You and I - Lebo Mashile

I've fallen so deeply in love rediscovering my love for poetry and words...This is such a beautiful piece...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mwzvX1LTJUU

Silence, Solitude, Love & Life

In the midst of all the madness and insanity that is my life, as I sit here and listen to the wailing of the sirens in the far-off distance, amid the gentle pitter patter of the rain spitting down from the heavens, I find a deep sense of calm.

I am alone. This moment is mine; the rain is falling just for me. The earth smells like heaven, just for me. The tender breeze blows, just for me. The universe is speaking in strange languages tempting me, teasing me, testing me – shaping me. Amidst the disorder of my feelings, and with intense difficultly to form any coherent meaningful thoughts, I find myself at a momentous juncture in life. I am finally at THAT point. Do we dream greater dreams when the dreams we’ve had have been fulfilled?  I wonder. Living alone allows for a great deal of solitude, it allows for deep, meaningful soul searching. It allows for pondering over ones innermost demons – it allows for challenging oneself in ways that perhaps we even forgot existed – it allows for the rediscovery of one’s passions, likes, dislikes and general preferences. It allows for the discovery of brazen insight in all its shamelessness and splendour. I appreciate the deafening silence now more than ever.  I am listening intently to my soul and her secrets, her desires and ambitions, her dreams of discovery – and I am learning to appreciate her cosmic sense of imagination which I gradually forgot existed as I grew into adulthood and attained a sense of independence.

Gazing at the city lights, the image distorted somewhat by the rain, I am overcome by the magnitude of our Creators artistry. I am deeply, profoundly, and sincerely thankful to be here, alive today in this moment – in my moment. Each day, along with its many trials and tribulations, its multitude of assorted emotions – whatever comes what may – I know that possibilities are incessant – there is no reason to stop dreaming, stop discovering, stop conquering. There is no reason to stop living – to stop truly feeling alive. There is no reason for living a life devoid of meaning and substance, a passionless, loveless life. Yes, I am in love – in love with so many things and some amazing people, and I will constantly fall in and out of love with all sorts of things in life – but at the very least, if but anything, I am alive, in this moment – in my moment. I am here, breathing, thinking, feeling, hurting – but alive – and ready to embrace whatever challenges life’s curve balls may throw at me!

Recurring thought...

Sometimes we have totally lose ourselves in order to rediscover who we truly are and what we attach meaning and value to in life so as to forge a truly meaningful existence.

Tea, Roses, & Sunshine

That Girl...

(Who has many issues to deal with J)

Grappling with a lot of issues young people experience, I have found that I’ve lost myself.  I have decided to attempt a process of rediscovery by exploring my old passions, one of which is writing. It is on that premise that I’ve decided to blog again to an audience of anonymity on the interweb who probably experience similar sorts of experiences – perhaps I will inspire a soul or two, or perhaps I will gain a greater insight through this writing process about myself and the role I imagine myself to be playing in this beautiful amazing world that we reside in. To be honest, and especially with myself, I feel like my creative energy is being breathed right back into me, and it is really kind of overwhelming right now. I am constantly bombarded with new ideas: for business and career prospects, for travel, for art, for  things I should write about, for development projects – for all sorts of things, and I need to find a way to extract the best in all of those ideas and make them a reality.

I have been a part of the fortunate few who have been afforded opportunities to travel to various destinations of all sorts with sometimes crazy missions. I have, without a doubt, been blessed to have lived with and met some of thee amazing young minds of my generation – from activists, to artists, to peace builders and young leaders who truly are an inspiration that no words can fully, justifiably describe.  

I have an amazing family, and wonderful friends, and I am surrounded by a network of supportive individuals who love and appreciate me. I am in love with, and loved by a great guy. I know that as an intelligent being, I have a lot to offer and a lot to contribute towards in this world. Like all dreamers, I have dreams of doing amazing things to inspire change. I want to travel more. I want to help people discover their potential. I want to build capacities in young people. I want to bridge my passions (which I have a plan for). I want to live in Jozi. I want to discover the underground world of music, art, poetry, dance and theatre – and be a part of it. I want to get married. I want to create an incredible family. I want to live a truly meaningful life.

Through all of these blessings, and I acknowledge fully, and am deeply thankful for them; I find myself going through bouts of depression, feelings of insecurities and uncertainties, and a lot of self doubt. I consider myself to be a spiritual person, and I am determined to change these negative feelings into beautiful positive ones which will enable me to be the best person I can be, and live in the most meaningful manner I know best.

Until next time, lots of love, light, laughter and positive energy!

Suheir Hammad: Poems of war, peace, women, power | Video on TED.com

Suheir Hammad: Poems of war, peace, women, power | Video on TED.com

Suheir Hammad is an American-Arab poet, her poetry is really inspirational and often deals with socio-political issues. I recommend this video if you're into spoken word!

Invictus ~ by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,

Black as the Pit from pole to pole,

I thank whatever gods may be

for my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of Circumstance,

I have not winced nor cried aloud.

Under the bludgeonings of Chance,

my head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears,

looms but the Horror of the shade,

and yet the menace of the years,

finds, and shall find me, unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,

how charged with punishments the scroll,

I am the master of my fate:

I am the captain of my soul.

Travels to my Africa: Rwandan Experiences

Etched in the depths of my being are the memories of April 1994. It was a monumentally memorable occasion for all South Africans. A change was taking place in our beautiful country. On the 27^th of April, millions of South Africans from all walks of life queued for hours on end to vote in the country’s first democratic election, which saw Nelson Mandela becoming the first black President. While many anticipated a full-blown civil war, South Africa’s transition to democracy was a peaceful one, and now serves as a beacon of hope to the world. Prior to democracy, a system of legal racial segregation, called Apartheid, was in place whereby the ‘black’ majority were oppressed by the ‘white’ minority. During Apartheid, the worst kinds of human injustices were perpetrated. This system lasted almost half a century and gave birth to a range of problems which South African’s are still coming to terms with.

This is a stark contrast to what was taking place to the north of South Africa, in Rwanda. April 1994 for Rwandans was probably one of the darkest periods of their history during which the mass murder of 800 000 moderate Mahutu’s and Matutsi’s took place, and what is now referred to as the Rwandan Genocide. The trip to the Kigali Memorial Centre made me realise that a lot of comparisons could be drawn from the Rwandan genocide, and Apartheid. During Apartheid, a minority people oppressed a majority people, whereas during the Genocide, a majority people oppressed a minority people. People suffered the worst kinds of human injustices. At the end of it all, it was humans oppressing other humans. After both tragedies, reconciliation efforts were made through commissions to allow people the opportunity to share their experiences, to grieve, to hurt, to cry, to try and come to terms with things that happened, things they experienced and things they witnessed – and most importantly to forgive.

Sixteen years later, and many life lessons learnt, both South Africa, and Rwanda are on paths of recovery. As a South African, arriving in Kigali amidst the hustle and bustle, and sheer excitement of the Rwandan people at their presidential inauguration, there is no sense of there ever being genocide albeit through the recollections of people – unique in its own way, Kigali is growing on me. Rwandan people are very warm, and ever so helpful – and are willing to share their stories and experiences. The people I have met are truly inspiring and I am privileged to be a part of something so profoundly meaningful. We have, as South Africans, Rwandans, people, humans – experienced all sorts of conflict, and our challenges lie not only in our approaches to peaceful resolutions, but to also allow these experiences to change us, our perceptions, and attitudes in a positive way so that people can co-exist in a harmonious world, celebrating differences, and appreciating the gift of life.