I thought of writing this post in Haiku, but after staring at the screen for a few minutes trying to work out just a couple of verses, each of 3 lines with 17 syllables to get what I want to say across, I changed my mind. And now I have even more respect for the author and friend who made me an offer which I've already traded on.

The first time I met Pratish Mistry was at an "Emergency Room" party. He came as a patient with a 'knife' in his leg, and I went as the Emergency "Stretcher". A few more parties later, and Pratish has offered me two of his books for Springleap T-shirts. And before I could upload information about this offer, Roshni got wind of it and called me this morning and has made this trade happen!

Pratish describes his book as his artistic gift to the world, and having read a few pages, and understood the skill it takes to write the form of Haiku called Senryu that Pratish has mastered, I do believe his book is a work of art.

Haiku is a strict Japanese form of poetry that conforms to a certain rhythm, created by the 17 syllables in the 3 lines of each verse. It forces the writer to communicate in a very few words, and each line tends to give new meaning to the entire verse. Haiku is usually written about nature. Senryu haiku is written about the human condition. And it’s the human condition that Pratish is interested in.

Here's his favourite verse:

sunshine or rain,
an inspired world
smiles upon its muse

Pratish was watching South Park where he learnt about Haiku (who says South Park isn't educational!), and he thought it was so cool that he studied it for a few months. The art form seems to just come naturally to him, because as he went about his daily life, he found inspiration in small things like beautiful waitresses serving him cappuccinos, and he'd quickly scribble down a verse on a serviette. After a while he had quite a collection. With some encouragement from friends, he put the best of all those verses together into the book "The Universe and the Mad Butterfly".

The book has some Eastern and Buddhist philosophical undertones and is about people’s spiritual journey in this world- hence the reference to The Universe. It also talks to the butterfly effect where the effect of the smallest of things (the flap of a butterfly's wings) can influence a lot of other things that you are not aware of, that results in something big (the hurricane in another part of the world to the butterfly). And it's a "mad' butterfly because we have no idea of what the effects might be.

So thanks to Pratish who offered me 2 autographed copies of his book "The Universe and the Mad Butterfly", and Roshni who wanted the two copies, I've now traded 2 more T-shirts! Woohoo!! You two rock!

And if you're wondering what Pratish is working on now- he's busy writing a funny novel about a bunch of animals in a forest, and doodling cartoon style.

This must be the longest Prize Giving ever!

Steven Tu won the one matchstick T-shirt Challenge last year, and over the last few months we've been meeting up to give him his prizes.

He won this Swatch Watch donated by my late friend and mentor, Craig, which I gave to Tu when we first met up at a Mugg & Bean last year.

He also won R1000 to spend on bidorbuy.co.za, which Andy gave to him at the Johannesburg Premiere of the one matchstick Movie and Tu has had fun spending it already!

Tim of Poken.co.za gave him his Poken, at a tweetup we had recently in Bryanston.

And he won 3 of his Mission: Not Impossible T-shirts from Springleap.com and a coaching voucher from me.

His Prize Giving hasn't ended yet, though. He's still gets 10 VIP tickets to the Springleap Party- which Springleap will be throwing when I finish trading all the T-shirts.


I've so enjoyed getting to know Tu over all these get-togethers. He's witty, fun-loving, warm and the kind of guy who gets excited about things. Like this bag: he's really, really, REALLY excited about this bag. He's been known to say: "Better to be excited about nothing than have nothing excite you." And I can't help but agree, Tu!

I reckon too that if there would be a person first in line to receive more "time" if someone ever invented a way to give us more hours in a day, it would be Tu. If he's not socialising, working, designing a new T-shirt, travelling, blogging or twittering, he's kickboxing! The only way he managed to finish the design for the Mission: Not Impossible T-shirt was to stay up till the wee hours of the morning.

Which I am so glad he did. Because it's an awesome design. Tu said the last time we met that there are some designs that you just can't imagine on a poster, or billboard, or in a magazine. They only seem to fit on a T-shirt. And that's where he puts them. Check out some of his other designs here, and if you like his latest one on Springleap.com - go vote for it!

Congratulations once again Tu for designing the official one matchstick T-shirt: Mission: Not Impossible, and thank you all your continued support for my project. You rock!

If you're in Johannesburg, join me, the 'matchstick girl, for flap jacks or French toast! Or just a cup of coffee!

We'll chat about everything and nothing.

And get to meet some interesting people too.

Pop in anytime between 09:00 and 13:00.

PS - You can quizz me about my one matchstick project. And for those that keep saying you want to trade with me for a T-shirt: I'll bring some samples, and you can ask all about the T-shirts and work out your size, and I'll even have access to Springleap.com so we can trade there and then if you like!

Date: Sunday, 21 February 2010
Time: 09:00 - 13:00
Venue: Doppio Zero, Rosebank
Street: Cnr Cradock Ave & Bierman St
Town/City: Johannesburg, South Africa

RSVP here:
Facebook event
Tweetvite

And this is exciting, because the item I've been offered for a T-shirt comes with an amazing story!

Ruan Smit is about to explore South Africa on a bicycle with the aim of telling stories of all the people and the places he visits on his trip.

I met up with him a few days ago to chat about his tour, and I was blown away by the passion and enthusiasm he has not only for this tour, but for his South Africa. After I witnessed him light up as he told me his plans, I cracked a joke, as I was so in awe of his passion and energy, I didn't know what else to say.

In his own words from his blog, Ruan explains that:

For the next 9000km starting on Saturday 13 February we will explore a country that believes in UBUNTU. We will be inspired by people that have dreams. We will visit areas that we won't want to leave. We'll have instances that we want to cry at what we see. We will meet a country through its people. We will understand how rain and sun and wind and fire effects the life of a country that diverse and yet unified.

Ruan has a dream that this journey of two months on a bicycle will open up our country. His wish is that the personality of South Africa will shine through the stories he gathers, and that will happen through the participation of everyone in this journey, as it is a South African journey.

I'm very excited about Ruan's journey and I look forward to seeing my country through all the amazing people he is going to meet. I hope you'll join me in being a part of this journey and when Ruan passes through your home town, give him a cheer!

He starts his journey this Saturday from Mary Fitzgerald Square in Newtown, Johannesburg, at 6:30. I'll be there to cheer him off, will you Jo'burgers join us?

I digress though- I'm meant to be telling you about the trade Ruan's offered me. But it's hard for me to not get excited about the Explore SA tour!

So, back to the trade.

Ruan has had 5 cycling tops made for his trip, and has offered me one for one of my Springleap T-shirts.

So if you're into cycling, or just like the sporty look, then you'll want to consider doing a 3 way trade with Ruan and me.

The Explore SA Cycling Top looks like this:

It's a size medium
It's shoulderless (that means sleeveless too ;)
It has a full zip
It's gorgeous
It's one of 5 made so far.
And it's yours for only R183.00!

If you want this Explore SA Cycling Top then CALL ME 0837302979.

You'll get the sleeveless ubba cool Explores SA Cycling Top
Ruan will get a funky Springleap T-shirt
And I'll get to have traded another of my T-shirts

It's a great 3 way deal!

By the way, you can connect with Ruan through me or here:
Facebook
Twitter
Blog

Do you sometimes feel like you are a slave to money, and that in society today we've got our relationship with money the wrong way around?

Back in the stone age they were exchanging flint and volcanic glass (they didn't have matchsticks to trade in those days) - so there is evidence of the human race "trading throughout much of recorded history", as wiki says.

Yet somehow we lost track of what trading is all about - and I think it came about when we started to use paper and metal to represent the exchanges we were taking part in- and probably the industrial revolution played a role too. At some point though, whenever it was, we stopped seeing money as a means of exchange and started to see it as a means in itself- the be all and end all of it all. We stopped using money as a tool, a slave and instead we became the slaves to the Master we called Money.

I am under no illusions that money makes things much easier to trade- especially in our world today. However it does sadden me when we see how not having money (or our perception of not having ENOUGH money) then limits us from following our hearts desires. How not having money holds us back from doing what we truly want to do because we've forgotten money's role and lost sight of what it stands for.

And I'm not alone in feeling this. Adin van Ryneveld does too.

"Money isn't bad- we've just lost our way in relationship to it" he said in one of our many conversations. "Hearing that people think that you need money to do things breaks my heart. Abundance is about creation, not money. And we're participants in creation. So the question I'm trying to ask is what are we able to create without money?" And he's well on his way to answering this question.

"I believe that people have two main limiting beliefs about money: First, that we don’t have enough money to do what we want to do, and second, that we won't have enough money if we did that something that we really want to do."

"If I can create what I am intending to create with my No Money Required Project, and impact the world as I intend to do by living without money and giving away all the money I do create, then I hope to inspire others to do something to get to their dreams. There are other ways to get the stuff you want without using money."

Adin has been living without money for 9 months now. He doesn't even own a wallet, credit card or a bank account. He has moved passed working out how to survive without money, and is starting to really push people's boundaries and perceptions in relation to how they let money restrict them.

How is he doing this? Well, for example, he gives monthly talks at a company in exchange for petrol for his scooter. He plays the role of designated driver and drives his friends around to parties, so they can enjoy some drinks and in exchange he gets his dinner and a good time accompanying them to the parties. He washes dishes, mows lawns and coaches others in exchange for airtime, clothing and a roof over his head.

Where things get really exciting is in how Adin adds value to his friends by promoting them or their businesses in exchange for how they help him. For example he swops courses that are donated to him with others for what he needs. He trades by blogging and promoting services that he needed, that people offered him in exchange for the exposure he gives.

The most radical thing he has just started doing though, is giving his right arm to live without money. He is literally tattooing his people's brands on his right arm, in exchange for what he needs: The FairyGodMother Inc is now inked on his arm, for the many dream mapping & goal setting workshops Donna gave him for his cause. A Simple Guide to Making a Difference is there too for giving Adin his flip camera. And Consciousness Coaching Academy has a spot on his arm, they too have donated 5 of their 4 day personal development, consciousness realization and awareness training courses to trade with people who help him. Payfast is next to have a spot in his forearm for paying for air flights. I know Adin really wants a mac laptop. If you can give him one you will probably be next to get your brand tattood on his right arm.

Adin will do what it takes and find ways to provide value to those who are willing to participate in his experiment in abundance. As long as both parties believe it's a fair exchange money can be totally eliminated and both parties can get what they want. It's all about perceived value. And that's why I'm so excited to know Adin and participate in his adventure. Through my own trading story of one matchstick I've come to see the world in a radically different way, and I hope that by sharing more about Adins story here too, you too start to re-think how you can create that holiday you've been dreaming of, or get that new car that you need.

It's all about our perception of money, and whether that perception imprisons us or sets us free. Adin is showing us a different perspective- one that liberates and changes a whole lot of things, don't you think?

Connect with Adin here:
Facebook
Twitter
Blog
YouTube