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.
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. 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. However, to some, my life may seem pretty normal and that’s ok, I’m not complaining or trying to purposefully differentiate myself. 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.
Today, I am 29 years and 4 months old. I was born and grew up in Johannesburg, South Africa, one of the most beautiful countries on this planet. 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. 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.
'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. 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.
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.
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.
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. 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.
I hope you enjoy and please feel free to send me feedback, I would love to hear from you.
Till next time, always in peace and in love…
Namastẻ
