Fran Thring, Author at 1Africa

Savour life like chocolate spread

Practical Faith

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March 9, 2016

One of my favourite places in my home town, Cape Town, is the Old Biscuit Mill. It’s a renovated building with a market full of some of the most delicious foods the city has to offer. There are vendors selling leather bags, there is the same old lady with the shoulder length grey hair making red juice, there is a higgledy piggledy mix of people getting breakfast or lunch. It’s a sensory heaven. Every time I go there I am reminded of how unique, creative and diverse this city and its inhabitants are. It’s like staring into a brightly coloured marble and seeing different shapes and hues each time.

It was my last Saturday with my best friend in town, so we had to, we had to, go to the Old Biscuit Mill. It would not have been right to do anything else. We woke up early, tied our hair in dirty top knots, found some lipstick in the bottom of our bags and made our way to the mill. The mill never disappoints, each time I go there I find something new which I want to try and face the internal struggle of try something new or get my old favourite. Of course, when you go with your best friend this struggle is solved. Split it and you get both!

So we did. We got our firm favourite, the hash brown, egg and bacon pancake. Oh my goodness, it is heaven. I feel sick if I eat one, but half is just perfect. And that bacon. I could never be vegetarian. Then there was this smoothie bowl made of all sorts of frozen yoghurt and chopped nuts and banana chips. That was to start the morning.

We wandered through the stalls, picking up vintage shirts and shifting through rails of designer T-shirts. After a while we stumbled upon the Honest Chocolate table. Now I am not a chocolate kind of girl. Well, let me clarify, I’m a very occasional chocolate kind of girl. I can have a slab in my cupboard and leave it there for months. However, I do like dark chocolate. And Honest Chocolate has dark chocolate. It also mixes it with the right amount of chill, salt, peppermint, tea, which I like very much. This Saturday I tried something new. I tried their chocolate and cashew nut spread. It’s like the home made version of Nutella and honest (meaning no nasty preservatives etc). It’s the difference between Grandma’s fudge brownies and the pack with the wrapper on from your local grocery. Let me tell you this chocolate spread is close-your-eyes-and-dream-of-far-away-places good. There is only one thing you can do when you put your cracker full of gooey goodness into your mouth – savour it.

Savour. I truly believe that life was not created to be chewed but to be savoured. I believe God gives us each lives of rich abundance, but we get distracted by what people want or what we want and rush through it – like downing a jar of chocolate instead of eating it spoon by spoon. Half the time we trade our delicious crafted jar of home made honest chocolate for a Kit Kat or a Twix. Why? We do not appreciate time and craft, we want results and we want them now. Instead of buying expensive quality ingredients, we compromise and the end result is less beautiful and less tasty.

When I get the feeling that I need to rush through life instead of savouring all its rich beauty I am going to buy myself a jar of Honest chocolate spread. I’m going to eat a spoonful a day, and every time I have that spoon I’m going to thank God for his goodness and savour the day or the moment that I am living in right then.

Thank you, thank you, thank you

Relationships

Fran Thring

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March 4, 2016

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Thank you. Two of the most powerful words you can utter. Just two of them – they should roll off the tongue easily; and yet sometimes “thank you” is the last thing we want to say.

The other day my Dad told me I looked cute at church (I visited them for the weekend). It was true, I certainly looked better than the day before when I had rolled off a plane in creased denim and make-up stains. Here is what I could have said to his kind comment, “Aw, thanks Dad.” Here is what I said: “Well, I did wash my hair today, so there’s that.”

Sarcasm alert: I won’t lie, things haven’t always been easy with me and my parents, but responses like that do not build relationships. I guess I have some things to learn about those two words and when to use them.

I can think of a number of occasions when we should say thanks, but we don’t:

When you receive a compliment
As you can tell from the paragraph above I’m not the best when it comes to compliments. I second guess them, thinking they aren’t genuine, or dismiss them when I could respond graciously. Hey, we have enough people bringing us down, why not accept it when someone is nice? Plus, when someone gives you a compliment they are being vulnerable and will feel shut down if you don’t respond nicely.

Example: “Girl, your dress looks fly.”

• Instead of: “Oh, this piece of junk? I’ve had it for years.”
• Try: “Thanks babe. I’m glad you like it.”

When you’re running late
Oh heck, this happens to us all. But we tend to put all the focus on us or on the thing we blame instead of acknowledging the person who has waited for us.

Example: You walk in the door 15 minutes late.

• Instead of: “I’m so sorry I’m late. Traffic was insane this morning.”
• Try: “Thanks for your patience.”

When you are getting feedback
It’s not easy hearing feedback because it may not always be nice. Feedback makes us better and it often takes a lot of time, effort and thought for someone to provide feedback. It’s far easier to agree with everything than to say to someone, “Hey, how about doing it this way.”

Example: “This work isn’t good enough. I thought you would do better.”

• Instead of: “You don’t understand. Here’s what happened.”
• Try: “Thank you for expecting more of me.”

Someone gives you advice
Again, I am a poor example of someone who receives advice well. If I don’t agree with you, more often than not I’ll be angry at your attempt at giving me advice or dismiss what you said. That’s not the best attitude for growth. All advice should be vetted, but often just a simple “Hey, I appreciate your advice” is needed.

Example: “You know, you should really keep your hips back when you squat.”

• Instead of: “Oh really? Do you have a video of yourself doing it so I can see it done correctly?”
• Try: “Okay, thanks for the suggestion.”

When you’re not sure if you should thank someone.
If in doubt, say thanks. We don’t say thanks enough and if the question is hovering in your mind, you should probably just go for it. “Should I send a thank you email in this situation?” Yes, yes, you should. “Should I call up my Gran and say thanks for the birthday card?” Yes!

Being grateful and gracious changes our attitude and impacts our situations and relationships in a positive manner. The Bible says in 1 Thessalonians 5:18: “Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.”

All circumstances… that’s tough! But if Jesus said it, then it’s where we should be going. If we realise we have a God in heaven who loves us with an everlasting love, how can we not say those two little words? Today Lord, I look to you and I say “thank you, thank you, thank you” for my life, friends and all you have done for me.

Why me, why this way, why now?

Hope

Fran Thring

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February 24, 2016

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The human heart is born with hope. I don’t think you can meet a baby or a toddler who is “hopeless”. What would that look like?

I doubted nothing and none when I was a child. I would welcome the Wicked Witch of the West as my best friend. I believed I could be or do whatever I wished – a ballerina, no problem. A writer? Why, yes! I believed in the goodness in the world and knew, as showed to me in all Disney stories, things would work out happily ever after in the end.

When I was nine I faced the first bump in the tale of my life. I decided I wanted a pony. I had to have one. I spent hours day dreaming, picturing myself at horse shows. I drew ponies, read books about ponies and decorated my room with ponies. On my 11th birthday my parents took me outside to “check on the horses” and yes, you guessed it – a new pony had joined our small herd. And, it was my own pony! I was overjoyed. I called him Joey and he won my heart in an instant. Three weeks later Joey was stolen, taken over the mountains, and never found again. My childhood home was close to the border of Lesotho in an area notorious for theft. I cried for weeks.

This was my first experience of disappointment. Eleven-year-old Fran hadn’t experienced a death or considerable opposition. Joey was gone and my dreams were smashed. My outlook on life gained its first jaded edge. I learned life doesn’t always end how you picture it ending.

The natural human inclination in the face of something painful, hard and, unfair is to ask why. Why me, why this way, why now? Disappointment makes us question the goodness of life. Often, with every disappointment we pick up, we let hope leak like water in a bath tub – glug glug glug – until nothing is left but a dirty grey ring.

I’ve had my fair share of disappointments since my first pony. Probably not more than your average kid (in fact, possibly less), but each one has shaken my core. Each disappointment has forced me to choose: do I want to let this taint the rest of my life? Will I be carrying it around for years to come, or can I let it go? Can I rise above this?

The choice is never easy, but it became easier when I gave my life to Jesus. That sense that someone cared about my pain and frustration helped things. It helped that the Bible said God was good – I felt like I had a promise to cling to. It helped that I had people around me who had walked through similar things and were there to support me. It helped when my pastor told me my life on earth is a passage, not a destination.

It’s never easy to say hurt doesn’t matter, because it does. It especially matters to God. I think instead of saying it doesn’t matter, we should say we trust God no matter what – he is good and it will be alright in the end. Pain doesn’t always go away quickly. Sometimes it takes years, but I have found that if you give it to God it will eventually get better. If you don’t, the pain gets worse and worse.

It makes me sad to think we are born with hope and lose it along the way. I don’t think that’s the way it was meant to be. I know it’s easy for children to hope because they haven’t had much to discourage them and it’s much harder as you get older. I think God knows this and so he taps us on the shoulder and shows us things which say “hey you, there’s still hope.” Things like yellow flowers in a green field, music, stories, giggles, and triple chocolate chocolate cake. Things like fleshy hugs and toothy grins.

I got another pony – it became a part of the family and I kept for years. I don’t know what’s around the corner for you, but I think it could be good.

I like me

Fran Thring

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February 19, 2016

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I got my hair done this Saturday. It needed it. The brown had become orange, the regrowth made me look like Shakira in the horse video, and my split ends rivalled a mathematician’s fraction skills. Needless to say, as a result, my mental stability was on shaky ground. In girl world, hair is life.

I remember when I was little my mom tried to buy me an alice band to keep my three fringe hairs back. I didn’t like the idea. I fought. We tried seven different alice band types and then resorted to hard plastic, white and wide. If I had been a cool kid, it may have looked retro. I wasn’t. It was cute, but it didn’t make my three hairs budge.

Then I remember I tried to get my hair into a pony tail in boarding school. I don’t know why I bothered; I had no-one fooled. Three strands of hair are three strands of hair even if you put them in a pony tail. It didn’t get better. I welcomed teenage-ness and faced a never ending fight against oil. Oil won – I never got dreadlocks, but I may as well have.

Hair has been one of my major issues all of my life. You see, along with knobbly knees and size three feet my genetic pool has blessed me with my father’s fine hair. Which is all well and good on my father because a) he is a man and b) he no longer has it anyway. On me, however, this genetic flaw means 15 to 20 minutes of dedication every morning.

Then, as if the fine hair factor isn’t enough, my hair is also a nondescript colour. Meaning it could be blonde or it could be brown or it could be beige – nobody really knows. I spend my savings plan on highlights (not really, but kind of) and every so often I try convince everyone I’m a real blonde. Nice try.

It doesn’t matter if it’s hair or thighs, us girls are never happy with what our mama gave us. We look at the trendy girl with the afro and think “want that”. If we are skinny, we want the curves. If we are curvy, we want the skinny factor. If we are quiet and introverted, we want to be loud and the life of the party. If we are the life of the party, we feel like we should mellow out and be more respectable. And on and on it goes. Just read Glamour and you’ll see pages and pages of girl envy. It’s as if we would rather spend our lives fighting a battle against what we have been given so we can behave like someone else instead of embracing our natural gifts and focusing our energy on making them great. It makes no sense – none, negative, de nada.

Except wait… perhaps it does make sense. Imagine if there was someone or something out there which wanted to defeat you. What would they do? They would convince you that you are not good enough just as you are. They would whisper in your ear: “Your hair sucks, girl friend”.

If they were clever they would know that if they convinced you of all this stuff you would never really embrace all you were created to do and be. If they could do this, then they would win without having to start a fight. You would be resigning right from the beginning.

As I sat at my hair dresser with a thousand foils in my head and a Glamour magazine in my hand I decided it was time to change my attitude. As I stared in the mirror I decided I will declare that my hair is gorgeous – all three strands. And so am I. I will compliment and appreciate other beautiful girls, but never in a way that is envious. I will own life, make a difference, and bring my gifts to the table and weapons to the fight.

So whoever is out there whispering in my ear, you better stop. You can’t mess with this girl. I know God made me and he made me good. In fact, I like me – hair, warts and all.

Confession: I want it all

Career

Fran Thring

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February 12, 2016

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When I was 18 I wanted to travel the world. I also wanted a career, friends, and influence. I wanted to do everything and see everything. I remember “rego day” at university – it was a sickly hot week, I had no friends, I had no idea what I wanted to do in life, and some dude shovelled a white piece of paper under my nose. “Pick a course,” he said. Me, my T-shirt, shorts, flip-flops and smudged make-up from the night before stared at him blankly. “Huh?” I looked at the paper. Law – I would make a great lawyer. Psychology – my mom’s a psychologist, I would kind of like to do that. Media – that’s a good option, but then again I could just do art? Hey, but what about English literature? I love reading… that could work too.

It was overwhelming; there was so much pressure. How can they tell you to tick a box and hand back a paper like it was a survey from Nestlé on chocolate milk when it affects your whole life? Did nobody realise I had no clue? Well, my 18-year-old self ticked a box. To this day I don’t know what I based my decision on – maybe I got hungry; maybe I copied my neighbour’s answer; maybe I heard there were hot boys in a certain class; maybe I fell asleep and my pen slipped…

For three industrious years I braved sweaty summers, lectures at 8 am, and scatty professors, and finally emerged with a degree. But for me this wasn’t enough – I wanted everything, remember? So I left my text books and noodles and scatty professors and packed a backpack. I did almost any job. I went to the USA; I lived in Thailand, Vietnam, Italy, Spain, and then London. I loved London – the history, the crowded mish-mash of people, culture and story which, when thrown together, make one of the world’s most cosmopolitan cities. London is a city which offers you almost everything. I made friends in London – I made friends with everyone. My life involved late nights on the red bus going from one side of the city to the next, church, theatre, shops, faces, and conversations.

By the time I reached the age of 26 something changed. I still wanted everything, but I didn’t want to be so tired. I didn’t want to build new friendships, establish myself in a new city, do a job I didn’t love. I wanted to enjoy my friends and be able to keep them. I wanted to find a job where I could focus and grow. I wanted a greater sense of stability.

“The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of non-essentials” – Lin Yutang.

Either maturity or the calming work of the Holy Spirit in my life caused a shift inside me. All my discovery, all my searching and pressing has left me with the realisation that, although we think we want everything, we don’t. We have one short life and if we jam pack everything into it, we create a cheap imitation shirt instead of a finely crafted design; a painstakingly laboured, honed and shaped work of art. I ask you, friend, what do you want to look back on your life and see? Do you want to see thousands of friends, but nobody who really knows you? Do you want to see thousands of cities but never know one so well its backstreets are as familiar to you as the lyrics of your favourite song?

There is a time and season for everything under the sun. I have lived in one city for four years. I have a job I have been at for three years. I don’t regret it a second.

Looking back on my younger self I wish I knew then what I know now: never trade everything for the specific things God has for you.

Find your creative genius

Career

Fran Thring

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February 5, 2016

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Creativity: the seemingly illusive gift some have and some don’t. It’s the spark behind great ideas and new combinations. It’s the ability to see other options; to look at the world through an usual set of eyes; to challenge a norm and to make something new and beautiful. Sadly, the desire to create often lies dormant in a human soul, though daily it longs to stretch its dusty wings. I love being creative. I strive to become more creative; to create a small etching on the face of humanity with my work.

Those who embrace their creativity are inspiring. Take Leonardo Da Vinci, a genius. He was someone of unquenchable curiosity with a feverishly inventive imagination. He was a self taught artist, architect, musician, geologist, and scientist, who birthed ideas before his time. He was the ultimate “creative”. How did Leonardo Da Vinci do it? How do any of us nurture and guide the creativity that is housed within us?

1. “Creativity takes courage.” – Henri Matisse

Nothing new was created without something old being challenged. For this, courage is needed. Courage makes you embrace the uncertainty you feel in the gap from old to new. Courage is the fabric of daring and different. To dare is to try and fail, and courage is that which causes you to pick yourself up time and time again in the pursuit of your goal.

2. “Curiosity about life in all of its aspects, I think, is still the secret of great creative people.” – Leo Burnett.

Why? Why do things happen the way they do? Why do we do things a certain way? This generation’s minds have become as lazy as an old dog and we’ve opted out of the habit of challenging what we hear. We must become curious again – creative minds are endlessly reading, researching and seeking answers. Again and again and again.

3. “Make visible what, without you, would perhaps never have been seen.” – Robert Bresson

Too often we look at how difficult it will be instead of seeing the roof of a church turn into an artwork. Or imagining a device that allows you to speak to someone across the world at the touch of a button. If you cannot see it, my friend, you cannot create it. Think big before you think small. Push into possibilities before you rule out ideas because of probabilities or practicalities.

4. “Logic will take you from A to B, but imagination will take you everywhere.” – Albert Einstein.

All humans have the ability to think with logic and imagination. To ignore one is to cut off your left arm because your right arm is stronger. When you use both parts of your brain your final solution becomes stronger and more unique. Combine logic and imagination and you have art and science, emotion and machine. You have magic found in a beautiful contrast.

5. “You can not spell painting without pain.” – John Lithgow

The human heart is moved by love and pain. When both these emotions are channeled through creativity a beautiful end product is achieved – a product which allows us to connect with its creator through a shared human experience. Do not run from that which is hard or hurts, but instead give meaning and use to your experiences.

6. “You don’t need anyone’s permission to be creative.” – Elizabeth Gilbert. To create is to unlock the fingerprint of God within each and every one of us – the ability to bring into being that which wasn’t and make it good. So, go forth and discover, creative one, let nothing hold you back and let’s see the world morph and colour with your paintbrush.

The boy’s survival guide to Valentine’s

Relationships

Fran Thring

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January 29, 2016

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It’s roughly two weeks until Valentine’s. This means if you haven’t put Valentine’s on your boy radar – you probably should. Trust me, you want to be the boy who sets the bar, or the boy who all your girlfriend’s girl friends measure their men by. I know, surely you can call some restaurant somewhere, sweet talk the waitress into giving you a reservation, and call it a day. Sorry dude, here’s a message from the girls – that doesn’t cut it. Think: 0 points.

Now before you go into your man cave and freak out at the idea of getting all Valentine-esh: “I don’t know what she likes”; “I show her appreciation through doing the dishes”; or “I always get it wrong”. Let me help you. Boys, it doesn’t have to be that hard. Here are some failproof Valentine’s tips for the boys out there:

It’s not always about money – it’s about the effort: A girl will be as impressed by you singing a song you wrote about her, as you buying an expensive necklace. I lie – no girl says no to diamonds; however, the point here is things may be tough financially, but that doesn’t give you a reason to opt out.

Get her girlfriends in on it: This is nothing short of a sure win. Girls have a secret code; an understanding of what each other likes or wants. Nobody knows your girlfriend better than her friends. Ask for advice on what to do. Ask for help – the girls can do your detective work for you.

A dinner in can be more romantic than a dinner out – a girl likes nothing more than being wined and dined: Even if it doesn’t taste great, the effort will win the day. Do 3 courses – if you burn the steak and drop the vegetables on the floor, who cares, you guys can eat ice cream and drink wine instead. Use candles, use music, and set the mood.

Dress up – there is nothing better than a man in a suit. Wait, a bathing costume is a pretty good option too but that may not be the most romantic choice. Don’t be afraid to wear something nice – get some shoes which aren’t flip flops and pop some gel in your hair. Embrace your inner fashionista and you will win Valentine’s points.

If you are going the restaurant route, book now! Don’t go to the same place, rather try something different. Speak to a few people; get some recommendations. Save up so that you can order what you want instead of trying to fill up on onion rings and bread.

Flowers, wine, or chocolate – your girl will be into one of the three. Find out her fav (chat to the girls) and no matter what you do, one of the above will always be appreciated. A gift of flowers, wine, or chocolate is a great way to start the evening and set the tone for all that romance.

If she says don’t worry about it – worry about it. Even though some of us females are less maintenance than others, all girls like being shown that they are special and cared for. You can’t go wrong by putting in time, thought and care into the day.

Ugh, I can hear you say, Valentine’s is commercial and overrated. True, but look at it like that or like this: as humans we often get caught up in everyday life and forget to tell the wonderful people God has blessed us with how appreciative we are of them. Valentine’s, like Mother’s day, is a yearly reminder to say to the cute other in your life: “I like you. A lot.”

All relationships are work and require commitment, time, and effort. Why be someone who gives your relationship priority below work, sport, or your car? Take this year and take this Valentine’s to make your relationship the best it can be. You won’t regret it. To all the girlfriends out there – you can thank me later, chica.

Broke in Jan? We’re here for you

Money

Fran Thring

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January 21, 2016

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It’s January and you’re broke.

Not the most uplifting statement to use as an opener, I’ll admit. But, we gotta be real. Good news: you are not alone in your broke-ness. I would bet that everyone minus Donald Trump and a few oil moguls (okay, and a few African presidents) are feeling the January pinch. Ouch.

We’re familiar with the trajectory: January 1 – it’s fun and games. You are in the pre-2016 this-is-going-to-be-my-best-year-ever frenzy. January 7 – you notice there is nothing in your cupboard which isn’t a sauce or a spice. Your dinner options are tuna, noodles or a peanut butter sandwich. Come mid-January your social life has dwindled to scrolling through Facebook. Even that uses data, so sadly you put your phone away.

Don’t abandon hope, my penniless friend. We are here to help you.

Thrifty options to make January fun:

1. Go for a hike: Nature is free and it makes you feel good. Plus you are less likely to be judged if you pull out a peanut butter sandwich on top of a mountain than when all your buddies are ordering steak.

2. Have a movie evening: Find someone with all the latest seasons of [insert your favourite series here] and invite over your friends. You can feed people popcorn – there’s an unopened bag hiding behind your sauces.

3. Embrace the quiet time: We all complain about being too busy, but when lack of cash keeps us inside we aren’t happy either. Stop all your moaning and make the most of your quiet nights in. Run a bath, light some candles, read a book.

4. Take public transport: You don’t have to use your car to go everywhere. Most cities have a fairly decent option for you to get from A to B. Public transport is more ecologically friendly, shows you a different side of society, and is way, way cheaper.

5. Learn to cook: Okay, you will need some cash for this. But if you are smart and plan your meals you can go for longer on less. There are loads of options for cheap meals online (you will need data), and Asian noodles with the right additions are not too far a cry from delicious.

6. Go on gym free trial: You should probably join a gym anyway, so why not check out a bunch? Most gyms let you see if you like sweating in their facilities and if their instructors have rock hard abs before you sign the deal. Perhaps that free trial is all you need to get you going.

7. Meditate: We do life way too fast and don’t listen to the still small voice inside us. Read your Bible and think on the good things in life. Think about what you stand for and do some exploration of your spiritual side. Not only is this free but it also makes you more appreciative of what you have – which makes you feel richer even when you aren’t!

8. Make time for family: Aunty Beatrice always wants to see you but you never have time. That’s not true, now you do. Don’t sit at home picking up your data-less phone every two minutes to check the lack of messages on the screen. Go spend some quality time with the people in your family.

9. Get creative: “There’s nothing in my wardrobe” is not entirely true. There is loads in your wardrobe. There are things that with a bit of a cut, dye or bleach can be transformed from ugh to trendy. You don’t have to go shopping to look cool. Unique can be cool, and all that takes is a bit of innovation.

10. Listen to podcasts: All those podcasts you saved on running your own business, how to grow your following from three to 30 000 in three months, and what women want are waiting for you to listen to them. They don’t require your month’s subscription of data and they will enrich your knowledge on a subject. Get your earphones out an learn how to change the world from those who have.

So, there you have it – perhaps being penniless is not as bad as you think. Before you bury your head in despair, stop, smell the roses, and make the smart choices. Don’t spend cash you don’t have. Embrace your peanut butter sandwiches. It’s only one month – blink and it’ll be over.

Six secrets to still being at gym come December

Health

Fran Thring

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January 15, 2016

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Six secrets to still being at gym come December

My gym class is usually about 15 people. Of which about 10 are semi-regular, and five are regular. Yes, yes, this is my moment of self promotion – I’m a regular: round of applause. My hardcore, ‘sweat is flying everywhere’, ‘work until you see stars, if you don’t wake up from nightmares which involve another set of push ups’ classes are an important part of my day. They make me feel alive and focused. They trick me into believing I am a human machine and delude me into thinking I can beat up all the boys on the planet. Yes, it’s the endorphins.

Come mid-January you can not swing a skipping rope in my gym class. Every time I do a lunge I secretly pray I don’t stick my heel into a neighbour’s eyeball. Real problems, chaps! I wouldn’t lie if I told you I get territorial. I mean, we all know that these over-eager-happy-sweating people will not last two months! Right? For the five regulars, these people are seen as obstacles in the way to our six-pack dream.

Despite the January overcrowding I actually wish people would stick it out. Occasionally, I get to make a friend as we change sweaty underwear in the changing room. Sometimes I even get to be a part of someone’s journey to a healthier body and greater self esteem. I love that stuff. Before and afters are inspiration on Red Bull!

So here are some reasons to help you stick it out, change your body, and take up my skipping space all the way through to December this year.

Turn exercise into a habit

Exercise needs to be one of those things that are a part of your day. Like brushing your teeth, or packing your bag, or phoning your bestie. The best way to stay healthy is an active lifestyle. It’s not about one or two days a month; it’s about consistency.

Get better every time

Don’t try to beat Arnold Swazzeneger on your first day at gym in seven years. Please. You are not Jillian Michaels because you have successfully done one push-up without dying. Ease into this gym thing. All you need to do is get better every time. You are competing against yourself and that’s all.

Always keep the right form

You’ll hear gym bunnies throw around certain words – form is one of them. Form means that you are doing an exercise properly. Let me help: five correct dead lifts are better than 20 incorrect ones. Correct form helps prevent injury and helps work the right muscles.

Do a variety of training

Just because you are a girl doesn’t mean you can wimp out and not lift weights. Just because you are a boy doesn’t mean you will lose all your muscle if you go for a run. Optimal fitness is about strength, flexibility, cardio and balance. Mix it up, it will help keep you from getting bored and you will see a positive impact on your fitness levels.

Create your own motivation

Humans work harder when they are motivated. Perhaps your motivation is a race you want to complete; perhaps it is the skinny jeans you want to wear; perhaps its the added benefits of feeling healthy and positive about yourself. Write it down and review your motivation before you work out. Or when you feel like taking a nap on the couch.

Build relationships.

Relationships make exercise fun. Yes, that’s right – I put exercise and fun in the same sentence. Find out about the lives of the people you do a class with. Talk to your instructor after the class. When you actually know a few people in a class they can encourage and push you to do better. Don’t be the person who rushes in and out without so much as saying a word.

Remember you are on this planet for a reason. You want to live a quality life and give it your best shot. Don’t follow the status quo – be in it for the long shot. You’ll be thankful for the results of your commitment, even if my personal space won’t.

Get your peace on

Practical Faith

Fran Thring

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January 13, 2016

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The world feels like it is becoming less and less peaceful with every year that passes. Bombs are dropped, there is political upheaval and life as we know it feels like a popcorn kernel in a boiling pot of oil.

IS bomber kills 10 tourists in Turkey, that’s what the BBC told me today.

This seems so contradictory to the leftover card from Christmas sitting on my dressing room table which says: Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid. (John 14:27)

This card made me think – despite what the world looks like, we are promised perfect peace.

I have met many people. People who are wildly successful at their jobs – they single-handedly run a company or launch campaigns. Or, people who have the perfect family with two boys, two girls, two cats, two dogs and a house in the suburbs. I have met actors who have billions who know their name; I have met politicians whose single word can cause a change to millions of people. And despite all their accomplishments, if these people do not have peace they are not happy or fulfilled.

You know what inspires me more than any glamorous position or any bank account? Someone who has got their peace on. Someone who has peace is content when life is going great and content when it isn’t. Someone who has peace is content with a large bank account and content with a small bank account. Someone with peace understands that life is not about success or wealth and fame, but about an inner life which is healthy.

As the new year rolls in, can I encourage you to cultivate peace in your life? I have no idea what your year has been like, or the challenges you have faced. I do know if you want it- peace is available to all mankind when they accept the promises of God.

How to get your peace on:

Slow down: You do not have to do everything in life. A life where few things are chosen with wisdom is far greater than one where many things are half accomplished. Overly busy people are not happy or peaceful people. Take time out each day to focus on God, be grateful and structure your day.
Declutter: We need so much less than we think we need. A home full of old papers, unnecessary clothes and furniture, ancient electronics and too much stuff is not conducive to peaceful living. Spring clean, give away what you do not use or need and keep only a minimal amount in your home.
Identify your values and organize your life in alignment: If your relationship is a value, treat it as one and make the time to invest into it. If learning is a value, add an extra two hours of learning into your schedule every few days. Don’t let your life drift along – be proactive and decisive in creating a life which showcases what is important to you.
Trust God: If you do not trust God it is very difficult to have peace in your life. Without trusting there is someone in charge, we take on battles which make us lose our peace. God loves you; he is bigger than your current circumstances and current challenges. Let him into your heart to lead you and guide you. Let him give you peace.
Get peaceful people in your life: Letting other people into your life who mirror peace will make you more peaceful. As you gain greater understanding from them, share your problems, learn perspective, and learn new ways of dealing with things, you will see your problems shrink.

Remember: peace is your portion – take it.

Fran Thring

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