Jodene is the co-founder of:
and founder of:
Published June 14th, 2011I’m thousands of feet above the ground and finally on my way home after an unexpectedly productive trip to Cape Town. This is officially my first mid-air blog, but I’m thinking that it’s far from my last.
To be honest, I have that real back to school feeling and haven’t been able to shake some odd emotions since the beginning of yesterday. After meeting so many people and all chatting so freely about where we find ourselves in our lives, it’s not surprising that the main topic was how hard it is to own our own businesses and survive financially. A lot of us are still wondering how we are going to do it and the frustration mounts when the compliments about my abilities roll in.
There is business opportunity in both Cape Town and Joburg and I’m also keen to head off to Durban and see the contact that we can make there. So why the frustration?
Greg hit the nail on the head when he said that people leave their lives to fall into such a state of chaos that by the time they get to us, finance has become their greatest signal that they need to do something different. Very seldom are our financial issues related to money at all, but we only seem to pay attention to our lives and what needs to change when money becomes a crisis. Then people need us …. when money is too tight to pay us. I haven’t been able to shake that insecure feeling for a while now, but stand firm in my knowing that there is nothing on the planet I would be doing besides this.
“I’m determined to make a living as a blogger,” is something that you will find me saying very often. I know the spin-offs to that are all a part of the income too, but I want my blogging platform to generate money and I know it can. If I get suck in the how’s I’m going to get myself even more upset and confused, so I’m just continuing to do what I’m doing on a daily basis. That’s the toughest part of ‘project me’ … knowing when to do something different and when to just keeping going! It’s completely hit and miss and the one place where all you can do is believing in yourself enough to trust your instincts. I’ve learned that no one can ever teach that and even though the tools that Greggie and I share through Lifeology helps to guide the way … the choices we make just can’t be taught!
In the ‘something’ that changed yesterday, I could feel both Greggie and myself slip into our own silent spaces of needing to get home for our own reasons. Very often people confuse us as a married couple and I question that assumption just because we work together, travel together and share some beautiful common friends. I got myself in a bit of a state thinking that people around us thought our friendship was unhealthy and went to sleep with that pang on concern. I can always see my headspace by my dreams and it was a totally chaotic one where I has hating everything around me and in a world that completely didn’t suit me. My world does suit me! My friendship and business partnership suits me too and so does my getting myself out into the world and looking for a relationship and friendships separate from those I share with Greggie.
If I don’t get out, it’s got nothing to do with co-dependence and everything to do with my own money issues. I usually weigh up the funds too heavily and choose to rather save the pennies than go for that dinner or that drink. Greggie is the complete opposite and I’ve had to work hard at following his lead. That’s the only reason why I’m usually out with him … because he’s made sure I do it! It’s scary to know that ‘project me’ things need to be done a little differently at the very time that money is tight.
To add to the frustration, there are some old financial issues that have crept up from my past partnership and the worst thing you can ask for is a call from the accountant when you are about to head on a plane home. That’s the reality of life and I’m waiting to touch down and get straight onto calls that ask why the South African Revenue Services thinks I’m still drawing a salary I stopped receiving nearly 2 years ago. Oh joy!!!
I do have to intervene in saying that when we boarded the plane and the paramedic was in front of me, I thought to myself “I hope it’s not one of those movie scenes where he’ll ironically be needed on the flight!” … of course it is! Someone has just passed out and he’s off to do his job! Crazy thoughts …
Anyway … to end the post and settle down into a flight that will be 40 minutes short because the wind is shoving us along … it’s amazing when a friendship survives the feeling that enough is enough. This is why I’m so blessed to have the friends and business partner that I have. We have been living in a studio apartment where the couch faces the bed and have literally done everything together for nearly 10 days. No closing the door to get away from each other except for one day where Greggie went for a walk and I took a nap. No wonder we are little edgy with one another! The ‘project me’ part of it is that we can have that chat and make sure the other person isn’t taking it personally. We can hold our own issues and not project them onto one another, without taking offence to the hours of silence in each other’s presence. As business partner and friends we have years of travels ahead of us and I know that these moments will be many! It makes me wonder how the hell couples survive living with each other for years on end … an adventure I hope to explore and discover for myself one day!!
PS … unbelievable … someone else on the flight has just collapsed and is need of medical attention. Isn’t it amazing the reality we create for ourselves! Thanks for being on board Mr Paramedic!!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published June 4th, 2011
Emmanuel Castic and me!
It’s 4 hours before I am heading off to the Twitter Blanket Drive at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Rosebank. It’s been one of those emotional days that people battle to understand about me. Yes, I cry for almost anything! The tears vary from excitement to fear … but there is undoubtedly one shed often.
While chatting to Melanie Minnaar, who is the founder of the drive, I had already had a lump in my throat. Well, there was a build up to that.
It all started when we collected an international guest from the Gautrain station in Sandton and I realised just how far we have come as an country that welcomes tourists here. I don’t go to Sandton much and I’m horrified to say that I didn’t even know where the Gautrain station was. With each phone call people were telling me that it was pretty hard to miss and only when I turned the corner and saw this gorgeous building that any South African would be proud of, did I understand what everyone meant!
Fetching an American and hearing ‘Safari’ roll of their tongue from the moment they begin talking really isn’t that unusual. It’s the other part of the conversation that made me so proud to be a girl from Africa! She had such beautiful things to say about every part of Africa that she had visited. No part of this special tourist had missed any of the beauty through fears of traveling to Africa. How refreshing. She also told me how expensive it is to travel here and how willing tourists are to pay. Once again, they all come for the safari.
This was the last leg of M’s trip before she met up with her folks on the other side of the world. She was supposed to say in a youth hostel overnight but that is certainly not South African hospitality. Instead, she stayed with my mom and I and got to share a special South African treat with her.
M, Emmanuel Castis, mom and me
Along the way of my ‘project me’ journey I have met people with such acceptance and willingness to share their ‘project me’ stories with me. Some of them have been interviewed but I haven’t had the privilege of meeting them personally. There the is the opposite in the case of Emmanuel Castis who started as a South African celeb with a story to tell and has blossomed into a friend.
Friends have many things to share with each other and last night was his turn to share his singing talents. It was the perfect opportunity to introduce M to some cool South African peeps, take her to an amazing SA restaurant and have her be entertained by a gorgeous singer. I had never heard Emmanuel sing live until last night and I can honestly say that I had to sneak a tear or two in. I was bought up with music being a very important part of 0ur lives and memories and last night there were far too many of them.
I know it’s difficult to find the things that strike up memories, but there was a huge meat slicer right by our table and I couldn’t help but miss my dad terribly. We grew up having a butcher as a dad. Not one who owned a butchery, but one who was MD of one of the biggest meat companies in SA … Bull Brand! Most of the time I was grossed out as a child, but now I appreciate a meat slicer. It did freak him out that I don’t appreciate a good rump or sirloin though. Sorry daddy!
My dad taught us to be proudly South African and it would take far more than one blog post to tell you all the reasons why, but one of the greatest reasons he shared with us is the humility of the nation. Only when M asked where the paparazi was and couldn’t believe that a famous person was mingling with the tables, did I realise just how humble we are.
After hours of chatting we started talking about what I do and it seem that around the world, blogging is beginning to become a recognised career. Of course, she told me stories of friends of hers who had made a fortune from blogging and I did feel a little 3rd world. On the other hand, when I told her about today and the Twitter Blanket Drive, I felt like the proudest person of this great nation.
I am in awe of us right now. Twitterers across South Africa getting ready to hit venues around the country and bring blankets for the needy. On the other hand, I’m equally proud of Greggie who will be singing at a CANSA function and holding the flag for Lifeology there. Most of all, I am proud that the voice of social networking is shouting something so positive today!
Many times I find myself riddled with frustration at how far behind South Africa is in the social networking arena. I have wanted to bash my head against the wall when I see how we don’t use the power of this great tool to our advantage … and then I am silenced by the unbelievable dedication of one woman and her team across SA. Melanie Minnaar has become my friend and that would never have happened had Twitter not bought us together. It was an honour to tell M all about today and I could see her wonderment at what we do for each other as a nation. Good God it was incredible!!!
Tomorrow I get on a plane and fly to Cape Town for 9 days! Greggie and I have meetings and I have a novel to finish. The SA kindness flows through so much of this trip and I always smile when I say: ‘It began with a Tweet’. Thank you to 6 on thirteen for opening up your Cape Town home to us so that we can make something special happen for our business and ourselves.
I could go on for hours about the reason why I’m bursting as a proud South African today, but instead, I’m going to put on my lipstick and head out the Twitter Blanket Drive to be amidst the greatness once again.
To Emmanuel for blowing away a woman who lives amidst Hollywood starts! To Melanie for blowing away that same woman who comes from a county who boasts about giving a fortune! To South Africa for blowing away that woman with our smiles, greeting of strangers and love for our land that seems to be worn on our sleeves … I thank you for making this ‘project me’ day such an incredibly moving one!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published May 27th, 2011
I think the only person who can’t believe that I used to be this club hopping, 4am on a school night kinda girl is me.
I started when I was 16 (I’m sure that was under age) and discovered a club called Ceasars Palace in Braamfontein. I kid you not … it became a standard Wednesday and Saturday night thing until it got to the point that a group of us were on the VIP list and used to stroll past the crowds lining up in long queues on a freezing night like last night.
Nothing would stop us! Not even exams or broken bones. Ladies night was on Wednesdays and we would grab front row seats on the edge of the dance floor. We would wait for certain songs the whole nite and sometimes arrive home as the sun was rising because it took that long to get up on the speakers and dance to it!
I remember that one year a friend of ours gave up clubbing for Lent … we thought she was psycho and there was a huge celebration when she returned after 40 days of real sacrifice. It did pay off though, because she met her hubby there not long after.
Believe it or not … I never had one comfortable day of clubbing in all the thousands of nights out. It was way before ‘project me’ and I was this chubby, glasses wearing virginal girl who thought that competing with size 2 chicks who got the guy was the end of my world. I went for the dancing, the b52 shooters and because I have always made beautiful friends throughout my life. Even now, as I sit here and think back, I can’t think of one time when I was happy in my skin and out on the town.
That girl in me is an old friend that I no longer recognise and I only realised that last night.
So, I bitched and moaned like an absolute brat and Tweeted myself silly about it being too cold to go out and that I was too old to go out on the jol (SA word for awesome time or party). I chewed Greggie’s ear off and shivered like a drama queen but kept reminding myself that in a few hours it would be his birthday and I had to grow the hell up!
Of course I’m thrilled that I went out and for so many reasons.
I’m loving getting to know people I’ve met on Twitter and I can slowly start to call real friends. Mike is one of those special peeps who invited us to go watch an SA band that he has been raving about. I haven’t done live music in ages and forgot how much I love it. I might still be feeling too old to go to loud concerts where I have to queue for hours and stand for even longer, but last night I realised that I’m not gonna get to old for amazing SA bands in chilled out venues, with special people.
My proud pic at the top is with Mike, me and Graeme from the Graeme Watkins Project in the middle. I haven’t seen stage personality like that in a very long time and for a girl whose passion lies with country music, I have to say they get full marks for stealing my heart. I loved the lyrics and I hope to interview Graeme on Your Project Me Story soon, so I will definitely include some of them.
Only when all the gorgeous girls arrived and it would have been that time for the old insecurities to kick in, did I realise just how happy I am to have taken time time to like me.
I mean seriously, look at my gorgeous friends! Oh, look … there’s gorgeous me too!
‘Project me’ made magic last night by not having to drag all the baggage of low self esteem out with me. I’m not a girl to look back with regret, but I am one to look at the moments as perfect and even more amazing remembering how far I have come.
In the end everything warmed up: The fingers, toes, heart and company.
Thanks to Mike for the invite and the Graeme Watkins Project for the SA pride. To Emmanuel for rocking up unexpectedly and being so freaking special.
Last, but certainly not least … to my best friend, business partner, next door neighbour and soul mate (in our own little way) … happy birthday to you! So much of who I am is because of the light that you held up so that I could see who I am through all the darkness. It was one of the most precious moments to count down to your birthday and wish you a happy birthday in moments when I couldn’t be happier to be me.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published May 19th, 2011
Fantastic, another day of forgetting to blog and then rushing from one thing to the next. Yesterday a doctor friends said that in the medical profession you can only really count your success after you have been in practice for 1 000 days. It’s it ironic that he made such a statement when the last thing I feel like doing tonight is blogging.
You’ve all asked what happens on the days I don’t want to … so here it is!
I’ve sat the whole day trying to do quotes for socialising other people’s businesses (which is my passion) but I hate dealing with figuring out what to charge for each individual client. I come from the spa background where everything had a set price. A body massage was so much and a facial was so much. Cut and dry. No assessing what the person needs and evaluating my time. It stresses me out beyond belief. I am trying very hard to ‘project me’ myself right before going to my very dear friends for dinner … but I am frazzled.
It doesn’t help that the damn ‘A’ of my laptop keeps flying off after a sentence or two. That does make me put the brat down for a moment and say that I’m totally thrilled at the fact that a friend of Greggie’s and mine (God only knows if that is correct english … me/mine/I) spoke to his IT solutions guy and he’s more than happy to sponsor a laptop. There’s a dance of joy in there somewhere.
I now have to climb in the car and explain to my dearest business partner that he treats me exactly like my father used to. Not loving any of them any less … just don’t test me the whole time. My dad used to know how he wanted to word something and then he would let me type out a whole document and stand over my shoulder and correct spelling (yes … I’m a writer who sucks at spelling) and correct sentence structures. Greggie is the son of an English teacher … need I say more.
Today I told Greg that I’m missing my dad more than I have in a very long time. He told me that it’s because I’m doing so many new things and this is when anyone would need a father figure most of all. In so many ways Greg doesn’t allow for that co dependance of fathering but in another breathe, my father may as well have been alive and bugging the crap out of me while doing a quote that is supposed to be very exciting.
So I’m being a brat and I don’t care if I can’t leave for dinner on time … I’m getting this blog done. The only frustrating this is that it’s done …. with 10 minutes to spare and enough time to put on my lipstick!
PS … I didn’t tell you that a while back I committed to do work for a company for a certain amount of time (at no cost) to prove to them that social networking actually works. I’m now so pissed off at myself for thinking so little of me and my talents that I’m in this situation. On the other hand … I stick to my commitments and I’m in a state that I didn’t get to do as much networking as I would have liked! So truth be told … it’s not really aimed at the A that flies off the keyboard all the time, or my best friend and business partner that only trying to help me or the memory of my dad that would be saying “I told you so”.
It’s all aimed at me and ‘project me’ is supposed to fix it by telling my truth (hence the ratty blog), being conscious (hence the ratty blog) and doing something different (hence ending this blog, putting on lipstick and going out to see my friend). All in all, I didn’t fail as much as I feel I did and by tomorrow I will realise that I didn’t fail at all!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published May 15th, 2011Hi. My name is Greg (Greggie in this blog) and this is the 500th post of my best friend’s daily blog. I have the honour of sharing this special moment with you.
I distinctly remember the day Jodene and I went to watch Julie and Julia; the day when everything changed and she got this notion to blog daily. 500 days along and the daily blogging continues with the purpose and dedication with which she started.
The path has not been an easy one and, while many would have found reason not to blog during the more challenging times, Jodene pushed through, even if it was to post a one-liner to her readers. There were times after she hurt her back and was bedridden that she was too drugged up on painkillers to focus, yet was determined that, if nothing else, her blog post needs to be written. It is during these difficult and vulnerable times that many people stop communicating, yet Jodene realised that if she stopped during these times then she would start to compromise the purpose of Project Me. There have been moments of heartbreak and frustration when it has taken her hours to generate the post, yet these hours have been what have helped her to heal what has been weighing on her mind. These are also the posts that draw the most amazing response, which just shows how much we all appreciate the truth.
On the flipside, there have been lighter moments along the journey. Jodene, bless her, is not good with numbers and seems to ‘lose’ days along the way. I, on the other hand, bless me, have a tendency to be anally observant and have, on occasion, had to Google what day of the blog we should be on, because something just hasn’t felt right. In some of these cases we never found those missing days.
Then there have been those days where, not having written her post yet, I have dropped her at home giggling after an evening fuelled by alcoholic beverage. These posts are distinctive to say the least.
I have watched my beautiful friend grow from considering her every word and worrying about what her readers would think of her, to a bold, natural and vulnerable writer. Jodene speaks her mind, first in person, and then on Project Me. She allows the world into her life and her readers see themselves reflected in her story. For we all share a story by purely being together in this time and space.
Jodene and I have a relationship that I treasure above most things. We are often passed off as a married couple yet we know that on the continuum of relating, even if the chemistry were somewhat different, we would still only be best friends. We really have very little in common: we don’t share a taste in music, TV programmes, books, food or men. The last point is a huge positive for Jodene and she is at least comfortable leaving her boyfriends alone in a room with me. 
Yet, more importantly I have someone who I know will not play into the drama I create in my head, will not judge me for speaking my truth, always listens even though sometimes she’s thinking I’m talking crap, laughs along when I laugh at my own humour, and will never tell me what to do. Jodene and I watch each other go down paths that we can see will be challenging and after telling the other what we see, allow them to choose that journey if they want. Because we believe we all take the journey we choose to.
It is an honour to stand by Jodene’s side as she travels her Project Me journey. As she grows, so does Project Me, and the world is a better place for it.
To my dearest friend: Day 500 is but a stepping-stone along your path of self-discovery; a path that is being travelled with courage, consciousness and a sense of humour. You are an inspiration, a joy to be around, a best friend like no other and a treasured business partner.
In the words of a very wise person: “Keep taking that ‘I’m-awesome-and-nothing-can-take-that-away pill’”. We love you for it.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published May 14th, 2011
A part of me can’t believe that I am writing my 499th post and other part of me can feel every moment of every word that has been typed. Sometimes I can’t live without it and other times I can’t believe I ever started it.
Today I had a mini primary school reunion. A part of me felt rushed and just wanted to get back to sorting out arrangements for tomorrow’s big #D500 party. On the other hand, it was so good to get together and catch up after about 25 years. Of course, both moments are thanks to the same thing … social networking.
Without Facebook, the 3 of us would not have connected and without Twitter I would not have the platform to have shared my blog with the world. Well, I would not even have a blog had it not become one of the post powerful forms of communication.
I’ve had a very melancholy few days and I keep bursting out crying with excitement and then overwhelming amazement at the journey. In all the emotion I’ve reflected on how I got to tomorrow being so supported, online and off and I’ve realised this … besides my mother and my best friend/business partner Greggie, every other person surrounding me is a part of my life thanks to social networking.
EVERY!!!!
Then I thought about the turning point when I knew that the blog went from being a commitment for 365 day to an open journey with limitless possibility … it was the day I looked at my blog and saw ‘sponsors’ in red writing and went … “WOW … I have sponsors”!
There is something in that. Something in someone believing in you so much that they put their brand behind you, spend time or money on you and encourage you to carry on way beyond 365, with a promise to be by your side.
I have those sponsors and I ask you to indulge me as I thank each one of them for their role in making ‘project me’ what it is today.
The gorgeousness of this blog is all thanks to Bruce Young and his combination of patience and web design genius.
Bruce, thank you for the countless hours committed to bringing ‘project me’ to life. I have requested the impossible and expected everything to happen at the click of a button. I have crashed my site and turned it upside down and each time, there you are … my knight in shining web designed armour!
Hustler Girl, where do I begin to thank you for the support and dedication to my blog and our friendship?
Never once did I question the need for the sponsorship of your adult store. When it comes to being a single girl with an open mind about sex, it is refreshing to know that there is someone in the industry with the compassion, care and discreet respect for every client. It’s the greatest joy and fun to be able to call on you during the single days and the attached ones (as fleeting as they have been of late!)
I think that the journey with weight never leaves a person whether they get to their goal or not. Obviously the whole point of ‘project me’ is to show that it’s more about the purpose than the goal and that is a difficult route to take when dealing with a sponsorship that is driven by the scale or the tape measure.
I don’t know how to explain my gratitude for this sponsorship or how to thank Niel for taking his time to understand the choice to not follow the route of the goal, but to live the purpose. Your support has been unfailing and after I injured my back and couldn’t train for month while the weight crept back on, you kept cheering me on. Your product is truly all it promised to be and still it stick within my beliefs that you might have support, but you still have to do the work yourself. Thank you for believing in me … always!
Tracey, when my mother told me that you had heard my story of having teenage skin in my (late) 30′s and wanted to sponsor my blog, I was beyond thrilled. Every day that I wash my face, put on my day or night cream and look at myself in the mirror and smile at my clear skin … I give thanks to you and the amazing product your represent.
I got told that I looked ten years younger than I am but it was when the person nearly fell over at my real age that I said: “It’s thanks to my amazing sponsor, Regim A!”
This sponsorship began in an instant, with a touch of spice and a warmth of hospitality.
To ‘my family’ at Thava Indian Restaurant, I am blessed to have you share so many special moments where you feed my friends, family and myself. When I was sick in bed for months, you bought me food. When I have had celebrations, you have opened your hearts to my guests. You have rescued my sister during shock Joburg floods and you have fed my heart with an unfailing warmth.
As for the food … well, I don’t say you’re the best in town for nothing!
The new kid on the block:
I hate having my picture taken. Okay, I hated having my picture taken and now I can handle having my picture taken. I am tired of hearing that there are rules to photography and that what I look like is what the world must see. It’s not easy trying to explain what it’s like being a bigger woman and wanting to feel sexy in front of the camera. Well, it wasn’t easy until Pat Sloan entered the picture and told me how he specialises in photographing woman for boudoir shots. Pat, for the first time ever I have felt ‘semi’ comfortable with a camera in my face. The picture featured on my post tonight is that very confirmation … wow, I love me in that shot!
I thank you for the comfort with which you make me feel and for making me brave making the camera my friend … here’s to my boudoir shoot (a few weeks down the line of course).
My #D500 Sponsors
Well am I not just the luckiest girl to have the awesome duo of mom and son sponsoring my big day! Bev and Matt, you have been unfailing in your support and your excitement for tomorrow. I am honoured to be inspired by your passion to shine.
Thank you for the support when the wheels fell of and for helping every step of the way. I can’t wait for everyone to see the Kathy van Zeeland bags and to give one away courtesy of 6 on Thirteenth.
I have a sneaky suspicion that this is just the first step along and exciting journey of collaboration and celebrations.
I fell in love with the venue before I even walked in the door and with every step through it I just knew that I wanted to host #D500 at Cafe Culture.
Kerry, you have embraced this special day with such excitement and have the same vision as me for the endless possibility of networking and socialising as the greatest tool to explore endless possibility.
I see myself sharing your venue with so many people, be if for project me or any of the other products within Lifeology. I can’t wait to taste the prego rolls you are raving about … oh, and the potato wedges. I know they are going to be worth a few tweets.
Project Me would love to welcome more sponsors on board and now has advertising space, so please read more about it where it says ‘sponsorship/advertising’ in the tool bar.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published May 8th, 2011
You know when you get a song stuck in your head and you don’t quite know how to get rid of it? Well I don’t have a song … I have 7, 6, 5, 4, 3, … I kid you not.
Since finding the ultimate venue with the ultimate sponsors to celebrate ‘project me’ day 500 with me, I can feel the countdown tick down with every heartbeat! So it went from being a little frazzled (ok, a lot frazzled) that the initial venue got canceled at the last moment, but life lesson no. 132 354 is that everything really does happen for a reason.
I’ve decided to hold back on the venue and sponsors … and the plans for the big event (that started as my idea to have a pot of soup on the stove for a couple of friends) as the countdown continues and I make plans.
Yep … every day for the next week you’re gonna know exactly what’s going on as I build up to a day that was never on my vision board, not in my affirmations and beyond my wildest dreams.
I spend my life telling Greg that “I just wanna write”. I never said what, how or where because those are the ‘hows’ … the little details that get us all caught up and tripping over the rocks instead of stepping over them along our path to happiness.
Of all the joys in the near 500 days … the people I have met have been my greatest gift. The fellow bloggers around the world, the Twitter followers who are friends without ever having met, the followers who are now truly friends (hng on, my … fell off nd my brother hs to put it bck on!) aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa … laptop sponsorship anyone?
Back to where I was … oh right, the incredible people that I am celebrating in a mere week’s time. There are so many and in the days that creep up, I will be thanking everyone. But for now … I have to thank my two bestest friends!
How lucky can one girl be?
Not one, but two totally nutty, off the wall and incredibly loving and supportive friends in one lifetime.
So I might have asked them to pose a little for the pic, but I literally had to tell these two clowns, Greggie and Hustler Girl, to repeat the faces they genuinely pull and Tweet the things that fall out of their mouth with reckless abandon.
That’s my ‘thank you’ to these two treasures in my life. I have needed a lot of encouragement and coaxing to allow my personality to flow through the blog and it has been these magical souls and my observation of how they throw themselves into the world and realised that it’s a much better place to be.
I have an odd feeling that every day is going to have the following sentence in it: “I cried today because …” and I have an even more sneaky suspicion that a box of kleenex of 7 should be scattered around the exquisite venue.
So … one incredible new ‘project me’ sponsor is soon to be announced and thanks to them, I have the ideal venue. It’s a rush but invites go out tonight and tomorrow. A little ‘project me’ exercise is to breathe and trust that invites aren’t going out too late with the venue change glitch.
The second massive ‘project me’ thing is to get over my uptight personality and let it go that I sent out a save the date to friends and the time is changing for the third time. Well, the only thing constant is change … right!
So now it’s mother’s day and I do have so much to celebrate with the special mother that I have … but she gets her own blog dedication this week. So have yourselves a beautiful Sunday wherever you are and if you are a mom, have a mom or miss a mom … my love goes out to you!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published April 16th, 2011
It’s been a crazy week and I have moments of trying to distinguish what happened when. And then there is joy of ending it all with the combination of my two favourite things … cooking and teaching .
Greggie always reminds me that life is not a competition, but my family history has kind of ingrained it in me and I’m do a lot of ‘project me’ work that entails putting the blinkers on and doing and being just because I can.
So the over the top dinner wasn’t to top Twinkletoes’ roast chicken or Greggie’s seafood risotto. It was about me … well, me and a student, who has become a friend, who has become a cooking partner. We shall call him Prince. He’s already rescued my once by digging splinters out of my finger and he has the archetypal charm that would put most Disney princes to shame.
So … we planned a menu for about two weeks. Each night that Greggie and I taught archetypes someone else would take their turn to cook. Future students, don’t get attached to the idea … it’s the rarest teaching arrangement we have had to date.
Rare roast fillet drizzled in chilli chocolate sauce has only been savoured by both the Prince and I in restaurants, but it’s good to find someone else who is daring in the kitchen. Greggie always tries new dishes when there is company coming over and most people say they would practice first, but who are you cooking for then? Thanks for that amazing lesson my friend.
As for the teaching, well that gives me indescribable joy!
I’m having one of those limbo days where I feel as though I’m passing the time and waiting for the gods to shout down answers so I don’t have to think for myself. I just thought I should throw that in before I head on out to Greggie … for left overs and to hear him tell me some of the things I teach the world!
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published April 8th, 2011
Well, where does such a happy girl begin to tell my story of a night that I don’t think I even dreamed of. Less than a handful of times I have flipped back to a blog entry in the past and been pleasantly surprised at how far I have come, but in the months or years to come, when I read about my Thursday 7th April, 2011 and I say that it was the day I became a party girl.
I have my 20 year high school reunion in September and I have been dreading it for 20 years, now all of a sudden I can’t wait. There’s been loads of joking around that I still need to rent a date, but for the rest, I’m so proud that this nerdy girl with glasses and braces has blossomed into the confident and ‘O’ girl that I was last night.
While my team of Organic O ladies were doing their thing in Cape Town at Boston T for the launch of the club, I was at my first Thursday Club giving away an exciting prize to a lucky lady.
It’s been interesting for my personality to have the utmost of faith in the ladies who are all the way down in Cape Town and representing Lifeology‘s product. Yet at the same time, it’s never been easier to trust at the same time. It must be a huge struggle to wake up one day and have a new boss with a whole different plan and direction to what has been going on in their lives. We magically pulled off being ready for that event, even though my personality did feel a little frazzled by the time I had to get dressed and ready for the Thursday club.
There is something to be said for the brilliant man behind this particular Thursday club concept. It does go without saying that he is one of my dear friends, but I’m not being bias, I promise … okay, maybe a little. I love that he throws us out into the wonderment of Johannesburg and had us make our way to the center of Braamfontein. Now for anyone who lives in Jozi, you will do a little ‘gulp’ or ‘eye roll’ at the thought of going to a part of town that has been considered dodgy for a long time. That didn’t stop Greggie, Twinkletoes, Hustler Girl and me from jumping in the car and heading out into the depths of the ‘new’ Braamfortein.
To say I was pleasantly surprised was an understatement and arriving at The Hotel Lamunu where even the security guard gave us some history of the hotel. It’s gorgeous! There I was in a hidden treasure with a Lifeology prize to give away and frozen margarita in my hand. What more could I ask for?
I don’t need to flip a few days back in this blog to see how life can turn around in the blink of an eye. I just hope that I’m never asked on the Ellen show how I did it … I will have to honestly say “just keep swimming”. There’s nothing profound and nothing very spectacular that would create a new self help book on how to succeed. It’s seriously just clinging to your dreams for dear life, believing in yourself with everything you have and crying whenever you damn well feel like it.
I’m patiently waiting to hear from my ladies in Cape Town, but from the Facebook status’s at about 3am, I think that might take a while. I have already received an email this morning, offering me a venue to do an Organic O talk and last night Hotel Lamunu generously offered me their incredible space to host a party … get those diaries out, there’s lots going down!!
Of course, amongst it all is the everyday personal stuff and mine is filled with lots of mixed emotions. Last night I had a friend not show at the function, which left me a little disillusioned and trying hard not to tell myself that all men are the same. On the other hand, we ended up meeting the most fabulous crowd of people and within moments Blackberry pins were being swapped, Facebook friends made and dinners being planned.
After the function I arrived home to a new member of the family. Mommy had snuck out and found a little brother for Saphirah. He is a beautiful kitty who we have named Eragon. The only problem is that Saphirah currently hates his guts. My mothering nature battled though the night knowing that Eragon was spread out on the bed, purring away and feeling very lucky to have been saved from a kitty home. I thought Saphirah (who was also saved from a home) would have settled down but she didn’t eat or drink and spent the whole night on the cold window ledge. Let’s hope that the friendship blossoms because wow, it ain’t much fun right now.
Tonight is a very exciting Lifeology meeting at our new home. We are looking into the future of Organic O and I can’t wait. On the other hand, today would have been my dad’s 70th birthday and I’m hoping that my sisters and brother understand the support my mom is to me and why we can’t all have dinner as a family tonight. I can only speak for my relationship with my dad and I know he couldn’t think of a better way for me to honour his memory.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
Published March 22nd, 2011
My poor friends. I’m glad they have the esteem they have because everything I’ve planned over the past few days I have wished I hadn’t. Well, that’s not true. I have had a fleeting moment of wishing that I had cancelled but then I have remembered that, no matter what happens, I have the most amazing friends to pull me over that one nasty bump I can’t seem to heave myself over.
I have reflected back on the time I have been blogging ‘project me’ and this seems to be the longest I’ve hovered in a space of insecurity, uncertainty and down right nasty to me. A whole pile of issues have come flooding back and although the issues are the same, the money situation is getting tighter. I seem to be questioning every decision I have ever made and I have even battled to blog. Amazingly, even though I only added songs and a brief note over the past few days … I never missed a day of blogging. Therefore I never missed a day of ‘project me’. Therefore … I know I will be ok!
I also never canceled my friends, no matter how much I cried before the special events started. The first one being the Pagan celebration of Mabon, which happens to be Thanksgiving in my world.
As I explained to my special friends, I am always thankful. I never miss the blessings and I never relinquish responsibility for exactly where I find myself. ‘Project me’ has reminded me of this every day. I am also not part of the positivity movement and can’t wear rose coloured glasses when looking at certain situations in my life. So thanksgiving had an interesting spin on it for me. I was most thankful that my friends embrace my practices and get so excited to part-take in them. I was equally thankful that we celebrate these moments (and all moments we are together) with the merriment that the goddesses expect of life.
It was equally amazing to watch each person slip into the space of gratitude and embrace the very reasons why I found the magic of celebrating these festivals with as much tradition as possible.
Of course, in my crowd, it eventually all goes south and fits of laughter and hysteria reigns. In those moments when we become shamelessly joyous, I am thrilled that I never canceled.
Yesterday, my house had no water and no electricity at another point. It rains into the house and clouds were hovering and there are boxes of half packed items scattered everywhere. That almost stopped me from the impromptu dinner my soul was craving. Money is still tight and no one ever seems to mind, so why did I get myself so stressed that the people who have seen me at my worst, would see me at my worst?
Of course, I’m thrilled that I didn’t cancel. I don’t know if there are even pictures to prove the mayhem that we create when we gather together. I’m sure if you saw the pics, you still wouldn’t believe it.
There are no words to thank my Greggie, Twinkletoes, Hustler Girl and Ponkie for being the most incredible friends a girl could ask for … thank you for not being insulted every time I told you I wished I had canceled you and thank you for giving me so many reasons to be so grateful I didn’t.
I know that this too will pass, but in the meantime … thank you for being my strength and the light that keeps my path bright as I take each step.
With courage, consciousness & a sense of humour
