Today’s Prompt: Describe the happiest day of your life
Today’s prompt is a no-brainer for me. The happiest day of my life was August 7th 2007. That was the day I found out I was pregnant. I used a home pregnancy kit and I remember it being a wednesday evening. I was in complete shock for a few seconds and then complete and utter joy swiftly overtook that shock! I was so excited I literally wanted to shout it from the roof top.
I lived alone and was so excited that I couldn’t sleep. I still had to have it confirmed by a dr but I new in my heart that was merely a formality. I spent that entire night planning on how I was I going make space for my child financially especially as I knew I was going to be a single mum from the get go. I hadn’t planned on falling pregnant but I felt so blessed by this wonderful surprise that God had gifted me with.
The next happiest day was the 7th Jan 2008 when I foound out he would be a boy and then of course, the day of his arrival was the 3rd happiest day of my life. I have been so fortunate that he has made motherhood a relatively easy going experience. We have had the usual ups and downs and thankfully we have come out of each episode stronger 😊🙏I am so blessed to call him my son.
Today’s Prompt: Do you have a memory that’s linked to a smell?
I have many but there is one memory that always comes to mind first when someone asks that question. Part of my job is requires conducting market research and I sometimes ask consumer’s that question as well. Fragrance is linked to so many memories for all of us and can be a powerful motivator to buy or to continue using a product.
The memory I most often associate with a fragrance is that of my maternal grandmother sitting at her dressing table and removing her make-up using Pond’s Cold Cream. The cream had a distinctive rose note in the fragrance and her bedroom would be filled with it. In my memory I was standing at her bedroom door and watching her. I don’t remember anything before or after that moment. I lived with my grandparents for 6 months before she passed on. I was only 6 at the time so I don’t have very many memories of her but this memory really stands out in my mind for some reason. Funnily enough, Pond’s is one of the brand’s I work on today and the brand that is closest to my heart. We currently have a beautiful cleansing balm that is a modern version of our iconic cold cream and it also has a beautiful rose note in the fragrance. I always think of my gran when I open a jar.
What memory stands out most for you that relates to a smell? Let me know in the comments. Bye for now.
Bloganuary Day 15. (Eek we are half way through Jan already!!!)
Today’s Prompt: What fear have you conquered?
Hmmm…I guess there a quite a few major fears (well to me anyway) that I have conquered over the years.
When I was done studying, I needed practical experience in order to get my diploma, the experience was hard to come by. I was beside myself and had no idea what to do about it. My dad was very clear that he would not be supporting me now that I had completed my studies so I had to figure something out. I was beside myself with fear but I had to make it happen to I started applying for waitressing jobs while looking for an in-service training position. As it turns out, my waitressing position led to me meeting the person who would help find a position. That position ultimately led to where I am today.
My most recent fear though has being the fear of ageing. I turned 50 last Saturday. It’s a pretty big number and it can be pretty scary. I have spent the last 2-3 years working on accepting it. The hardest part has been looking in the mirror and accepting that I no longer look like my 25 year old self. There are lines forming around my eyes now and my jowls are looking…well…jowly…lol. I can see me face is starting to sag and it has been hard to accept. I love my grey hair though. It’s my favourite part about ageing. I have written about this in an earlier post but a few months ago, I made the decision that it is what it is and that what is in my control is accept the fact that I am ageing and to celebrate it by dressing up and just flaunting my 50 year old self. Why not right! I have also decided to take better care of myself so that I get to enjoy a better quality of life for as long as I am on this earth.
The result is that I actually love myself more than I ever have. I feel good and even though the weight has been stubborn, I think I look great! My friend was saying to me the other day that I look brighter and more radiant. I’ll take that. I follow like minded woman on social media who are comfortable in ther own skins at my age. I just unfollowed a lady who was sharing her minor cosmetic surgery yesterday. I don’t have an issue with it. It makes me sad to see the lengths people will go to to avoid looking older. It’s not possible to stop it but it is possible to look good naturally through the process. We are so blessed to live in an age where a lot of our female role models are choosing to age gracefully like Sarah Jessica Parker and Dame Helen Mirren. In South Africa we have Connie Ferguson and Thembi Seete. I have had the pleasure of being in Thembi Seete’s company for a very short period of time and I was so blown away by her energy and attitude. I want to be like her when I grow up …lol.
At the end of the day, by holding on to my younger self, I have not been able to appreciate and enjoy who I am today. Truth be told, I am a very different person today and I much prefer her to scaredy mouse I was back then. I must admit though that this new found appreciation for myself takes a conscious effort every single day but I am enjoying walking past a mirror and consciously stopping and smiling at myself rather hurrying past in case I see a flaw. It’s awesome.
Taken a week shy of my 50th birthday. Photo credit: Venetia Mitchell. Dress: Jaggery Collection
So Cheers to 50 year old me! Girrrl…You are amazing!🍾🥂
Grounded African 