Life’s short:

I know, from the title you’re probably assuming that this is going to be a gloomy post about death and all that nostalgic malarkey, but this time around I’ll try to add a positive twist.. Key word there being ‘try’. If you’re still applying to Uni, chances are some of you are still a bit confused as to whether you’ve chosen the right course. Don’t panic, this is normal, I’m nearly finished my 2^nd Year and even I’m still confused!

Granted you have the freedom (I didn’t really have it), I believe that you should choose something that you truly enjoy and (borderline) might even do for free. I mean, if every job paid the exact same amount of money what would you see yourself doing? At the end of the day it is a bit sad because money inevitably is power, as much as we hate to admit it, which sways careers. For example I’m studying Business Law but (as you may have noticed) my true passion lies in poetry. I reckon, of you can’t pursue your passion; try do it in your free time, like I do. So if mom and dad want you to be an accountant, and you literally have no choice but to do that, if photography is a passion of yours never let it die and make some free time aside for that.

You don’t want to find yourself in a situation where you’re middle aged and evaluate your life and ask yourself “Is this what my life has really come up to?” If you can, chase your passion, because when the salaries and job perks are all gone, you’ll still have it, and wouldn’t you want to go having lived a happy and fulfilled life?

In my opinion, rather be poor or just adequate, and genuinely content, than filthy rich and miserable. I don’t know, we’re all different, but that’s what Russell Thinks.

Unspoken Love

Two hearts seem to have reached a place that not many get to explore,
The temptations they escaped, whispers they silenced and through the improbable they tore.
Accrediting their union to destiny would be a mere understatement,
As their paths always seemed to meet again, as if they silently waited.
The past became the present and suddenly gave promise of a future,
He cherished her, he adored her, looked up to her, he knew her.

He found weaknesses where she posed strength,
Not many were so lucky.
To see beyond her bold speech, confident smile and deep peering eyes, selectively trusting.
At first she kept her guard, but soon it would fall
When she realised he meant no harm, and slowly her heart began to warm.
One would assume they would constantly express,
The love they seem to be unable to digress,
The connection, their similarities and choices they wouldn’t regret.
Over music they bonded, it always said what they couldn’t
So conversations were sometimes substituted by playlists,
The notes struck the perfect silver lining, pristine and stainless.

How is it possible for two souls to find complete cooperation with no words exchanged?
Even when words, glances and voices are taken away the emotion remains the same.
Like the bond shared between twins, as two beings separated at birth
Such is their unspoken link, that seems to be able to bind heaven and earth..
Because when he needs uplifting she is his heaven, when he needs to be grounded she becomes his earth.
No mineral, stock, or goldsmith could ever dictate her worth.
The distance between them seems to bear not a meaning at all,
For all he cares he could be starving, broken, defeated and poor.
During the day they frolic, and at night they pray
Send their prayers up to the heavens for the Creator to pave their way.
Boundaries need not be discussed, as somehow they thrive on their unspoken trust
Their muted unison, their unspoken love.

Alas the ‘Wordsmith’ seems to be at a loss for words,
The poet can’t think of a rhyme,
He could ramble on for days, even months,
But will never be able to capture the essence of what they share in a matter of rhyming lines..

Some things go without saying, some doors don’t always need to be opened,
I guess that’s what’s made it strong and golden, their love… Unspoken.

Chronicles of a 2nd Year:

It’s about time I get back on a University focused blog post, it’s been a while haha. The second year has been a summit, LITERALLY! My first term (September to December) was packed with assignments and coursework, back to back and for at least 2 months straight I couldn’t get my head above the water. It’s true what they say, the difference between the 1st and 2nd year can be seen as quite a big leap, obviously depending on the programme you study. I guess I was a little lucky because I tried to stay on my feet the whole of 1st year, but even with all my preparation in some aspects I found myself lacking…

It more or less comes down to preparation, as well as being in the correct mind-set to take the year on by the horns, otherwise a lacklustre approach will poison any prospects in the 2nd year. University has now more or less ‘kicked in’ and it’s now literally sink or swim so it’s always advisable to try and get going as soon as possible. Not that I want to make you scared or anything, not at all, just letting you know something that not many people told me before my 2nd year began so you’ll probably be in a better position than I was! Lol.

BUT, my second term is a lot less intensive, I find myself having a lot more free time to study and get some work done so I finally get to breathe before my exams… *exhales contently* Now I can begin to focus on my upcoming placement as well and though the first half was busy, I must say I’ve enjoyed my 2nd year, made the best of all my opportunities which is something I’d also encourage you to do. Opportunities ALWAYS present themselves in this University; you just have to take them. Speaking from experience, one last minute decision to join a mentoring scheme that I knew nothing about has led to a yearlong placement at the illustrious IBM so that goes to show that if someone from a little country in the south of Africa can make it this far, so can you!

ALSO, remember how I play for the Uni Basketball team (for those that do), we're still unbeaten in two years and have a big cup game this Wednesday (26th Feb 2014) against a team a few leagues above us, cue the butterflies! #workhardplayhard

The Smiling Assassin

The green gleam of the moon shining off the surface of the murky swamp illuminated the entire forest,
Night time seemed to signify life as the orchestra of insects in plants chimed all in a perfect symphony,
Music to the ears of the alligator.
Some say his smile is fake, for it’s the one he passes just before he grants death,
But can he really be put to trial, for his natural instinct, for his murderous and sin filled breath?

The lone raft dances smoothly in the water,
In line with each passing wave, like a ballerina at the mercy of her dance partner,
The wave sways, so does she.
In the distance sings a dying motor, one that seems to be choking on its own fumes,
During the daytime it was silent, it seems like it uses the night time as it’s muse…
And then you have the lone wanderer, searching the open expansion as if in search of meaning,
He remembers a love once felt a kiss once tasted, all he sees in his mind is her smile, gleaming.
He slowly walks to the leaning tree looking out into the swamp where they had said they would meet,
But instead of him, the illustrious smiling assassin that day she did meet.


He was too late, couldn't have arrived at a worse time,
Instead of insects and the odd amphibian, her dying screams provided that nights chime.
He often returns to the spot, the location her life was ended.
Breathe in, breathe out, here’s to another day of pretending.
Pretending he doesn't still hear her voice asking him why he let it be,
Why this has become her resting place and her home, the swamp, and peering trees dressed in murky green…

Russell Gwata (2014).

The Game Changer's Code

Dreams are born in sleep and achieved through action. Anyone that’s ever done anything great in their life started urged by an idea, which became a passion, that turned into an urge leading on to a hunger to succeed. If you weren’t born with a silver spoon in your mouth, don’t expect anyone to hand it to you, take life by the collar, each morning you wake up out of bed what are you doing to clench that vision? That dream…

The game changer is the guy that got out of his bed and decided to make something out of his life. Being comfortable does not mean accomplishment, it means fear. Fear to walk paths less often trod and fear to dare, to question life, systems, and how we have all conformed to them. The world has advanced from the stone age, to the industrial revolution and to the smart age that we so effortlessly thrive in now. Were cavemen not living seemingly comfortable lives? They had food, shelter, families and good health. But it took one person that dared to dream, dared to harness the elements of nature, dared to make the first efficient and long lasting light bulb, a man like Thomas Edison. The worlds greatest inventors and pioneers are people that took on everyday problem by finding a way to practically deal with them, the world seemed fine with modern mp3 players until Steve Jobs woke up and decided to make a difference. You see, greatness, desire, drive, they’re not taught. They are embedded IN YOU. All it takes is you tapping into that and truly realising your potential.

Maturity begins when you realise that you have to fend for yourself, and be aggressive to get what you want. How many more times is the go-getter more successful than the laid back ‘comfortable’ individual? An education won’t make you great, a degree won’t make you live any longer than you’re entitled to, but drive will. Bill Gates, Sir Richard Branson, Maverick Carter, Paul Allen and Michael Dell, all have things in common, neither of them have college degrees but what they did have is a dream, the difference between them and the rest of us is that they actually got up and did something about that. A degree is a label, it’s a piece of paper that supposedly make’s you a better person than one without but as Albert Einstein once famously said, “Everybody is a genius. But if you judge a fish by it’s ability to climb a tree it will live it’s whole life believing that it is stupid.” Look at the major companies you know, Apple, Nike, IBM, even Microsoft, the chances are that the founder and/or CEO has less qualifications than his/her senior subordinates. Meaning, you pay top money to get the top education, given the highest academic honours possible to work for someone and help build their dream instead of your own? Sixteen plus years in education, countless books, teachers, lessons, and massive school rooms and hallways to end up in a 4x4m cubicle with irregular toilet breaks and lunch breaks given to you? Bear in mind, these are those that have it better off than most employees, these are the “seniors.” I know we need ‘systems’ they apparently make the world tick right? But why live, learn and be ‘trained’ to be a king/queen only to end up being ushered towards being his servant.

I’m not saying quit school, I’m not saying leave your jobs, what I’m getting at is that if that doesn’t fulfill you and make you content then why not dare to be different? A friend of mine once told me, “If your WHY is important to you then the HOW doesn’t matter.” Meaning if your drive and reason for believing is important then how you get there is down to you, are you willing to shed blood, sweat and tears for it? I could even take the contextual view of giving examples of good sportsmen and women you know, the Michael Jordan’s, Pele’s, Shelly-Ann Fraiser’s and Jessica Ennis’ of the world. Talent only got them so far, the rest was hard work, determination, and focus to go beyond what their talent ‘allowed’ them. Even the best work, wake up early and put in the hours, AND THAT’S WHY THEY REMAIN THE BEST, what’s your excuse? In the immortalised and ever-so referenced words of Kevin Durant, “Hard work beats talent when talent fails to work hard.”

Companies need workers, schools need students, but why can’t you be the company? Why can’t you be the GAME CHANGER…

'Resolutions'

It’s just about that time of year when people start the whole ‘New Year New Me’ vibe right? So much can be said about these (mainly) false statements but I’m not going to get into all of that, I can only grab your attention for so long after all.

Besides stating the obvious inevitability of the majority of these resolutions going bust after a week, instead I’ll pose a question. Fair and fine, lets say you legitimately want to ‘change’ and have new goals and the like, why wait until the New Year to initiate that change? If it’s something you really want to get started on why wait till an entirely brand new year to decide to change. Why not just wake up tomorrow and be a ‘new you’ there and then? Every single morning you wake up, you’re given a chance to be that person, to change not only yourself but the world as well. No need to hide behind a calendar event to make things happen. If you’re going to wait till the following year to make things happen, whats stopped you all this time that’s not going to stop you in 2014? Unless you’ve landed some multimillionaire contract on the 1st of January, or you’re being let out from prison or oppression on that day then everything that held you back in 2013 will still be present in 2014 right? All that’s changed is your perception of it. The fact that it’s a ‘new page’ makes you reckon everything has been left behind, but it hasn’t. Maybe it’s a matter of you not using the turn of a calendar year to make a difference but just waking up, and making it happen.

Instead of preaching to people all you’re going to change about yourself, why not do it quietly, if your change is that significant they will notice, and actually point it out to you. Don’t speak know your success or goals because there will always be people waiting for you to trip up, and they’ll let you know when you do. Personal goals are meant to be PERSONAL GOALS, that way failure can only be credited to you and not an ill-wisher. I’m not saying be sly about your motives, okay I’ll be a typical guy and use football as an example. Sir Alex Ferguson probably had tonnes of major players he failed to sign but we only know of a handful because he kept it behind closed doors, so we’ll never see him as a failure. Whereas David Moyes (new Manchester United Manager) let the media know of the big signings he planned to land, and when he failed, did he not just look like an underachiever unable of carrying out expressed intent? There you have it.

Sometime it’s beyond you fair and fine but when given the option, the only person you should feel need to confide personal/characteristic objectives is the person in the mirror. I mean, if you really want to make a legitimate change, start tomorrow (hypothetically speaking). After all, practically speaking, whats the difference…?

Besides, I’m sure you’ve all heard this before. I’m not coming up with new life principals/philosophies off the top of my head on a regular, I’m not yet on that level of intellectual genius. In most cases, I just express things that everyone thinks, but never stops to say…

It’s a Guy thing (Independence vs Feminism)

I’ve decided to take a break from the poetry for a second, and go back to some pressing topics, and this will be about a topic that’s been debated in politics, religion and more specifically to this post, in relationships. This is about ‘Independence’, or at least what many females perceive it to be this day in age.

See, the Oxford Dictionary defines being independent as, “not depending on another for livelihood or subsistence”, “not connected with another or with each other” and “free from outside control; not subject to another’s authority.” Simple enough so far right? Okay. It get’s complicated when this term, rather, mindset, is incorporated into a relationship. Over time I’ve come to realise that many females tend to want to enter and go through a relationship with this kind of mindset, and in most cases they have a reason to, some guy probably messed it up for the rest of the male gender way back when. And I get it, it’s understandable to want to ‘be your own person’ when in a relationship but the extent to which many-a-female (not all of you, don’t worry) go with this is a tad bit extreme, and in most cases unreasonable, leading to fights. This is to the guys, just for a second, how many of you have been involved in this kind of situation before:

Waiter/Cashier: Thanks, if that’s all your bill will be $(insert amount).

Guy: Cheers. *pulls out wallet*

Girlfriend: No, it’s fine babe, I can pay for myself.

Guy: No don’t worry about it, that’s what I’m here for. *warm smile*

Girlfriend: What you’re here for? I can pay for myself thank you, I don’t need you spending money on me it’s alright, I have my own.

Waiter/Cashier: …. *awkwardly looks on*

You know that moment when you’re trying to do the ‘gentlemanly’ thing and pay the bill, or for her shopping, and she takes it as a swipe to her pride or independence? Look, ladies, when we offer to pay, it’s not that we think you’re incapable, or inferior, or can’t fend for yourself, there’s no better way to put it than that ‘It’s a guy thing.’ I can’t even classify it as pride, well, maybe so, but it’s something we all have, it’s embedded in us to naturally want to take care and provide for you. It’s been passed on from millennium upon millennium, going right back to the dawn of time as far as hunter gatherers, men naturally protected and provided,and women nurtured. This isn’t a debate on sexism, or on the different roles we should each have but what I’m getting at is that in most cases it’s not our choice, it’s instinct, forged by centuries of repetition and practice.

It’s almost the same case when you offer us money or buy us something while we’re there, how many guys do you know that will accept it with a smile and no conscience. This is the biggest example of a ‘Guy Thing’, I know it looks like pride and all but naturally, the testosterone and masculinity in us has a hard time showing any signs of dependence or submission. This doesn’t only go for jerks, even the nicest of guys find this hard in most cases, only because that’s how we naturally are, obviously with time it gets better either if you develop a really close friendship or relationship, but generally, it goes against every fiber in our simple brains. I know that in most cases you have the “Oh, you don’t want to feel emasculated do you?” reaction, and it’s not to the extent that you assume it is, I won’t lie, probably subconsciously it’s a masculinity thing. I actually had this conversation with a particularly independently minded female individual and after giving my side, and her giving hers, we came to a mutual agreement, “It’s a Guy Thing.” The sooner this is understood and accepted, things can move on. I’m not saying that we should pay 24/7, and you shouldn’t buy/offer money, all I’m saying is that if we refuse, or seem bothered by this, don’t take offence, it’s just how we’re wired and with some patience and settling, we find a way to find a way to take the backseat.

Independence is then commonly mistaken with feminism. Feminism is defined by the Oxford Dictionary as, “the advocacy of women’s rights on the ground of the equality of the sexes.” See the difference? Independence is focused on oneself, whereas feminism only advocates for equality. Fair and fine they have similarities but not allowing a guy to buy you something, or open your door, or let you through the door first is not being a feminist, that’s an attempt at independence. In life, especially in relationships, there will be times when both of us, males and females, will have to let this instinctive and insecure pride aside for the sake of maintaining favourable relations. Feminism should be debated in society, politics, and in the work place, as soon as you see yourself bringing it up when concerning matters of the heart know that you’re on the wrong trail.

People get it twisted, they take a person having an emotional ‘dominance’ over them as weakness. Instead I believe it’s a strength, strength to put your own desires, needs, and selfish whims aside, for the better of a ‘we’ instead of a ‘me’. Many people follow the Independent lady persona but in case you didn’t realise, she’s SINGLE (Yes, even in Ne-yo’s music video, she’s single). It’s completely understandable to be self reliant if you’re not in a commitment because in all honesty, you have every right to go out there and get it on your own. That’s the thing, you can’t be a Miss Independent in a relationship because what makes up a relationship? Two people sharing similar interest finding joy in each other’s company down to an intimate and soulful level. Don’t get me wrong, a relationship doesn’t mean you lose your individuality, it just means that it becomes acceptable to let someone else take the steering wheel for a bit. It’s possible to maintain control, even while letting someone else have an influential say, I mean, just ask the First Lady of the United States of America. You can tell that she’s her own lady, but still, she strikes a balance, see for yourself. To be independent is not to have individuality.

You see at the end of the day the thing about (exaggerated)independence is that if that’s how you live your life, how you conduct your relationships, believing on self reliance in order to deny anyone else so called ‘control over you’, in most cases if not all cases that’s how you’ll end up… By your self…


There’s no better way to put it than saying “No guy wants to date another guy.”