I Am Who You Say I Am My daughter was in hysterical sobs when I collected her from school yesterday. She managed to keep everything together until she opened the car door, and then she melted into tears the moment she knew she was safe. “Mum, I am not good enough,” she howled in desperate […]
Yes, I too was feeling the weight of yet another political upheaval yesterday. The truth is, almost all the politicians have dirty hands, but some hands are filthy. It is my belief that those who thrive in the filth are doing their best to discredit the man at the top so they can deepen their […]
There is no place in the world that I would rather live than Africa. Well done to Tanner Wareham Music for capturing the magic that is found in Africa and thank you Antje Fourie for sharing this with me – we need more JOY spreaders, just like YOU guys!
This post was written by Antoinette Takis Stoltenkamp who is imminently returning back to South Africa from Europe. She wrote it on a JHB group and it’s gone viral as South Africans are clearly sensitive to the large number or people emigrating. It’s a beautiful reminder that South Africa sure ain’t perfect but it’s HOME […]
I will never forget the day my mentor called me to say that that cancer had taken over and that there was nothing further the doctors could do. In essence his call to me was a goodbye call. He had been my mentor since I started working and we had always stayed in touch, even […]
While I was watching Queen Elizabeth II being laid to rest today, which was a remarkable and fitting send off for an icon of our time, I couldn’t help but think that the greatest human to ever have lived, shared none of the media coverage, none of the wealth, none of the adoration, no jewels, […]
People Never Forget Kindness The most extra-ordinary thing happened to me this week. My kids had finished playing club hockey in the evening and we had quickly nipped into a 24 hour grocery store on the way home to get dinner. A lady who I had met briefly for the first time at hockey that […]
Listen to Hear When people respond to your greeting saying they are “Okay,” listen carefully and look in their eyes. They may very well not be okay. Why do we do that? Why do we pretend that everything is “Okay” when our hearts are breaking? I cannot tell you the number of times I have […]
Happiness exists in the understanding that the pain holds just as much importance as the beauty. I think we’ve been taught from such a young age that happiness is meant to be this big, all-consuming thing. That it is this moment that cracks open our bones, changes our lives and sweeps all of the weight […]
My friend, when you are finished falling, after you hit rock bottom and watch yourself come apart into a million pieces, no one is staying to help you collect yourself, no one is sticking around to pick through your pieces to decide which parts of you are worth keeping. That’s for you to decide. So […]
When you say goodbye to a parent, you are suddenly living in a whole new world. You are no longer ‘the child’ and regardless of how long you have officially been ‘grown up’ for, you realise you actually never were until this moment. The shock of this adjustment will shake your very core. When you […]
I stood by your bed last night, I came to have a peep. I could see that you were crying, you found it hard to sleep. I spoke to you softly as you brushed away a tear, “It’s me, I haven’t left you, I’m well, I’m fine, I’m here.” I was close to you at […]
My brain and heart divorced a decade ago over who was to blame about how big of a mess I have become. Eventually, they couldn’t be in the same room with each other. Now my head and heart share custody of me. I stay with my brain during the week and my heart gets me […]
As a pediatric therapist for more than 30 years, I have come up with a list of what I believe kids need and don’t need. I wish I could have a do-over on a few of these. What Children Do Not Need: 1. Cell phones when they’re in grade school. Over the years, I cannot […]
You are not breaking down – you are a process of becoming who you are meant to be. Me: Hey God. God: Hello….. Me: I’m falling apart. Can you put me back together? God: I would rather not. Me: Why? God: Because you aren’t a puzzle. Me: What about all of the pieces of my […]
No Small Business Should Apolgise For Their Pricing. My pricing allows me to make a profit. Which allows me to pay my bills. Which also allows me to stay in business. My pricing allows me to employ people. Which allows them to pay their bills. My pricing allows me to pay myself for the countless […]
Every Woman Is Unique….. If you choose a working woman, you have to accept that she cannot manage the house full time. If you choose a housewife who can take care of and manage the household completely, you need to accept that she does not make money. If you choose a submissive woman, you must […]
You Are Worthless In the Wrong Place A father said to his daughter: “For your graduation I would like to give you a car that I bought a long time ago. But before I give it to you, I would like you to take it to a car dealership in the city to find out […]
I’m a big fan of women who snort when they laugh. Women who overshare awkward truths when the conversation stalls. I’m a big believer in singing loudly in the car whenever possible and I love pulling alongside a fellow diva doing the same. I’m a big fan of women who love women, who spot toilet […]
Be Proud Of Yourself For Being Here Today We’re often so hard on ourselves, by having unrealistic expectations, impossible timelines, and perfectionistic tendencies, that we have a difficult time acknowledging all the incredible, magical progress we make daily, in the simplest, most meaningful ways. Tuck yourself into bed tonight and before falling asleep, reflect on […]