Kia Ora, (That means welcome in Maori, but w/e)

This keyboard that I am using in this internet Cafe is fairly hard to use so there may be a lot of errors but bare with me.

I had originally intended on typing this up last Saturday but alas the site was down and I was actually worried it would be down for good and that I would lose all of this record.

Anywho I have just finished the Eighth Habit by Stephen Covey for the first time so that is good. The end touched on an important part of my life that I have often had problems with. That is execution.

Don’t get me wrong I get a lot done and feel I am fairly effective. But I often have the terrible habit of procrastination and that diminishes the full amount of things I am able to do.

In fact here in NZ I have found that I procrastinate projects and papers much more so I feel the rush of having things to do. I do miss having lots of things to do. More of the challenge of those things than their number but I am excited to bring back new things that I have learned to my normal life. I think it should help me in respect to execution.

Now onto some random topics.

When walking I have noticed that women find it important to make eye contact whereas guys just normally walk facing forward. I am sure many others have noticed that but it is still a big difference. Probably a leftover from when we used to keep an eye out of saber tooth tigers.

I think that a problem all of us face, I am certain I do, is to base our expectations on the social mirror. That is what others would think about us and our actions. I find myself aware of these preconceptions now but I don’t know if they are invalid or not. I am sure some of them are, but I suppose lots of them can serve positive functions. Although maybe it is important to be sure of yourself first and then to take in the opinions of others. I just think it motivates a lot of our behavior more than it should.

Another thing I have been contemplating is how people perceive enjoyment. I think that this is a widely varying subject and I’m amazed at how differnent things are between people, even of similar background and age. But maybe that is because I am in an environment that is unlike my home environment where people aren’t signed up to the same sort of social contracts.

The thing I really love about going to the waterfront on the weekends is the wide array of people that come out for walks and just spending time. Especially the families. All ages and sizes and lots of kids. It is just neat seeing the amazing value that family brings into our lives and how important family really is. Also NZ is so laid back that often parents walk their children to primary school. How cool is that?Ohhh also the kids like 8 yr olds ride public transit. I was really amazed at that.

At the place where I normally sit/read/think in Wellington there are lots of seagulls and ducks. Ducks look really dumb when they swim, at least when you can see their feet. I like watching the seagulls and other birds as they fight over bread and the bigger males harass the smaller gulls. They really are beautiful creatures.

Yup that’s what’s up.

-Mathias