Sindiso's Lifestyle Diary

Good day, wonderful people. Firstly, Happy Women's Day! Though it is an actual public holiday in South Africa, who said we can only celebrate women on set or specific days? Everyday is special and it ought to be treated as such. I do however hope your day is extra special today and you are being treated like the queen that you are. And to the gentlemen who read my posts every now and again, please celebrate the women who are in your lives. Actually, let us celebrate one another. Let us normalize celebrating the people in our lives whilst they are still alive. Let us show love, be kind and courteous whilst we still have the opportunity to do so. Life is definitely short and we do not know whether tomorrow will come. Let us live more for the moments and opportunities we have than for a tomorrow that is not promised or guaranteed.

My birthday is coming up in a few weeks, and contrary to a post I shared on my WhatsApp and Facebook last year about being anxious as I was resetting my life in my 30s; this year I feel different. I feel like I am coming into my own, growing into the woman that I believe I am destined to be. I am more at peace, happier and optimistic about life. I do not know whether it is because I already had a well-rounded life that I feel no need to chase anything other than being happy and at peace. I just feel like there is more to life than worrying about worldly things. I am more at peace and basking in the joy of this season of my life. I am getting to know myself, what I like, what irks me, etc and if I must say, it has been a good learning experience thus far. I have learnt more about myself the last 4 years than I cared to admit before.

Some of you are wondering what exactly do I mean by celebrating my "34 and 35th" birthday. Well, the short answer is that biologically I am turning 34 and my official documents are saying 35 due to a mistake made about 17 years ago when I applied for my identity document. I was in matric (last year of high school) and needed my identity document number to be able to write exams. By the time we realized the mistake, it was a bit late to try and rectify it as I already waited until the last moment to apply for my official documents. It was a mistake made 17 years ago, and now I have learned to embrace and forge on with it. I mean, what is the worst about being a year older? For me, it just means I will get to enjoy my retirement a year earlier if anything.

Herewith are the steps I followed to plan out my mini celebration.

Step 1: Deciding on a theme or type of celebration I want to have. 

In this case, I want to be closer to nature, I need a peaceful place away from the hustle and bustle of city life. So what better place can one be at besides being in the bush?

Step 2: Deciding whether it is a solo, family, girls type trip or a lover's type trip.

Narrowing down on the type of trip and the person/people I will be taking helps you plan the logistics around it, i.e. accommodation, transportation, food, activities, etc.

Step 3: Budget - the money/cost associated with the experience I want to have.

I always have a set budget in mind for what I plan. And it must speak to the overall experience e.g. do I need a special outfit(s) for the day, logistics, overall ambiance I am going for. I must say I am a planner of note when it comes to things like this. I leave no stone unturned for the experience I want at the cost most comfortable to me. I decide on an amount I am comfortable with; then I execute my plan. I try by all means not to spend beyond the planned amount, and if I really have to, it must be kept to a minimum. 

Step 4: Decide on a date or season.

I specifically mentioned season because I like to leave room for last minute changes. I normally have a few dates lined up just in case life happens and I cannot make the ideal date. Though my actual birthday is on the 12th, I have dates ranging from before to after the 12th of September. For me, it is more important to celebrate my birthday in Spring (since I am a Spring baby). So choosing a season over a specific date is more ideal and realistic to me considering the current pandemic situation and the trip I want to have. It also gives me enough time to make sure I am not rushing and overlooking other things.

Step 5: Documenting the experience.

Is the experience really complete without capturing the moment? I may not share it on any Social Media platforms but I am definitely going to document the experience for the days I may need to look back on it. There are so many experiences I wish I had captured or saved on a file somewhere and now it is too late or no longer possible to do so. Had I known that in 2021 life would be like this, I would have made sure to document each and every memory not just for myself, but for those who may need them too. 

In closing, I want to say that it is important to celebrate our lives. To create memories that last a lifetime with the people we love. To live more for the present and try by all means to not miss out on opportunities of greatness. To cherish those we love and care about as well as what we have whilst working on a better tomorrow. May you be reminded to be present in all that you do. Love and love unconditionally and freely. Leave little to no room for regret.

I thank you for stopping by. May peace reign in your life. Have a wonderful day and See You Soon... 

Funny enough or on the contrary, the same society will never worry about her competing with another woman because again, 2 women in a romantic, healthy and happy relationship do not have a place in the society clock (a conversation for another day). And failing to meet the society clock standards, means as the years go by, the pressure, nagging and judgement get worse if her life situation is not in line with what they deem as acceptable. I am hoping today's post would be a conversation piece or starter in your home and community. How many women have been victims or experienced judgement and emotional abuse for lack of better words stemming from a version of the "black woman's society clock" in their community? I can bet you have been or seen someone experience the wrath of the society clock.

(This image was inspired by my nephews' love for Anime. The pandemic afforded me the opportunity to spend a bit more time with them in the last year+ than I have been ever. Their love for Anime and KDrama is rubbing off me.)

The fact that we have succumbed to this global pandemic we are in, has not made it any easier either. People used to have the freedom to roam around, socialize or travel; and that helped to revive their spirits or remove some of the ignorance that may stem from living a life of solitude. With access to new experiences, I found that it was easy for me to be more compassionate and understanding as life is not cookie cutter for everyone. I am obviously not saying that people being less considerate should be blamed on the pandemic, but it has definitely had a negative impact on most of us. 

So how are you fairing up? How has life been for you? You do not necessarily have to answer me, but you can answer yourself. Are you okay? Personally, I am in a much better space than I have been. My life took a complete 180 degrees turn over the last year and a half+. It had its moments, oh wow (as I sigh). It was mostly sad memories and at this point, I am not ready to relive that part of my life again especially on this platform. 

I am naturally a positive person but I have to acknowledge that as I got older, the time it took for me to recover from a funk, also dipped. But trust and believe that when I do recover, I am a new woman altogether. Had you asked me a couple of months ago whether I would be having a positive outlook on life again, I would have said oh hell no. There were days where I could not see beyond the circumstances I was in. But one thing that has helped me, was writing. Though I did not publish anything, I still wrote and I found it to be an effective therapy since I am not the most sociable person. My friends and family can attest to that 😬.

Does this mean I will be posting consistently? I am not sure. I am slowly finding my way around this platform. I am even thinking of revamping the site and maybe relaunch it, I don't know yet. You can share your thoughts around that. One thing I can say is that I have enjoyed putting this post together. It reminded me of how I used to enjoy writing and just being free with my thoughts. It feels like I am having a conversation with a friend on the other side of the world even though they may not respond. Blogging gave me the opportunity to engage with so many amazing individuals from all walks of life and honestly, I do not think I am ready to let go of that part of my life yet. 

This post may be all over the place as I tried to touch on so many things, please bear with me. I will do better in the next one I promise. One question I do need feedback from you is, are you still enjoying my writing? Have a blessed week loves!

Credit: The images used are not my own, but are pictures taken from Pinterest.