tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30388298797654938012024-03-13T18:40:57.797+02:00Simply, because I can ...When we share our emotions, our dreams, our fears, our efforts, our pain, our hopes, and our joys, we open up powerful opportunities for others to learn. Life experience is a master teacher and when we share our experiences, we empower others. Life is too short not to take advantage of all the free resources around us. In this blog, I share what I have experienced in life simply, because I can... Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.comBlogger117125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-43115515195693972202023-12-07T17:50:00.003+02:002024-01-09T14:31:33.598+02:00The Meaning of Life<p> </p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">The meaning of life is often considered a mystery, and many
people go to great lengths to find the meaning of theirs. If you are one of
them, then it’s time to break free from the idea that life comes with a
predefined purpose.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Life
isn’t a neatly wrapped package. It’s more like an open book waiting for the short stories, the different experiences of your unique life to be
written down. The revelation is simple yet profound! You are the architect of your
purpose. Stop questioning the purpose of your life and instead relish the experience of living it.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">See
yourself as a reservoir of infinite potential waiting to be explored. Your
journey through life holds a straightforward yet powerful mission: to bring
your meaning to life. And how are you supposed to do this? It’s beautifully
uncomplicated.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Love
is a timeless force that sets the world in motion, and you embody its essence. Your
purpose or meaning lies in bringing love to life. The pain that every
person experiences on this planet often stems from a deficiency of love. The greater
the ugliness you witness, the more profound the absence of love is.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Start
by doing good. Not in some distant future, but right now. The present moment is
where your impact is most potent. Engage with the people around you; they aren’t
just passing faces but potential recipients of the goodness you can offer.
Share your wisdom and insights, teach them what you know, and in return, absorb
the wealth of knowledge they bring. Within this mutually beneficial opportunity
for growth, meaning naturally reveals itself.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">To
truly live is to be present, to be mindful of the decisions you make. Life is a
series of choices, each one shaping the narrative of your existence. Be
intentional in your choices, recognizing that consequences are the echoes of your
decisions. Before making pivotal choices, take a moment to reflect. Consider
whether you can live with the ripples these choices will create. If uncertainty
clouds your answer, pause and reassess, weighing the pros and cons until
clarity emerges. If you don’t, you will make impulsive decisions and eventually experience the consequences. The negative effects of bad decisions will make you ask, <i>Why me?</i> or say, <i>I’m so unlucky</i>, or even think, <i>I hate my
life</i>.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">Let’s
face it, you’re not perfect. None of us are. Embrace your flaws, for they serve
as stepping stones to growth. Mistakes aren’t setbacks; they are lessons
etching wisdom into the essence of your being. Learn from them, adapt, and
evolve. Life’s beauty lies in its imperfections, and by acknowledging them, you
pave the way for continuous improvement.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"> </span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;">As long as you continue to breathe, you are bringing your meaning to life. But be careful not to settle for merely making a living. Strive to leave a legacy. Your actions,
kindness, and teachings contribute to a story that extends beyond your time on
this earth. Be intentional about the mark you leave, for it embodies the
essence of your meaning in this beautiful, chaotic, and utterly wonderful
journey we call life.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-60246013572113515242023-07-07T10:26:00.006+02:002023-07-07T10:54:29.428+02:00In Awareness of Keeping the Faith<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; text-align: justify;">A profound weariness has
settled upon me, its grip unwavering. Usually, it passes like an African summer
storm.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I understand the reasons
behind this profound state. The loss of my mother has drained every bit of my
being. Strangely, I didn’t experience such intensity when my father and brother
passed away. I was too preoccupied with the daily toils and tribulations that
consumed my life. But now, defeated by this invisible and diabolical illness that
forced me to retire from teaching, I find myself trapped in a perpetual state
of listlessness, doing mundane tasks, and managing the small “thing” I call a home
business. It does little to distract my mind and heart from the void left by my
mother’s absence.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Since her passing, I’ve
assumed an emotionally stooped posture as I await the arrival of the next possible
tragedy. It will undoubtedly engulf me. Exactly one month after her death, my
mother’s eldest brother passed away. The last of the de Wet siblings are now
gone. With their passing, my mother at 79 and her brother at 82, I find myself
standing at the precipice, questioning whether I am on the cusp of entering the
last decade of my own life. I’m turning 58 this year. Surely, I have more time?
Why then does even the notion of a decade feel presumptuous? Is it the pain
that intermittently surges through my body, often rendering me immobilized on
the floor, gazing at the ceiling? Every time I lie down, grounded but not dead,
I wonder if I can endure another week. This and the weight of the potential
loss of anyone else dear to me hang heavy in the air, casting an unnecessary shadow
over my days.</span> <o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And then wonders upon wonders!
Amidst the darkness, light has a way of filtering through.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Yesterday, a peculiar
sensation of contentment washed over me, causing me to pause. My dear friend,
Joekie, who is in the Cape had planned to meet me this Saturday, but unforeseen
obstacles thwarted our meeting, leaving me disappointed. So, the unexpected feeling
of contentment was a surprise. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">It became a lesson. Each
encounter, missed or realized, carries significance, serving a purpose in our
personal growth. Through disappointment, I found comfort in knowing that time
and unforeseen circumstances are out of our control. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Can there be any regret if we aren’t
the masters of our own destiny? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">The idea of having complete
control over any event is ludicrous, a fleeting illusion. After all, I’m merely
a traveller on a short and unpredictable journey. Circumstances will mould me, but
no matter how far I’ve come, I’ve never been in control. I’ve walked in faith
to get here! So, I need to continue walking in faith, even when the burden I
carry is too heavy to bear. <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">And this is it! This is what brought
the moment of calm (contentment) yesterday. Faith! Over the past few weeks, I’ve
been thinking about faith and strength and endurance. Psalm 23 and the words of
Paul in Philippians have carried me through thus far. Paul’s words, “For I can
do everything through Christ, who gives me strength”, often made me wonder: With
the right amount of faith, can I truly overcome the hardship of death? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Right now, the depth of my
emotions feels immeasurable. It’s as if layers upon layers of feelings have
accumulated, forming a towering mountain of rubble that needs to be cleared
away. How do I even begin the daunting task of calming the emotional turmoil?<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">Oh, I try to be positive. I
constantly reassure myself, saying, “Once I’m rested, the mountain of emotions
will become nothing more than a small heap, quite easy to clear up on my own.” But
alas! Reality stands firm, defiantly challenging the optimism within me. What
is rest? Time has long been hailed as a great healer, capable of mending many
wounds and soothing the pain of various hardships. Yet, death is an abyss so
deep and unfathomable that the passage of time offers little comfort. It gets
easier, “they say”, but honestly, we continue to live with the void, don’t we? <o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 107%;">I believe Paul understood that
no one in his world could grant him the strength to endure or conquer the
challenges he faced. The support of others came in the form of empathy and
encouraging words. But it was through faith alone that he found his strength. This
realization holds true for me as well, irrespective of who I am or the people I
have in my life. While it is true that faith is a deeply personal and
individual journey, I am reminded that I am not truly an island unto myself. I’ve
been fortunate to have friends like Marcelle, Daryl, Karen, Joekie, Mariëtte,
and even my cousin Madeleine, who have extended their support and
understanding. They have reached out because they too have experienced the
profound pain of losing a mother. Even Ginger, a family friend, has reached out
to me. He understands the sorrow of losing a loved one, as he recently
experienced the loss of his wife. My sister shares my loss and is my closest friend. I know I can lean on her for support at any hour of the day. And I am grateful for this bond. I also have the support of a loving husband, and two adult children, who understand me better than I sometimes understand myself. Where would I be without them? Their steadfast love fills me with a deep sense of gratitude, which seeps through every fiber of my being. Love and faith carry me through.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12pt;">The reality though is this: I can have all the love in the world, but if
my faith wavers or diminishes, no matter what others do or say, I will sink
into the depths of life’s turbulent waters. I will drown! And so, it is through
the awareness of “keeping the faith” that I will continue to be strengthened to
endure.</span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPEnSJ0Y3ectf00wryNFw7q4eoYliXt7_YjOyT7KtLUh12Z-mbMfJkerxs1zev4-5lOxF-f2RZAB0f07isPhno6WbxHtMM3BwbpBEc8f6vtxcqHNdbTOfb-JhPinjEkeBOgNTLjxx-vWbtvT9lQQGLuAxAcLYh60wO61jd2NLPpnbDt1-vyUjjrfWk_U/s1080/Whatever%20I%20have,%20wherever%20I%20am,%20I%20can%20make%20it%20through%20anything%20in%20the%20One%20who%20makes%20me%20who%20I%20am.%E2%80%9D%20Philippians%20413%20MSG%20(2).png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXPEnSJ0Y3ectf00wryNFw7q4eoYliXt7_YjOyT7KtLUh12Z-mbMfJkerxs1zev4-5lOxF-f2RZAB0f07isPhno6WbxHtMM3BwbpBEc8f6vtxcqHNdbTOfb-JhPinjEkeBOgNTLjxx-vWbtvT9lQQGLuAxAcLYh60wO61jd2NLPpnbDt1-vyUjjrfWk_U/s320/Whatever%20I%20have,%20wherever%20I%20am,%20I%20can%20make%20it%20through%20anything%20in%20the%20One%20who%20makes%20me%20who%20I%20am.%E2%80%9D%20Philippians%20413%20MSG%20(2).png" width="320" /></a></div><br /><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-85865173136592096352023-07-07T07:50:00.001+02:002023-07-07T07:52:01.162+02:00Mother Dearest, How?<p><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; text-align: justify;">The voice of truth, the call arrived,</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">A shock indeed, my soul contrived;</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Though hindsight’s gaze has gently shown,</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">My inner self had aways known:</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">It couldn’t be anything less, my Dear –</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">For in the hours before dawn,</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">I witnessed your strength and breath
drawn, </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">As you fought against Torment’s chains –</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">There was no solace for its strains …</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">And I, frozen in the face of Fear,</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Stood helplessly, fraught with despair,</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">For I did not know how to take care</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Of Frailty; Oh, that fateful day!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Death snuck in and took him away –</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Death isn’t welcome here again!</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Yet, watching you gasp for new air,</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Your struggle became mine to bear;</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">You fought to swallow a sip so
small,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Your thirst a relentless dry call</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">To be set free, free from the pain.</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">If I could breathe for you …</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">If I could bear your pain for you …</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">There is no healing …</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">How will I live without you?</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">Oh, Mother Dearest, </span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; text-align: justify; text-justify: inter-ideograph;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US" style="color: black; mso-color-alt: windowtext;">How?</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" lang="EN-US"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-5340790926006132442023-06-09T11:23:00.020+02:002023-12-06T09:32:30.110+02:00The Profound Loss of My Mother<p style="text-align: justify;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Life
has a way of unfolding in unexpected and unpredictable ways, throwing us into a
whirlwind of emotions and challenges. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">My
beloved brother passed away in October 2022, and I haven't fully come to terms
with the loss. And now, adding to the weight of this grief, I have recently
lost my mother.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It
all began in the latter months of 2022 when my mother, who was living with my sister,
started showing signs of fatigue and disinterest in her daily activities. Her
energy waned, and she increasingly spent her days sitting and doing nothing.
She complained about pain in her hips, shoulders, and various parts of her
body; it was especially bad in the mornings. She also battled to sleep through
each night because of the pain.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Because
I suffer from Peripheral Neuropathy and we've shared the same symptoms for
years, I wondered if it was the cause of all her pain.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Her
condition continued to worsen. Late January 2023, she experienced new symptoms.
Her right eyelid began to droop and she soon lost a great percentage of vision
in the eye. The left side of her body was weaker than the right side, and her
pain became worse!</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">We
took her to a doctor, keeping things like a stroke or Parkinson's in mind. We
were desperately hoping for answers that would bring clarity and a path to
healing. The doctor examined her and said it was the general aches and pains
associated with old age and arthritis, and her eye problem was sinus-related.
The medication didn't help and so we took her to another doctor for a second
opinion. He made the same assessment and gave similar treatment.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Over
the weeks of March, concern and unease settled within us as my sister and I
watched her health decline. Simple tasks like walking became arduous for her.
She walked with a walking frame from her room to the lounge and back again but
spent most of her days in bed. She ate less and started losing a considerable
amount of weight.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">By
mid-April, she was frail. We had a nurse come in twice a week to help us look
after her. My mother lost control over her bladder and bowel, and her left forearm
and hand would swell for a day or two, recover, and then swell again. In a
matter of weeks, her ability to move had declined to the extent that she was
confined to her bed. She started hallucinating, was constantly thirsty, and had
difficulty swallowing.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Understanding
the gravity of the situation, we contacted Dr. Appelgryn who made a late evening
house call on 16 May. The next morning, as requested by the doctor, my sister and her husband took my mother to his emergency room for
monitoring. My mother had an irregular heartbeat, low blood sugar, and high blood
pressure. Dr. Appelgryn diagnosed her with what he believed was lung cancer
that had metastasized to her brain. He also believed that there was a tumor behind her right eye.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">He referred her to Somerset Hospital in Green Point, where she was admitted on 18 May. X-rays were taken the same day revealing a mass in her chest. She stayed in the hospital for further evaluation and on May 23, a CT scan was performed. We were then given the devastating news that she had stage 4 lung cancer that had metastasized to her liver and brain. Even though we had heard the initial
diagnosis from Dr. Appelgryn, we were left in a state of shock when it was
confirmed.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">She
was transferred to the Vredenburg Hospital for palliative care on Thursday, 25
May. We knew our time with her was painfully limited, but we didn't know that
it would be so short. Despite her incredible bravery and determination to
fight, her weakened body could not withstand the aggressive progression of the
disease, and she passed away on 27 May.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">As
I reflect upon this heart-wrenching journey, it serves as a powerful reminder
of the fleeting nature of time and the importance of looking after our health. My
mother was one of the healthiest women I know. She never went to doctors for
flu or any general ailments and never had any operations. She was confident in
her health and never went for any check-ups.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">While
the pain of loss is profound and may endure, I find solace in the knowledge
that she is finally free from the suffering that plagued her for so many months. I hold on to all our cherished memories to give me strength.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It
was my mother who inspired me to be a go-getter. She also inspired me to start
writing novels in 2003. Her unwavering love will continue to inspire me to
embrace life fully.</span></p><p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-71346978663621766072023-05-27T10:59:00.007+02:002023-05-27T11:04:06.903+02:00If ...<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If you
lose your confidence when all about you look confident, and you blame your
incompetence on them … If you constantly
worry that the things you make and the things you do aren’t good enough, and
you compare yourself to others … If people seem to have it better, or bigger,
or more complete than you, and you feel you don’t measure up to them … then you
need to STOP and consider:<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">People
exist. <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">People
have the right to breathe, think, speak, work, take action, make choices,
embrace imperfections, form judgments, question, provide answers, experience
both success and failure, learn (or not learn) from mistakes, hold beliefs,
harbour fears, face challenges, and truly LIVE a life that is based on their
unique upbringing and experiences. Each person has the right to decide whether
to pursue personal growth or remain as they are. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There
will always be someone who attracts or repels your attention! You don't have to
like everyone and not everyone is obliged to like you in return! Each person
has the right to express their individuality. When you realise that you are
you, and other people are not you, a light switches on in your mind. You will
always understand that there isn't a fine line of difference between you and
someone else, but a profound chasm! The distinction between people is vast and
profound. The fact that people are unique should be admired and embraced,
rather than disregarded or rejected.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
way forward is shaped by your perspective of the world, the people within it,
and most importantly, your perception of yourself.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Work
exists.<o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">There
will always be something to do! If you consciously choose to pursue your
passions, your days will not feel like eternal hell! Through the meaningful
work you do, you'll meet new people and experience new things. There will
always be something to learn! You will learn valuable lessons from every person
you meet and every experience you have, regardless of their nature, and these
lessons will catalyze personal growth. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
way forward lies in your perception of work, people, and the learning process.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Through
the eyes of negativity, everything is shrouded in gray. You tend to focus on
the shadows instead of the light. You'll see your daily struggles and forget
that these struggles are an integral part of life – only the dead have no
problems.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><i><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Confidence
is key! <o:p></o:p></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Confidence
will let you move more easily through each day. Confidence will let you believe
in yourself; you will stop fearing the judgment and opinions of people.
Confidence will alleviate needless worry and guide you towards better paths,
and empower you to influence those around you to follow more constructive
paths.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">Confidence
helps you to make better decisions. This is important because your current
choices are influenced by ingrained habits. If you don't have a confident
perspective of the world (your community) and all the people in it, you will
always sink into the muck and mire of life. If you don't glean lessons from
life with confidence so that you can grow and change, your habits will stay the
same and you will continue to make the same choices and experience the same
outcomes. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">The
way forward is a winding path, that leads over hills and mountains, and through
ditches and valleys. It's not an easy path, but it's a way forward. Never
settle for a path that makes you walk in circles, devoid of progress.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: "Arial",sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 150%;">If you
can see yourself and your life through kaleidoscopic lenses, you have already
achieved profound success.<o:p></o:p></span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-35716803041223217642022-11-20T10:35:00.014+02:002023-02-15T15:03:09.940+02:00Be enlightened or be quiet!<div style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><div style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Like many countries, South
Africa has terrible heavy vehicle accidents on the highways and byways. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">You can’t miss the news
headlines: </span><i style="font-family: arial;">At least 3 killed on N3 truck accident; Bloody start to
weekend after six killed in truck crash on KZN’s R56; Deadly KZN N3 pile-up … </i><span style="font-family: arial;">Other headlines read, </span><i style="font-family: arial;">South
Africa: Deadly Attacks on Foreign Truck Drivers; ATDF Reveals That Truck Driver
Who Caused An Accident Is A Foreigner; SA’s Operation Dudula targets foreign
national drivers and companies that hire them after deadly crash kills 19
school kids …</i></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><i style="font-family: arial;"><br /></i></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Let
us look at a few perceptions!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"></p><ul><li><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">All truck drivers are men</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif">.<o:p></o:p></span></span></li></ul><p></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fact: Women also drive
trucks – a small percentage that’s growing.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"></p><ul><li><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Truck drivers are Black.</span></i></li></ul><p></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fact: White people also
drive trucks.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"></p><ul><li><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Truck drivers are mostly
foreigners.</span></i></li></ul><p></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Fact: There is a need for more truck drivers in South Africa. The question to ask is: Why?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"></p><ul><li><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Truck drivers don’t care
about the safety of other drivers.</span></i></li></ul><p></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Opinion: Do drivers, in
general, care about the safety of others on the roads?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"></p><ul><li><i><span style="font-family: arial;">Truck drivers drive
recklessly.</span></i></li></ul><p></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Opinion: Who doesn’t? Take a
day off, sit in your car in a parking lot at any mall, and observe!<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Here’s a short analogy! </span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Many people don’t trust
truck drivers behind the wheel. They expect an accident to happen! To go a few
steps further: When there’s a truck accident, it’s always the truck driver’s
fault. The truck driver is guilty of the deaths of everyone in the
accident. The children of truck drivers are also to blame for the accident
and all the deaths and cannot be trusted behind the wheel of any vehicle
because they have the same reckless genes as their truck-driving parents. </span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Comparatively speaking, many
Black people don’t trust White people. They expect them to behave in a racist
way. To go a few steps further: when there is a White person in the room, it is
always the White person’s fault when there’s an incident. Never mind whether
the cashier was rude or the service was poor. The White person is not allowed
to get angry. A Black woman can throw tantrums in shops, but not a White woman.
The White person is guilty of whatever (always) because of Apartheid. The
children of White people are also racist and to blame for Apartheid. And so,
hate and division continue because of Apartheid.</span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br />Many will say: </span><span style="font-family: arial;">If there is any hate and
division in South Africa, it’s caused by political parties that claim to stand
for a united democratic country but show bias toward the White people of 2022! Do you agree? Well, someone needs to be blamed. Rather than taking ownership of our own bias, let us point fingers. </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><i>Read that again if you must</i>.</span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Then along comes Charlize Theron or Their-In</span><span><span style="font-family: arial;"> to fuel the South African fires of disparagement. Who? Charlize T’ron ... the pretty, tall, South African </span><i style="font-family: arial;">American</i><span style="font-family: arial;"> White actress who has disowned her heritage.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Ironically, the thoughtless
actions of companies and people like Dis-Chem and Charlize Theron bring people
<i>together</i>! Did you see who stood up to Charlize? Imagine what this country
could become if we all stood together without bias.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I won’t waste my time with bias or Charlize’s choice of 44 and her impression that the language is useless. We all know
Charlize’s words are not based on facts. But I would like to spend a few minutes saying something about Afrikaans
being a bastardized language. No one seems to have given attention to this
statement by Charlize Theron! Is this perhaps because people believe it to
be true. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Yes! Afrikaans is an
amalgam of Dutch, French, German, English, and the four Khoekhoe-branch
languages, Nama, Kora, Cape Khoekhoe, and Eastern Khoekhoe. Regarding the latter four, you will find words in Afrikaans that originate from these languages. For example, there are plants with names originating from Nama, like the n</span><span style="font-family: arial;">oenieboom,
gharrabessie, and gonnabos.</span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Now, let us focus our
attention with particular pride on how languages evolve. In the same way plants adapt, all languages adjust to environmental conditions over time and engage in slow and regular change processes. We think of the Romance languages derived from
Latin (Portuguese, Spanish, Italian, etc.), the Germanic languages
and their offshoots, and the derivations of Arabic, Chinese, Indian, and languages of Asia, Micronesia,
Africa, and the Americas. Whenever dialects and languages are cut off
geographically, they will form entirely new languages. A good example is a
unique Afrikaans dialect in Patagonia, Argentina. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of course, we may be influenced to
look at ourselves as bastard people with a bastard language, as Breyton
Breytenbach described us, rather than a nation and language that has evolved
(come into existence through the processes of change). If we believe this bastard business, we are nothing
better than Charlize Theron, and we will continue to be grossly disrespectful of
who we are.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Should we ever decide to look at the Afrikaner’s evolution, let us do the same regarding the modern Xhosa, Tswana,
Pedi, and every other nationality of the rainbow nation. Let us sit
down and scrutinize the migration, dispersion, fission, wars, and settlements
of South Africa’s people and carefully study</span><span style="font-family: arial;"> the tremendous impact of
Western culture on traditional African society. Let us be enlightened!</span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When enlightened, we can sit down, open our mouths, and speak! Until then, l</span><span style="font-family: arial;">est we don’</span><span style="font-family: arial;">t want to look like idiots, we should be quiet about the Afrikaans language!</span></p>
</div></div>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-40991431901278996012022-11-11T17:21:00.004+02:002023-02-15T14:21:52.842+02:00How I started earning pennies!<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">Yes! The title is correct. I started my own business and now earn pennies! And every penny pays
something.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><b>What led to this initiative?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">I retired at the end of February (ill health) and lost two-thirds of my monthly
income. So, I needed to find a way to earn more money. At age 57, I’m not keen to educate myself to do things – especially things I’ve never done
before. Regardless, I had little choice! </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><b>Was I motivated?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">Earning is a product of learning! As a teacher, I did this for more than 30 years. I knew that starting my own business would put me a few (plus/minus a thousand) lessons away from
earning money.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><b>My field of expertise</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">I can teach! I can also write stories and poems. But I don’t have a creative (entrepreneurial)
brain to invent or discover or </span><i>elonmusk</i><span face="Arial, sans-serif"> my way to great fortunes. Hence,
the pennies!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><b>How did I do it?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Phase 1</u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><span>I created a website! I had an idea and put everything into the website. Of course, i</span><span>t took me more time to delete than create, but I eventually did it! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;"><u>Phase 2</u></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><span>O</span><span>nce the website was ready and available, I used social
media (okay, more specifically, Facebook) to attract clients. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b>The outcome</b></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif"><span style="font-family: arial;">Within the first month, I made R250. My income
increased to R750 by the end of my second month, and in my third month, I made
R1550.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;">I know what you’re thinking! It would be better if each figure had more
zeros at the end. I suppose you could look at it from that angle, but I see it
more positively. Initially, I had nothing! Three months later, I had more than
zero in my pocket. I’m proud of what I have achieved. Going from zero to hero
(R1550) in 90 days was a fantastic accomplishment!</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><b>What did I experience?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">We make choices every day. We can sit back, complain, blame the
world for our situation, or get up and find a way to change it! Doing something is better
than doing nothing. In my case, the word “try” didn’t exist. It’s a word people use when
they: i) expect things to go wrong, ii) plan to fail, and iii) rely on excuses
rather than effort. I never once said I would try to make a website, find
clients, and earn money! From the word go, there was no option. I was set on
making a website, finding clients, and earning
money! And none of it was a picnic! The website was </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">a two-month/60-day nightmare, and finding clients was a humbling experience because there are rude people out there. In the end, earning money, even if only pennies, was a well-deserved reward! </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial;"><b>Is there a lesson to be taught?</b></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">T</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">here’s nothing wrong with working for a living!</span></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-41051847594390761342022-09-08T13:53:00.021+02:002023-02-16T08:50:35.740+02:00Stillness, but I’m still breathing!<p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It
has been several months of stillness, but I’m still breathing. I may not have
written about my experience living on the West Coast of South Africa, but I continue
to live my purpose: to live my life to the best of my ability and to do good. </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">If
you’ve read my blog, you’ll know moving for me is a very traumatic experience. I
don’t like change, and I don’t like the unknown. The fear has always been about losing
what I have. An old saying fuels this fear: You know what you have but don</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">’</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">t
know what you</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">’</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">ll get. Of course, I’ve moved many times, and I still believe the
worst move ever was from Bulawayo to Witbank in 1980. This does not make my
most recent move seem less traumatic. Trauma is trauma. It wasn</span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">’</span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">t easy to leave
the bushveld in Limpopo after living there for over 21 years. I was leaving
behind so many memories and close friends. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">What made the move harder was the
fact that I was already traumatised.</span> <span style="line-height: 150%;">I was going through two stages
of loss: the loss of my health and career and the double loss of my brother (death)
and mother (she moved away). </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">My
desire to move to the West Coast started when I stopped teaching on 7 October
2020. During the time I was waiting for my retirement to take effect, I mostly
stayed at home. There were a few occasions when I went out for tea with a dear
friend, had my hair and nails done, or visited various doctors and therapists,
which was required for the ill-health retirement application. I also cleaned the house, removing everything I didn’t want anymore. I was experiencing the same stages one goes through when dealing with grief: shock and denial, pain and guilt, anger,
depression and loneliness, adjustment, reconstruction, and acceptance and hope.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>I
was still trying to cope with my newly diagnosed illness and the end of my
career when my brother died on 25 October 2021. Both my mother and brother were
living with me at the time. My mother moved in November to live with my sister on
the West Coast. It was a united decision that she move away from the place of trauma.
With my brother and mother gone, the house was too big, and the emptiness made
me more determined to move. </span><span>So, I started packing in December. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">I wrote the
following poem about my mother’s move to help me cope at the time:<br /></span><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br /></span></span></b><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Parting
with Mother (76)<br /></span></span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Feet
follow swiftly ghost trails of habit<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To
stand at Mother’s closed door<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">With
news of something insignificant –<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">But
she’s not there anymore.<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">A
seven-year rhythm was established<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">For
a heart wanting to share;<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m
left alone to ponder loss again<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And
left in total despair.<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I
quietly question life’s teachings and<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Reflect
on what’s left behind;<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I
consider the paths ahead of me<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">And
the lessons undefined.<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"> <br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Moving
forward with courage overwhelms –<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
school of life has taught this once before; <br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I’m
shaped and fashioned to wait for the day<br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">To
walk again through her door.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">At
the end of February 2022, we finally moved, and we’ve been on the West Coast
for six months.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Why
haven’t I written about my life on the West Coast? After all, the move has done
me well, and I live in a beautiful part of the country. Simply put, I haven’t
been writing because all the trauma has had me hiding from and fearing many
things. As a result of my illness and death in the family, I have become more
aware of my mortality, and now that I’m here, I’m trying to keep my health a
priority. I’m taking beach walks and resting. This helps in many ways to keep
the ghosts of the past from staying too long to haunt me and gnaw away at my
sanity, especially when I move through the stage of denial. I’ve stopped trying
to figure out where my health went wrong because I’m focusing on
acceptance. My illness is hereditary. Nothing I could change in the past would have prevented the illness and saved my health.</span> <span style="line-height: 150%;">Of course, it’s not only the stage of denial
that repeats. The other stages of grief for loss are all cycles of my life, and
each stage can last a while or pass quickly. Still … the healing has begun.
Everything is new and fresh and makes it easier for me to let go and move
forward. I’m processing, processing, processing. And I’m getting there.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
sand of my mind-dunes is shifting every day! I’m learning to keep the doors closed
that I’ve already closed. I’m learning to stop rewriting the chapters of the
past that have already been written. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">The stillness will probably continue for a
while because I have no desire to blog or write another novel. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial;">And today, I
just needed to share what is going on in my life. </span></p><p style="text-align: left;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-5845678964850043772022-06-22T10:37:00.007+02:002023-02-16T08:40:55.914+02:00From my novel: The Power is Yours<p> </p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDkys6pK7aflcuUZ7QTDT-fu8iEYFeOZTVgRIRgbuHK2BFhik3JRhvA9-4JompmDiddSU5pkmpliTUuPzp_bo30OLrUW0dwX51TYzcGbFN5LqTzP_gxD1hwsSbFb_bHTE0Z1ZlQMIR5gIYAKU5eOtajejaRkwUiVQxa-in81LOse1ztX4eH8w4MNi/s1080/When%20I%20look%20at%20myself,%20I%20see%20so%20many%20different%20people%20who%20have%20influenced%20me.%20(2).png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFDkys6pK7aflcuUZ7QTDT-fu8iEYFeOZTVgRIRgbuHK2BFhik3JRhvA9-4JompmDiddSU5pkmpliTUuPzp_bo30OLrUW0dwX51TYzcGbFN5LqTzP_gxD1hwsSbFb_bHTE0Z1ZlQMIR5gIYAKU5eOtajejaRkwUiVQxa-in81LOse1ztX4eH8w4MNi/s320/When%20I%20look%20at%20myself,%20I%20see%20so%20many%20different%20people%20who%20have%20influenced%20me.%20(2).png" width="320" /></span></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><p></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"><b>Chapter 3</b> Fearfully and Wonderfully Made</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"><br /></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">The purpose of life is not to
be happy. It is to be useful, to be honourable, to be compassionate, to have it
make some difference that you have lived and lived well. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">~ Ralph Waldo Emerson<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">You can’t have a successful
future if you don’t know why you are here. Remember: you are amazing. You are
also unique. What you have to offer the world is rare, and that adds value to
who you are.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You weren’t born by accident.
It doesn’t matter who your parents are or what the reason is that led to your
birth. If your birth was not meant to be, you would not be here now. Surviving
nine months of pregnancy, birth and life up to this point is purposeful. Yes!
Knowing that you are here, alive, and able to do something means that you are
living a life of purpose.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Everyone on earth has the
purpose to survive the onslaught of life’s experiences and continue living.
Everyone on earth has the purpose to share their experiences and act as an
example for others who may be experiencing similar things. Everyone on earth
has the purpose to contribute to and enhance society.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">Your
purpose here on earth is to survive, continue living, and contribute to society
to make it better.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You may ask: “How can I
survive each day and remain worthy so that I can continue living and contribute
to society to make it better?” You cannot do it on your own. That’s why so many
people fall apart. They’re trying to exist independently.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">God created you for His glory.
To glorify Him means that you have to acknowledge Him as your Creator, and
praise and worship Him every day. He’s not your Sunday-God. He’s your
Every-Day-God. The further you are from Him, the smaller He measures in your
life. The closer you are to Him, you will realize that He is big, and strong,
and mighty.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You fulfil your purpose of
glorifying God by living your life in a relationship and faithful service to
Him every day. Since God created you and endowed you with a measure of His
qualities, your purpose on earth cannot be fulfilled apart from Him. Knowing
God and making Him an important part of your life will benefit you. 2 Peter 1:2
(NLT) says: “May God give you more and more grace and peace as you grow in your
knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” Include Him in your daily life. Build a
solid relationship with Him so that all your relationships here on earth will
be built on that foundation.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">It
takes faith to find your purpose.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">People who walk in faith
believe they have a purpose in life. You, too, have a purpose in life. God has
amazing plans for you. In Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV), it reads: “‘For I know the
plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm
you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and
pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you
seek me with all your heart.’” Seek Him and acknowledge that He is in control.
He is the One who has plans for you. Why, then, do you worry?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Those people who are inclined
to believe that their purpose on earth is to pursue fortune and fame are the
ones who focus on social power and lead a life of materialism. Your life should
be based on spirituality. Focus your attention on God and His purpose for you.
If you can believe in things you cannot see, you have faith, and faith can move
mountains. The amount of faith you put out there in the world is the amount of
energy that will be returned to you. In Matthew 17:20 (NLT), Jesus explains it
so beautifully: “You don’t have enough faith … I tell you the truth, if you had
faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, ‘Move
from here to there’, and it would move. Nothing would be impossible.”</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">You
are a source of abundant energy.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Because you are a source of
abundant energy, your quest to survive, continue living and contribute to
society is energy-driven. Your passion in life is linked to all your energy. If
you are passionate in life, you will have an abundance of healthy energy and
you will be able to contribute your energy and passion to society. By focusing
on all your strengths, you will have a positive attitude, and your contribution
will enhance the society in which you live. Of course, you cannot ignore your
weaknesses. You have to recognize and address them so that you can continue to
grow as a healthy and energetic person.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Many people become obsessed
with looking for their purpose in life. Many feel their life is worthless
because they haven’t found their purpose. The truth is that there is no perfect
well-defined purpose, so don’t waste your time looking for one. In Matthew
22:37-40 (NIV), we read: “Jesus replied:
“‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with
all your mind.’ This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is
like it: ‘Love your neighbour as yourself.’ All the Law and the Prophets hang
on these two commandments.” These two commandments are purposeful. Just being
here now, loving God, loving yourself, and loving your neighbour is purposeful.
And who is your neighbour? Everyone you interact with.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Even if you don’t understand
why you are here or what you are supposed to do, remember one important thing:
your whole life is a big picture. Living in the moment means you can only see
part of your life’s picture. By living in the moment and living to your full
potential, you can contribute purposefully to the bigger picture. God is in
control of your life picture. So, you can let go of the reigns. Focus all your
energy on the here and now rather than the past or the future. This will ensure
happiness.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">Happiness
is made up of small fractions of seconds.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You live now! Everything you
do and experience now should make you happy. If you can focus on making the
present moment worthwhile, you’ll be creating beautiful memories and you’ll be
securing a better future for yourself and for the people who are a part of your
life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How can you make the present
moment worthwhile? Focus on breathing when there’s chaos. Take a literal step
back and observe what is happening around you. Focus on others rather than
yourself. God didn’t add another day in your life because you alone need it. He
added it because someone else also needs you in their life. Yes! Somebody needs
you to be there for them. Look around you. The world is full of self-obsessed
people who are egocentric and selfish. Step out of that crowd. Be different.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Purpose can be seen in the
ability to reach out and contribute to others, helping them and trying to make
a positive difference in their lives. While it may not seem as if you’re making
a difference, in the future, you will have played a significant part for
something or someone else. All the choices you make now will impact not only
your future, but also the future of others. Fred Rogers said, “If only you
could sense how important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important
you can be to people you may never even dream of. There is something of
yourself that you leave at every meeting with another person.” Your value is
raised when the impression you make or leave with others is good.</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">You
rub off on others just as much as they rub off on you.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The more time you spend with
specific people, the more opportunity you get to accept their habits and ways
of thinking. Through observation and listening, you become them. The same can
be said about them: they become you. The lesson here is given in 1 Corinthians
15:33 (NIV): “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’”. Choose
the people you spend time with wisely.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Every day, while you focus on
other people, helping and motivating them, it’s important to take
responsibility for your actions. For example, if you work hard and earn a lot
of money, your purpose is not to give your money to people who are suffering
financially. These people are suffering for a purpose that has nothing to do with
your purpose. You can listen to them compassionately and motivate or encourage
them, but it is not your responsibility to support them financially. You need
to help them realize that they need to set goals in life like you did. They
need to work hard to achieve their goals, and change their attitude and become
positive, like you did. It is also not your responsibility to help others on
their happiness journey – especially not when it is at the cost of your own
happiness.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">How then can you help others?
Dave Willis said, “Show respect even to people who don’t deserve it; not as a
reflection of their character, but as a reflection of yours.” Do good deeds!
Listen to people and show an interest in them. By doing this, you are already
doing something profound. People don’t really listen anymore, do they? They
don’t show an interest in others, do they? You can! Be the one who comforts,
advises, motivates, encourages and sets an example of optimism. Keep the
balance, though.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Don’t ever sacrifice your time
and energy to such an extent that you are left feeling drained. Try and be
there for specific people. You can’t be there for everyone. Those who have a
tendency to drain you are the pessimistic ones who will never change, simply
because they do not desire to change. They are the people who enjoy being
victims of their own circumstances and will only bring you down. So, it’s best
to walk away from them rather than exert yourself over and over again. There
are many people out there who are more deserving and will appreciate your help.
If you let people walk all over you, you teach them (as well as yourself) that
you approve. So, don’t allow people to walk all over you!</span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;">No-one
and nothing in life stays the same.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">As you continue to move
forward on a daily basis, your perspectives and relationships in life will
change and so too your purpose. The same can be said about other people. Learn
to be prepared for change. Yes! You will continue contributing, but when change
occurs, you must be flexible in your thoughts and actions. When people leave,
or circumstances change, be prepared for it. New paths and new opportunities
emerge every day, not just for you but also for other people. When
relationships like friendships become strained because change has occurred, you
should rely on your inner strength to let go. There’s no use in holding on to
something that simply doesn’t work.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">While you are here, live your
unique and amazing life to the best of your ability. Work on being healthy.
Work on being positive. Work on being energetic, passionate, happy and
satisfied. Everything you need in life is within you, so spend some ‘alone’
time with yourself and get to know yourself. This is important because your
feelings and desires drive you. Learn to understand your feelings and desires.
Spend time with God every day so that your purpose is always aligned with His
purpose for you. In doing so, you will learn the value of love, His greatest
gift to you. 1 Corinthians 13: 2-3 (HCSB) says: “If I have the gift of prophecy
and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all faith so that
I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing. And if I donate all my
goods to feed the poor, and if I give my body in order to boast but do not have
love, I gain nothing.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">If you take action on what you
feel or desire, without analyzing or criticizing it to death, you can easily
identify your purpose (what you want to do every day and how you want to
contribute to society). When your feelings and desires are negative, it is important
to avoid reacting to them. A negative attitude and negative thoughts attract
negative things. A positive attitude and positive thoughts attract positive
things. So, focus on positive thoughts and things.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 107%;"> </span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-17788830133025986502022-06-12T13:00:00.006+02:002023-02-16T08:42:11.847+02:00Raise your head and believe in your inner power<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm;"><span lang="EN-US" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">It's impossible to fathom the
power within you. It doesn't matter if you fall or fail. Whatever seems to
break you or crack you open is the very thing that teaches you a valuable life
skill. No matter how long it takes, learning from it is not a sign of weakness;
it's a sign of growth.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xg_tevukHYc5gbEkegIuo9gf-McNBj6sDL4PtW9uyeed1fT_qSzDy6S5dCewzqBBbXkvhbld4W__nX6DXQGJrEZfWbYfccUQCPAffuWoTckR_MqlxssC5nG7aGlx90PIEoqLYYzFpfmj6WH-2c36WzIqDfQ3bzMZHNA0OMiKboFOFf88QIZqjX99/s1080/when%20the%20downtrodden%20and%20despondent%20raise%20their%20heads%20.png" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0xg_tevukHYc5gbEkegIuo9gf-McNBj6sDL4PtW9uyeed1fT_qSzDy6S5dCewzqBBbXkvhbld4W__nX6DXQGJrEZfWbYfccUQCPAffuWoTckR_MqlxssC5nG7aGlx90PIEoqLYYzFpfmj6WH-2c36WzIqDfQ3bzMZHNA0OMiKboFOFf88QIZqjX99/w400-h400/when%20the%20downtrodden%20and%20despondent%20raise%20their%20heads%20.png" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-88182082290355571292022-06-02T09:34:00.008+02:002023-02-16T08:51:22.170+02:00Surfacing after sinking<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">Today
I surface for the first time in several days with new hope to move forward. The
power of gratitude has been instrumental in helping me find a new path to
survival.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">It
doesn’t often happen that I plunge into darkness. Even though I’m constantly
aware of the abyss, writing always soothes me and helps me cope, but lately, I
find writing to be the last thing I want to do. As soon as I begin writing, I
lose interest. It’s as if I’m feeding whatever drags me to the edge
unknowingly. </span><span style="font-family: arial;">And
yes! This time, I not only made it to the edge! I toppled over into the pit of
depression. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">The
fight within wasn’t there for the first few days. No matter! I’ve surfaced, and
that’s all that really counts.<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">I
found this on Facebook today, and it made me decide to sit down and write and
push through until I have something concrete to share! So, here’s another blog
entry with a little more than just my own work to share. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">Reflections
of Me</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">As
I sit here with my memories and wonder how I survived. The love I thought would
be mine forever was lost. In what seemed to be in an instant, you changed into
someone I did not recognize. And yet, all I can see are the "Reflections
of Me" that you said made you change.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">The
hands that once caressed me, soon created pain. The voice that was soothing
with the sound of love, would scream with hate. The eyes that held the look of
love, were filled with contempt. The heart that was once mine, would beat for another.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">The
changes that you say I caused, you made sure you reminded me of them everyday.
Me, the unworthy, the one who doesn't deserve you. Yes, I see the
"Reflections of Me" through your eyes but one day you will see the
"Reflections of You" in mine, and then you will see who was the
unworthy one.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">Margie
Watts ©</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What
I’ve learned from this Facebook post is this:</span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span>We
all have our own burdens to bear, and we all struggle to survive. We are empowered
when we read about another person’s hardship and inner strength to move forward.</span><span>
</span></span><o:p style="font-size: 12pt;"></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJiY6IARZi02jdEDaLSadzH7DSVAcXUFeuMa8VT7c7wmW7mMRwoU_5BcYiZWvzz7MEe2Vu23g864qrGgw59vPHmDt3nCxvdHYn0mgmUIoHrSfgNnMVlywk-uAfTql5dfxJ_-u4jyebSvBotbjbjmJu-YbB4ecl1viwqi5rGTk7I5r3zzIGTd4xF4E/s750/285512440_567327821430959_8354061117726581212_n.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="750" data-original-width="750" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEJiY6IARZi02jdEDaLSadzH7DSVAcXUFeuMa8VT7c7wmW7mMRwoU_5BcYiZWvzz7MEe2Vu23g864qrGgw59vPHmDt3nCxvdHYn0mgmUIoHrSfgNnMVlywk-uAfTql5dfxJ_-u4jyebSvBotbjbjmJu-YbB4ecl1viwqi5rGTk7I5r3zzIGTd4xF4E/w400-h400/285512440_567327821430959_8354061117726581212_n.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><br /></span><p></p><p class="MsoNormal"><o:p></o:p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-55383728454168731352022-05-20T11:52:00.007+02:002023-02-16T08:43:58.517+02:00In the end, it starts with us! <p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">I started teaching in 1988. I spent the first term in a Grade 1
classroom, and for the rest of the year, I was in a special education classroom with learners aged 6 to 13. Was this a problem for me? No. I understood inclusivity through the
teachings of my parents long before </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">the 1994 democratic government introduced it in schools</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">My father was
in the Rhodesian and South African armies and was transferred every three years (except from 1975
to 1980 – our most extended stay in one place). We bounced between Harare and
Bulawayo and, after returning to South Africa, bounced between
Heidelberg and Potchefstroom. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">While I didn't grow up in South Africa, my Afrikaans parents made me aware of my home country. So, clearly, I knew I was an Afrikaans South African living in Rhodesia. Attending school from the age of three, and spending more time speaking English, I soon forgot how to speak my home language properly. Regardless, I never forgot my roots; I knew I was different. With this awareness, e</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">very experience in Rhodesia taught me </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">to respect differences and support and promote equal opportunities for people to grow and excel in one way or another.</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;"> For example, I enjoyed eating sadza and marog or chicken feet with our domestic worker outside her kaya (room) in Harare when I was about eight years old. When I was in primary school in Bulawayo, my friends and I sometimes played soccer with black army soldiers after four o'clock in the afternoon. We</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;"> had to climb down a manhole and run along water pipes to enter the army grounds. They always waited for us. It made us feel liberated and we had respect for them. In my Home Economics practical cooking class, I was teamed up with an Indian girl, and I learned a lot from her and because of her.</span><span face="Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0e101a;"> </span><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">When we returned to South Africa in 1980, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">I couldn't write or read Afrikaans. My spoken attempt was rather amusing to Afrikaans people. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">From 1980 through 1984, my struggle was to learn how to read, write and speak the language. The breakthrough came when I decided to enrol at an Afrikaans educational institution in Potchefstroom to study teaching. Failure has never been an option for me. Hard work and commitment helped me to successfully pass four years of studying in Afrikaans for my teaching qualification. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">Moving from Rhodesia to South Africa was an incredible culture shock, but I immersed
myself in the change and tried my best to adapt. But this is the thing about adapting to change. We encounter a new culture, whether we enter a new
school, business, town, country, continent, religion, or community. From personal experience, it takes three to five years to adapt to a new culture, which means I never truly settled in any of the environments I experienced as a child or teenager. I was
permanently on the move. Throughout my adult years, I mentally anticipated
change long before the necessity for change was born. And quite often, I'm
sure, I initiated the time for a change. But I was permanently aware of the
possibility of change, and I embraced it. Not all the changes that occurred
were welcomed, so I suffered many times. Needless to say, I was aware – more
aware than those who didn't experience or understand change. Many people go
to one primary and one high school and live in one house for eighteen
years. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;"><span>I woke up this morning and thought about change and adapting to this new town that I'm now living in, which inspired the rambling of my mind. I've been here for almost three months and </span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">I'm shocked at how people in this area treat others. The corruption, the injustice, the naming and shaming, the complaining, the status orientation, the almost narcissistic love of self-opinion, and the prejudice of the people are unacceptable. But, we can say this about many, many people in many, many places. </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">We only need to read the comments on social media to see how prejudiced and rude people can be.</span></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">All this made me think of a way forward. For South Africans, perhaps, we should go back and reflect on what Nelson Mandela said
in his inauguration speech in 1994. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">That spiritual and physical oneness we all share with this common
homeland explains the depth of the pain we all carried in our hearts as we saw
our country tear itself apart in a terrible conflict, and as we saw it spurned,
outlawed and isolated by the peoples of the world, precisely because it has
become the universal base of the pernicious ideology and practice of racism and
racial oppression</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%;">.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">We carry pain in our hearts because still our country is torn apart in
terrible conflict. We were internationally spurned, outlawed and isolated because of apartheid.
But today, we are nationally spurned, outlawed and isolated because of division
within our own country by our own people. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">We thank all our distinguished international guests … We trust that you
will continue to stand by us as we tackle the challenges of building peace,
prosperity, non-sexism, non-racialism and democracy. </span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">Our own government cannot tackle the challenges of building peace, prosperity, non-sexism, non-racialism and democracy. How can we expect the world to support us? How can we expect our government to do so if we can't live in peace with the people around us? We even abuse strangers (social media)</span></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">!</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 27px;">The time for the healing of the wounds has come</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 27px;">. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 27px;">With change and moving on to something new, there must always be a time for healing. Keeping in mind that healing is a process, we must acknowledge that we all differ and heal in our own time. The democratic government promised liberation for those in the bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, gender and other discrimination. Do we feel liberated? Do we allow others to feel liberated? Since it's always just about us, and our opinion is all that matters, when do others get a chance to be themselves or give an opinion?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 27px;">The moment to bridge the chasms that divide us has come.</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 27px;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 27px;">Suppose the new government had a plan for all its people, e.g. the white people of South Africa (including me, who did not grow up in the South African apartheid system). How did any of their actions bridge the chasms that divide us? Here I can go on to write in length about division because we tend to look at the discrimination of race in South Africa. Yet, we forget that we discriminate daily within our own cultures. We discriminate on so many levels that prejudice has become our daily food. Are we acting in such a way that we bridge chasms that divide? <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 27px;">The time to build is upon us</span></i><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 27px;">. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 27px;">Here, in a country falling apart, I must first analyse the world "build" to understand what the democratic government has built for those who suffered in the past during apartheid. The bondage of poverty, deprivation, suffering, and discrimination continues with our government's education system. Is it better to have more uneducated sheep follow an ailing government than an educated nation?<o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><i><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 27px;">Out of the experience of and extraordinary human disaster that lasted too long, must be born a society of which all humanity will be proud. Our daily deeds as ordinary South Africans must produce an actual South African reality that will reinforce humanity's belief in justice, strengthen its confidence in the nobility of the human soul and sustain all our hopes for glorious life for all.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 27px;">No one alive today owns the soil of the earth. The land belongs to God. By His Grace and Mercy, we are alive today. Let me talk about human disaster and pride! No one can tell me, born a white woman in South Africa, that I must leave the country and go back to the place from where my forefathers came because Africa doesn't belong to the white people. If I honestly had to do the maths, nearly three hundred years have passed since the day my forefathers landed on this continent. Or do I trace myself back to the day the Ark landed? What is this mentality of judging people according to their forefathers' actions? What is this mentality of ownership? Does this have something to do with ownership or power? The One who owns Africa is the One who has exclusive rights and control over it, and He will not ask me to leave the country where I was born. But people are arrogant and feel powerful through status! What constant need do people have to </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a;">feel important and receive respect and admiration because of their identity, be it a surname, religion, nationality or financial wealth, etc.? If only we could be utterly unmoved by badges of hierarchy, of mitres and crooks and crowns. If only we could be satisfied with who we are and what we accomplish. We can still be competitive but in a healthy way. There's nothing wrong with striving to achieve more and better, but how we go about it and how we respond to our achievements make the difference. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><iframe allowfullscreen="" class="BLOG_video_class" height="266" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/_Tuq003fj8Y" width="320" youtube-src-id="_Tuq003fj8Y"></iframe></span><br /><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><i>
We enter into a covenant that we shall build the society in which all South
Africans, both black and white, will be able to walk tall, without any fear in
their hearts, assured of their inalienable right to human dignity - a rainbow
nation at peace with itself and the world.</i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
…</span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
Let there be justice for all.</span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
Let there be peace for all.</span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
Let there be work, bread, water and salt for all.</span></i></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">…</span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><i>Never, never and never again shall it be that this beautiful land will again
experience the oppression of one by another and suffer the indignity of being
the skunk of the world. Let freedom reign. The sun shall never set on so
glorious a human achievement!</i></span></span><br /><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;"><i>
God bless Africa!</i></span></span><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Md_dzeSQOzJxeCDnPjUUoK0MXh016t-30EZOvMTGvlyAj5XpezelnTbzm7elTOTeqEGmZzzIE6zMsCNYYw7gaqdTB8qFhBdlLBLtXVR1unBDC2nSa5xOMRGsTzbPUh_gFQyriMlTpXpQ6scZ91lsJMPtBX6z9sNmphJUFWZ5HWOnsb-On2VPDfIE/s593/Screenshot_20220420-081510_Instagram.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="559" data-original-width="593" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4Md_dzeSQOzJxeCDnPjUUoK0MXh016t-30EZOvMTGvlyAj5XpezelnTbzm7elTOTeqEGmZzzIE6zMsCNYYw7gaqdTB8qFhBdlLBLtXVR1unBDC2nSa5xOMRGsTzbPUh_gFQyriMlTpXpQ6scZ91lsJMPtBX6z9sNmphJUFWZ5HWOnsb-On2VPDfIE/s320/Screenshot_20220420-081510_Instagram.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="color: #0e101a; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JGxo0u0HSNJO5FRIp0CAnihmg4M-Mz5AnteixJGa9i0j9-dHAtOev-yi-TJOGVMyq0k_TvCgAH67t8l2mMm1ejanwg3SUxLpa-V9_Qoe0waLIp-sQxfIyzosCX7ZeiIpSGoRJoBcLhDkw2PxHZlyZJtoxuoWA4ktKi4zVA2_dn74Wb-c6NPvClno/s474/OIP.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="267" data-original-width="474" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JGxo0u0HSNJO5FRIp0CAnihmg4M-Mz5AnteixJGa9i0j9-dHAtOev-yi-TJOGVMyq0k_TvCgAH67t8l2mMm1ejanwg3SUxLpa-V9_Qoe0waLIp-sQxfIyzosCX7ZeiIpSGoRJoBcLhDkw2PxHZlyZJtoxuoWA4ktKi4zVA2_dn74Wb-c6NPvClno/w400-h225/OIP.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">It's important to understand that we don't have to suffer first to be
humble and live simply! We are challenged on a daily basis, but every challenge
is an opportunity for growth! Growth should be seen as a journey to
self-discovery and self-love. When we pay attention to our flaws and act upon
them with the intention to improve, we benefit ourselves and society. When we
learn to accept our imperfect selves, physically, and the path we walk through
life, we benefit ourselves and society. And this is what we should focus on: Do
good to benefit ourselves AND society! </span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
… <i>each one of us is as intimately attached to the soil of this
beautiful country as are the famous jacaranda trees of Pretoria and the mimosa
trees of the bushveld. Each time one of us touches the soil of this land, we
feel a sense of personal renewal. The national mood changes as the seasons
change. We are moved by a sense of joy and exhilaration when the grass turns
green, and the flowers bloom</i>.<br />
<!--[endif]--><o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">When we are born in a place, we
breathe in its air. Growing up in a place </span><span style="color: #0e101a;">is our experience and forms the knowledge we have.</span><span style="color: #0e101a;"> </span><span style="color: #0e101a;">We can immigrate, but we will never forget where we were
born and raised. </span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
<i>We succeeded to take our last steps to freedom in conditions of relative
peace. We commit ourselves to the construction of a complete, just and lasting
peace. We have triumphed in the effort to implant hope in the breasts of the
million of our people. <br /></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 150%;">We are not building a society that walks tall without fear in its hear</span><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">t. Everyone has the right to human dignity, but we don't treat people
well.<br />
<!--[endif]--><i><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></p><p align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">We understand it still that there is no easy road
to freedom.<br /></span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">In the end, it begins with us, and it starts in the heart. Freedom
begins where prejudice ends. Prejudice will never end because each one of us
has an imperfect perception. We are prejudiced on political affiliation, sex,
gender, gender identity, beliefs, values, social class, age, disability,
religion, sexuality, race, ethnicity, language, nationality, culture,
complexion, beauty, height, occupation, wealth, education, criminality, sport-team
affiliation, music tastes or other personal characteristics.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
Enough of the negativity! Enough with the demolition-ball activities. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-ZA;">
We can move forward if we reduce the hate and anger we carry within us and
start building on love, forgiveness, and empathy.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%;"></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a; line-height: 150%;">T</span><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;">he journey of my life has turned out exactly the way it
should. Since I was born, every choice my parents or I made was based
on imperfect prior knowledge and past experiences. At the time, we didn't know
better, so we couldn't have made better decisions. I have tried to walk the
straight and narrow path and do good throughout my life, and I did it
imperfectly. I am grateful for what I have accomplished. I will continue to
show empathy for my fellow man, but I seriously need to work harder on self-love.</span></span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-58677645048666598892022-05-13T12:01:00.007+02:002023-02-16T08:52:11.589+02:00Just be!<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOHh2oYEg3957yq0PGqdGS7wB2CWleCSMytAsPb2mU2dK3RGwDe4GtUCFTSkCbZ2j42DMudXCyUw1F84Q9Owsn4b5iriSI5vOhp-g_teKSwnwQq6EBss3EjlP0S5U5kEmhV7yQnkDkzcDld7xK-b2UaMKltHtU38lxaCm3UZxCP7iMIHvp2Bnv58m/s400/ba8229073a224fc4f19f8c65e63b3034.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="400" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXOHh2oYEg3957yq0PGqdGS7wB2CWleCSMytAsPb2mU2dK3RGwDe4GtUCFTSkCbZ2j42DMudXCyUw1F84Q9Owsn4b5iriSI5vOhp-g_teKSwnwQq6EBss3EjlP0S5U5kEmhV7yQnkDkzcDld7xK-b2UaMKltHtU38lxaCm3UZxCP7iMIHvp2Bnv58m/w400-h400/ba8229073a224fc4f19f8c65e63b3034.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><p><br /></p><p></p><p style="background-color: white; color: #050505; text-align: left; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;">When we look at each other with wonder, we will stand in awe of what God has made. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Ignore the flaws. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Ignore the talents. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Ignore the things that stir our own emotions. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Just be amazed at the human, the person, the existence. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">When we understand that our purpose here on earth is to exist and continually strive for survival, we will be at rest with everything else.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Do you have an eye to bear witness? You have a purpose.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Do you have an ear to hear? You have a purpose.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Do you have a mouth to speak, arms and hands to work, legs and feet to move, a heart that feels, and a mind that thinks? You have a purpose.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Stop wondering why you are here. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Stop wondering what your purpose in life is ... or should be. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Just be.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Teach others to be.<br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">In being, you are living your purpose. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Use what you have to enhance the community in which you live without the need for recognition. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Tomorrow, or the next day, when you are no longer here, when your existence on earth has ended, when you no longer have a purpose on earth, you will no longer be recognised. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Remembered? Perhaps. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Forgotten? Perhaps. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Recognised? ... <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Forget the need to constantly be in the spotlight. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Forget the need to be rewarded. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">Stop worrying about being loved, honoured, and respected. <br /></span><span style="font-family: arial;">JUST BE!</span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-24840667431864177202022-05-12T09:11:00.005+02:002023-02-16T08:48:13.528+02:00From my novel: The Power is Yours<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><b>Chapter 4</b> An inestimable gift of love</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">What you have to offer the world is rare and that adds value to who you
are.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">You weren’t born by accident. It doesn’t matter who your parents are or
what the reason is that led to your birth. If your birth was not meant to be,
you would not be here now. Surviving nine months of pregnancy, birth and life
up to this point is purposeful. Yes! Knowing that you are here, alive and able
to do something means that you are living a life of purpose.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Everyone on earth has the purpose to
survive the onslaught of life’s experiences and continue living. Everyone on
earth has the purpose of sharing their experiences and acting as an example for
others who may be experiencing similar things. Everyone on earth has the
purpose to contribute to and enhance society.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">Your purpose here on earth is to
survive, to continue living and to contribute to society to make it better.</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">You may ask: “How can I survive each
day and remain worthy so that I can continue living and contribute to society
to make it better?” You cannot do it on your own. That’s why so many people
fall apart. They’re trying to exist independently.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">God created you for His glory.
To glorify Him means that you have to acknowledge Him as your Creator, and
praise and worship Him every day. He’s not your Sunday-God. He’s your
every-day-God. The further you are from Him, the smaller He measures in your life.
The closer you are to Him, you will realise that He is big and strong and
mighty.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">You fulfil your purpose of glorifying God by living
your life in relationship and faithful service to Him every day. Since God
created you and endowed you with a measure of His qualities, your purpose on
earth cannot be fulfilled apart from Him. Knowing God and making Him an
important part of your life will benefit you. 2 Peter 1:2 (NLT) says: “</span><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320; line-height: 150%;">May God give you more and more grace and peace as
you grow in your knowledge of God and Jesus our Lord.” </span><span style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">Include Him in your daily life. Build a solid
relationship with Him to build all your relationships here on earth on that foundation.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">It takes faith to find your
purpose.</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">People who walk in faith believe they
have a purpose in life. You, too, have a purpose in life. God has amazing plans
for you. In Jeremiah 29:11-13 (NIV), it reads: “‘<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255);">For
I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and
not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call
on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me
and find me when you seek me with all your heart.’” Seek Him and acknowledge
that He is in control. He is the One who has plans for you. Why, then, do you
worry? </span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Those people who are inclined to
believe that their purpose on earth is to pursue fortune and fame are the ones
who lead a life of materialism. Your life should be based on spirituality.
Focus your attention on God and His purpose for you. If you can believe in
things you cannot see, you have faith and faith can move mountains. The amount
of faith that you put out there in the world is the amount of energy that will
be returned to you. In Matthew 17:20 (NLT), Jesus explains it so beautifully: “<span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255);">You don't have enough faith … I tell you the truth,
if you had faith even as small as a mustard seed, you could say to this
mountain, ‘Move from here to there’, and it would move. Nothing would be
impossible.”</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">You are a source of abundant energy.</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Because you are a source of abundant
energy, your quest to survive, continue living and contribute to society is
energy-driven. Your passion in life is linked to all your energy. If you are
passionate in life, you will have an abundance of healthy energy and you will
be able to contribute your energy and passion to society. By focusing on all
your strengths, you will have a positive attitude, and your contribution will
enhance the society in which you live. Of course, you cannot ignore your
weaknesses. You have to recognise and address them to continue to
grow as a healthy and energetic person.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Many people become obsessed with
looking for their purpose in life. Many feel that their life is worthless
because they haven't found their purpose. The truth is that there is no
perfect well-defined purpose, so don’t waste your time looking for one. Just
being here now is purposeful. Even if you don’t understand why you are here or
what you are supposed to do, remember one important thing: your whole life is a
big picture. Living in the moment means you can only see part of your life’s
picture.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">By living in the moment and living to
your full potential, you can contribute purposefully to the bigger picture. God
is in control of your life picture. So, you can let go of the reigns. Focus all
your energy on the here and now rather than the past or the future. This will
ensure happiness.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">Happiness is made up of small fractions
of seconds.</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">You live now! Everything you do and
experience now should make you happy. If you can focus on making the present
moment worthwhile, you’ll be creating beautiful memories, and you’ll be securing
a better future for yourself and for the people who are a part of your life.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">How can you make the present moment
worthwhile? Focus on breathing when there’s chaos. Take a literal step back and
observe what is happening around you. Focus on others rather than yourself. God
didn't add another day in your life because you alone need it. He added it
because someone else also needs you in their life. Yes! Someone needs you to be
there for them. Look around you. The world is full of self-obsessed people who
are egocentric and selfish. Step out of that crowd. Be different.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Purpose can be seen in the ability to
reach out and contribute to others, helping them and trying to make a positive
difference in their lives. While it may not seem as if you’re making a
difference, in the future, you will have played a significant part in something
or someone else. All the choices you make now will impact not only your future but also the future of others. Fred Rogers said, “If only you could sense how
important you are to the lives of those you meet; how important you can be to
people you may never even dream of. There is something of yourself that you
leave at every meeting with another person.” Your value is raised when the
impression you make or leave with others is good.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"> <i>You rub off on others just as
much as they rub off on you.</i></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">The more time you spend with specific
people, the more opportunity you get to accept their habits and ways of
thinking. Through observation and listening, you become them. The same can be
said about them: they become you. The lesson here is given in 1 Corinthians
15:33 (NIV): “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’”. Choose
the people you spend time with wisely.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Every day, while you focus on other
people, helping and motivating them, it’s important to take responsibility for
your actions. For example, if you work hard and earn a lot of money, your
purpose is not to give your money to people who are suffering financially.
These people are suffering for a purpose that has nothing to do with your
purpose. You can listen to them compassionately and motivate or encourage them,
but it is not your responsibility to support them financially. You need to help
them realize that they need to set goals in life like you did. They need to
work hard to achieve their goals, change their attitude and become
positive like you did. It is also not your responsibility to help others
on their happiness journey – especially not when it is at the cost of your
own happiness.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">How then can you help others? Dave
Willis said, “Show respect even to people who don’t deserve it; not as a
reflection of their character, but as a reflection of yours.” Do good deeds!
Listen to people and show an interest in them. By doing this, you are already
doing something profound. People don’t really listen anymore, do they? They don’t
show any interest in others, do they? You can! Be the one who comforts, advises,
motivates, encourages and sets an example of optimism. Keep the balance,
though.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">Don’t ever sacrifice your time and
energy to such an extent that you feel drained. Try and be there
for specific people. You can’t be there for everyone. Those who have a tendency
to drain you are the pessimistic ones who will never change, simply because
they do not desire to change. They are the people who enjoy being victims of
their own circumstances and will only bring you down. So, it’s best to walk
away from them rather than exert yourself over and over again. Many people out there are more deserving and will appreciate your help. If you
let people walk all over you, you teach them (and yourself) that you
approve. So, don’t allow people to walk all over you!<i> </i></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">No one and nothing in life stay the
same.</span></i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">As you continue to move forward on a
daily basis, your perspectives and relationships in life will change, and so too
your purpose. The same can be said about other people. Learn to be prepared for
change. Yes! You will continue contributing, but you need to be flexible in your thoughts and actions when change occurs. When people leave, or circumstances
change, be prepared for it. New paths and new opportunities emerge every day,
not just for you but also for other people. When relationships like friendships
become strained because of change, you should rely on your inner
strength to let go. There’s no use in holding on to something that simply
doesn’t work.</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;">While you are here, live your unique
and amazing life to the best of your ability. Work on being healthy. Work on
being positive. Work on being energetic, passionate, happy and satisfied.
Everything you need in life is within you, so spend some ‘alone’ time with
yourself and get to know yourself. This is important because your feelings and
desires drive you. Learn to understand your feelings and desires. Spend time
with God every day so that your purpose is always aligned with His purpose for
you. In doing so, you will learn the value of love, His greatest gift to you. 1
Corinthians 13: 2-3 (HCSB) says: “I</span><span style="background: rgb(253, 254, 255); color: #001320; line-height: 150%;">f I have the gift
of prophecy and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have all
faith so that I can move mountains but do not have love, I am nothing.</span><span style="background: rgb(240, 249, 255); color: #001320; line-height: 150%;"> </span><span style="color: #001320; line-height: 150%;">And if I donate all my goods to feed<span style="background: rgb(240, 249, 255);"> </span>the poor, and if I give my body in
order to boast but do not have love, I gain nothing.”</span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span>Take action on what you feel or desire
without analysing or criticising it to death. You can easily identify your
purpose (what you want to do every day and how you want to contribute to
society). When your feelings and desires are negative, it is important to
avoid reacting to them. A negative attitude and negative thoughts attract
negative things. A positive attitude and positive thoughts attract positive
things. So, focus on positive thoughts and things.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><span style="line-height: 150%;"> </span></b><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-20546767422196978972022-05-06T16:49:00.005+02:002023-02-16T08:54:17.332+02:00From my novel: The Power is Yours <p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><b>Chapter 2</b> Pressing toward the goal</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Many people regret the
present moment and yearn for the past or future. They either live in the past,
wishing they could turn back the hands of time, or they spend their time hoping
for a better life in the future. </span><o:p></o:p><span style="color: #0e101a;">If you start living each day in the present, y</span><span style="color: #0e101a;">ou can make sense of your life</span><span style="color: #0e101a;">.</span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Paulo Coelho describes the
problem beautifully: “We have enormous difficulty in focusing on the present;
we’re always thinking about what we did, about how we could have done it
better, about the consequences of our actions, and about why we didn’t act as
we should have. Or else, we think about the future, what we’re going to do
tomorrow, what precautions we should take, what dangers await us around the
next corner, how to avoid what we don’t want and how to get what we have always
dreamed of.”</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Are you living in the
past, or are you waiting in great anticipation for your future? What about now?
Isn’t the present moment important, too? According to Mahatma Gandhi, “The
future depends on what you do today.” Yes! Every thought, decision or action
today impacts your present and your future. Are you focused on the here and now?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">You alone have the power
to make good or bad decisions.</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></em></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Your life decisions are
influenced by the present moment and the people who are with you at the time.
You must decide who or what is guiding you to make your decisions because each decision you make affects your plans and mood. Decisions determine whether you will
be happy or disappointed. If you make bad decisions, you will experience adverse
outcomes, but good decisions will lead to a successful future. </span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The question is: How do you
make decisions? Do you make them independently or allow others to help you? Do
you make decisions that are best for you, or do you make decisions that please others? Do you fear that every decision you make may be a wrong one? Or
do you prefer not to make decisions and allow them to be made for you?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">Every moment of your life
defines you.</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></em></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">You are who you are in
each living moment. The decisions you make may stretch across many moments, but the
minute you make the decision, you create a new direction. Even when the
decision turns out to have been a mistake and the outcome is negative, it
doesn’t have to stay that way. You may have taken the wrong path, but it’s a
learning process, and you can turn it around.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">At some point in the
future, you may discover that a choice you made in the past is not what you
planned or wanted. You needn’t regret it, though. Don’t focus on the choice as
a mistake and don’t dwell on the time that’s been lost. Focus on the process of
learning that came from the experience. You have grown because of it. If you
never make mistakes, how will you ever learn or change?</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #0e101a;">Choices always lead to new
opportunities.</span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></em></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Your decisions can be
average and ordinary, or they can be life-changing. Joel Osteen said, “If you
think you’re average, then you’ll be average. If you think you’re ordinary,
then you’ll live ordinary. The truth is there is nothing ordinary about you.
You have something to offer that nobody else can offer.” Do you think that
you’re just an average person? Genesis 1:26 (ESV) reads: “Then God said, ‘Let
us make man in our image, after our likeness”. Yes! You have been made
according to God’s likeness. Do you still think you’re average? </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;">The way you think defines
you. You can’t have a successful future if you think you’re average. You can’t
have a successful future if you don’t know why you’re here. You can’t have a
successful future if you don’t plan. If you want to have freedom and money one
day to lead a successful life, you’ll also need to know what success means.</span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0U3wqfnPNU1fQAnaOKvKqnp7hshWGpYTPXq6KkJwGE9KyObCOq3N7S90hWvBHZrjB0Jv-yqMLN1m6Wj0aP6zhzypAJy-BPdk7t_bh-AjAcRkqqfQPY8Edj1soLBiKqWjl2NpAzJQ0gC4HGq58wJVgq6rECOEmroOChNTOxG7w0PLLAMlOaPySXr7c/s425/167230066.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="283" data-original-width="425" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0U3wqfnPNU1fQAnaOKvKqnp7hshWGpYTPXq6KkJwGE9KyObCOq3N7S90hWvBHZrjB0Jv-yqMLN1m6Wj0aP6zhzypAJy-BPdk7t_bh-AjAcRkqqfQPY8Edj1soLBiKqWjl2NpAzJQ0gC4HGq58wJVgq6rECOEmroOChNTOxG7w0PLLAMlOaPySXr7c/w400-h266/167230066.jpg" width="400" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><span style="color: #0e101a; font-family: arial; font-size: large;"><br /></span><p></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><o:p></o:p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-16591361641347805972022-05-06T13:11:00.004+02:002023-02-16T08:57:02.225+02:00From my novel: The Power is Yours<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 150%;"><b>Chapter 1</b> Fight the good fight </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 150%;">Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “<span style="background: white;">The mind<i>, </i>once
stretched by a new idea, never returns to its original dimensions.” Once
information enters your mind and you know that it exists, you can never go back
and say that you didn’t know. You only have the power to accept the information
and make it a way of life or reject it. Whatever you choose to do, you will
grow from it.</span></span><span style="line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="background: white; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">There is a lesson in everything we experience.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You are alive today and searching for answers to your life and purpose
on earth. Who isn't? For every question, there is an answer. “<span style="background: white;">A question is a powerful thing. It can open doors,
challenge the status quo, and lead to new ideas and innovations. A question can
change your world if you ask the right one.” (Adapted from Old Mutual
advertisement, S.A.). Don’t be afraid to ask questions or challenge
opportunities to find the answers. </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background: white; line-height: 150%;">You</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 150%;"> are given many opportunities and
blessings every day. When you welcome all the possibilities and benefits that
come your way, you will always make progress.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">Moving forward is a way of life. It always leads to something new and
something different.</span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">You need to make sense of your life before you can enjoy new opportunities
and blessings. You need to discover just how amazing you really are. Only then
will you realize how significant your life is, and how you can live your life
in a wonderful and fulfilling way. </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Perhaps you are weighed down because of everything that has happened to
you in your life. Perhaps people have burdened you with their problems and bad
attitudes, and now you, too, feel battered. Bad situations, circumstances, and
attitudes have troubled your days, and you are seeking relief. All you really
want is to find independence and happiness. It’s possible.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">There’s a story on the internet about the palm tree, written by Kerstin
Anderas-Lundquist. She speaks of the palm tree as being flexible and having the
capacity to bend almost double without breaking. Kerstin says, “During storms
with hurricane-force winds, only the palm tree is able to withstand without
breaking or being uprooted. Not only so, but when the ill winds have passed,
the tree just returns to its original position totally unfazed. Large oak trees
are pulled up by the roots. Other trees are snapped in two like toothpicks, but
the palm tree still stands strong amid the destruction surrounding it. It is
also believed that its root system is not weakened, but actually strengthened
by these storms.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Kerstin draws a comparison between you and the palm tree. She says,
“When the unexpected storms of life roll in like a tsunami, and try to wash
away your dreams and drown your hopes along with them; when hurricane-force
winds of doubt and worry try to uproot your faith and topple your confidence,
don’t give up and don’t give in. Weather the storm like the palm tree you are!
You may be bent over by the force of the winds, but get up! You may be bent,
but you’re not broken! Your roots are grounded in the Word of Almighty God,
continually growing stronger as the storm rages on. Don’t lose your peace!
Don’t lose your joy! Know that this too will pass and your life will continue
to be long-lived, stately, upright, useful and fruitful.”</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Psalm 92:12 (<span style="background: white; letter-spacing: 0.25pt;">ESV) </span>reads:
“The righteous flourish like the palm tree… ”. This is a good way to live your
life. Be righteous. Do the right thing. Live a life of good morals and ethics,
and you will be like the palm tree. You will flourish all the days of your
life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;"> </span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXu5T1XCeuWVTsmvKUPJI_vWYEuGdMyVLJgnCql8hsiy1Sxpa38OcJkBssWw5tthevOPuL-iX7d7aYxU1iozTX3rT7WjNbi2RMxUy2ilHmTZ2YbiFHaZudCjDoSXL4l6CYdKnOeTJAyCeLtZL54ybQL2zHZKZVP9DcgSBY2AkR3oZw0eCw9sXYV3j/s750/US_Navy_050709-N-0000B-004_Hurricane_Dennis_batters_palm_trees_and_floods_parts_of_Naval_Air_Station_(NAS)_Key_West's_Truman_Annex.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="499" data-original-width="750" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgtXu5T1XCeuWVTsmvKUPJI_vWYEuGdMyVLJgnCql8hsiy1Sxpa38OcJkBssWw5tthevOPuL-iX7d7aYxU1iozTX3rT7WjNbi2RMxUy2ilHmTZ2YbiFHaZudCjDoSXL4l6CYdKnOeTJAyCeLtZL54ybQL2zHZKZVP9DcgSBY2AkR3oZw0eCw9sXYV3j/w400-h266/US_Navy_050709-N-0000B-004_Hurricane_Dennis_batters_palm_trees_and_floods_parts_of_Naval_Air_Station_(NAS)_Key_West's_Truman_Annex.jpg" width="400" /></span></a></div><br /><p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-63706050713061332562022-04-23T16:44:00.003+02:002023-02-16T08:57:50.322+02:00Do you have control over the future?<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="text-align: justify;"><span><span style="text-align: left;">As a chess player, you must predict what you see in
front of you to win. You can anticipate your opponent’s next move, but
everything you plan changes if it deviates from your expectation</span>. </span></span><span style="text-align: justify;"> </span></span></p><p style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiE-wThDNE60SMRl3B0HGW5kqzrW76F_LFIiHOgmlI-AZ2ZP7iiLrdeTAJhvzQ6VidTXS1yGY5zsMiwr4FH0DasJxcQNaC_BYN3tXrmS1sPb2_dzC8qmp073zQhW_hrjPckmCWq8msujZgM-WYWob2PwehCYZ0oUo2RAE8UzsATmOa35hL7sXnhvds/s608/Patriarchy.jpg" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="403" data-original-width="608" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiE-wThDNE60SMRl3B0HGW5kqzrW76F_LFIiHOgmlI-AZ2ZP7iiLrdeTAJhvzQ6VidTXS1yGY5zsMiwr4FH0DasJxcQNaC_BYN3tXrmS1sPb2_dzC8qmp073zQhW_hrjPckmCWq8msujZgM-WYWob2PwehCYZ0oUo2RAE8UzsATmOa35hL7sXnhvds/s320/Patriarchy.jpg" width="320" /></span></a><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In
life, you have no control over your future. It’s not guaranteed in a written
game plan that you will reach your destination if you follow a few simple
rules. Aspects of the end are determined by what you do in life, and most of it
lies in your choices. Overeating or drinking excessively affects your health
later in life. Participating in extreme sports limits the length of your life
every time you take a risk. <o:p></o:p></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Certain
future aspects can be shaped, and the younger you start, the better. Today’s
youth become disenchanted very quickly with the opportunities they have. You
can tell a young girl or boy that youth is fleeting, and they will disagree.
Teenage years are like extended prison terms for many teens, and they feel
trapped within a system where there seems no end to what is inflicted upon
them.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
thing about shaping the future at a young age lies in the fact that you have
more energy and enthusiasm. Important choices must be made regarding a career,
a partner, and savings for the retirement years. Some options will have a
long-term effect on you, while others will not affect you until much later. And
while wise choices bring happiness, success, and security, unwise decisions can
ruin a person’s life.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In
school, students must write exams. The results determine whether they will
advance to the next level of education. Given the memorandum before the test, a
student would know what to expect and make fewer mistakes. It’s the same with
knowing the future, and it would help you make the necessary adjustments in
your life to benefit later.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Others
set the example. You build on the knowledge and experiences of others, and you
imitate what is good and avoid making the mistakes they have made. In that
case, you can still mould your future. Should there be any deviations due to
tragedy or misfortune, you learn to adapt. You can still achieve happiness,
success, and security via the detour.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Living
life is hard, and so are many decisions you must make. Yet, you trod on! You
lift your head and have faith in tomorrow. Don’t worry about controlling the
future. Control your attitude.</span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The secret of life isn’t
what happens to you, but what you do with what happens to you. ~ Norman Vincent
Peale</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-80984998875046576542022-04-21T11:30:00.009+02:002023-02-16T09:21:24.277+02:00When did it really start?<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Many of
my posts are about pain, and I’m sure my readers are tired of reading about it.
I often feel as if I’m stuck in a loop of repeating what I’ve already said. I
never reread my articles once they’re posted. Today I stumbled across an
article I wrote in 2008, and I now realize I’ve had it wrong. My pain didn’t
start in recent years.<o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b><i><span style="line-height: 150%;">The start
of something bigger</span></i></b><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"> (13 August 2008)</span></i></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The year
is 2008. I turn 43 towards the end of October. I wake up in the mornings in
pain. And I wonder: Is it arthritis?</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Of
course, the first thing that enters my mind is the revelation that I do not
really know what arthritis is. I know it involves inflamed joints, but what
does that mean? Why do joints become inflamed? The minute I Google it, I find
over a hundred rheumatic diseases and conditions that may affect the joints and
muscles, bones, tendons, and ligaments. Damage can be done to the skin, organs,
and eyes.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I sit
still in awe.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I have
often thought that rheumatism or arthritis is an old-age sickness. It’s not. I
look at my symptoms just to get a head start. I</span></span></i><i><span style="line-height: 24px;"><span style="font-family: arial;">’</span></span></i><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">m tired. I ache. I even have
sore eyes. Sometimes I’m over-stressed and depressed – ever so slightly
depressed, nothing major. My fingers, wrists, knees, ankles, and feet ache
constantly. Every day, I wake up feeling stiff and in discomfort. Sometimes I
even wake up several times during the night because of the pain. Even though I
have no idea what is wrong with me, I realize I need to visit my
doctor. I also need to look at what I’m eating. I can’t ignore that I work long
hours, exercise irregularly and have a problem being overweight.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I believe
there is no medical drug that can cure the detrimental effects that arthritis
has on the body. Most of what I read is meant to reduce pain and inflammation.
The medicines and treatment available provide relief, but when one thinks of
all the side effects of drugs, and the price, where exactly does the solution
lie?</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The good
thing about arthritis is that it’s not a significant cause of death like heart
disease or cancer. The swelling and tiredness, strangely enough, can be
handled. Pain, on the other hand, is a whole new ball game. The most
significant future dampener lies in knowing that I can become immobile and
dependent on help from (hopefully) family members.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I believe
we are what we think. If I allow the pain to affect me mentally, I will only
feel pain and enable it to control my life. And that’s not viable. Being
overworked and stressed to the limit, I realize the importance of rest. So,
positive thoughts and more rest seem to be an immediate solution. Well, both
are possible. It’s not as if I must save money or go out and buy a whole supply
of fresh fruit and vegetables before I can achieve anything.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Positive
thoughts require a realistic view of my situation. I need to take it easy and
pay attention to my body. I need to adapt not only physically but also mentally
to my limitations. And it won’t help at all to feel frustrated or anxious about
the situation. The greatest gift of all to whatever I’m dealing with is that I
have such a supportive family. I always refer to my husband as my pillar of
strength. Having the love, sympathy, and support of him and my children helps me through each day.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">One day
at a time sometimes becomes one hour at a time. And I’m only beginning with my
tribulation. This is but the start of something. Yes, I’ve been suffering for
perhaps more than a year now. But I do realize it’s getting worse. I would like
to encourage everyone who seems to be going through a similar thing to visit
their doctor as soon as possible. I always wait almost until everything is
unbearable, and that’s not the way to go about life.</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><i><span style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: arial;">I remain
optimistic as I know that the advances made in the medical field can, in the
long run, prove to bring an end to a lot of the symptoms arthritis sufferers
suffer. I look at my mother, who has been suffering for almost ten years now.
Her fingers are distorted and stiff. Yet, she persists in endurance. She’s my
hero!</span></span></i></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">The
lesson I learned from this article is that when we live an unbalanced life
where our work starts to control us, we forget about past health issues. This
can’t be good. In my case, had the peripheral neuropathy been diagnosed back
then, would my life be different now? Had I known, would I have taken better
care of myself to avoid the decline in nerve damage?</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In the
end, it is what it is. Now, I must live with the damage. Strange as it may
sound, it makes me feel slightly more optimistic knowing that I’ve been coping
with pain for 14 years because it gives me hope to continue doing this for another 14 years and more.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span><span style="background: white; font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;">Our only limitations are
the ones we set up in our own minds. ~ Napoleon Hill</span><span style="font-family: arial; line-height: 150%;"> </span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;">
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="background: white; line-height: 150%;"><o:p><span style="font-family: arial;"> </span></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face=""Arial",sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 150%;"><o:p></o:p></span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-64382101710688900762022-03-06T10:01:00.008+02:002022-04-14T13:52:17.153+02:00I'm a survivor<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; line-height: 150%;">I live with constant pain every second,
minute, hour, day, week, month, and year of my life. I try to live a normal
life and do what I can, enduring the pain according to my ability. <o:p></o:p></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I repeat myself, lose concentration, or
get stuck in a thinking rut because my brain is constantly focused on the pain.
I'm trying hard to be a survivor and not a victim, which is difficult for other
people and me. It's hard to remember that I'm a survivor when I act as if I
have no pain. I hide my pain well. Sadly, in survivor mode, I give people the
impression that I'm okay and don't have an emotional and mental burden to
carry. It's exhausting to live a double life.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I need emotional support more than
anything else because, while I live as a survivor, I'm the only one aware of
and living with the constant pain. The key here is to focus on
"constant" and not "pain." I'm fighting depression because
of this constancy. So, I'm not only hiding pain. I'm also hiding depression.
Every second, minute, hour, day, week, month, and year, I tell myself
everything is okay. I do this because I've chosen to be a survivor.</span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">It's the hardest thing I've ever
experienced. And I have no other choice but to endure it. There are so many
moments when I catch myself in the act: feeling like a victim, feeling sorry
for myself. I can't fight this battle when I'm weak, </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif">when I'm the victim.</span></span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif">Life is what I make of it, but I need
others to know that I'm suffering in silence as a survivor most of the time.
Support this, and I'll have the strength to endure another day.</span><span> </span></span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh01kEf6YnL-lu8xwvfIIn2MjYskaNqzMIJ_0p0sLFYSGg6XM3B6p_B5UCO0j2xLLD9sUMxDZrTi0ABogs0CYPQlgaajh8tci--MIAoYlgXzMryQXsrVX72XC2fTAyvrATwdpkwMhXPy9XJeyYVNAPrmktTr6jCuwx0GhgMvC_C0BGc8Fq19Bpqntl0=s1156" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1156" data-original-width="867" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh01kEf6YnL-lu8xwvfIIn2MjYskaNqzMIJ_0p0sLFYSGg6XM3B6p_B5UCO0j2xLLD9sUMxDZrTi0ABogs0CYPQlgaajh8tci--MIAoYlgXzMryQXsrVX72XC2fTAyvrATwdpkwMhXPy9XJeyYVNAPrmktTr6jCuwx0GhgMvC_C0BGc8Fq19Bpqntl0=w150-h200" width="150" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div></span></span>
<!--/data/user/0/com.samsung.android.app.notes/files/clipdata/clipdata_bodytext_220306_095452_610.sdocx--></div>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-20704589774598178042022-01-25T10:27:00.005+02:002022-01-25T10:27:52.641+02:00Tell your story<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Every person has a story to tell, and every story is similar
in two ways. Firstly, we all began our life journey at birth. And secondly, the paths we have
walked, the experiences we have had, and the people we have met have helped us
become who we are. In our failures and successes, we have learned many lessons
that have been vital to our survival. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">In the past, people kept journals. Today, social media allows us to share images
and status updates that shed light on our thoughts and experiences. By sharing our emotions, our dreams, our fears, our efforts, our pain, our hopes, and our joys with others, we create powerful learning opportunities. Life experience is a master teacher and when we share ours with others, we empower them. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Have you ever considered writing a book? </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I've helped several people write their life stories. Sadly, not all of them persevered, so their stories remain unpublished.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our lives are too short not to take advantage of all the resources available to us. If you're not able to write your own life story, look for someone who can help you. Let your story be an inspiration to others.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8zNU2NCSSd8iqIsulUvsEG_Riw7JpcLwdg_dRmm3oJ-2F0Qv-dRcUnRpTvYRwOgIZcWTWo_EyfwilgyHgQRkO1-xDxuUPV1-vQju3mYe7rAd0Isd48ut43o-aQbwvW_h-NmPkpGb_yjxp_Aff5v4Ma4acXS7IJe9SdTLlAr92-6ok6zBnqGuspdtA=s820" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="380" data-original-width="820" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh8zNU2NCSSd8iqIsulUvsEG_Riw7JpcLwdg_dRmm3oJ-2F0Qv-dRcUnRpTvYRwOgIZcWTWo_EyfwilgyHgQRkO1-xDxuUPV1-vQju3mYe7rAd0Isd48ut43o-aQbwvW_h-NmPkpGb_yjxp_Aff5v4Ma4acXS7IJe9SdTLlAr92-6ok6zBnqGuspdtA=w320-h148" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; text-align: left;">I write so others might contemplate things that are out of the ordinary. I write to make people feel—to cause laughter and tears and anger at injustice. I write so the world will imagine and wonder at crazy, incredible truths. I write to have a tiny bit of influence on a universal conscience. ~ </span><span class="authorOrTitle" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;">Richelle E. Goodrich</span></span></div><p></p><p style="text-align: left;"></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">Writing seemed to me to be the most natural thing to do during my college days. I could not open up to others, and so I started writing my thoughts in my journal. It gave me a sense of calm and peace. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818;">And now after so many years to write my thoughts in my journal still seems to me to be the most natural thing to do. I am still not able to open up easily in front of people. And so writing keeps me sane! ~ </span><span class="authorOrTitle" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;">Avijeet Das</span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="authorOrTitle" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="authorOrTitle" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #181818; text-align: left;">Touching people’s hearts through your words is the only job that you could do, and nobody has to hire you for it. ~ </span><span class="authorOrTitle" style="text-align: left;">Misbah Khan</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><span class="authorOrTitle" style="background-color: white; color: #333333;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span class="authorOrTitle" style="text-align: left;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><div style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; text-align: left;">And so I write. I write my life. I write to escape real life. I write to live moments over again. I write to rewrite the moments I’ve lived over in a way that makes more sense to me. I write the moments to heal. I write the moments I hope never happen. And I write the moments I hope will happen. ~ </span><span class="authorOrTitle" style="background-color: white; color: #333333; text-align: left;">R.B. O'Brien</span></span></div></div><p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-41786261223498879342022-01-18T08:44:00.004+02:002022-04-14T14:07:16.069+02:00Facebook can be a guiding light<p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">It isn’t something that
comes with age. Quite frankly, I’ve never been a fan of change. When I was a
child, my father was in the army. Every three years, we would relocate to a
different town and attend a new school. Because I was shy and insecure, I was
not too fond of it.</span><o:p></o:p></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">At the age of 56, I’m confronted with change again. I’ve been
worried about it since my husband, and I decided to relocate from the bushveld
in early 2020. We’ve been here for over 20 years and are in desperate need of a
change. It has taken some time for my ill-health application to retire to be
processed and finalized, and, at last, I have a date! My employment with the
Department of Education will end on February 28, 2022. Then I’ll be free to go
wherever I want.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">The barrage of emotions I’ve felt this year has worn me down. I
was so overwhelmed when I saw the following on Facebook.</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><em><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="color: #0e101a;">You don’t need to see the entire path to take the first step.
You can take the first step with fear and doubt. You can take it with hope and
trust. Too often, we think we need to have it all figured out and planned
before we can start. But the truth is, the best journeys taken aren’t planned
from start to finish. They take unexpected twists and turns to lead us where we
need to go. They take longer than we think they will. They teach us things for
which we could never prepare. So when you find yourself at the foot of a path,
don’t worry about everything ahead. Just take the first step. You will find
your way. ~ Nikki Banas</span></span></em><span style="color: #0e101a;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">These words resonated with me. My husband and I decided, as a
couple, to bring about change together. But, as the months passed, a sense of
fear and doubt took over my heart. My faith was weakened. I wanted to be in
control of everything. I still do!</span><o:p></o:p></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0e101a;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span style="color: #0e101a;">Although I’m still trying to let go, I now know that I can’t
prepare for all of the unexpected challenges we’ll face after the move. By
being aware of this fact, I can make any future blows less painful to deal with</span>.</span></p><p style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"> </span></p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: medium;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfx9UJUDRGm9sTicRyaf-FDYWr5mO9aUt52esST3h86kdg5UL6FtymVJ_BriYifhMDfAbPlBmdipdnX983ChmYTDrQ3oBv8JI-hW4X_cQYt85ilMIkzNDKp2uuCyE-bVYra4C5yvhjRyOXorD14y8JPrOVVjxQrOqkOTI1v2mYZtQ-b1pu9RRLeM_Q=s700" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="700" data-original-width="700" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgfx9UJUDRGm9sTicRyaf-FDYWr5mO9aUt52esST3h86kdg5UL6FtymVJ_BriYifhMDfAbPlBmdipdnX983ChmYTDrQ3oBv8JI-hW4X_cQYt85ilMIkzNDKp2uuCyE-bVYra4C5yvhjRyOXorD14y8JPrOVVjxQrOqkOTI1v2mYZtQ-b1pu9RRLeM_Q=s320" width="320" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><br /><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="background-color: white;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p>
</p><p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, "sans-serif"" style="line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: medium;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-55497634653189221762022-01-04T09:23:00.008+02:002022-01-04T09:27:58.058+02:00We cannot learn how to feel<p class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;">“</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">Almost anybody can learn to think or believe or know, but not a single
human being can be taught to feel. Why? Because whenever you think or you
believe or you know, you’re a lot of other people: but the moment you feel,
you’re <b>nobody-but-yourself</b>.<br />
<br />
To be nobody-but-yourself – in a world which is doing its best, night and day,
to make you everybody else – means to fight the hardest battle which any human
being can fight; and never stop fighting.”</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span style="background: white; font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">~ </span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;">e.e. Cummings: A
Miscellany Revised</span><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 13.5pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"><span style="font-family: Arial, "sans-serif"; font-size: 12pt;"><br /></span></p><p align="right" class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0cm; text-align: right;"></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXVXUn-RBt6HdF1rHvMqOVHifXTZiUbTTBgUg3JjpQjWMT6riKnSkxh_F--wtxEBagGtrMJzbv3oXxWdK97nLGq_rv8irMP-NYUsAvScG_HGrZlTc800dlSRqzKyDkoh1LlQvbUawcoWgRKqBpgGuXITvxNxARPttiRttBp9fr6UnupnHI2jx8gijo=s900" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="660" data-original-width="900" height="294" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgXVXUn-RBt6HdF1rHvMqOVHifXTZiUbTTBgUg3JjpQjWMT6riKnSkxh_F--wtxEBagGtrMJzbv3oXxWdK97nLGq_rv8irMP-NYUsAvScG_HGrZlTc800dlSRqzKyDkoh1LlQvbUawcoWgRKqBpgGuXITvxNxARPttiRttBp9fr6UnupnHI2jx8gijo=w400-h294" width="400" /></a></div><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: arial;">Water's Emotional Sway ~ Eric Zener</span></div><p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-23663558869309552332022-01-04T09:16:00.001+02:002022-01-04T09:28:54.733+02:00Habits die hard<p style="text-align: justify;"><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-family: arial; font-size: medium; white-space: pre-wrap;">We tend to say a lot of things that we don’t mean. We make New Year resolutions or wake up one morning with the intent to break free from a habit or a way of thinking. If only it were that easy! If only we had the willpower! If only a positive attitude could lead the way! Once we’re in a groove, we’re in a safe place. Some people refer to it as a comfort zone. Moving out of the groove isn't easy at all. It's challenging to change old habits and patterns that are biochemical, sensorial, behavioural, psychological, and relational. We might decide to change, but that doesn't mean it'll happen. We need to reprogramme ourselves, and that takes time and effort!</span></p><p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjShJ4Frn-uEaiHAgChnh6YawWtAqiyyHRS2aOMi7TI0fI_lSP8aeSB7qvf_5zWNbXfZ6A2LemdqXqvAPGrhZ2VCogOX_t5eJ_UIz3Hc2mxdKJ3Nw-eZM_rRZPXgav5T-_1clsZ1h6IpnfwcQgxA0gS5UqZKZba1nwJp-Te-0GhlHOrWSTrFKMf3s7i=s960" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="720" data-original-width="960" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjShJ4Frn-uEaiHAgChnh6YawWtAqiyyHRS2aOMi7TI0fI_lSP8aeSB7qvf_5zWNbXfZ6A2LemdqXqvAPGrhZ2VCogOX_t5eJ_UIz3Hc2mxdKJ3Nw-eZM_rRZPXgav5T-_1clsZ1h6IpnfwcQgxA0gS5UqZKZba1nwJp-Te-0GhlHOrWSTrFKMf3s7i=w400-h300" width="400" /></a></div><br /><span face=""Segoe UI Historic", "Segoe UI", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #050505; font-size: 15px; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-13298188375022347902021-12-31T09:03:00.004+02:002021-12-31T09:09:55.015+02:00Why write?<p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">I am who I am today because of my <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tbUzAtqlKPg" target="_blank">journaling</a>. Because of the thoughts that I write down, I have a better understanding of who I am. I've suffered depression possibly my entire life. But I began writing at the age of 14, and it has been a coping strategy for me. It has made it easier for me to fight the good fight and maintain a positive attitude, no matter what life throws at me. It has also helped me become more alert and mindful of other people's struggles and I've learned to be more empathic. I would advise every young parent to read to their children and instill a passion for writing in them. In the 17 years that I spent teaching at Hoërskool Piet Potgieter, I never met anyone who loved writing as much as I do. When we can't write down our own thoughts, I believe we miss out on an incredible learning opportunity.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIe8E7-MrQwwj6iHpVlEVXO1LWusQVEpKyQBSlEnbmiO6WpuzQVlYKKegW1qA4k9y4iOOQk5URlSo6NItM8tXCHYtf_jtTECUjaMGim-Xvn94I6G23s_c5UQITaWvxeLFIDHFH7ug9BjmMDoyW3WAmn4iKjXOdz_ET0FxfnRT00zuhM9SFpUj9Byte=s960" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="540" data-original-width="960" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiIe8E7-MrQwwj6iHpVlEVXO1LWusQVEpKyQBSlEnbmiO6WpuzQVlYKKegW1qA4k9y4iOOQk5URlSo6NItM8tXCHYtf_jtTECUjaMGim-Xvn94I6G23s_c5UQITaWvxeLFIDHFH7ug9BjmMDoyW3WAmn4iKjXOdz_ET0FxfnRT00zuhM9SFpUj9Byte=w400-h225" width="400" /></a></span></div><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #050505; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><br /><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3038829879765493801.post-9472287526431392712021-12-30T16:01:00.000+02:002021-12-30T16:01:06.389+02:00Make the most of every moment<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Every storm on the horizon doesn't always come our way. The wind sometimes blows it in another direction. </span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Because we can't foretell the future, we shouldn't be too concerned about it. </span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Worry is basically useless unless it motivates us to take action. Rather than live in constant expectation, w</span></span><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">e should embrace the fact that whatever is destined to happen will happen. The best we can do is to prepare for the future by looking after ourselves in the present moment.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_7YaRle7fbvDApwkH8cqurFMBUXoeceHr54kp86Howe6o0VLTtCJCawncCZxXFsKWS7CqXLe9EMGUADRI2zUjmKrABd-rVL7-YU6ny9XdED1oRdYtfVa9PJpbOGv2GzCRluwLOt7n1y0Z_W5uuWPTCNlKnZ7_TvIqeauiUAhjEDicaArnIis9XUwA=s640" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="478" data-original-width="640" height="299" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEg_7YaRle7fbvDApwkH8cqurFMBUXoeceHr54kp86Howe6o0VLTtCJCawncCZxXFsKWS7CqXLe9EMGUADRI2zUjmKrABd-rVL7-YU6ny9XdED1oRdYtfVa9PJpbOGv2GzCRluwLOt7n1y0Z_W5uuWPTCNlKnZ7_TvIqeauiUAhjEDicaArnIis9XUwA=w400-h299" width="400" /></a></div><br /> <p></p>Karin Erasmus Steynhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01421627888323013679noreply@blogger.com0