My 'WTF' moment that nearly bit me in the ass

For those who don't know me very well, If i was to count how many WTF moments I had last year, I could seriously write a book on it, with a title screaming: 'Tam's WTF moments of 2013' or 'WTF' Just Happened?'
My stories, or 'sticky situations' sometimes funny or rather random, has become a pattern that now everytime I go into my room mates room, and say: 'Holly... I have to tell you something.." She instantly gives me a look of, what did you do now Tam.. Or even when I say to her: "Holly, I think 'so and so', is going to be here tonight." She'll look at me and go, "that is highly unlikely that, THAT person would be at the SAME vicinity as you!" Lo and behold- that person is awkwardly at the same vicinity as me, of all places.
As of this year, 2014, I have already had my fair share of.. WHAT the 'F##$%^&(!&@$' just happened? moments. My beautiful friend Ash, has now started calling me every morning to ask for a 24 hour update on what has occurred in my life. Truth be told, I may just be attracting these situations, mind you, not all are bad, most of them are just funny and just completely unexpected, but as my mum has told me since I was young, "You just seem to always be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

The story I am going to tell you today, happened a few days ago. A story that has taught me SO much, that I am still shocked at how I behaved. If you never believed in karma, well maybe after this story YOU WILL.


Everyone knows that in a nutshell, I am a pretty nice person. It's one of my great strengths but also a lot of people take advantage on it. I've always believed if you do something nice for someone, or give back to the world, you will always be happy and life will always reward you. Everyone also knows that I am big on social media. Wow I admitted to that, which apparently I am slightly addicted to, but thats not the point. I post quotes, pictures, articles, blogs and my daily activity quite regularly in a day, as It's what I do and I know that, as a performer, I have something going on all the time and I want to share that with my followers. Simple as that.
I have rarely EVER written something negative on my status, or can recall the last time I posted a complaint or wrote something bad about someone. Though, I do post random situations I am in, or will post something rather funny as I think I am quite the comedian. (not really)
Last Friday, I posted a status about an encounter I had with someone in the lift, I won't quote word for word what I wrote, but it went a long the lines of: 'Stuck in lift, with a lesbian, who left a note a few years ago on my car window saying if I liked girls to call this number.' At the time, I thought It was just a joke, I had taken a simple situation that occured in my life and posted it for everyone to see. Not a big deal right? WRONG
The following week, I was going to Yoga and as I was about to get into the lift, the lady I had posted the status about, was in the lift going down, with a big muscley guy. You can imagine what happened next. Or what I thought was going to happen next. I am not going to pretend that I wasn't scared, but I was. I instantly felt guilt run through my body and I instantly knew something was about to bite me in the ass. Long story cut short, she found out what I had posted on FB, it all traced back to me, she was told that she should sue me for Defamation and also told me, she isn't a lesbian and that the guy she was with is her husband.
I am just going to give you a moment to just take this all in. As you can imagine HOW PATHETIC and BAD i felt... here you go....

I admitted to everything, I was honest and upfront, told her what I said and why I said it. The fact of the matter is: My intention was not to put someone down, but I did, that day. I made a joke publicly. I judged a book by its cover and the universe said: "Hey Tam, that was a bit out of character of you, no worries we are going to teach you a lesson." It truly did. I apologised PROFUSELY.
Can you see what the lesson was here? I see a few lessons:
1. Don't ever talk bad about someone on social media, OR EVER IN LIFE.
2. Don't judge a book by its cover
3. BE HONEST no matter if it is going to make you look bad, the fact that I told her the truth, probably made the situation better.
4. You know that quote you see where it says: "Be kind to everyone, For everyone is fighting a hard battle." (Enough said)
5. Your life doesn't have to always be shared to the world.

At the end of the day, I can't dwell on my mistakes, but I can learn from it, and move forward. A nice person like me, who decides to go out of character for that split second for attention, will never go down well. Has that ever happened to you, when you've done something and Karma teaches you a lesson?
I am quite grateful at as it could've been worse. Sure my dignity has gone out the window and I am now constantly going to be nervous getting into my lift in my apartment building, however whats done is done, hopefully one day we can all laugh about it and get along.
So as advice from me, BE NICE TO EVERYONE. Not shitting you, as Bob Marley has quoted: Don't gain the world and lose your soul, wisdom is better than silver or gold."
Don't do something just for attention, or to make someone laugh, by putting people down, you're better than that. Seriously...

Enjoy
Tam xx

Does travelling change you?

I was sitting in a cafe in Cairns with my little brother and my dad a few weeks ago. Our mouths had dropped to the floor as we shockingly couldn't believe what our dad had just told us.
My brother and I live together with my best friend, and every few months we will visit dad, go to Brisbane to where he lives and spend time with him but this time we decided to spend Christmas with each other up in Cairns.
*Conversations a few months back on the phone
Dad: I have so much to tell you about my trip.
Me: Well just tell me now
Dad: This will have to wait when I see you and Rolf in person.

I didn't know then that his story would be causing me to nearly choke on my wine whilst nearly falling backwards from my chair and causing a scene.
The type of person my dad is, is a typical European man. That's a bit of a broad statement. Let me rephrase. My dad does not get out much. Why? Because he is a work-a-holic. He works day in and day out, even on Sundays. When his mother had recently had a mini stroke, it triggered him to go and visit her in Munich. I was more than happy for him to travel, I was over- the moon for him but seeing his mother and spending two weeks with her, I was a little worried it would give him a mini stroke but nether the less, he went for 2 weeks and it had literally changed him.

As my brother and I got to the airport in Cairns, we see our father from a far. As soon as he saw us, he got up from his seat, not walked but RAN up to us and gave us the most biggest hug in the world. Was not expecting that.

I bet your waiting to hear what the story was? Well remember how I told you, that if my dad went to Munich to visit his mother, it would probably cause him to go a little crazy? Let's just say, because of this he spent the days with her and the nights he would venture out on his own.

It was during Oktoberfest my dad was travelling. I was so proud to hear he was going out and meeting people (which my dad never does.) I would be flicking through photos and each photo he had a story of each individual or couple, young or old- and each story he would get more excited and happy about, I could hear it in his voice.
His second last night, was like a wake up call or triggered something in him. As my dad was dancing up on the tables (take a moment to picture a 55year old man dancing on a table in front of 100s of people) he must've twisted weirdly he said and all of the sudden he had fallen on the floor and in the process completely punched a girl in the face. The lady started yelling at him: "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU WOULD DO THAT, I AM GOING TO TELL THE POLICE." Next minute my dad is "arrested" by these guards, hand cuffed and taken to the police station. He said he had never lost his temper so much in his life. From 8pm till midnight they kept him in. "I had said some pretty horrific stuff." "I want a lawyer, you can't lock me up, I haven't been drinking much."
Apparently, in Europe, you can get so called arrested for being drunk and disordelly but their a different type of police, more like security, therefore you can't get release off bail or get a lawyer.
Now before you all go judging, my dad would never hurt a fly!! He doesn't beat up women or anything. But this night, or infact this incident and trip had changed him.

As much as he had a shocking night, it was dangerous, thrilling, exciting and out of his comfort zone. He realised for so many years how uptight and tunnel-visioned he got from work. My dad and I were never close when I was growing up but I am finding that I am becoming closer to him now than ever.
I believe travelling changed him. Made him appreciate what he has at home and realised that he was refreshed, needed a new start and was more inspired to do stuff out of the ordinary.
Don't believe me?
I called my dad the other day and he answered the phone with: "Hello my favourite daughter."
Me: Oh.. umm hi dad.. what are you doing?
Dad: I am just in the middle of kickboxing, can I call you back?

EXAMPLE B:
Dad: So I met a lady on the plane today.
Me: Serious! Wow that's so exciting dad, did you get her number?
Dad: I did, I want to take her on a date, not sure where though

I believe travelling does change you. I used to not have a relationship with my dad, in-fact, it was only 2 years ago we slowly started to connect, due to different reasons. Now I can admit for the first time how much i appreciate and love my dad. I am not trying to say you should force your parents to travel, visit strip joints, smoke weed and go nuts and YOLO it up.
I am merely saying this: If you have been wanting to do something for a while and you've always had an excuse, or have been afraid, just take that step and do it. Sometimes the answer is in front of you, but we are blinded by the ritual of everyday life. Work, Social life, Work... work.. So just get out there and do something out of the ordinary. It could bring out something in you, you didn't think you had.

Tam xx