Tuesday 31 December 2013

Too expensive



Here I am, it is the last day of 2013 and I am still in one piece.  It has been exactly two years and two months since I left my corporate job.   Many are still watching in amazement as if they are waiting for me to surrender this crazy feat that I undertook.  Things just do not get done like that, there are systems in place and a formula that one must follow in order to be called a human being.  As a lady in her late twenties, with a well-paying corporate job that allows her freedom to determine her own working hours and gives her travel opportunities on end, you just don’t up and leave your job to follow this invisible thing called purpose.

A few years ago I was on a flight and I sat next to a white gentleman who seemed to be in his fifties.  He was flustered and as red as a cherry (I saw you asking what the point of me mentioning his race was).  I could see his sweat creeping out of his hair and racing down all the way to his collar.  He loosened his tie and unbuttoned the top button of his collar as he released a huge sigh. I normally do not like to engage anyone when I am flying, for moments to myself are quite rare, but I could not help asking if he was ok.  He looked at me and with a heavy Afrikaans accent responded ‘listen here; always make sure that you give 100%’.  I remember going into the office having that statement haunt me every time I performed a task, I always asked myself if I was truly giving a 100%.  Sadly I realised I was far from that.  It is such moments in life which have led to me resigning from my job and taking the step to walk on water.   I realised that doing things just below average was too expensive and it was costing me a lot.  It was sure costing me my 100%.  There is a saying that goes: if you hate where you are in life, change it. 

Everyone who is in control of their lives deserve to live out their purpose, otherwise it is all a waste of a precious soul if one does not.  Who and what does it benefit for one to brace the earth and never love their life?  I do understand how scary it is to pursue purpose, sometimes pursuing purpose can be like searching for black ants in a dark hole, but hey, it feels really awesome when you find those ants.  Nothing can be more fulfilling to know that you wiped some sweat off your brow because you were doing what you actually love.  When you do what you love in life, you automatically give 100%.  This purpose seeking is not an easy journey for everyone, and many people do not know where to begin.  That is because people are under the impression that for one to be living their best life, they need to resign from their job.  Well ideally that is the route to desire but it is not that easy for most people.  Especially taking into consideration the history we have on our continent.  Many people find themselves as breadwinners and so the option of leaving a job is inviting some serious worry and unnecessary stress in their lives.  

There is an ancient proverb that says that a trunk is never too heavy for the elephant, as well as a scripture that says that God can never give you a load that you cannot handle, but honestly, some loads we carry even when they do not have our names on them, the beauty of God is that He makes it alright with you.  Your situation is not too difficult for you to handle, and so you too can have an opportunity to dip your finger in the pool of purpose.  The most important thing to discover is that you need to know what your purpose is and make plans to live your purpose out whether you stay or leave your job.  How does your employment stop you from getting those piano lessons? How does your job halt you from becoming that dancer? When did your job become an obstruction to you starting a community centre? It just doesn’t make sense how we always find one thing to blame so that we do not take responsibility for robbing ourselves from living out purpose.   

You can gradually build up your dream while you are working so that when or if you decide to leave, at least the ants are not black but red. 2014 is around the corner and if there is one thing you should resolve, it is to start giving 100%.  Imagine yourself at age fifty flying to Johannesburg sitting next to a young twenty something lady/gentleman. Which space would you be in at that moment?  Do you like what you are imagining?

This year February we buried someone very close to my heart.  This person was an extremely talented individual who I would like to believe lived life as he saw fit.  I remember his words when we were at another friend’s funeral years prior, when he remarked that the friend’s life had challenged him to live life to the fullest.  On the 24th December I lost another dear friend who also gave 100% of himself.  His life was a true inspiration.  I heard somewhere that the Greeks never wrote obituaries when someone died, they asked a question: ‘Did he/she have passion?’



I’m two years two month into my #WalkingOnWater experience and I have travelled all over Afrika.  I have discovered more than I thought I possess.  I have met people I only dreamt of.  I have spoken to so many audiences; I have been interviewed by magazines, newspapers, and radio and been on international screens. I have been offered so many business deals. I have been favoured by people who I’m a groupie of.   I have been kissed by a crush and have had a Ben10 fall in love with me.  I have attended amazing events and even gained 20 kilos.  I have had the opportunity to engage with South Afrika’s president and a member of a serious monarch.  I started learning a new language and discovered a gift I never knew I had. My biggest highlight was blowing the socks off some Academics when I was invited to present to them.  The look on their faces while I was digging into my soul will forever set precedence for my Academic journey.

Two years and two months later, God is still keeping me afloat as I #WalkOnWater.  Please let 2014 be the beginning of something mind blowing in your life; do not continue accumulating debt because you are robbing yourself off life.  Life should be filled with Love, faith, truth and a whole lot of FUN!!!


See you in 2014
@malebosays