HAPPY WOMEN’S MONTH 2016!!!

UNAPOLOGETICALLY WOMAN

Hey guys (by guys I mean ladies, gentlemen and just errrbody).

For the past few weeks I’ve thinking about Women’s month and what it means to me. Besides the fact that Woman’s Day was a mid-week fake Saturday. Yay! Not so great when we had to go back to work and have a Monday do-over the Wednesday, but hey fun was had.

Once a month I dread being a woman. Thrice in my lifetime I’ve really dreaded being a woman. Birthing three babies was no walk in the park. Neither were the PJ drills. Thankfully we’re past that and will never experience it again.

BUT… I didn’t decide to come out of hiatus to talk about the not so glorious moments in my life.

Since this month started, I’ve been thinking more and more about my kids. I’m raising two beautiful young ladies and a young lad whom I think will make some lucky lady a wonderful husband one day. On our journey we are making some fantastic memories. Sharing laughs, ideas, dancing and making stuffs and, and, and…

I’ve come to realise that being a woman is about harnessing power. The power to create, build, groom, empower, grow and be flexible. Gosh there are so many words I could use to describe womanhood and the qualities of strong women. The possibilities are endless. Being a woman is not necessarily about being a mother. You don’t have to have kids to help build a better tomorrow. Knowing they are our future and showing them the way through love and compassion goes a long way.

During my thinking spree, I noticed that “Me time” has become a thing of the past. Not that I’m skimming on that. On the contrary. I’ve become much more intentional about being a woman. Being a “woman-first” means taking care of me in order to take care of everyone else. Me time is no longer a quick sesh here or there but more of an intentional time allocated to my daily schedule to do what I want without mom guilt. Off course it doesn’t always pan out that way. Then again show me a schedule without a glitch. Somehow being a wife and mom forms part of that ‘allocated’ slot.

My Instagram bio reads: “Woman first…” Because if I can’t be what God created me to be then I think I’ll be useless to my person, kids and anyone else I may cross paths with in my life.

My kids are my life and I want to be the type of woman my girls aspire to be. Have the qualities my son will seek for in a wife one day. Ok maybe not too much of my qualities. Wait! He’s only fifteen. Why am I giving that much thought to his future wife? Maybe because I over think things. I’m a woman after all. Typical.

Most of all, when I think about being a woman I am reminded of Proverbs 31.

THE WOMAN I ASPIRE TO BE

Happy Woman’s Month 😚😚😚

What do you think being a woman is all about?

Thank you for reading 🙂

Celeste

Tandem Post: Just. One. More. Time.

“Just. One. More. Time.” He thought as he pierced his skin with the needle. The last fix and then he’ll be done with it forever.

He was right. As he transcended into oblivion his body shut down.

“Just. One. More. Time.” She said to her now ex boyfriend. It was called goodbye sex. Not once considering that it would be the beginning of a new life. The life they would share between them that would bind them forever.

“Just. One. More. Time.” She said as she anxiously awaited her abusive husband. If he so much as touched her one more time she would leave… Later that night she did leave. Ashes to ashes, dust to dust…

“Just. One. More. Time.” He said as pushed himself to do another round. Surely it wouldn’t do him harm. His doctor was just over cautious. Fitness was his life. Then cardiac arrest was his death.

How many times do we quit a bad habit or break off a toxic relationship but think “Just. One. More. Time.”? How many times do we think we know better? Are we just kidding ourselves or are the odds just against us?

Thank you for reading this weeks installment of my tandem series. To see what my “bloggers in crime” are up to, click their linkies below.

Chevone from Chevs Life

Shelley from The Deal Is

Tandem Post: Ellipses

“ELLIPSES” Is all I hear you say before I start blocking your every word and start on my trip. Every word you said before that is erased. Instead my mind is focusing on all the things you wordlessly voiced after that third dot.

Yeah, you’re responsible for what you say and I’m responsible for the way I interpret it. Good ole “Ellipses”, right? But why do I hear you trying to break me down? Shredding my self-esteem with every smug smile. You’re joking, you say? Well why is your joke laced with venom?

Can you feel it? Why, it’s me retaliating at your words. The things I hear you say while I’m imagining punching you in the throat. Right now I’m breaking your nose. I hope you feel it. Well I’ve kicked you ass in my mind a thousand times.

I’m not good enough, strong enough, wise enough, enough enough? Whatever that means. You choose to look through life looking through stained windows.

Maybe you’re not good enough, strong enough, wise enough, enough enough. Why do view life through stained windows?

Clean those windows dammit. Maybe then you’ll notice that everything is not about you, yet it is. Maybe you’ll find that loving begins with you. Maybe you’ll find that you are good enough, strong enough, wise enough, enough enough.

I am good enough, strong enough, wise enough, enough enough.

Do not leave yourself or my person open to interpretation.

Dear reader,

Thank you for reading this week’s tandem post “Ellipses”. How many words have been left open to interpretation in your lives? Words have the power to make or break people. They harm and they heal. This post stemmed from being on the receiving end of criticism on my body shape and size recently. I nearly lost the plot and my self-esteem took a nose dive. However I recovered real quick because I don’t have any hang ups on my body. Blasted PMS and raging emotions J

This was part of a weekly tandem series between two awesome ladies who happen to be in tandem with me on more levels than just our weekly posts. Please visit their sites to see their interpretation of “Ellipses”.

Click here for Chevone post and here for Shelley’s post

Tandem Post: My Lyric

In my quest to be the perfect parent, there are so many things I want teach my kids on a daily basis. Some of those things are tangible but so many of it are the ones that only life can teach them.

Like every other mom, I want to protect and shield them but at the same time I want them to go out there and be fearless.

There are some wonderful lessons I’ve learned in life and those are definitely ones I want to pass on to them. Lee Ann Womack’s “I Hope You Dance” sums it all up in this one track…

I hope you never lose your sense of wonder,
You get your fill to eat but always keep that hunger,
May you never take one single breath for granted,
GOD forbid love ever leave you empty handed,
I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean, Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance….I hope you dance.

I hope you never fear those mountains in the distance,
Never settle for the path of least resistance
Livin’ might mean takin’ chances but they’re worth takin’,
Lovin’ might be a mistake but it’s worth makin’,
Don’t let some hell bent heart leave you bitter,
When you come close to sellin’ out reconsider,
Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along,
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone.)

I hope you still feel small when you stand beside the ocean, Whenever one door closes I hope one more opens,
Promise me that you’ll give faith a fighting chance,
And when you get the choice to sit it out or dance.

Dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance.
I hope you dance….I hope you dance..
(Time is a wheel in constant motion always rolling us along
Tell me who wants to look back on their years and wonder where those years have gone)

PS: K3, when you read this I hope you read this in song and always remember hearing my voice as I sing it to you.

PPS: I will always love you guys.

MOM 😚

Dear reader, this was part of a weekly tandem blog series between two amazing ladies and I. Thank you for reading.

Please go give my tandem partners some love on their own sites to see what their lyric is…

Chevone

Shelley

Tandem Post: A Walk Down Sesame Street

Four. Five. Seven kids make their way across the street. Not bothering to look for oncoming traffic. Their ages? Between five and seven. Their mission? To gather a their next bundle of wood for their galley they’ll be cozying around tonight.

Further along the way another group of kids are singing and dancing in the road. The songs? Their own versions of pop songs. “Now watch me whipp, now watch me nae-nae” is “Hie kom ie bus met die kinners, ie kom ie bus bus met ie kinners” .

Even further down the way a few kids are running around tackling each other to have a go at scoring the goal of the week. Each shouting at the other. “Nai man djy speel ie kwai nie!” “My bru pass ie ball hiento!”

A ways off I observe cows on the corner of my road and I have to walk past it to get home. Yikes! I breath. Contemplate turning around and taking another route home. If so then my twenty or so steps home will be multiplied by a gazillion. Stand still for a few seconds before I brave my way past the cows. Hoping like crazy that since they’re in my residential area, they are domesticated enough to understand Voetsek ! Twenty steps multiply by two as I take shorter but faster steps towards safety.

I don’t take a walk down Sesame Street daily. There are no Cookie Monsters either. I walk around and see our future with their runny noses and dirty feet. I see their enthusiasm. Their carefree laughs. The kids who are still kids. The lucky ones who are allowed to be free. The beings who make my heart smile.

Let us love them. Nurture them and show them kindness. Teach them what respect is by leading by example. Let us listen to their voices. Let no one go unnoticed. Let’s grow our nation.

When I was a kid, I was enamoured with Elmo and the gang of Sesame Street. As an adult, I am more amused with the animated way in which kids can still be kids living in the world we live ☺ And with cows roaming our streets, I totally get why some foreigners still believe lions roam our street.

This was part of a weekly tandem blog series where 3 bloggers collide with 1 title.

My co-conspirators can be found on their links below:

Chevone: Chevs Life

Shelley: The Deal Is

Thank you for reading ☺

Tandem Post: Words

"Hey Howzit?" A colleague greets him. He smiles in response, knowing that those were just words. A standard greeting. No one really wants to know how the next person is doing. He takes a deep drag from his cigarette. "Words" he thinks to himself, hoping that the same colleague doesn’t talk about last night’s soccer match. He had better things to do.

"Hey John, how are you doing?" Mary asks with a bright smile and compassionate eyes. He avoids eye contact as he replies, “I’m good Mary.” He makes an escape to his office before she can plague him with any words of wisdom or encouragement like “Don’t worry, it gets better with time.” “I’ve been where you are now and it’s difficult I know, but have faith.” Or the ultimate “I know how you feel”.

“Words” he thinks again as he slumps into his chair behind his desk. How dare people say “Howzit” in a greeting! It’s not like they really want to know how he is doing. How do they know that everything will get better? For them maybe but not for him. No one knows how he feels right now. No one knows how empty and useless he feels. Lost. Alone.

Words are useless. Without actions to back it up, it’s nothing more than the letters of the alphabet. Words does no have the power to heal or give life.

That evening after work John greets all his colleagues like every other day. Not bothering to utter any useless “Words” for them to remember him by. He tidies up his house and has a quick shower before entering his garage where the fruits of last night’s labour is in evidence. Taking a deep breath he steps onto the ladder and carefully ties the rope around his neck. With another deep breath he kicks the ladder from under his feet. Ready to join his wife on the other side.

This was part of a tandem blog series where 3 bloggers and 1 title collide. To check out my bloggers in crime’s interpretation of this week’s title, please click on their links below.

Chevone: Chevs Life

Shelley: The Deal Is

As always, thank you for reading. ☺

Tandem Post: Through the Looking Glass

He loves her. She makes him happy. Their home life is perfect in it’s imperfections. There’s nothing lacking. She fulfills his every need. Their marriage is on track.

He’s a good husband. She’s the good wife. A homemaker. They have a great marriage. They get each other. Their love story is that of a match made in heaven.

Through the looking glass…

Someone is sitting with a rope. Waiting to reel him in. Climbing into his head. And he is the willing participant.

Through the looking glass…

It’s not physical so surely there can’t be anything wrong with it, right? Besides, it’s a viral thing. No strings attached. It’s not like they ever talk to each other in person. He can break contact at anytime. He’s done it before. In fact they haven’t had contact for months.

Through the looking glass…

Someone is bored. Someone’s been busy and had no time for pretending. Hasn’t had time to escape her mundane life. The rope has gotten dusty. She wonders if Mr. Willing Participant will rise to the occasion. Time to play she thinks as she types…

To: Gramps
From: Me
Subject: Ellipses

Tupac’s mom passed away this week.

PS: It usually indicates an intentional omission of a word, sentence, or whole section from a text without altering its original meaning.

She smiles knowing he wouldn’t be able to resist.

This was part of a weekly Tandem blog where 3 bloggers and 1 topic collide. Please check out my bloggers in crime’s interpretation of this week’s topic “Through the Looking Glass” by clicking on their links below.

Chevone : Chevslife

Shelley : The Deal Is

PS: This topic made me go back to a book that I’ve been writing for the past few years. It’s about the web of adultery and just how far people are willing to take it. Needless to say, I’ve been editing it a whole lot. The bit about Tupac’s mom’s passing (and I’m sad about it because ‘Dear Mama’ is on my daily playlist) was added this week. Not really sure if it’s appropriate but it kind of fits in with the characters.

PPS: Thanks Shells! I finally have the name of the book 😉

Thank you for reading.

Tandem Topic: Game On

I’m fierce, powerful, sassy.

I’m bold, daring and somewhat courageous.

I wear my crown, along with my many hats, with pride.

I’m a woman, wife and mother.

Above all, I’m a warrior.

But I’m also scared and insecure sometimes.

My feelings get hurt more than it should at times.

I too bleed when I get cut.

I swear obscenities when I stub my toes.

Cry for everything and no reason at all.

For all my talk of bravery, I’m also a worrier.

But every morning I wake up and look myself in the mirror and say “Game on!” With every new day comes a new set of obstacles. Challenges that must be faced. But… I’ve got this. Because I’ve only got one life and since I’m not getting out of this alive, I will live it to the fullest. That’s usually right after I get over the fact that my alarm clock disturbed my sleep. AGAIN. 😂

Thank you for reading this week’s Tandem Post. Please see what my partners in tandem are up to this week.

Click here for Chevone’s post and here for Shelley’s post.

Tandem Post: Silencer

Bruised, Battered, Broken…

Numb, Mindless, Bottomless…

Worthless, Dirty, Degraded…

Nothing left but an empty shell.

You thought you took it all…

For a while you did.

But NO MORE!

“Tell anyone and I’ll kill you!” You said.

You think you are the Silencer.

But NO MORE!

We will rise and we will not be silenced. We will shout it out from the rooftops until the acts of hate stops.

#RedMyLips #SayNoToRapeCulture #NoMeansNo

#RedMyLips

This was part of a weekly tandem post between 2 of my fav bloggers and I. Please go see what they’ve dished up for you this week.

Chevone’s story

Shelley’s story

Thank you for reading.

Tandem Post: And so it goes…

“Did you see what she looked like?”

“No self respecting woman dresses that way.”

“She asked for it. I’m telling you”

“And the way she always laughs with the men…”

“Shame hey. But it was her own fault.”

And so it goes…

Well, usually.

Meanwhile… Does any of the above justify rape?

#NoMeansNo

This was part of a tandem blog series between myself and my two amazing co-conspirators who happen to be more awesome in real life. To check see how it goes on their sites… click here for Chevone and here for Shelley