Emancipate yourselves from mental slavery; None but ourselves can free our minds. Have no fear for atomic energy, cause none of them can stop the time.
How long shall they kill our prophets, While we stand aside and look? ooh!
Some say its just a part of it: Weve got to fulfil de book.
Wont you help to sing, These songs of freedom? – Robert Nesta Marley
Last week it was such a relaxing weekend at the Vaal, thanks Kirst…now here I sit with Chapmans Peak on my left and the ocean to my right, yes I am gloating just a tad, my clients have paid for me to come to CT, put me up in a larney hotel and have asked me to chaperone some winners at the test match tomorrow, went to a Q & A session with some of the All Blacks, met all the Boks, spent some time last night with Bryan Habana and his old man, such damn hard work, gotta hate it!! J
But enough about me! I hope you are all doing well. Another week to a close another month halfway done…I have been pretty scarce the last few weeks, I know Tahir, thanks for prompting this email. My mind has been so focused elsewhere I tell you but alas, its all good.
I finished this really great book a few days ago called A fine balance by Rohinton Mistry. I started the book a good few weeks ago, it was an interesting read, but sheesh the hardship this family went through was hectic, I lost interest in it for a while and then I picked it up again last week and I couldn’t put it down until it was done. It’s a story set in 1975 during the time of the emergency in
The characters are pretty diverse in backgrounds, 2, Ishvar and his nephew, Omprakash are tailors, from the lower caste, the untouchables as they were then known, but Ishvar’s father wanted to break the cycle and tried his best to get a better life for his sons Ishvar and Nayaran.
Then there was Dina, who was from a wealthy background initially but due to circumstances had to end up fending for herself
Then there was Maneck a village boy, who’s family was pretty well to do. He came to the city to get and education so he could be a somebody…
There are so many little stories/lessons or teachings from this book. One in particular got me thinking. That was the fact that the not so well off were the ones who persevered the most inspite of their circumstances. I wondered if this was the truth or just a storybook? If so was it because their situation cant get any worse (well so they thought but it did). They just seemed so much more positive and just happy to get on with it inspite of everything.
I look at a lot of us now and the smallest problem or hiccup in our plans and all hell is about to break loose…our lives are ruined it’s a mess. As nice as it is for things to go your way, I find the ‘victory’ if I can use that word so much sweeter, if there was a challenge which had to be overcome in order to get me where I needed to be. For example I play a bit of sport and I’d much rather play a person who can beat me rather than a person who I know I can beat, it’s all in the challenge.
What I was getting at, if I may preach for a moment…is that in this life…in life, love, work, anything, we have to accept that we will be tested, we will be trialed, things wont go our way all the time, but its all about stepping up to the plate and giving it your best shot, if it doesn’t work out as planned, at least you gave it your best shot and it wasn’t meant to be, because whatever is meat to be will be…Que Sera Sera!
On that note, let me go back to staring out the window….aaah bliss. You all have a great weekend!
Wait before I go let me just add another cent (borrowed this one)...1st time you are a victim, second time you are a volunteer!
Birthdays
21 Belinda Mountain
22 July Michelle W
24 Vusi
26 Gina, Karabo Nondumo
27 Courts
28 Parents 35th anniversary
29 Sheya and Richard
30 ETO, Lesley
3 August Deen
12 Caroline and Angela
13 Sharpie
14 Graham and Degs
Take care, and maximum respect!
Y
PS don’t let the world dictate your world to you!!
