Today I am grateful to have made it through the first week of December. I love that December (or Dezemba as we like to call it in South Africa) is a culture. It’s a whole vibe! It is the license we give ourselves to say I will chuck “it “in the f*ck it bucket and deal with “it” another time.
Today was a bright and beautiful day and it was a sweltering 32 deg C. A reminder that summer is just around the corner. Everyone is counting the days until they go on a break. I also had a fun morning creating content ideas with our brand team. I really enjoy working with them. When I think of how miserable I was at work a few years ago because I didn’t feel valued by some of the team members I worked with, it’s a reminder that nothing stays the same and that “this too shall pass”. I guess it’s another reminder to always just get out of my own way.
I am also grateful for the little weekend break I am getting as my son is away. Let me also take this opportunity to thank God for the favour he has granted over my son this year. My son achieved a subject award once again this year, played for the 1st team and was appointed as a prefect. That can only be God.🙏🏽
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What are you grateful for today? Let me know in the comments.
It’s that time of year again where we all take some time to reflect and take stock of the year that has been. Those of you that have followed me for some time know that this is also when I take a moment to just say thanks for all my blessings. I hope you join me in doing the same.
This has been one of the most challenging years I have ever experienced at work. I successfully reapplied for my job. I got to not only keep my job but start with a new team. I underestimated how stressful it would all be. Once again my health markers took a knock but I did say my words for this year were health and wellness so I remained focused on my diet and exercise to help me get through it all. I am still here so I am very grateful for this. i am also grateful my new team and I have made it through and still have our jobs.
I had actually started the year reading and sharing Joel Osteen’s book “I Declare: 31 Promises to Speak over your Life” These declarations really helped me start the year on a positive note. Now that I think about it, I should end the year the same way. I highly recommend doing something similar. It helps start the day wrapped in your faith.
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I will leave you with the above quote from Joel Osteen. A reminder that even though the year is nearing its end, there is a new year on the horizon filled with possibilities and possibly destined to be your best year yet.
I finally finished Discipline is Destiny by Ryan Holiday today. It took me two years to read. So much for discipline. 🫣😂. I had set myself a goal of reading 45 books this year since I wasn’t studying and I managed to read 29. although I should end the year 30 as I will finiish current book by Tuesday.. Not too bad. That was more than two books a month.
If there are three things that I am always grateful for it is that:
I can read and write. There are still so many illiterate people out there who have a limited chance to achieve their potential because they can’t read and write.
I love reading. My love affair with books began in pre-school and will never end.
There are so many fantastic authors out there who publish their work so that we can entertain and enlighten ourselves through reading.
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My favourite books of 2024
This year, I listened to half my books every morning on Audible. My favourites are read by autobiographies that the authors read. This year’s pick is 12 Notes by the late, great Quincy Jones. I listened to it a few months before he passed away. I was blown away. What a man and what a full, rich life he led! I really hope my son chooses to listen to it, too. There is so much wisdom packed into it. The story would not have had the same impact if it had been read by anyone else. Only Quincy had walked in his shoes, so only he could emphasise the lessons in the way that he needed to. I am so glad he chose to read the book. The world is a better place because Mr Quincy Jones was in it and God made sure he was in it for a very long time so that he could touch as many lives as he has. He was not perfect but he was a blessing. I highly recommend it.
I also discovered Robert Galbraith ie. JK Rowling by another name. I love her character, Commoran Strike. She uses the same formula as she did for Harry Potter so the two books I read are are looooong. I didn’t realise how long because I read them on my Kindle. I read a Michael Connelly novel in between the two. The pace of his book was so much faster yet I enjoyed both author’s books.
The book I really struggled to read was Half of a Yellow Sun by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie. It was set in the 1960s and tells of Biafra’s struggle to establish an independent republic in Nigeria. The war was brutal. I read this book as it was recommended to me while I was in Nigeria last year. One of our directors told us about his dad’s experience of the war, and that’s when the book was mentioned. I picked it up at the airport but only started reading it this year. It’s interesting but it took me a while to through it.
That’s it from me today. Thanks for popping by. What are your favourite reads from 2024? Let me know in the comments
Grounded African 