#grounded – Page 3 – Grounded African

Getting back to me – Day 4 2025

A few months ago, I think I was listening to a podcast. One of the topics was about getting back to being yourself to de-stress. At the time I was feeling a bit overwhelmed with my job and new team. I took a moment to remember those times in my life when I was most relaxed. What did I do every day or most often?

I used to journal often. I have never really being a daily journal writer but I have used to write in my journal a few times a week. I also used to read a lot. So started to journal more often. I had become so lackadaisical about it that my entries were months apart. (Much like my blogging 🤪) I am back to journaling a few times a week. It really helps to clear my head.

Photo by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.com

I have always read but I had gotten into the habit of only reading non-fiction. I still enjoy them, but I didn’t realise how much I missed fiction until I decided to tackle the many unread books on my bookshelf. I have gotten back to enjoying Michael Connelly and Jonathan Kellerman. I have finally started reading Stephen Leather novels. I do find them a little slower than Connelly and Kellerman. It also drives me insane that his books do not have chapters. There are just paragraph breaks. Dan Shepard has grown on me though so I will continue to read Stephen Leather’s books. I also like the fact that his stories are set in the UK. I love just about everything British. The slowest books though are Robert Galbraith’s (aka J.K. Rowling). They seem to follow a similar story arc as the Harry Potter books. The bit in the middle can be quite convoluted but it always comes together pretty well. I do like Robyn and Comoran Strike so i will continue to persevere through all the convoluted middles.😁. I am really enjoying reading again and am grateful that I can read.

I am always on the lookout for new authors, so do share any murder mystery or spy authors you enjoy.

I have to say that both reading and journaling have helped me get back to feeling like my old self again and this has helped lower my stress levels, and helped me gain perspective and clarity on certain things.

What have you done differently to relive stress this year? Let me know in the comments.

Thanks for popping by.

Don’t forget to be amazing!

Gratidude for closed doors – Day 3 2025

This is a lesson I have to learn time and time again…be grateful for closed doors. There is a reason that door wasn’t for you.

This year, I had a few doors closed in my face. Some just didn’t even open. My standard reaction was anger initially. Then, thanks to my anger, I got in my own way. Eventually I made the decision to just keep putting my best foot forward in what hopefully is the right direction and let go of the outcome. Time will tell what the right outcome for me is.

I don’t think I fully understood what it looks like to stand in my own way until I witnessed a colleague doing it to themselves. They were so caught up in getting what they wanted and telling themselves that it was what they needed that they just couldn’t see past it. From the outside, it looked like this person had walled themselves into a windowless room. My heart ached for them when I viewed their situation in this light. I can only pray they will find the door to the room they have built for themselves and find joy.

Thanks for popping by.

Don’t forget to be amazing!

A Month of Gratitude – Day 2 2025

Hi there! So I was just scrolling through my photos and it was a reminder of what a good year it was.

I have had so many great experiences this year. I got to capture the sunrise over Ballito on an autumn morning and watch the moon’s eclipse with my son. I got to watch my son do what he loves best, play soccer. Through my job, I travelled around the country promoting our latest product launch, and we appeared on TV twice. I got to meet and be inspired by the stories of two of our local sporting heroes, Dricus du Plessis, our ex UFC champ, and Andile Dlamini, who is our South African Women’s Soccer Team’s (Banyana Banyana) goalkeeper. I also got to give back through the Dove Self-Esteem project. We visited a school to remind grade 8 girls that they are beautiful as they are.