This year I have had a lot to celebrate but life has also thrown a few challenges my way. I am grateful for these challenges though as I’ve learnt a lot about my perception of myself and the people I interact with. Mostly I am grateful to God for hearing my cries and sending me help whenever requested.
I am especially grateful for all the help I have received with getting my son through his first year of grieving for his dad. Thank you to my friends (old and new) and family for listening when I needed to vent, for your prayers for my child and for your guidance.
I have had to make changes in order to give him the space to find his own way through his anger and grief. I have had to accept that sometimes my behaviours were not helping him at all and so I had to stop some of them to bring about a change in his behaviours. I am amazed at how quickly he has learnt to recognise when his behaviour hasn’t been optimal and he needs to stop and pivot.
He is such an amazing kid. I am truly blessed to be to his mum.
Gratitude is like food for the soul. I am celebrating 2023 by spending each day in December reflecting on and, being grateful for, my blessings this year. Join me. Perhaps you will be inspired to do the same.
Wow, here we are again. Day 1 of the final month of the year. I have so much to reflect on and lots to be grateful for.
2023 has been a journey like no other. A few dreams have come true. Some are on their way there. The losses have been learnings and the near misses have been eye openers. I mean where do I even begin?
Let’s start at the beginning. Reaching 50 has been a wonderful blessing. I said that my 50’s are going to be my best decade yet at the beginning of this year and it has definitely started well! I feel like this year I really came into myself. I still have lots of work to do but I have never been as comfortable in my own skin or as happy to be as I have been this year.
Image: Canva
The reality is that not much has changed materially in my world but I have changed and that has made all the difference.
I have walked this earth for 50 years. So many major historical events have taken place over this time.
Let me start back in 1981. The Royal Wedding. I was in grade 3 and we were so excited. My teacher had brought a TV to school so that we could watch. It was like watching a fairytale come to life,
I remember the newspaper reports detailing the sheer euphoria of the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. It blew everyone’s minds!
In February 1990, it was South Africa’s turn! Nelson Mandela was released from prison. I was in matric (grade 12) and suddenly the world was my oyster. I remember my friend and I going to Wimpy (a family restaurant chain) as often as possible because now we could actually sit inside the restaurant and eat. The following year, I was able to attend what was traditionally a white’s only tertiary institution. It was fascinating to go to class with people of different races all of I sudden.
I remember standing in the queue with my mother to cast my vote on the 27th April 1994. It was a sunny day. I voted at the voting station in the suburb where I grew up. It was so exciting to be a part of history! I remember seeing the long winding queues at voting stations around the country on TV that day. . It was an amazing day. Democracy had officially arrived in South Africa. I have voted in every election since because I treasure this very precious right to vote that so many fought and died for.
Do you remember where you were on September 11 2001? I was at work. It was after 3pm and my boyfriend called to tell me that a plan had hit the towers. Then he called to say a second plan had hit. He was at home sitting mesmerised in front of the tv. I got home before the towers collapsed. We, like the rest of the world, were in shock. We were horrified at what had just happened. I think the horror of that event is seared in our collective memories.
I’ll end with that truly sad day on the 31st August 1997 when the news broke that Princess Diana had died. It was a cold, wet Sunday morning. Our hearts were broken. The beautiful fairytale princess of my childhood was no more.
This is just a taste of those historical events that are imprinted in my memory. No doubt there will be lots more to come. What events have been imprinted on your memory?
Grounded African 