Fresh Faces in our Politics, SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE's Sweep at the Oscars, And Three Months of Existence

* The choosing - by COPE - of the Reverend Mvume Dandala as its presidential candidate for the forthcoming general elections. COPE's bravery in going with a relatively new face must be commended. Rev Dandala is untainted, so to speak. He has no previous association with the ANC at a high level. Nobody can claim that he is a former Mbeki man who is still licking his wounds after Polokwane .And this newness is what COPE needs if it to convince the electorate that it is indeed a new party with new ideas.
As one customer of ours - ntate 'Moruti' - commented:

"Rev Dandala is a breath of fresh air in local politics"

Awe, ntate 'Moruti'.


* The sweep by the movie "Slumdog Millionaire" at the Academy Awards this past Sunday. It was nominated in 9 categories and won 8 of them. And these 8 included the plum ones of "Best Picture" and "Best Director".
This story of a poor boy from the slums of India( Mumbai) making it big overnight, cannot have failed to move the Academy of Motion Pictures voters.
And "Slumdog" has been winning awards left, right and centre since its release. It started at the Golden Globe Awards. Then came the Directors Guild Awards .And now the Oscars. What is particularly pleasing about these wins by "Slumdog" is that this movie has a South African connection. The movie is based on the book 'Q & A', written by Vikas Swarup. Mr Swarup is none other than the deputy High Commissioner of India here in South Africa.
It may be India's pride and joy, yes, but we can claim it also. After all we have got the author of the book living right here in Mzansi.


* The Feel Good Movement blog/website being three months old this week. It went live on 28th November 2008. Every week, since then, I have put out a post of my 'feel good moments'. And it has been a real pleasure putting these posts together.
Yes, at times it has been a challenge  finding something of universal appeal. Not to mention finding the 3 hours( or so) that it takes me to write up each post on week nights because one is sometimes tired after a full day at work. It takes me this long to write it up because I am a member of the one-finger typing brigade.
A big 'thank you' to all the regular readers of this blog, namely:

"Dorcas, my sister, are you listening?",

"Linda, love your feedback.",

and

"Ruben, mey authi, are you there?"

Thank you guys. And thank you, too, to all those that I didn't mention by name.
The FEEL GOOD REVOLUTION is just starting.


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOVEMENTS'.

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Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:

In COPE We Trust
______________

We had no hope.
Until COPE came along.
In COPE we trust.
In COPE we have placed our dreams.
Our dreams for a new tomorrow.
Our dreams for a moral regeneration.
With COPE we can.
We can move mountains.
Make way for COPE, ladies and gentlemen.
Rev D and the leadership.
Please do not dash our hopes.
Our faith is in you.
We trust in you, COPE.

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SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

Let us know at - feelgoodmovement@gmail.com
====================================

Feedback from Hirohito, Soweto's Joel Makitla, And the Start of the Real Thing

* One of 'our' graduates - Hirohito - giving us a detailed and thorough analysis of the Feel Good Movement blog.
'Our' graduates - as we call them here at work - are this select group of employees with degrees,  who are on this special programme that fast tracks them to managerial positions. They are visiting our '1 and done' branch to help migrate customer traffic from the tellers department inside the branch, to the new Automated Deposit Machines outside.
But I digress. Back to Hirohito's scholarly feedback. In his own words:

"I generally liked the layout of the website and the ''cause" that you are
trying to promote. It is a noble one, one that most of us are either indifferent
to or willfully ignorant of .I do, however, think that the website could be
more interactive....(Also) with more effort  ,you could include more articles
that are both interesting and relevant to your "cause".
P.S.
On the whole, a worthy, noble and relevant "cause"! Good work!! Keep it up!!!"

Spoken like a true graduate indeed.
'Hiro' took me back to my school days. This is how our English teachers used to dissect our essays. This memory felt wonderful.


* An article in the Sunday Times( 15/02/09) supplement( "It's My Business") that greatly inspired me. It was about how this gentleman - Joel Makitla - got be on the brink of opening Soweto's first motorbike dealership. I particularly loved his early ventures into the business world. Joel related how he did without a lot of things when he started, things that people his age considered a must. This was while he saved up for his first business venture. He was working at a bank then. For example, he says he wore the same shoes to work every day. He did not have a cellphone, no TV or music system. While his friends laughed at him, he was busy putting away R500 every month.This grew to R21 000 in 18 months. And he used this money to start his first small business. From this small start he never looked back.
How many of us can withstand peer pressure like Joel did in order to work on our dreams?
And to those friends of his who laughed, " Who is THE MAN now?"


* The FIFA 2010 World Cup (S A) buzz starting in earnest. The tickets go on sale from tomorrow worldwide. Here in S A they will be sold exclusively at FNB branches. This festival of soccer will run from June 11 to July 11, next year.
Some of us cannot wait.It has been a long wait since we were awarded the World Cup. I still remember the outpouring of joy throughout the whole country when we got the nod. The mood was like we had actually won the football tournament itself.
That picture of FIFA President - Sebb Blatter-holding an envelope, and going:

"The FIFA 2010 WORLD CUP will be hosted in South Africa."

will stay with me forever.
Now let us all - as South Africans - make this the best World Cup ever.
As USA President Obama once put it:"This is our time."


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'

======================================

Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:

Our Graduates
____________

These graduates of ours.
Landed out of nowhere.
And created a buzz.

These graduates of ours.
Genuine articles.
Real varsity degrees, ladies and gents.

Our graduates.
The ladies stirring things up.
Us guys tripping ourselves.
Wanting to get close.
Buyi, Wassima and Liz, you beauties.

Our graduates.
Doing well in life also,
'Ditransi' all round.
Nice cars too.

I want to be a graduate,
I think.
But I am a graduate.
We all are graduates.
We are graduates from the University of life.

'Ta' Liz, Buyi, Wassima, Thema, Hiro, and Gee
'Ta' for passing this way.


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SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

Let us know at - feelgoodmovement@gmail.com
=====================================

'Quantum' Rides, Emails from bo-Reuben, And Pearls of Wisdom

* Having what I call a perfect morning trip to work on Tuesday. I got to ride in the new Toyota Quantum (15 seater) taxi in both my routes to work.It was, first, in the route from Protea North to Baragwanath, then from Bara to The Glen mall.

Getting two 'Qs' in a row was a treat. The Toyota Quantum( 15 seater) taxi is an excellent people-mover. It is spacious inside, and its seats are very comfortable. With things like air-con and headrests for every passenger, this Toyota is true luxury. And for those of us who like to read on the go, its smooth ride is just perfect.
Whenever I am in a 'Q' I always wish the trip was longer.
Toyota have really outdone themselves on this one.


* This contribution-via email-from Ruben( Rubza). The power of the mind made
Rubza feel good this week. In his email entitled 'The Mind' he says:

"....the the mind is the most powerful weapon of
them all. U can use it to destroy, or to do good. For
example, if u hate snakes, u end up fearing them.
So by acting positive all the time (i.e. having no fear)
we can conquer fear, be free and live healthy lives."

Indeed the mind is very powerful. And we are not even using its full capacity. It was Einstein who once said that we are only using 10% of our mind's capacity.
Thanks Rubza for your 'feel good moment'.


* Finding some nuggets of wisdom on how to become a good entrepreneur in
our CEO(Michael Jordaan)'s weekly newsletter(On Michael J's Mind,06/02/09). This top 10 list was originally put forward by Mr Paul Harris at some 'do'.
It is entitled "Ten Observations of Successful Entrepreneurs":

1.Entrepreneurs are intrigued and obsessed with a business idea or concept, but are not obsessed with money.
2.Good entrepreneurs know everything about something and something about
everything.
3.Follow sound business practices from the beginning.
4.THINK BIG but are prepared to start small.
5.Build your business, not your ego.
6.Trust others; empower people.
7.Use diversity as a competitive advantage.
8.Manage your values and corporate culture.
9.Your reputation is your most valuable asset.
10.Work hard.

Sure, Mr Jordaan.


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.


==========================================

Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:

Toyota, Let Me Ride
________________

Let me ride now.
Let me ride in your Quantum.
Let me experience the sumptuousness.
Experience an airplane's 'mantofotofo'.
Let me ride, Toyota.
Let me experience the smoothest of rides.
Let me not feel the road bumps.
Let me ride the people's favourite.
The passenger's first love.
The taxi driver's first love.
Let me ride your bestseller, Toyota.
Let me ride.
Please.


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SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

Let us know at - feelgoodmovement@gmail.com
=====================================

Champion Sisters, Secrets to Happiness, And Beautiful TV Presenters

* Serena Williams winning the Australian Open. In the process becoming not only the World No 1 women's tennis player, but she also became the biggest prize money winner in the history women's sport.
Serena and her sister -Venus-just keep winning.
Don't you just love how they can walk away from tennis to dabble in other things like fashion design, or hanging out with bo-Common, and yet still come back to win the big ones. Like they have never been away.
I remember how people used to snigger when their father hyped their talent. At one stage he predicted that his two daughters will contest the final of a major tournament. It did not happen at this particular major. But later it did happen,at another major. With this latest win by Serena it would seem the old man had seen the future.
Thanks bo-mysister for the inspiration.
* An article that I read in the ROOTS magazine(January/February 2009)
on how to be happy. In this article it was reported that scientists had found proof
- through some studies - that the secret to a happy and healthy life was to simply
laugh more often .Laughing reduces body stress, we are told here.
Scientific studies are well and good, but these scientists should have asked us in the F-G Movement.We have long known that laughter-which is the ultimate tool in making one 'feel good'-is the alpha and omega of a happy life.


Just take a look at the photo of yours truly above.Don't I just look blissful?

* The SELIMANTHUNZI programme ( SABC 1 on Saturdays at 6pm) these days. I think the lady presenter - Zizo Beda - is simply gorgeous. She is a natural beauty. And she looks just right with short hair. The fancy hairdos like bo-'dibraids', di-'singles' or 'extensions' seem to detract from her beauty.
Her presenting skills are also not bad . She asks the right questions. With her engaging smile our local young and happening 'celebs' seem to just open up to her .Her appearance on 'SELI' has made me a convert. I would not miss 'SELI' for anything.
Will gladly follow you anywhere Ms Beda.


THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

====================================

Our FEEL GOOD poem of the week:

Bo-Mysister
__________

Yo sisters!
Made tennis world sit up.
So self-assured.
Bordering on arrogance.
Yo sisters!
Your athleticism, raising the bar.
Fellow ladies, where is your beef?
Yo sisters!
Mr Williams methods.
Unorthodox.
But oh so effective.
Mr Williams:
The original cocky 'darkie'
Yo sisters!
Made some serious cash too.
Way to go, bo-mysister.


=============================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?

Let us know at - feelgoodmovement@gmail.com
=====================================