way that I'm able to further explore my other passions, greatly including my photography and arty stuff... Watch this space!

All in all, everything's looking pretty positive right now... Just wish that my Great Dane would grow thumbs so that she could massage my back. Oh well, some things just are...

Gallery l Watch Me

I often wonder what it is exactly that makes different people happy. We all have things that we do that makes us experience joy and happiness, and we look forward to doing these things.

I have a few things that I do which give me great joy; I love my photography and art, I am constantly working out and bettering myself at boxing and mixed martial arts, I love to read, I love collecting cds and dvds and thoroughly enjoy listening / viewing them. The above listed activities are but a few...

Now, I also often wonder how many people out there actually do what the love and what gives them joy, for a living...
How many people out there actually love what they're doing and get payed for it?

Before I press on, I'd like to just quote my late father; "Happiness is quality of life." In other words, do what makes you happy and you will lead a quality life, and theoretically everything else will fall into place.
What a phenomenal thought for someone that isn't leading a quality life (in their personal view ofcourse.)

I do alot of activities which give me joy, but these are all in my spare time, and are simply hobbies. During the normal working week day, I work as part of a senior management team in a clothing retail company. This pays "some" of the bills but honestly really doesn't do much in my life in capacity of giving me joy directly. One could argue that this job pays for the activities which do give me joy, but once I started thinking about this concept; it just doesn't make sense!
Why should I drag myself through something that I really don't enjoy just to get to be able to "reward" myself with what I do enjoy? Why don't I start doing what I enjoy, and get payed for it? It just makes sense...

I actually feel like I have awakened from a dark dream and in front of me, there is this path which has appeared. It may be a little misty but venturing down it is part of the adventure (albeit scary as all hell).
Richard Branson wrote a book a while back called; Screw it, Just do it!. I never read the book, but the title speaks volumes to me. (Pardon the pun).
That's exactly what I'm going to do. The path is there, just take it slowly and in your stride and eventually you'll get where you want to go. The trick is to take that first step into the right direction...

I know a few people out there that experience this phenomena in which they actually enjoy what they do. Sure, everybody has good days and bad days no matter what they do, but these people actually get up in the morning abd they can't wait to start working! Where the rest of us trudge along waiting for the end of the working day or trying to find an excuse to try and skip work, or even worse; trying to find a reason to enjoy work.
No more! I want to lead a happier working life, afterall I spend most of my time there, so I'm going to simply just do it!

Screw it, Just Do IT!

Gallery l Watch Me

Some more pondering...

Another subject which I'd like to simply caress and put out there for your thoughts: empathy.


Recently (last few months) I've come into many situations which have really tested my empathic skills.
I think that the ability to be able to empathise with somebody else, whether you agree with them or not, is paramount to being a succesful person. And by success, I don't mean just in terms of business, but in life generally.

Now alot of people confuse empathy for sympathy. Two very different ideals...
By empathy I mean for you as a person to put yourself into someone else's shoes and trying to feel what they feel so that you can better understand why they are doing what they are doing. Not feeling sorry for them as quite often you may find yourself in a position where you are angred by someone for doing something, and feeling empathy for the person may give you some clarity on the situation.

A couple of months ago there was a journal on DA where a situation was brought to light in which a very staunch Christian contacted a photographer (whom specialised in nude shoots), and told him that he'd "gone off the tracks", and lost his way with the work that he was doing. Furthermore that they would pray for him, and if he'd like to escape from these evil clutches that he should just ask for help.

Now the first reaction for many people was to get angry with the Christian and that they develepod a "stuff you" attitude towards this person. But I implore you to take a step back for two seconds, and think why this person did this.
Now, I'm no Christian and quite frankly my religious belief doesn't have much to do with this. I don't condemn any religious beliefs, and I try not to judge either. EACH TO THEIR OWN!
I'm sure that there are many people that would take up the side of the Christian, and vice versa.

The Christian truly believed that he was trying to help this photographer and that he was simply doing his God sent duties. He , believe it or not, was actually coming from a good place, and really didn't mean any harm. Sometimes people cannot see that what they are doing is offensive.
Now what would be the best way to handle such a situation? Personally I'd say thank-you for caring but also decline the offer for "help"
as I don't think that my religious and moral views need the help, trying to remain as diplomatic as possible. Many people would argue that why should they remain diplomatic when diplomacy wasn't extended to them in the first place. I'd say to that, that you should always remain curteous. "It takes a man to suffer ignorance and smile." Sting. Often the change starts with you. Never lower yourself morally.

So many situations of recent have tested my ability to understand why people do what they do, and I can think of a few situations where I wished that the person on the recieving end would also practise some empathy towards me.
I guess that all I'm really trying to say is to try and slow down, think, analyze the situation from all the different points of views and then act in the best interest for everyone involved. Although, in the heat of the moment it is difficult as your emotions and adrenalin are running rampant...

Take a step back, and think, if you can...