Ode to the Greatest Gran in the world

2020 was covid…and 2021 still is.
Every conversation everybody has brings it to mind as it affects everyone’s life in some way.

Last year January, family were asking us whether we weren’t scared of traveling to Asia – the epicenter then?
Life is exciting and needs to be lived.
I wouldn’t change a thing, other than spend more time in Asia, had I known it would have turned out this way.

The Trip and Journey

12 months ago Caleb and I arrived in Manila, The Philippines, for his exciting journey playing “Eric” in ‘Matilda, The Musical’.
It was going to be a family adventure.
We were going to be out of South Africa for a total of 13 months with 1 visit only in August 2020.
Marlene was going to fly Kristin in and out of different countries.
Kristin was going to spend summer in Thailand and her birthday in the jungles of Borneo.
I was geared for writing a book.
Caleb opened the show singing “My mommy says I’m a miracle”.
We enjoyed our month in Manila, traveling the islands when we had time and embracing Asia as an inquisitive child does.
Learned to respect the challenges working in different time zones – many times Caleb asleep when my coaching clients only connect after 12pm.
Meeting new friends for life.
Sanitizing and temperature taking all the time – malls, hotels, escalators.
Our complete normal.

Then the show was cancelled.
Empty seats in sold out performances.
Audiences wearing masks.
The bloody mother-trucker of a virus.
Manila went into military lock down and we were asked to return home until March when Thailand tour started.
Had we known…
Caleb and I had to cancel our flights to the beautiful islands of Palawan, Cebu and Coron.
Our enchanting Japan was no more and we would be missing out on the cherry blossoms in bloom, Caleb’s roller coaster to do list with planned Sumo Wrestling matches.
Between last meetings in Manila and arriving back in Cape Town mid March we had contracted the virus too.

Beating the actual virus would be the easiest thing in all of the last 12 months to be honest.

Unfortunately most of the world also stopped operating. Our own lives just surviving trying to keep head above very murky waters.

I’ve had many clients and subscribers contact me over the last few months to ask whether I am okay.
So grateful for the messages.
So sorry to not have posted. Wasn’t sure whether just sharing my own crazy journey would add value.

I know now that it does. And will.
Like the wise purple dinosaur Barney says: “Sharing is caring!”

There is enormous blessing in being grateful.
A game-changer personally, was to look this beast right in the eye and thank this virus for something.
What am I most grateful for over the last 12 months?

Saying goodbye to my Grandmother!

When lock down were announced in South Africa we wanted to head to the family farm to spend time with with my Gran.
She was 85 and of course a high risk individual.
Us testing positive, although we could quarantine before, then just didn’t make sense.
With all the changes in levels during lock down there was just never the right time to travel.
It took us until October to actually get to her.

Blessed beyond compare.
So lucky to have been granted the opportunity to spent her last days with her before she suddenly and unexpectedly, although 86 full years of age, passed away one evening with us on the farm.

Just like that!
Maybe she waited for us?

Had we been on Caleb’s tour whilst writing my book, then in China, we would never had had the opportunity to be with her during her last days.

Just putting pen to paper here makes me want to stop and celebrate this opportunity.

The last 12 months and all it’s challenges have been worth it, if only to say goodbye to a beloved second mom.
She taught me what unconditional love means.
She inspired. She loved. She was loved.
Mother to 6 daughters. Grandmother to 15 grandchildren. Great Grandmother to 5 great grandchildren. A life worth celebrating.
Until her passing I had only known loved ones to pass away in hospitals or places which were not peaceful.

Being able to breath ones last breath in the house that you have lived in for more than 65 years, surrounded by your children and grandchildren, is a dream we can all only wish for.
We were part of that dream.
Forever grateful.
Miss you always Moms.

Covid = Ode to the Best Gran that played a massive part in the man I am today.

Share your grateful stories and see how you can turn unfortunate events into life changing blessings!
Being grateful is so important and many of us struggle with that through normal life.
Talk to someone if needed.
Get grateful and happy!