THE YEAR THAT WAS - 2013

 ON A PERSONAL NOTE

The post Contribution by All to Help Save a Young Life was, in my humble opinion, the best demonstration of the ubuntu concept ( 'I am because of others') I have seen this year in my personal surroundings. The way all and sundry in our street worked together to help the young man injured was impressive. Also, in this post was a vivid example of how the young take life for granted. In my language - Sesotho - we say, "Habo boyi ha ho llowe( At a coward's home they do not shed tears)". If you are outnumbered in a fight it is better to run away and risk being thought of as a coward. This way you will live to fight another day. 

   IN SOUTH AFRICA 

In this one - Tales from the Deep South, Part 2 - A Service Delivery Protest Up Close  - we got a glimpse here in Protea South of what the whole of South Africa would have been like had Tata Nelson Mandela not pursued the path of reconciliation with our former white oppressors. It was a microcosm of what life is like in a country ravaged by civil strife. In such a country nothing works. For example, there is no electricity supply, shops are closed and there is shocking lawlessness where marauding mobs run amok looting left, right and centre. 

Thank you, Tata.

   AROUND THE WORLD

Because Tata Nelson Mandela lived close to us and was in retirement( out of the public eye), it was easy to almost forget what a giant he was; easy not to remember how highly regarded he was
by the outside world.

Our memory was quickly jolted by his passing away earlier this month, after a long illness. After the world got to know about his death it seemed to stop in its tracks in order to pay tribute to Mandela. The memorial service in his honour was said to have been attended by about 100 heads of states. This number of heads of states gathered in one place for one event was reportedly the first of its kind in recent times.

This unprecedented world focus and attention on South Africa after Mandela's passing further 

emphasized the lyrics of a popular song we sing about Tata Nelson Mandela. The chorus goes something like this:

                     "Nelson Mandela, Nelson Mandela.

                    Ha hona ya tshwanang le yena( There is no one quite like him)."

                                       ======================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the year:

"I have fought against white domination, and I have fought

against black domination. I have cherished the ideal of a democratic

and free society in which all persons live together in harmony 

and with equal opportunities. It is an ideal which I hope to 

live for and achieve.  But if needs be, it is an ideal for which

I am prepared to die."

Nelson Mandela ( from the book - LONG WALK TO FREEDOM)

                                             ======================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU

FEEL GOOD IN 2013?

                                               =====================

May all our blog readers have a Christmas full of joy and a 2014 in which all your
dreams come true.

     

       

    

Robala Ka Khotso Baby Jake Matlala

   It is a late tribute this, we are aware.

Baby Jake Matlala - South Africa's former World Boxing Champion - was buried this past 

Friday( 13th Dec). He had passed away the previous Friday( 6th Dec) at the age of 51, after a long illness.

   Baby Jake Matlala was our hero when boxing was still hip and thriving here in South Africa. His talents in the ring - unbelievable stamina, great punching power etc - were the reason why some of us loved the sport of boxing. After Baby Jake retired from the ring it seemed like he took this golden era of the sport with him. Boxing in the country was never the same after he hung up his gloves.

   Farewell, my brother. 

                                                      =======================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"If life is a game, then those who succeed are those who know the

rules - but the vast majority of us don't even know the rules exist. 
The setting of goals is the most important rule of all."

Jack Black ( from the book - MINDSTORE)

                                                        ========================== 

THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                           ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD TODAY?   

    

The DREAMS DO COME TRUE Tour - Part 25, FNB Protea Glen mall( Soweto)

                                           QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

Question/Comment( Zweli): "( Touching on the period of 16 Days of Activism For No Violence
                                                   Against Women And Children, in the middle of which we are.) The job of grooming men to be respectful towards women starts when they are young. And it is the responsibility of both parties( mother and father). I teach my young son to respect girls. I encourage him to be a gentleman by always helping a girl child when the latter is carrying a heavy load, for example.

Answer/Comment( Thapelo): "I cannot agree with you more Zweli. But I think the biggest 
                                                      influence on boy children comes from their mothers. If at home
a boy child always gets his way, he is likely to expect the outside world to dance to his tune as 
well. And when the world doesn't, he will resort to aggression/violence to get his way, especially
against weaker opponents( women in this instance).

Question( Zakes): "Did you( Thapelo) have to leave your 9 to 5 job to achieve your book dream?
                                 Couldn't you have written the your book in your spare time( on weekends, for
example) while still working full time?

Answer( Thapelo): "That's a very interesting question. Indeed most writers write their first book
                                  while still holding down a full time job. It is only when/if the book becomes a 
bestseller that they leave their steady jobs to go write full time.
To be honest with you I was not disciplined enough to use my spare time to write. I had been having this book dream for a long time and it was not happening. So I decided to take a chance at giving it my full attention and this necessitated me leaving my full time job.
But I must tell you that it was not easy. Trying to concentrate on your writing when there is not 
enough food to eat at home or when you have no place to stay is very, very difficult."

Question( Morne): "What you write in your daily journal( Step No 4), can you share with
                                                 other people?"

Answer( Thapelo): "From my experience, your daily journal is your own private space. It is where
                                  you will go when things are not going well on this journey to your dream. It 
serves as your personal motivational tool, especially at the beginning of the journey. This is 
the period when it is hardest to have faith. Other people my not necessarily see your vision.
Ultimately, though, it is your journal. You can share its contents with other parties if you wish."

   And so it went at this FNB Protea Glen mall DDCT talk. Getting to debate and discuss some points related to the talk was very refreshing.

                                                  SOME THANK YOU's
- Morne Tyatyeka( the Manager) - For the permission. And the sharing of ideas after the
                                                          talk. Hoping that your own big dream comes true, my
brother. You now have the tools( Ha! Ha! Ha!).
- Ausi Elga( the Branch Admin Manager) - For putting the logistics in place. And for 
                                                                       the welcoming chat before moving inside.
- FNB staff( bo- Zweli, Zakes et al) - For lending me your ears. 

                                                ==================== 

Our FEEL GOOD of the week:

"If we feed information and data into our subconscious mind/creative
mechanism to the effect that we ourselves are unworthy, inferior,
undeserving, incapable (a negative self-image) this data is processed 
and acted upon as any other data in giving us the 'answer' in the 
form of objective experience."

Maxwell Maltz (from the book - PSYCHO-CYBERNETICS)

                                          =========================

THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                                ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?    

      

         
                                  

Lala Ngoxolo Tata Nelson Mandela

   Much has already been said about Tata Nelson Mandela since his passing away yesterday( 5th Dec.). Much about what he has done for us South Africans; much about what the world as a whole thought about him. And it is a mouthful.

   In our own small way we also want to pay tribute to Tata Mandela. 

       " You were a great inspiration Tata. The Mahatma Gandhi quote, 'We 

           must be the change we want to see in the world.' is so appropriate

           in your case. The way you lived your life said it all. Ta! TATA."

                                    =======================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"More powerful than my fear for the dreadful conditions to

which I might be subjected to in prison is my hatred for the

dreadful conditions to which my people are subjected outside

prison throughout this country...."

Nelson Mandela, The Rivonia Trial, 15th October 1962.  

                                     =========================

THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                                ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD TODAY?    

    

    

100 Books Sold

   This week selling a 100th copy of our book - Feeling Good.

Needless to say, we are very chuffed. Only 4 more zeros to go until we reach our target.

Many, many thanks to our first 100 buyers.

                                             =================

THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                           ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD TODAY?    

The DREAMS DO COME TRUE Tour - Part 24, FNB - Main Street, JHB CBD

   I started my FNB life at this branch back in the old South Africa, when apartheid was about to end. 

   Back then 'darkies' with degrees were like gold. Upon joining the bank we were immediately put on an accelerated programme to become managers. A programme from which I later fell off unfortunately. I guess I was not manager material ( like bo-Katiso).

   But I digress.

   In terms of atmosphere, this motivational talk at the Main Street branch of FNB was simply one of the best I have done this year. That is because the audience in this instance was bigger, and they were all seated together in front of me( as if in a theatre). So whenever we clapped, for example, the sound came out as one unit. When we read from the book also, the voices were more united.

   And the often smiling, at times nodding, and occasionally clapping front row of bo-ausi Esther, bra Samuel, Mr Xulu et al was such a beautiful sight. If anyone thinks that I came across well during this talk, it is thanks to this row. They did wonders for my self-confidence.

   Finally, hearing the sound of the F-G clap long after one had left the stage, so to speak, was priceless. No amount of books sold can ever match this. It was an honestly humbling experience. "Ta da, Main Street."

                                                 SOME THANK YOU's

- Katiso ( the Manager, and a friend) - Thanks ho menahane my brother. The list is just too long. The metaphor of the talk being 'a wake up call by someone beating drums' was really neat.     

- FNB staff - For helping to create such a wonderful vibe during the talk.

- The following three staff members for their support in buying a copy of our book:

                     - Esther - 'Your words of encouragement about reaching our 1 Million target meant a great deal, sisi.' 

                     - Arthur and Katiso - 'Sisonke Bafowethu.' 

                                                ===================

Our FEEL GOOD quote of the week:

"Use your imagination to see yourself in a situation that hasn't 
happened, picture yourself having or doing the thing you want, 
and successfully achieving the results you desire. This is what
visualization as a success tool is all about."

John Kehoe( from the book - Mind Power)

                                               ===================== 

THANK YOU UNIVERSE. THANK YOU FOR OUR 'FEEL GOOD MOMENTS'.

                                                ===================

SO, SOUTH AFRICA AND THE WORLD OUT THERE, WHAT MADE YOU 

FEEL GOOD THIS WEEK?