The elephant(s) in the room

 Hello family,

I greet you in the name of 220222. I hope that this post finds you palindromically and ambigramically well on a day as auspicious as this one. How's Fabreworry treating you?

Let's face the elephant in my room: we've reached that time of the year when new year's resolutions or themes are showing us flames. That's if we even remember them. We either still do or are questioning what we were thinking in the first place. Right?

One of my themes, the pursuit of peace, is not just an elephant in the room. It's an entire herd! Being an empath doesn't make things any easier too.

I'm finding myself dodge elephants in almost every room. Pursuing peace seemed so rosey...until the reality of it all hit me hard. Our reasons for seeking peace are rooted in our need for healing. Now that's a messy space. Messy but absolutely necessary. Talk about an elephant refusing to be ignored.

Fabreworry 2022 has also managed to squeeze  in the elephant of self love into the room. Oh, how often do we forget that this is a verb. The other unwanted elephant is just how this adulting gig is a one way ticket. Yeep. Nothing has changed in that front. Yerr!

I hope that this month of love has been kind to you. I hope you've received flowers or planted them yourself or even given them to others. I hope you've loved unapologetically. I also hope that at some point this month...you get to reconnect with those parts of yourself which you are absolutely inlove with. May the flame of self love never burn out...

Lastly, I hope the herd of elephants in your room are filled with memories of times which remind you of your true self.

Have a blessed Lenten season family. I'll see you on the other side...

After God, fear...

 After God, fear...Men? Women? Children at night after they've had sugar? Being seated in front of a taxi and having to distribute change? Or, how about a month that feels like three for the price of one?!

Januworry is Januworry guys. Sis isn't dropping the team average. Nope. She's living up to the standards of her clan. Holidays are officially over and the reality of adulting is facing us head on.

So, after God, who/what do you fear? How many years old were you when you discovered this danger? What precautionary measures are you taking? Will 2022 be the year when you deal with this fear once and for all?

If you'd asked me this question before I became a teenager, the answer would have been fictional characters from scary tales. Lesilo, Pinky Pinky  and that "waar is my kop?" (Where is my head?) episode on Emzini Wezinsizwa take the cup. Such a long list for my teen years. Okay. Not just long - long and embarrassing. Now...the fact that the process of adulting is irreversible. Yho! Fear adulting! Fear it...

I imagine there will be a couple members of the "fear doesn't exist in my vocabulary" crew reading this. Good for you mntase!

Okay, jokes aside. Let me be a bit serious. These three months of Januworry 2022 have added a few things on that list. After God, fear the possibility of being surrounded by intentions meant to bring you harm. After God, fear the way you sometimes ignore your instincts. After God, fear how quickly the human mind forgets.

Above it all, especially when things are heated in this life thing, make sure that after God you fear your inability to channel self love...

Re tsene!

 Re tsene! Binnnekant! Singene! We are within!

Happy 2022 er'body 🥳

First of all, I've missed you too. This always happens after the letters. 21 days of daily engagement and then...I go MIA. If you didn't know me better, you'd say I'm like a December fling who decided to ghost you after we had a good thing going. Knowing me, you know I've got you. I just needed a break.

The last few days of last year were lit. I attended two ceremonies. Good times! Always is a pleasure reconnecting with who I am and where I come from. When I was younger, this just meant feasting. Now I'm part of the behind the scenes gang who "make things happen" and boy, is that lit. Energy levels were at an all time low after all was said and done. But ke (anyway), asikho lapho (that's not the point).

We're on a new timeline...yay! Guys, we survived 365 days of that other year. She who shall not be named. She who gave us so much hands. We couldn't all be members of Destiny's Child but we are SURVIVORS. Jabba was definitely referring to us when he asked who the boss is. I don't know about you but, I'm crossing all things I am able to and praying that this year is nothing like the last.

Januworry is always in her own league. I'm trying my best to soak in the last bit of rest that I have before jumping on to the treadmill of all things adulting. Blocking out the noise from last year's Ls and shortcomings. Trying my best to let this year just take it's own course.

My themes for 2022 are: The pursuit of peace, To me and Psalm 23.

Thabk you for being part of the Life and Her lessons family. This year, may we not forget that our biggest fans are the ones looking back from the mirror. May we be kind to ourselves. May we be unapologetic for making the most of each moment which brings us joy, peace and love.

Compliments of the new year family...

Letter 21 - Kind regards

 Dear 2021,

I hope this last letter finds you well.

We have reached the "so what Linda?" stage of our conversation. I'm no stranger to this stage. I actually always look forward to it when I listen to people deliver their speeches. In the end, I'm almost always left with how I felt. They were right, people hold on to how they felt instead of what was said.

On your last day, I'm reflecting on how you made me feel. I'm actually zooming into why I felt that way, how I feel today and what I'd like to feel as I step off your timeline.

Firstly, you served me truths I wasn't ready for. You've opened my eyes to perspectives I wouldn't have been exposed to had I remained in my comfort zone. You've toughened me up...

Secondly, you've made me realise that at the end of the day a grateful heart is all that matters. I'd pick grateful over bitter any day. I'm grateful for my village, the rough patches and all the touch downs.

Lastly, you've made me aware that healing is messy but very necessary, that self love wasn't built in one day and that Hope will always be an ally.

The beautiful thing about each last day is how quickly it goes by. So I probably won't notice you slip away 2021 and that's a good thing. I've said enough over the past few days. I'll hold my peace for what's left unspoken between us.

Oh and one more thing, 2021, you've made me value life and her lessons. I'll forever be grateful. Thank you.

Kind regards

Linda