Murals, Museums and More in Mexico City
Growing up in the South of England meant I had minimal exposure to a true representation of Mexico, experiencing instead occasional associations including a toy shop piñata at a birthday party, sporadic meals via Old El Paso Tex-Mex kits from grocery stores, or consuming copious shots of Jose Cuervo with merry friends (followed by multiple pained facial expressions). Venture into the City of London and you’ll find...
The Ritual of New Year Reflections: Let’s make every moment count
Last night, a small gathering of friends made wishes before blowing out candles on a cake. We were celebrating another revolution around the sun for planet Earth. The desire for a new year to begin and for 2017 to end seemed an almost unanimous outlook for many friends and family that I had encountered over the past weeks. Resolutions were...
The Reset Button
So many guises in our years, Whose to say when it all becomes clear. Signing forms and forming smiles, All the while it still reviles. One door opens; another closes. I press reset for my mind’s repose. And begin again with a fresh slate. A new chapter, A new challenge (they say). The thirst for...
Elevated Splendor: Big Bend Solitude and Terlingua
“The mountains are calling, and I must go”. John Muir, Yosemite Valley 1873. These are the words sprawled across the minty green shirts presented by my cousin for her fortieth year celebratory trip at Big Bend National Park, which have lingered periodically in my mind since returning to Austin. As I gazed docilely at...
CreativeMornings Austin: A Magical Initiation
It’s 7.30am and I’m peddling through South Austin’s winding roads, greeted by the glorious pink light of sunrise. The cool, fresh air envelops me; a welcome change after the past 6 months, more accustomed to the feeling of wearing a vest of hot coals. With 2 different lollipop ladies (mind my British, I mean ‘crossing guards’) waving me by...
Let your Authentic Self be Front Facing
A TED talk delivered by the masterful David Byrne on how architecture has helped music evolve has sparked deeper cerebral churning. Byrne went on to quote the American author Thomas Frank, regarding the voting process: “Voters (like a lot of us) assume if they hear something that ‘sounds like’ its sincere, that its coming from the gut, that its passionate… that...
Don’t let Digital kill the Art of Conversation
Speed kills. I’m sure you’re familiar with the advertising campaigns that bolstered our road safety regulations. Texting whilst driving has also joined the ranks in securing more consciousness for travel in order to prevent unnecessary deaths or accidents. Whether you agree with this ruling or not, the digital and velocity based elements of these factors play...
Faith: The Forgotten Motivator
Following a recent meeting of family friends, a waver in self-belief resulted in the calming retort: “Have some faith”. This simple statement came from a dear friend of my late parents, with added resonance because he has known me since youth and through to adulthood. It was not a dispersion on my character, more of a...
The Altruist Activist: Why we must learn from each other
In the early hours, the birds by my window drown the skies with their dawn chorus, a daily ritual which regularly lures me from the sanctuary of sleep. Their morning call is an essential part of their existence, which mostly comprise of males who sing to compete and attract partners, as well as stake their territory. Those that sing...
You are not Immortal: Modern Life Mindfulness
It is someone’s birthday today. The fourth of May was cause for celebration of 4 friends and almost every day I get a Facebook reminder of whom to ‘help’ celebrate their day. The overall year of my friendships has October containing the most birthdays and April the least. The more friends I acquire, the more...
SXSW 2015: Music lovers need apply
Are you calm under pressure with the ability to multi-task? Consider yourself skilled at project management? An excellent researcher with a ‘can-do’ attitude? Then you are perfect South by Southwest material. This Austin based multi-media festival (abbreviated to SXSW) which began solely as a music conference is a 28 year old institution and can somewhat...
Blue Lights ‘til Sunrise
Ominous sounds ring around As the city pounds the street (There are mouths to feed) Harbingers of mortality, distract banality Of weekday repetition (we daren’t make the admission) A regular sight, from morning light Blurring beacons with night skies Wailing sirens provide the cries A dying youth, a drug-fuelled plight More...