Just do it!

I'll admit; I'm one of those super-cautious people who avoid danger at all costs. I'm not a dare-devil who's constantly wondering where my next adrenaline fix is gonna come from.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not a coward - I just don't have a death wish. I don't see the logic in getting myself in situations where I could die, lose a limb or suffer a nervous breakdown.

And then my cousins TK and Tam happened... These 2 guys practically live for the thrill of near-death experiences. My mom, dad, sister and I visited Johannesburg, South Africa this past weekend. As part of our expedition, TK and Tam suggested we check out Gold Reef City, known for its amusement park.

Before I knew what was going on, we were all on the Anaconda, a gigantic roller coaster at Gold Reef City, described by my aunt as "death itself." OMG! "Death itself" seems to be such an under-statement. The mere thought of hurtling down the twisted tracks spinning, flipping, and being thrown in all directions nearly sent my blood pressure through the roof.

I mentally calculated the probability of falling off the humongous roller coaster, which stood at a terrifying 100 metres (328 feet) above the ground, and to me, was the definition of a killing machine.

My knees were practically knocking together when we got on the Anaconda. I spent what felt like the longest minute of my life screaming my lungs off, shouting "Mommy" and vowing never ever to listen to my cousins again ..... but, I survived!

Just when I thought the horror was over and done with, TK and Tam beckoned with animated expressions on their faces, "Now, let's go on the Golden Loop." I thought, "Oh no! Not again!"

And once more, I found myself on the kind of roller coaster that nightmares are made of.This ride immediately began with a steep, sharp descent at lightning speed, giving us no time to catch our breath. I could hear tens of ear-piercing, glass-shattering screams coming from other passengers behind and in front of me.

Then we raced through a giant loop and were upside down for about 3 seconds (which felt like an hour.) At that point I was pretty sure I was gonna fall off the roller coaster or have a heart attack, and mumbled all kinds of prayers confessing every blunder, mess-up and mistake I'd ever committed (sweets I stole from my mom's candy jar as a kid, all the times I was mean to my sister growing up, and of course the day I shaved off the dog's whiskers) and so forth.

45 excruciating seconds later, the Golden Loop ride was over and I stumbled out of my seat, laughing in sheer disbelief. I couldn't believe I had just survived 2 of the most petrifying rides in the Amusement Park. I felt like Wonder Woman and learned a valuable lesson right there.

Sometimes in life, you've just got to do it afraid. "It" can be anything - taking a new class, moving to a new neighborhood, making a new friend, applying for a job, trying out for a position in a sports team or auditioning for a singing part in a theater production. Whatever your "it" may be, just do it. Grab the bull by the horns and go for it. It'll be worth it, trust me.

Stop procrastinating and making excuses. If you're waiting for the day when you no longer feel nervous or afraid, you may find yourself waiting for a very, very long time. Franklin Roosevelt once said, "Courage is not the absence of fear, but rather the assessment that something else is more important than fear.”

The things that are worth most in life are usually also the ones that are most intimidating and terrifying. So, take a deep breath, go out there and make your dreams come true one challenge at a time. The best in life is waiting!

Merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Don't get married if...

Contrary to its super-fluffy, rosy and colorful portrayals in movies and soap operas, marriage takes LOTS of hard work.

Sure, you'll have romantic candle-lit dinners, walks under the stars and loads of fun and laughter, but there'll also be arguments, sickness, crying babies and annoying habits that'll nearly drive both of you insane.

There'll be morning breath, times when you see your partner with out her weave or make up on, and days when you think, "This marriage thing isn't the fairytale I thought it was gonna be." It's no wonder then that divorce rates are astronomically high in Hollywood and around the globe.

So, before you sprint to the altar, here are a few pointers:

Don't get married if:

1. You're only doing it to please your family, friends, boss or church
The decision to get married should be made by you and your Sweetheart, not by your mom, sister, grandpa,great aunt, priest or hair-dresser. Their opinions may offer some helpful insight, but the choice to walk down the aisle ultimately belongs to you. After all, you're the one who's going to live with that guy or girl and deal with his or her erratic mood-swings,annoying mannerisms and weird preferences.

2. You're not in love
If you're a believer in life-long companionship and living happily ever after, don't marry someone you're not in love with. It really doesn't matter if they're super-rich, drop dead gorgeous or incredibly intelligent. To a very large extent, marriage is about compromise. It's hard enough to tolerate the blunders and mess-ups of someone you love with all your heart. It's a hundred times harder to compromise with a partner if you'd rather be with someone else.

Being in love is the special ingredient that'll bring excitement and a sense of adventure to your marriage. It'll also give you the determination to keep going during the not-so pleasant times. With out love, you're likely to take off at the slightest hint of trouble.

3. Your 6th sense is telling you to run in the opposite direction
In the absence of solid evidence of impending danger, it's important to listen to your gut when it comes issues to do with your partner and relationship. If something just doesn't feel right, don't shrug it off. Chances are that your gut feeling is on point. Take time to learn more about yourself, your partner and your relationship before making a life-long commitment. It may save you from a horrific nightmare later on.

4. You're hoping to 'save' your partner from themselves
If your Sweetheart suffers from chronic depression, has anger issues or struggles with addictions, take things slow. If you're planning on getting married in the hopes of rescuing them from their problems, forget it! A wedding ring will not miraculously transform your partner into a saint. In other words, the altar will NOT alter your partner. Leave the rehabilitation treatments and counseling to the professionals. 'Romantic therapy' never works.

5. You've seen danger warning signs in your partner and / or relationship
So, the love of your life is in the habit of getting high on a daily basis, beating the daylights out of you or cheating on you with every Jack, Jill, Tom or Sally. Don't get married - unless of course you enjoy being stressed and victimized. Marriage doesn't have magic powers to change a devious partner at the drop of a hat. You're much better off walking off into the sunset than down the aisle.


These are a few critical factors which aspiring brides and grooms can consider before they say, "I do". Can you think of anymore? I'd love to hear from you.