8 year Anniversary – March 23^rd 2014

Sometimes I can hardly believe the road I have walked in the last 8 years.  I landed on American soil early hours of the morning of March 23^rd, 2006.    2006 was the year I started chatting on “Prodigits” _ man I wish I could remember my username.. I still had an old Samsung LOL. I STILL have it for old times’ sake.

I won’t take a lengthy walk down memory lane – since I have done so at many points.  I would like to share a few thoughts.

America has changed me. I suppose no one can really be the same after the passing of 8 years, unless you are the world’s most boring, predictable, unteachable person!  I wonder what I would have been like had I stayed in South Africa.  Be that as it may, it was my destiny to be here, and be who I am today.  I grew up a lot.  I learned so much about myself, my limitations and my ever-changing desires. I also had a few unkind collisions with reality.

 I certainly have learned how to be patient with people. I have also learned that I am a little stuck in my ways in certain areas and haven’t been a very open minded person.  Most of all, I  have learned that conviction isn’t a reason (or excuse) to not be accepting, embracing and understanding.

Ok, don’t go getting all huffed – I am not talking about compromising principles. I am talking about putting judgment aside and listening to other people’s beliefs, accepting it and sharing your own, so they can come to know the truth, but without prejudice or criticism.  My eyes have been opened to many new and different things which have given me a renewed compassion for people.

I have also realized, I still swop between British and American English and end up looking rather uneducated.. oh well. Education and Grammar seem quite the option these days ;)

America has also made me appreciate HOME. I am so grateful to come from a country where people are GRATEFUL, appreciative and so happy to have  just about anything.. they don’t build and base their lives on ‘things’ – it helps me stay grounded.. because truthfully, here in America I have it all.. I have all the 'things' that people generally want.  But the African in me refuses to be defined by, or get swallowed up in any of it. I have humility because of it. And wake up each day, saying nothing but: 'Thank you, God'.

Now, 2014 – my chat tools are 'Whatsapp' and 'Facebook'.  I am settled and have a job I love, and a love in my life..  What can I say.. never say never – never give up hope. And never stop loving yourself and others.. Just embrace life and be true to who you are.   There is no higher existence than to live in TRUTH.

Say not, 'I have found the truth,' but rather, 'I have found a truth.' Say not, ' I have found the path of the soul.' Say rather, 'I have met the soul walking upon my path.' For the soul walks upon all paths. The soul walks not upon a line, neither does it grow like a reed. The soul unfolds itself, like a lotus of countless petals.” --> Khalil Gibran

I do believe in absolute truth. A high truth that belongs to and comes from God, undisputed.  But the passage above is indicative of a personal truth.  Finding your own self and your own sense of truth of who you are in this life..

I started this blog by saying it was a journey of deep intimacy, deep, raw truth.. and it has been…

On this journey, I have found many faces of my soul. I have met and been surprised by many varieties of my heart. Many facets of pain and emotion. Many versions of joy and spirituality. But in the end.. from birth till now.. I have always strived to be my true self.

Thank you for sharing it with me…

I look forward to reading back on this blog when I am 80years old.. reliving my life.. from wherever that might be - and reliving again and again my path.. before, present and what lies ahead.

God save the Queen (and by queen.. I mean me J)