Tag: Fear

A Month of Gratitude 2024 – Day 31

It’s two hours to midnight as I write this.  I don’t know about you, but I am so excited.  We are on the precipice of another year which to me means another opportunity to grow and learn and evolve. 

‘Fear is a poor chisel with which to carve out tomorrow.’  – Andy Andrews

This year, I chose to put my fears in my back pocket so that I could get out of my own way and grow.  It was scary but I did it.  I cannot tell you how often I caught myself behaving in a way that scared me in the past or speaking to people that I did not ever have the guts to talk to before.  This happened partly because I chose to believe in myself and partly because the people I admired believed in me.  When someone I respect and admire asks me to step up because they think I can, I do my best to meet their expectations because they are going on a limb for me.  I am grateful for the growth and the leadership opportunities I have been given at work this year.  

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I am also really grateful for my son’s growth this year.  He incorporates elements of each new experience into how he shows up every day.  I can’t really ask for more than that.  Next year is a big year for him at school, so that’s where my focus will be: giving him all the support he will allow me to give.   

Next year is also potentially a big year for me. Our company is going through changes so I don’t know if I will have a job next year.  We have said goodbye to so many good people already due to the change and there will be more to come.  I do believe that change is good and if it happens to me then something better awaits me on the other side. 

I tried putting a new vision board together this evening or at least updating my current one (not sure if that is the norm), but nothing jumped out at me, so I am taking that as a sign that my current vision board is still relevant and I just need to have patience.  I am pretty happy about that as I still desire all the things and experiences I have on it. 

That’s it from me one last time this year.  Thank to those of you who been on the journey with me this entire month.  I am grateful for your support.

All the best for 2025!  May your year be blessed with only good things, people, experiences and lots of love and laughter!  

Bye for now!

The year that was! Places visited, product launches, achievements 🙂 It’s been quite a full year!

“Always do what you are afraid to do” Ralph Waldo Emerson

It’s day 17, and yes, you have guessed it: I have gotten bored with writing the same heading every day.  It was good to be back at work today.  I was surprised that so many people were still in the office.  I guess most go on leave next week as well. 

One Thing I Am Grateful For

I was pretty proud of myself today. I did something that I generally would never do.  I had missed a deadline to apply for an internal job post as I had captured the deadline incorrectly in my calendar.  I had seen the post last week and was really busy at work, so I added the deadline to my diary so I wouldn’t forget.   `As luck would have it, in my haste, I captured the wrong date.   Usually, I would just accept that I missed the deadline, berate myself for the next few minutes, and leave it at that.  Today, I decided to take a risk and email the HR person to ask if I could still apply.  She didn’t say yes, but she did say she would speak to the hiring manager, so I guess there is still hope. I am very grateful that the door might still be open.  I’ll leave it in God’s hands from here.  He knows the plans He has for me. 

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My moment of pride and joy was seeing how well my team has progressed in implementing a new digital system. They have quietly worked in the background, and the global digital team acknowledged their work today. I was so happy for them. 

I started listening to an audible original book this morning called Mastering the Skill of Reinvention by Pamela Mitchell.  One of the tasks she gives you is to capture four things you have achieved at the end of the day.  They don’t have to be big things. They can be little things like having one less cup of coffee for the day.  I think I will start adding this to my end-of-day diary session.  It’s a great way to capture your growth and boost your confidence. 

That’s it from me today.  What have you been grateful for today or what have you achieved?  Thanks for popping by.

Bye for now.

Surrender to what is. Let go of what was. Have faith in what will be.– Sonia Ricotti

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!🍾🥂