tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5000825426898936352024-02-08T07:30:28.664-08:00SaZiYogiAnonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07102589995096058403noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500082542689893635.post-69565850279857595542016-04-12T05:44:00.002-07:002016-04-12T05:57:48.912-07:00Just how long is your 24 hours...just how full is your time?<div dir="ltr">
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I'm ashamed. It has been well over 12 (twelve??) months since I posted my last blog and I'm baffled as to where that time has gone. Recently, I was thinking back to when I first wanted to start blogging and back then I said to myself that I would try and post at least 2 blogs a week. Ha! Yeah ok Denise... The fact that I was thinking that way is a mystery, because it seems that for me, trying to find the time to write a blog once every year seems to be a push!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I am notorious at making excuses, especially when it comes to time and having (or not having) enough of it. I continuously convince myself that I simply do not have the time, however when I actually stop to think about it, I feel embarrassed at the time opportunities I do have in my day. It hasn't always been like this. At a stage, toward the end of last year and also into the beginning of this year, I was advised medically and eventually personally realised that I was simply taking on too much. My health took a knock which influenced every other aspect of my life and it took me having to see a doctor 4 times this year alone (it's only April) to accept that I needed to slow down. Again, I'm never quite content am I, because here I sit now moaning that I do actually have more time but haven't made the time to write. As my fiancè would say, shaking his head with the slightest but ever so sarcastic smile 'NEVER happy Taylor.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Anyway, this is one story I wanted to share with you and my hope is that it isn't just another thing you read and say 'ok ok enough with the time is a gift crap,' but rather something that plays on your thoughts and allows you to give it some consideration.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">To recap on the past few months, I have now been living in Zimbabwe for over a year. In fact, it has just gone a year and 6 months since I left what I always referred to as 'home'. For my readers who haven't read my previous posts, I moved to Zim from Johannesburg in October 2014. It seems unbelievable considering it feels like only 3 months or so ago since I arrived with my whole house packed into one car and my cats arriving on a plane. It's like time has been on a one-way speed mission, stopping for nothing, tearing up the edges (or more likely the roads of Harare), and simply conquering month upon month like they hardly even individually exist. This has been a tough thing to try and process and get a grip on as a yoga teacher because I am constantly trying to teach my students about 'slowing down and finding that peace within'... Realistically, how do you find peace when you can't even fathom what day it is?! </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Someone once told me that the older you get, the faster time goes. They put it into a very reasonable explanation for which I owe them credit. I cannot however, remember who told me this, so for that I apologise and please feel free tell me it was indeed you. This person told me that as a baby, your day is a bigger percentage of your whole life than it is when you are say 20 years old. Think about it, 24 hours in the life of a 1 year old is huge! It's a long time for a 1 year old because technically, at 1 year of age, they are only 8,760 hours old. A day is 0.3% of their whole life. A 20 year old individual is roughly 175,200 hours old. A day for this person is only about 0.014% of their whole life. You can see why, the older you get, the faster the days, weeks and months feel. Logical enough explanation right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">But then I started thinking. What about those people who are 50 years old, yet live it up, and act and behave as if they are 30? Surely these people have control over how long 24 hours can feel to them if they are living in the moment, staying young at heart and making things count? And surely then, so can we all? We always see those quotes on Facebook and hear them in the movies and songs about how each day is a gift (even now you're thinking 'yeah yeah - here we go again).' But how many of us actually acknowledge that fact? When you really think about it, each new day is a full 24 hours which is given to you to do with what you like. And those 24 hours are not always guaranteed, which should actually make every minute, every second even, that much more rewarding. How often do you see it that way though? I rarely do, until I truly, really think about it.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">For me personally, living in Joburg was like constantly being whipped around in a whirlwind. The invariable 'go go go' of it all was almost addictive. Your body and mind become so attuned to speeding, not only in your car or getting from one place to the next, but also in your thought process and reaction time. Even trying to fall asleep was a challenge. When I first came to Zim, I almost felt lost because of how slow everything seemed to be. Maximum speed limits of 80km/h on the roads are like a tease to a Joburger. I used to do 80km/h driving into and out of my driveway, and once on the highway, should you be going less than 120 km/h (in the slow lane,) you have every other driver and their dog throwing finger signals telling you what an idiot you are. So initially yes, Zim seemed strangely subdued, stress-free and chilled - just what a newbie yoga teacher needs, right? </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Hmmm, not for long, no Denise. Before I knew it, I was back to my old ways - taking on far too much, trying to please way too many people and actually forgetting that I am a human being as well who needs help and self-care every now and again. I was rushing from one yoga class or client to the next, constantly in my car, constantly on those roads and boy did I start to push the 80km/h limit at times. Don't get me wrong, I am</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> so blessed with how my yoga teaching took off. I had private clients daily, beautiful public classes sometimes twice a day. I felt that I was exactly where I was meant to be. Until such time I started saying and believing that I didn't have the time.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">'I don't have the time to eat breakfast.' 'I don't have the time to take my vitamins.' 'I don't have the time to do my own yoga practise.' '</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I don't have the time to meet a good friend for coffee.'</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> 'I don't have the time to relax.' 'I can't sleep.' 'I feel sick.' 'I am sick.' 'I'm just not getting better.' </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There comes a stage in your life where giving yourself as a whole to everyone and everything results in you only actually becoming a fraction of who you really are. It doesn't matter what profession you're in either - the minute it begins to feel like a slog of a job, is the minute you start losing the passion you have for it. Realising this was tough for me. I love yoga - how can yoga become purely a 'job'. What about my personal love for my own yoga, my own abilities outside of teaching? But I truly believed I could: I could teach 3 private clients a day and then a public class at night and give my all. I could still exercise on an empty tummy and no water from the day because I did not have (make) the time to eat or drink. But what did I have left? A sick empty body, exhausted and depleted from my own ill-doing. And when I stopped to think about it, I wasn't doing my clients and students right by letting them believe I was the healthy yoga teacher they were asking for - how could I be when I personally wasn't of a full and healthy state. I was beginning to not enjoy my 'job.'</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So my 24 hours started changing. I personally had to make those changes and with concerted effort, stick to them. I also had to let a few people down, which trust me I hated doing but if I did not take those steps for myself, I would probably still be sick and energy-less, begrudging each task in each day. It was a few small alterations to my own 24 hours which, when I got down to it, were so simple. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">When doctors, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">therapists, </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">personal trainers, yoga teachers and the like tell you to make time for yourself - they aren't spinning you a falsehood. Time for yourself can be the greatest gift you give to number one every single day. In your given 24 hours, what's say 20 minutes? Taking that time for yoga, exercise, reading, writing, socialising, walking, playing with your pets, making and drinking a brilliant cup of tea - whatever it might be - can literally change your life. You just need do it with effort every day. For someone who would never dream of believing this a few months back, taking that time to actually nourish yourself starts to feel like part of your routine - it gets easier and easier. Learning to say 'no' when you need to and not feeling guilty. Learning to say 'yes' when you want to and not changing your mind because it was a half-hearted yes in the first place. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">These are your given 24 hours but by no means promised to you. How are you going to fill <i>your</i> time?</span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 20px;"><span style="color: purple; font-family: "verdana" , sans-serif;"><i><b>How did it get so late so soon? Its night before its afternoon. December is here before its June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon? Dr. Seuss</b></i></span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07102589995096058403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500082542689893635.post-64966210788858079572015-03-24T07:20:00.007-07:002015-04-28T06:58:26.193-07:00Dream. Aspire. Live.<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I cannot believe it is nearly April - 3 whole months into 2015. Say what?! I know time tends to move a lot faster the older you get, especially when you are enjoying life, but still - I never imagined that weeks would speed on by as fast as they have done recently. Literally, every Friday for the past 2 months, I have said 'I cannot believe it's Friday again.' </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I guess I'm a bit concerned because this year I turn the big 'THREE OH'. Where...WHERE did my twenties go? I always remember my mom and dad telling my brother and me when we were little, to never wish our lives away and now I truly see what they were talking about. I think back on my twenties - my 21st birthdays (because I had about 4 parties) seem like just yesterday. Then I think back to me graduating from varsity and being petrified of the real world. The elation that came with my first ever job offer after my first ever interview and the nervousness I felt when I received a new job offer after that one and had to resign from the first one. At the time, these moments seemed so scary and daunting, however looking back now - I wish I could go back and savour each moment a bit more - truly live each experience, no matter which part of that rollercoaster of events I was on.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll be honest, turning 30 is somewhat scary for me, not because I am afraid of getting old or anything like that, but because I have gone through <i>thirty</i> years of my life already - so quickly. I have always been a firm believer that only those who believe they are old actually feel old, after all - '<i>age only counts if you are a cheese or a wine</i>.' I have always felt and quite honestly believed that I am a few years younger than what I have always been. When I turned 25, I said I was 22. Turning 28 I only felt around 23-ish, and now that I am turning 30, I really only feel about 24. Yes, there have been times where I have felt a lot older than what I am - those times of stress and disarray, and I can see how and why stress can make you look and feel older, how it depleats you of your youth and vibrance. The answer here? Stop being stressed and start being awesome. Easier said than done - yes. But what have you got to lose in actually just living in <i>your </i>moment? This is something I am taking with me into my thirties, and to be frank - it's about time.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past 5 months have been an amazing journey for me; moving to a new and sometimes rather backward country, starting a completely new profession, learning my way around new roads and suburbs, dealing with electricity and water issues, making new friends, missing old friends, missing family more than I ever thought possible, raising 2 bunnies, continuing my studies (ok I still haven't started that yet but hey I have the material), teaching amazing students, teaching some really difficult students, teaching beautiful, young, vibrant children and generally just getting on with LIFE. It hasn't been easy, no. But has it been worth it? Abso-f-ing-lutely. For the first time in a very long time (i'm not going to say 'ever' because I'm sure as a kid I was extremely care-free), I feel like I am actually living. I look forward to new days, I actually look forward to the next challenge, and I savour in the good moments more than I have ever done. There is SO much beauty in the smallest of things, and I have had the privilege of experiencing some of those moments for myself ever since I moved here. What has it taken? Me simply allowing it to happen. Letting go of the constant need for control. Letting go of the 'what if's' and the 'buts'. G</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">oing into my thirties, I feel like I actually know who I am. And therefore, I welcome that with open arms.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's amazing how worked up we (and by that I mean I) tend to get about something that hasn't even happened yet. We spring to conclusions about an outcome that isn't even guaranteed and therefore we act in a certain way until the experience actually happens. I have done a lot of reading and I have had several people in my life share information with me about how we tend to approach situations and act in one of two ways - either out of fear or out of love. This initial manner can literally drive the whole course in one direction. I personally have had many experiences where I immediately fear the outcome before it has even happened. This gets me into a stressed out frenzy, and each action and interaction up until the final stages of the whole event are affected this way - often faced with negativity and fear. And yet more often than not, the whole outcome turns out to be a lot less frightening or daunting than what I initially thought it would be. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It's not easy to act out of
love all the time and I think that is because we have grown up in a world where
it's survival of the strongest - do or let others do to you as they wish. We
immediately have our guards up - from the get-go we are acting out of fear. I was listening to my brother who was on an online radio show called 'The Good Stuff'. This particular show broadcasts news about really good things going on in South Africa and elsewhere in the world. My brother and the host, Brent mentioned how common it is to hear such negative news and that when people hear good news, or positive stories, they almost question what is going on. We cannot just accept good things happening, without questioning the motive and this is so true in a lot of things in our own personal lives. We immediately think about the negative outcome as opposed to the positive one - why?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
recently listened to a speech by Jim Carey and it completely moved me to the
point that I was determined to listen to this speech every morning to start my
day. Ok ok - so that didn't happen - I didn't listen to it every day, but his
words have stuck with me and I try and use them as often as I can.<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span>'<i><span style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: whitesmoke; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">So many of us chose our path out of
fear disguised as practicality. What we really want seems impossibly out of
reach and ridiculous to expect, so we never dare to ask the universe for it.' 'If
you can fail at what you don't want, you might as well take a chance on doing
what you love.' </span></span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In the past I have always thought - well that's easy for someone like Jim Carey to say - he's famous, has so much money and no wonder he dares to take chances - what has he got to lose. But then one day it just so happened that I personally took that very chance. Me. Denise Laura Taylor. I made the decision to change my life, and every action I took from that day led me to where I am now - most often than not without me even being aware of it. And every action I have taken since I started my new life in Zim, has led me to even more beautiful experiences and interactions. Am I on the right path? I most certainly think so, and if I'm not, well for now it's pretty darn sweet. You're probably reading this thinking, 'Really? Has it all really been so smooth and amazing? Is it really all peaches and cream?' No it hasn't been easy and no it's not a fluffy dessert all the time. Often I have had to really force myself to be positive about something, sometimes not even getting to being positive. But then, like I mentioned, when the event comes to fruition and all is not a train-smash, I kick myself, thinking why the hell did I act like that? So I'm really trying to approach new things in a different manor now going forward, not only to 'think positively' but mostly to avoid the stress and irritation that comes with immediately thinking that it's just going to be a bad ending.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just last night I taught a class at a ladies gym. I have about 5 or 6 regular ladies who attend practice each week and it is the most rewarding experience every single time. I decided to push them a little bit this week, and started guiding them into a few arm balances. One of them said to me 'Denise - I just feel like I'm going to fall.' I thought back to when I first tried a similar posture and I too felt that way. My body just did not seem to be doing what the instructor was saying it should do and I could just picture my face crashing down into the ground. What was my teacher's response at the time? </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">'So then fall. What is the worst that could happen? You may take a tumble, but you're right next to the ground and I doubt you are going to hurt yourself.' I remember thinking about this, plucking up the courage and just going for it. Yes I fell, I fell a few times that same class and a few classes after that. But one day it just happened. My body just lifted and I felt amazing. So last night, I encouraged this paticular lady to try again and even though she didn't quite get all the way up, you could see that she was at least willing to try. All of those ladies were, and that's what makes my job amazing. From that moment, it was like all of them just felt so comfortable to open up to me, asking lots of questions about postures and 'how to's' etc. It was wonderful! Instead of acting out of fear and just going ahead with whatever I told them to do, they started acting out of love. Sometimes you might think your questions are so stupid but let's be honest here - how are you ever going to know if you never ask? We had such a fun class and I know that next time, these ladies will feel even more confident going into postures they haven't tried before. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">As Jim Carey also said, '</span><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>Life opens up opportunities to you, and you either take them or you stay afraid of taking them.</i>' </span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The past couple of weeks have been absolutely eye-opening for me. I have tried things I never thought I would, been through ups and downs and experiences which are completely out of my control, and I have questioned so many things along the way. At the time, some of these experiences seemed so frustrating, so down-right unfair, so exhausting and completely depleated me of my energy - some still do! But at the same time so many things have given me so much energy, restored my faith in people, and challenged me only so far that I actually come out ok - sometimes even on top. I have had to make decisions which haven't been a walk in the park, but once made, it's like a huge weight lifted from me. And I am so lucky that I have absolutely the right people with me all the way. This is an attestation to me TAKING that chance, choosing to stop fearing the result and just living in my moment.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">I am not famous, I don't have a lot of money, I am simply a 29 (nearly 30) year old South African female, living in Harare, trying to make the most out of whatever situation. So take it from me - dare to live; to take the chances you think will never work, because yes you may come out second best, but at least you've tried at that thing that you love, that thing that drives your inner fire, instead of just accepting what is. Ask the questions you have been dying to ask. Make a fool out of yourself. If you don't - how will you ever know? So many people choose to stay in a place of comfort. Or rather - of discomfort if they actually think about it. So this is the time to ask - why? Yup that ground may come crashing into your face when you fall. But the ground is still there for you to plant your feet back onto and get straight back up. That same ground that may hurt you when you fall down, will be the support you need when you rise again. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; line-height: 18.2000007629395px;">Go into new situations with love, not fear. Instead of immediately fearing the worst, just try for even a small second to imagine that everything will be okay. It may be a bumpy ride yes, but ultimately you need to dream big, aspire for the best in YOU, and 100% LIVE in your moment.</span></span><br />
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<b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">“There is freedom waiting for you,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">On the breezes of the sky,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">And you ask "What if I fall?"</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">Oh but my darling,</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">What if you fly?” </span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="http://www.goodreads.com/author/show/7802403.Erin_Hanson" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Erin Hanson</a></span></b>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07102589995096058403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500082542689893635.post-6365364757588725062015-01-22T06:12:00.001-08:002015-01-22T06:12:34.167-08:00SaZiYogi: Three months in Zimbabwe…what I have loathed, what...<a href="http://saziyogi.blogspot.com/2015/01/three-months-in-zimbabwewhat-i-have.html?spref=bl">SaZiYogi: Three months in Zimbabwe…what I have loathed, what...</a>: First of all, Happy New Year to all my beautiful followers. I truly believe that this year has a multitude of potential for the person with...Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07102589995096058403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500082542689893635.post-6287705465800774082015-01-22T05:31:00.000-08:002015-01-22T05:34:19.496-08:00Three months in Zimbabwe…what I have loathed, what I have learnt, and what I have loved…<div class="MsoNormal">
First of all, Happy New Year to all my beautiful followers.
I truly believe that this year has a multitude of potential for the person with
the right attitude and that there is so much good to come from 2015. May you
all find peace, happiness, prosperity and love this year and may your hearts be
filled with compassion and humility. I really wish the world could truly become
a restored and nonviolent place, where life is celebrated and freedom comes
effortlessly. Only time will tell…<o:p></o:p></div>
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It’s taken me a while to get back into the swing of things
after the festive break. Even though we were only ‘on holiday’ for just over 2
weeks, it honestly feels like it has been months since I felt like I was in
some sort of routine. I am however, slowly but surely getting back into it and
finding the normality in my crazy life once more.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The 7<sup>th</sup> January marked three months for me in
Zimbabwe since I moved here from SA. When I realized that, I actually couldn't
believe it. To think that I have been living in Harare and teaching Yoga for a
quarter of a year seems so unrealistic. I guess it is true that time flies when
you are having fun hey?<o:p></o:p></div>
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So I had a good think about the last three months for me in
this beautiful yet unforgiving place and realized how much I have actually
learnt in that time. Moving to a new country is never easy, however moving here
hasn't been all that bad, and I do feel like I am beginning to genuinely find
my feet. Yes, I have had my ups and downs and sometimes the downs seem like
they’re never going to go back up. And there definitely are certain traits of
Zim which I would prefer to not have to live through, but I guess that’s life
and you can only grow from experiencing the good as well as the bad.<o:p></o:p></div>
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The first thing which springs to mind is the power cuts. I
find this rather amusing because recently South Africa has been going through
load-shedding and just reading the comments on Facebook and hearing about the
general feeling of people towards these outages, makes me giggle. In Zim, you’re
happy if you have a power cut that lasts the ‘normal’ period of time of about 6
– 8 hours. That’s a ‘good’ power cut and you generally make do with candles or
an inverter or if needs be, a generator. In South Africa, I hear people
complaining about a 3 hour power cut. Not only complaining but also updating
violently aggressive statuses and HATING Eskom passionately. Don’t get me
wrong, I know how they feel - I was there. However being in Zim, you learn to
live with it like it’s part of your normal week. If you don’t have a power cut
at least once a week, something must be wrong. You get home from work and
breathe a sigh of relief when you see a few lights on in the neighbour’s house,
knowing you can cook and eat and watch tv in peace without the hum of a few
generators. And when you do have a power cut which happens to last more than 8
hours, well you literally can’t do much about it. You cannot complain to <i>anyone</i> about it. No one answers phones,
no one responds to emails. Unless you have a human connection on the inside who
can give you some information (for an under-handed fee of course,) you’re
pretty much at the mercy of Zesa’s schedule, no matter how irregular,
unpredictable or erratic it is. <o:p></o:p></div>
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Another thing that took me a while to figure out was the
road system here. I thought it would be pretty much the same as where I am from,
being still in Africa and all. In SA you drive on the left-hand side of the
road, give way at a ‘Give Way’ intersection, stop at a ‘Stop’ sign; it’s a case
of give way to the right or to whomever was first at a traffic circle, and if
lights are out, you treat the intersection as a four-way stop. So when driving
on the left-hand side of the road here in H-Town, I thought ‘ah this is a
breeze and I've got this nailed.’ The only concern I had was finding my way
around. Boy have I never been so wrong! ‘Give Ways’ are intersections where if
you do not come to a DEAD stop – you will likely be fined the standard fine of
$20. Why not put up a ‘Stop’ sign then?? At traffic circles or ‘roundabouts’ as
we Saffa’s like to call them, it’s a case of what I see as, whomever is going
fastest – has right of way. Apparently in Zim you have intersections where you
should know which road out of the 2 or 3 intersecting, is the ‘main road’.
Should you be on this apparent main road – well hey, you are free to go. Should
you be on the other roads, you have to wait. Say again?? How is one supposed to
know which is the main road?? And what if the traffic on the main road never
ceases?? That is something I am still figuring out. The same with traffic
lights that are out because of our trusty power cuts. You can sit for sometimes
5 to 10 minutes waiting for fellow travelers on the ‘main road’ to power on
through. Only once clear, can you and the other minions on the non-main road
carry on your journey. It’s mind-boggling but an adventure nonetheless. One
blessing is that traffic here is absolutely nothing compared to what I was used
to, so go figure they can actually make up their own rules as they go. And another
blessing is that I pretty much know my way around now – great feeling!<o:p></o:p></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
Life here is amazingly relaxing. Yes, I often stress that me
teaching yoga isn't bringing enough money to help pay the household expenses,
but for now it is enough to get by and live, and I think for me, that has been
the hardest thing to come to terms with. No longer is my life revolved around
money – car payments, rent, medical aid, cats bills, food expenses, saving for
your future and making it to the end of the month with literally R5 in your
bank-account. It may sound strange but I have found it extremely difficult to
actually completely relax here in a lot of ways. To take a breath and let life
happen around me; to enjoy what we have and to actually live in the moment.
Before, I was planning my life around the day of the month – pay day. Now, I
don’t even have a bank account, I get paid so sporadically and different
amounts depending on the number of students who attend my class – yet, we make
it work. No more miss independent over here. I thankfully have a partner in <i>life</i> and we tackle things together and
even though it has taken me a while to accept that, I count it as a true blessing.
I am so passionate about what I do now, that I actually look forward to
Mondays, don’t loathe Sundays, and the week days feel just as good as the
weekends because you are treasuring every moment as opposed to stressing about
tomorrow. Of course you are still planning ahead and of course money is
factored into that plan. We are busy saving for a trip to Australia to go and
see my Dad and we are constantly trying to save where we can because you just
never know what might happen. However what I have learnt is that life should be
lived, you should enjoy the money you do make, however little it may be. To do
things which make your heart happy, things that take away the pressures of
another day in the future which is not even guaranteed – that’s called ‘living <i>your </i>life’.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
I fully credit my life change, my mindset change and my
ability to relax and see the positive – to Yoga. I finally have a purpose and
that is to teach what I love. The people I have met along this journey of mine
are people I can call friends even after a mere lunch or coffee together, because of how they completely and utterly relate to all I am. Yoga
has brought me to where I am today and for that I am eternally grateful. In SA
while completing my hours, I met so many stunning individuals whom I took so
many lessons from. I even managed to get my mom, my brother and my boyfriend to
enjoy yoga, even before I had started teaching and I credit that to what yoga
offers, not only in a physical way but also mentally, spiritually and
emotionally. The yoga community here in Zim is still small but seems to be getting
stronger by the day. I am so fortunate to have been given an opportunity to
teach here straight out of graduating from my teacher training, and to make my classes my
own. It was nerve-wracking to begin with of course but I've been told that that
is perfectly normal. The fear of the unknown, the absolute anxiety about
teaching a class which people may not enjoy. But you find your feet and once
you are there, it’s like you have an ‘ahhh’ moment where everything just seems
to fall into place. You have those students who may attend one class and never
come back – it’s ok. They may be on a different path to the one you’re on and
not everyone is going to like you. You also have those students who keep <i>you</i> coming back for more because their
energy is so infectious and so uplifting, you cannot wait to see them again.
And then to top it all off, every now and again a student will say something so
heart-touching like ‘I cannot wait for your next class’ or ‘that was just what
I needed,’ that you literally forget about any anxiety you ever had teaching a
yoga class in the beginning and you go home feeling so alive and at peace. Yoga
is not for everyone, but for me it was calling me for a while and finally I
listened, took that not-so-easy step and look where I am now.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
Bottom line, life isn't a walk in the park. It isn't about
being handed things on a silver platter and sailing through without a single
care in the world. It’s not about harboring resentment for past mistakes,
holding on to the negative or even over-stressing about tomorrow. Life is
exactly what it is – LIFE. You only have one. You only get one chance to make
something of yourself that <i>you</i> feel
good about and proud of. Start living; start enjoying; start seeing the moment
for what it is and capturing those moments which steal your breath. Then do
yoga and find your breath again <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span><o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
Look at me… I live in Zimbabwe… I teach Yoga…and I
absolutely, every day - love my life.<o:p></o:p></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07102589995096058403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500082542689893635.post-45439772878801082112014-12-01T07:07:00.003-08:002014-12-12T01:26:55.257-08:00Appreciation for life...Sunsets, Silhouettes and the 'rare' Samango Monkey...<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">My
boyfriend is part of a golfer's league, a gentlemen's club as such with men of all ages
ranging from around 24 to 84. A few weeks back I went to one of their
prize-givings and was once again drawn into an ambit of fascination by how
vastly important heritage and tradition is considered to be here in Zimbabwe.
Culture is definitely something which is installed </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">among</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> individuals from a
young age and as such, boys grow up to be true gentlemen. I am so impressed by
the manner in which Zimbabwean guys treat ladies. It’s a rare thing to stumble
upon, especially when you come from a place where the men seem to worry more
about their appearance and the size of their ‘guns’ than they do in treating a
woman with a vague amount of respect. Of course I am generalising here, and of
course there are still the odd gems you meet who place you up on a
pedestal, and of course you still get your classically arrogant and egotistical
men here in Zim as well. In general however, it is truly refreshing to meet a
great group of gentlemen who hold high their traditions, their loyalty to their
clubs and each other and the love and devotion to their ladies and
families. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">So
where am I going with this? Well a few months back, my boyfriend won a weekend
away for two in a raffle held at one of these golfer’s prize-givings. We
therefore decided to use that this last weekend and on the Saturday morning we
headed up to Nyanga for a nice relaxing break. We stayed in a rather commercial
and somewhat kitsch hotel, which to be fair, is presently being done up and
revamped. Not complaining though – a free weekend stay, in one of the most
breath-taking areas I have ever been to, including a delicious breakfast daily
is always welcomed! The drive there was interesting. In fact not five minutes
in - once we had grabbed our Mochacinos from an awesome barrister named Peter at
a hardware store – yes a hardware store with a coffee shop(?) - we passed a dead
cow on the side of the road, which I of course </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">did not</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> see and begged my
boyfriend to turn around so I could have a look. He assured me we would see
plenty more and hence, disappointingly did not turn back, much to my discontent.
By no means do I have an affinity for dead animals, but I do find it
fascinating how road-kill </span><i style="line-height: 115%;">that</i><span style="line-height: 115%;"> large
can just be left on the side of the road, especially with all the little
townships we were passing. Surely this could be someone’s next meal or rather
month of meals? Anyway, I soon forgot about our first road-kill casualty and
settled down to enjoy the trip. </span><br />
<!--[if !supportLineBreakNewLine]--><br />
<!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Eventually
the flat farmlands started transforming into stunning mountains which were so
mesmerising it was almost like we were driving towards massive photo-shopped
pictures. It reminded me so much of the Drakensburg in South Africa, except
there is always something unique about anything and everything here in Zim and
these mountains were covered from bottom to top in the Msasa tree. This
particular tree has leaves which come in different colours, from green to
orange to deep red. As you can imagine – thousands of these blanketing a mountain
range, would literally take your breath away.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We
never passed another dead cow, nor a dead anything – which in a way I was ok
with as I am not the type who likes seeing that an animal has been injured or
killed. Also, who needed road-kill when you had the view of a thousand rolling
hills, with the back-drop of a milky pink and fiery orange sky? Appreciation
comes in many forms, however I cannot describe how much appreciation you actually
feel when you look at something of such pure beauty. Perhaps it was my pops who
installed a deep gratitude in me for the perfect sunset with all the photos he
used to and still takes. I tried to capture the sunsets we saw on this trip but
no camera would ever be able to portray what we actually experienced. Being the
yoga teacher I now am, I insisted on my boyfriend taking some pics of me in
different postures to see if we could somehow trick the sunset into thinking we
were literally just taking silhouette photos of me, but alas – it knew what we
were doing and still did not want to surrender its splendor to being captured
on film. I guess that’s why we have memories, and that’s what teaches us to appreciate
the moment that much more.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">We
experienced a lot that weekend.
Horse-riding through these mountains; wining and
dining at a beautiful, quaint inn where we were treated like royalty; playing
bowls (yes bowls) in front of a mirror-like dam which reflected deep dark green
pine trees in the background – again something you </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">couldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> quite believe was
really in front of you and not a blown-up postcard. We met an artist named 'Modern' who made the most charming sculptures out of marble rock, and whose genuine and friendly welcome made us want to buy everything, but alas we settled
for a cool elephant statue which now takes residence in our hallway. We saw what
they termed the “rare Samango Monkey” ironically all over the place, a rather
arrogant type of primate which never seemed to want to allow me to get a decent
pic of its face, which happened to be absolutely adorable. Instead, every time I clicked
the button on my camera I got a picture of the back of this monkey’s head or
torso (which was also rather cute but not as charming as its koala-type face.) <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I
cannot pinpoint the highlight of this mini getaway because it was all so breathtaking
and rather humbling to say the least. I can say that the trip home was one
where we hardly spoke to each other and it felt like that same feeling you got
as a kid when you realised it was Boxing Day and Christmas was now a whole year
away. We did however both feel like we had been on vacation for a week, utterly
relaxed and ready to start a new week. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You
learn a lot about yourself, your partner and your relationship on a little trip
like this one. Enjoying literally only each other’s company with no other
distractions or commercial things to occupy your time really brings you down to
earth and draws you a lot closer together. Who would have thought that we would
enjoy bowls at our age? That sipping on Irish Coffees, in the attic of an old-fashioned
inn, with no tv, no books and nothing other than the company you keep, would
take your relationship to another level. Appreciation for the small things…you
hear people talk about it all the time, but often take it for granted and
sometimes need a little reminder to bring you back to earth. This weekend was
that for both of us – a gentle push to appreciate what you have, what you get
given and what you experience.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">As
a result of this weekend, I based my yoga classes the following week around
this concept of gratitude and thankfulness. I started something on Facebook for
myself called ‘#MonthOfGratitude’ where every single day I acknowledge
something in my life for which I am grateful. I started this on the 25</span><sup style="line-height: 115%;">th</sup><span style="line-height: 115%;">
November so that by the time Christmas Day comes around, I will have a month’s
worth of random things in my life which I appreciate. I encouraged my friends
and my followers to do the same but unfortunately this </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">isn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> something which
catches on like a Neknomination or simply sharing a horrific picture of a slaughtered
animal or a story of a maid abusing a baby. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It’s
sometimes scary what people focus on in their lives. I encourage you to think
about this in your own life. Try focusing on the positive and the unique little
things which you are eternally grateful for. Whether it's the </span><span style="line-height: 18.3999996185303px;">gentlemanly</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> actions from someone you least expect, a sunset which steals your breath faster than you have time to realise, or even just sharing in some fun with your best friend, on a patch of grass made for old people to chuck around a few balls. If you can do this for even 3
days, you are blessed. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">What have you got to lose? More importantly, what have
you got to gain..?<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In
love, light and appreciation for all my readers, till next time.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Denise</span></span></div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07102589995096058403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500082542689893635.post-70592311702310045042014-11-17T23:21:00.000-08:002014-11-18T01:29:20.264-08:00Taking it as it comes, letting go of what you don't need, and making the most out of your situation.<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
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<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Things tend to happen in life which can either send you spiralling
into a twisted whirlwind of confusion, angst and anger<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span><i>OR<span class="apple-converted-space"> </span></i>you can swing it around for
yourself, send that tornado swirling in a different direction, and use what
gets hurled at you to propel you forward in a favourable direction. For a lot
of people, including myself, this concept sometimes seems so annoying because
you know it's true but you just can't fathom how you can turn it around in a
certain situation or during a certain time of your life. The thought of changing
things so that they work in your favour even when it seems like everything is
crumbling around you is just frustrating and impossible at times and even
though you may master it in one instance, come the next time and you just feel
a hundred times more confused, anxious and angry and simply want to throttle
anyone and everyone who has the above mindset of ‘making it work’. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">I’ve met a number of really different and unique individuals in my
life. Those who see the world through a lens of negativity and
unconstructiveness; those who simply cannot wait to wake up in the morning to
seize that new moment and make it their own, and then those people who are a
combination of the two – no wait – not quite a combination, but simply ‘neutral
in life’. It’s so interesting to
me to witness these individuals who are one or the other. I’m not coming from a
place of judgement at all, merely observation. I personally don’t understand
how someone can be happy <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">all</i> the
time, neither can I understand and relate to an individual who literally cannot
seem to find the positive in absolutely anything, ever. What I have learnt
however, is that it is ok to let go of anyone who no longer fulfils you on your
journey, whether temporarily or on a more permanent basis. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">On this incredible ride I have been on the past year, I have had
to acknowledge and deal with circumstances which have not been simple and
effortless but rather challenging and quite taxing, a lot of which have
involved taking a good hard look at the people in my life. I am the type of
person who enjoys being friendly to everyone, sometimes giving a lot more of
myself to the relationship than what I get back in return. At one stage, not so
long ago, I felt like I had close on 50 ‘good’, close friends whom I would
invite to anywhere I was organising something fun. Did they all pitch or even
bother to rsvp? Of course not. Did they invite me to wherever they were going –
not often no. Did they call me on my birthday or to even just check in and chat
out of the blue? Well now the list was seriously starting to diminish. So why
was I always giving of myself to these people and constantly seeking their
attention? Well, that’s something I am still trying to figure out.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">It is however such an eye-opening experience realising that you
are ok on your own. Learning to enjoy being by yourself and loving yourself
isn’t straight-forward but it’s only when you know who you truly are and what
you honestly want from life, that you begin to see how having the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">right </i>people in your life can truly
benefit you. It was tricky for me to simply let the others go, one because I
thought they were my friends, but two because I didn’t want to hurt <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">them</i>. Ridiculous right? Friendship is
not a numbers game. It’s not a competition to see who has more or who has the
most people rock up at a birthday. If you only ever have one true, good, honest
friend in your life but who knows you and loves you and develops you, then you
are blessed. And I am definitely blessed with the friendships I have today,
even though I have relocated to a different country and will probably only see
those people three times a year.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">It is this which I took with me when I left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Knowing that I have that support and
unconditional and unwavering love from my friends and family was what drove me
through the process. Starting out in a new country will also have its
challenges – you have to start all over again with new friendships and building
new relationships. But luckily this time around, I know who I am and I know
what I want from my life. So yes I may meet people along the way whom I will be
friendly with, but if there isn’t that bond, and that reciprocation then why
give to the relationship more than you should right? Not everyone gets the
chance to start life over, to sail with the wind in a completely different
direction. Why ruin that chance by making the same choices which led you to a
bit of a dead-end before.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">There is so much opportunity in Zimbabwe which not a lot of people
realise. I’m not talking work-wise or money-wise (even though that is true as
well); I am talking about the type of lifestyle you have available to you to experience
and the beautiful friendships you have the potential to make. When people get
together at family gatherings, dinners, braais or whatever it may be, the
conversation isn’t solely about what so-en-so saw so-en-so doing and the gossip
from the weekend. It’s about reminiscing on over twenty years of friendship,
laughing with each other because you know each other so well and joking about
the small things in life. Here, solid friendships aren’t built in nightclubs
and social events, work or the gym. They are built because you experience <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">LIFE </i>together and tackle things as a
unit. I think Zim going through its rough patches has actually done wonders for
families and friends because those who are still here, really want to be here
and want to see it work out. They want to start their own families here because
they know the type of childhood there is to have and to experience. I was at my
boyfriend’s folks place this weekend and was playing with his nephew in the
garden. What was so awesome was to hear how this little boy’s dad grew up in
the same house, climbed the same tree and nearly drowned in the same pool! How
amazing that one house can hold so many memories that generation after
generation get to relive some of the experiences and make their own similar
memories which will be treasured forever? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Zim truly has stolen my heart. No, it has not been easy adjusting
but it’s been a lot easier than I had expected and completely manageable. Small
things take a lot of getting used to. For one – the heat. What struck me the
most was walking into a grocery store on a scorcher day and seeking out that
beautiful cold bottle of water to drink to try and quench your unquenchable
thirst. You make your way to the fridges, open the doors and as you grab a
bottle, this overwhelming sense of disappointment takes over as you realise how
warm the bottles are. In true Denise style, I move all the front bottles to the
side and hunt for one at the back, praying it will be cold but no such luck.
This place is so hot that even the fridges can’t stay cold! But alas, I love
it. Waking up to the sun coming up early and feeling that delicious heat on
your skin is unique even for someone who used to live in Durban. Another thing
which really does sometimes get to you are the power cuts. Just when you have
prepared that beautiful cake to be baked or dinner to be cooked, off goes the
power. The most common sound in Zim is that of a generator and to be honest it
has become quite soothing! Even with all the power cuts, you make the best out
of a somewhat tricky situation. Sitting around a table lit with candles,
actually talking to each other instead of watching a movie or that series
you’re both addicted to, makes you realise whether or not you are with the
right person. My boyfriend and I talk for hours in the dark, laugh and mare
each other – bottom line is, we make the most of the time we have together.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;">I still have so much to experience here and that for me is one of
the best things in my life right now. Whether it be driving past the guys
playing checkers on a painted tree stump, the man selling airtime on the street
corner who dances and sings as you drive by, the incredible lack of road etiquette
(you thought SA was bad with the taxis,) the potholes, the boreholes, the
generators and invertors, Zim has something to enjoy or to marvel at for
everyone. It may not be everyone’s cup of tea – not everyone likes tea anyway! Give it
a chance – you just might like it </span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><span style="mso-char-type: symbol; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></span><span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; line-height: 115%;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">In love and light,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN-ZA" style="color: black; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%;">Denise</span></div>
<!--EndFragment-->Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07102589995096058403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500082542689893635.post-66731380705051681192014-11-10T04:24:00.001-08:002014-11-17T05:42:44.089-08:00The country of colour and a city engulfed in purple.I have visited Zim a few times over the past year and to be honest with you, after my last visit in July, I wasn't impressed. The thought of moving here from Northern Johannesburg was, to put it lightly - terrifying. It was obviously winter in Harare, and unlike winter in Johannesburg where you still saw trees of green and red roses too, in Harare, there was nothing but brown. The roads seemed even worse than they had before in terms of potholes and mess; the trees bare with nothing but grey, jagged, thirsty branches. Life from an 'outsider's' point of view just seemed so different. What was I actually doing? Was I really thinking of moving here, changing my life completely?<br />
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Let me tell you a little about myself so you might be able to relate a little easier. I was born in Johannesburg, grew up in Howick and Durban, spent close on 4 years in the UK working at a beautiful hotel named Great Fosters, came back to Johannesburg to complete my studies, and this is where I spent a good 8 years exploring my twenties. I worked at the best nightclub in South Africa while at varsity, made the most amazing friends whom I treasure to this day, and spent my time and money on socialising, eating out, dancing, studying and basically rushing around from one event to the next, whether it be for fun or for necessity.</div>
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In Johannesburg you plan your day, no wait - your life around the traffic. For instance: Tuesday - Doctor's appointment in the morning, quick grocery shopping after work and bikram yoga at 18h30. Doctor's appointment at 10h00, hmmm ok - that means I need to leave home by 06h30 to get to work early and put in a few hours (that way I will miss the traffic); leave work by 09h00 to get to the doctor's rooms in time (just in case there's traffic;) leave doctor's appointment at 10h45, not too much traffic at that time - should be ok to get back to work by 11h30. Back to work at 11h50 - there was an accident on the M1. Ideal afternoon situation - finish work at 17h00 but not going to leave at that time because there is way too much traffic, will leave at 17h30, hit the shops by 17h50, quick dash around the shops, leave by 18h10 to get to yoga to have enough time to change and make it to the class by 18h30. Reality? Still stuck in traffic at 18h45, missed yoga, too grumpy to tackle the shops which close at 19h00; go home, watch an episode (or 3) of whichever marathon series you have downloaded and are now addicted to, simultaneously checking your emails, Facebook, Twitter, and Skype, all the while consciously thinking about what time you need to leave in the morning to avoid traffic and get to work by 08h00. Is this really living your life? <br />
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Yes, if you're the type of person who loves spending time in the car, or perhaps has a reason to always be on the road, then this sort of thing wouldn't bother you. It did however begin to bother me. Whenever I would see friends, they would comment at how angry I used to get with the traffic, saying my Facebook updates were nothing but seething all the time. I started living life through eyes of annoyance and resentment. I would go to bed angry, wake up angry, and hate the time in between. Slowly but surely this spiraled into me becoming a very negative and downbeat type of person and the small celebrations of life went out the window. Of course it wasn't only the traffic getting me down, there were a number of different incidents which happened in slow and steady succession and my life took a sharp turn for the worst where it seemed like there was just not much to live for anymore. It is not easy being in that frame of mind at all, especially when you are naturally a fun-loving, spirited individual who usually thrives off the small, valuable moments of life.<br />
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I was always hesitant when people would say to me 'stay positive, good things are coming'. It seemed so difficult to accept that things would turn around for the best for me because so much just seemed to be going wrong <i>all </i>the time. The power of positive thought however, is in fact a very true and wonderful phenomenon. I never wanted to believe it, but one day I thought to myself 'why not?' I started to live life differently moment by moment, day by day. It was a case of changing my mindset and tackling the troublesome times with positive mind. The moment I did that, life started shifting. It was a long process, not easy in the slightest, but steadily things started to improve. I met the man I know I am meant to be with, got offered a new job, moved into a beautiful little cottage and started my yoga teacher training all in the space of 6 months. From there it was like I was smooth sailing for the first time in a very long time and it felt great.<br />
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I threw myself into my yoga, focused on making my job a success and concentrated on making the long-distance relationship with my man a priority, even though I was always one of those cynics who did not think long-distance relationships could work, no matter how hard a couple tried. I am blessed that I was so wrong about that. Even through the distance, I felt closer to my boyfriend than I have ever felt with anyone. I finally knew the meaning of true love and I valued and appreciated the times we would get to spend together, no matter how quickly they went by or how far apart they were. I had never felt like I had a partner in life, a true best friend who would do anything for me, until now. <br />
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People asked me all the time why I decided to move to Zimbabwe of all places, and they still do to this day. My answer was and is simple - for love. Life can be taken away from you so quickly and sometimes you need to do something completely out of your comfort zone whether it be for love, health, happiness or work related reasons. You should never have to justify your decisions to anyone but yourself, because at the end of the day, it's your life and you only get the one. So yes, I decided to make that move, to resign from my corporate job, sell some of my life's collections and pack up the rest of them, my two cats and myself, and head to Harare, Zimbabwe to be with the man I adore and the person who believed in me and everything I wanted from my life.<br />
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I've now been here a month and wow, what a change to my life. Just over a year ago, dreams coming true was so far-fetched, but mine certainly are starting to become a reality. Would I have chosen to move to Zim if I had other options? Probably not. But I took the leap of courage and I am so happy I did.<br />
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Harare literally took my breath away when we arrived a month ago. I have never seen so many beautiful trees. The streets are covered in a velvety blanket of purple from the fallen Jacaranda leaves, houses surrounded by Bougainvillia bushes which envelope the walls in deep, dark pink security. The sheer size of the trees is what is so incredible and you spend of all your time looking up towards the sky, taking it all in that you forget about the potholes and the state of the roads. There are quaint little nurseries on the sides of the roads and adorable plant shops in nearly every shopping centre - when last did you go to a nursery, let alone buy a plant? It is actually overwhelming how stunning it is, something I definitely appreciate after seeing it so dull a few months ago.<br />
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Life in Harare is not about the latest fashion and the fanciest cars, it's not about the most expensive appliances, the latest diet trends, the who's who of the what what. It's about LIVING. Weekends are spent with friends around a braai, drinks on a massive rock which overlooks the city, fishing on one of the lakes or even just chilling at home watching a good movie (if you have power.) You begin to appreciate things you have always taken for granted, such as time with family and friends, electricity, clean water and a petrol station which stays open past 9pm when you have those sweet cravings or actually need to fill up your car.<br />
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Yes it is a struggle with the economy and there are times when you question if life in Zim is sustainable under certain conditions, but for now I am happy to be where I am. And I know of a lot of people in Harare who feel the same way. Here it's about making the best of the moment, the current situation, the here and the now. It's about waking up in the morning, feeling that glorious heat on your skin as you step outside and it's about choosing to be happy. You pass street vendors every day who make a living creating beautiful artworks or constructing furniture or even just selling airtime, and they are always so happy to see you when you drive up to them. If they can celebrate life and each new interaction, who am I to not give this place the chance it deserves.<br />
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I certainly have been blessed by being given the opportunity to start over and to live the life I want to. Pursuing a dream is scary and daunting and certainly not a walk in the park, but it sure beats living a life according to how busy the highway is going to be and working so hard at making living that you completely forget to make a life.<br />
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Till next time...<br />
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Denise</div>
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07102589995096058403noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-500082542689893635.post-79978360349336152232014-11-03T00:19:00.000-08:002014-11-03T00:19:02.792-08:00Jozi to H-Town, a journey of love, courage and beauty...<br />
First things first - hi there! My name is Denise Laura Taylor and this is a
blog I have created to share my journey with you, a journey I am very proud to
be on and very excited to explore further. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I like to think of my life as being rather unique, solely because of the
rare and exceptional people whom I have had the privilege of sharing it with up
until now.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No one else has had the
blessing of the exact combination of individuals coming into their lives, whom
I have met and learnt some amazing lessons from as well as some very tough
ones.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, to some, my life may seem
pretty normal and that’s ok, I’m not complaining or trying to purposefully
differentiate myself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m alive, I’m
healthy and I am on an adventure which I merely want to put into writing so
that others out there can perhaps relate to where I am at the moment and share
in the experiences of life, love, appreciation and wonder.<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Today, I am 29 years and 4 months old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I was born and grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, one of the most
beautiful countries on this planet. <span lang="EN" style="mso-ansi-language: EN;">I am a gentle person with a big heart for those I hold close. I adore
animals (especially cats,) enjoy a good red vino, live for fun and passion and
I work hard. My friends and family mean the world to me, and I thrive on
laughter and love. I have a huge appreciation for yoga and strive to one day
inspire others as to how I am finally living my dream of teaching, having
recently obtained my Yoga Certification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></span>I recently shape-shifted my entire life to relocate to Harare,
Zimbabwe to be with the man I love and to start something amazing together in a
truly magical country, that is sometimes severely misunderstood.<o:p></o:p><br />
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'Jozi' as I so fondly call my hometown, is a glorious place - full of energy
and passion. Unless you stay within your safe and comforting walls at home, you
are bound to encounter something in your day which either makes you want to
cry, scream, swear, laugh or run for your life; from taxi arrogance, to endless
traffic, to the bustling walk-ways where heads are down, gazes are to some sort
of electronic device and personal interactions are very few and far between.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then you also have the ever-animated street
vendors selling everything from a telephone line which somehow works from the
side of the road, to sweets and chips and also the occasional live animal. Basically, Jozi never shuts down. It is a place where you discover a lot about
yourself and a place where you are given the freedom to explore your
aspirations and to pursue those dreams you have had since you were old enough
to realise that what you are doing with your life is not what you really want
to be doing in the slightest.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Fondly named the 'New York' of Africa by my brother, for the immense
potential the city has to literally change your life, Johannesburg did just
that for me. I experienced trials, troubles and tribulations which tested who I
am and what I believe in; as well as got to revel in and celebrate the ecstasy
of true and honest friendships, where nights were too short and no amount of pilates
could beat the core workout we got from laughing for hours! Jozi was my home,
my teacher, my guide. It was the place where I learnt how to drive like a pro, dice
through traffic like the taxis, stand up for myself like a lawyer and basically
where I discovered that I had two very capable feet which I could stand on and
use to walk in any direction I wanted to. So I did just that.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Having obtained a BCom Degree in Finance and Human Resources, and worked for
some pretty amazing and well-known companies, I always saw myself climbing that
corporate ladder (which never really seemed to end.) However I was always
longing for something more in my life and was never one hundred percent content
with where I was or what I was doing. Until one day I decided to follow my
dream of completing a yoga teacher-training course. Of course at first it was
what seemed like a 'pie-in-the-sky' kind of reverie, but I slowly and surely
continued on the journey of a 3 month intensive course, followed by 5 months of
completing my yoga hours, and then studying and preparing for my practical
exam. This all came to fruition when I received my Yoga Certification and can
finally call myself a Yoga Teacher. Me - a yoga teacher? Yes - I, Denise Laura
Taylor am qualified to teach yoga. <o:p></o:p><br />
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So where to now...? Well, this is the basis of my blog going forward. I now
live in Harare, Zimbabwe. For the time being I am going to be teaching a few
classes at one of the studios close by - Lotus Yoga, as well as building my
networks to start taking private lessons as well as specialised and unique
classes. I want to be able to share with you, my readers, what it is like to move
from the magnificent, turbulent, corporate life in Johannesburg to the charming
and sometimes testing, vivacity of life in Zimbabwe, the place I now refer to
as 'home', and the place where my new life is just beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I want to be able to share with you the
encounters I have had during the move from South Africa to Zimbabwe – hence
‘SaZi’ – including all the small, wonderful, intricate happenings and events
along the way; giving you a petite yet authentic look into my life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
I hope you enjoy and please feel free to send me feedback, I would love to
hear from you.<o:p></o:p><br />
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Till next time, always in peace and in love…<o:p></o:p><br />
<br />
Namastẻ<o:p></o:p><br />
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