Saying Something

Dear Readers,

Social media has been one of the greatest tools of enlightenment and torture over the past few months. For the longest time, I have wanted to share my two cents regarding the movement in South Africa particularly amongst the youth of South Africa on issues of race, class and gender. I have read many articles and social media posts that have left me with, ‘me too!’ moments and some posts left me feeling that we were in huge trouble with the lack of knowledge some young people proudly showcased.

I have unfriended acquaintances on Facebook over ignorant posts with regards to racial issues in particular but I have to admit that some days I am inconsistent. Most days I feel as if I am only a witness to these issues and am simply observing a tennis show between black and white players. I am not angry enough at the past to be black and not privileged enough to be white.  Most days I am outraged by the Sparrows of this world and the rest of the time, simply quiet and observant. Simply coloured. I wish I could say there was one role model I could look up to and be like she/he is loud, proud and coloured. But then again, to identify as coloured is to inadvertently admit you don’t give a rats ass about the many children you have. But most importantly, your teeth may or may not be your own.

This blog will become a platform to break the silence about issues pertaining to a race that has been silenced by middle class mentality. You don’t have it good enough to be satisfied but you don’t have it bad enough to protest.

Sincerely,

Reneva

 

20-something wisdom

Your 20’s is the period which you knowingly or unknowingly discover who you are. Friends might be able to answer this question quite definitively and confidently. Surprisingly, reverted back to yourself, you might feel out of sorts. Most likely you are able to say what you don’t like or who you don’t want to be. Try answering this question now: Who Are You? I am not saying I know the answer to this question but the answers even if unsatisfactory will be a clear indicator of what you associate yourself with. You could’ve answered in descriptive terms such as loyal, caring, friendly or like me you could have answered in terms of the roles you play in your daily life such wife, mother, daughter. blogger.

Its a confusing time. You get the chidults (childish or child-like adults) who seem to never quite grow up or are unaware that their lives have progressed without their notice. No. you don’t have to shack up and get married and have a bunch of babies but high school has ended. There is one thing I know to be true (here comes Oprah), if you talking about the same things you did in primary school, you are a Chidult. But its quite understandable why adults would want to remain being a child. Rent-free, employment-free, copy and paste assignments, fractions, your parents shelling out for your birthday, dad-chaffeur… the list is endless.

But all this is A-OK.Because you are allowed to mess up everyday.

Some days I am at the top of my game of adulting and other days I am a chidult. So here are a bits and pieces from three ladies who I feel wins at adultation.

Yethu Mtshali

1. Reserve your rights

I started despising words like ‘crazy’ or ‘cool’ when I realised that people used them to police behaviour. I’m not the same person every day and being labelled is something that I see as limiting. I reserve the right to wake up and decide what I want to be. I can even change my mind every two minutes as long as I haven’t given the power of defining who I am to others.

2. Finding equilibrium

I waver between being completely self-absorbed or selfish and wanting to give my all into making the world better. It’s probably because my self-worth hinges as much on how I treat myself as it does on my behaviour towards my environment and others. On the special days when I find a balance between the two, I am my most fulfilled self.

23-Year-old writer for the magazines, vlogger (From A to Y), blogger (Quarter Life Dilemma) and twitter user (@YethuIsMyName).

 

Shirley- Ann Links

1. Stand by your Faith

“Because of this I am who I am today, a Living Testimony through Jesus Christ smile emoticon ”

As a young lady of 23 I kept on telling people this, I call it – My Mentality

“I do not deserve second BEST. NOT at all. Doesn’t matter what! I deserve First BEST.”

Reactions of some people would be – Sweetie, in what world are you living in?? Things are expensive, take your education further, because I can see you want to live a rich life, you have to first start small, you can’t just jump. Pressing my dreams into a tiny box, trying to influence my mind with negativity. But it doesn’t mean that because you have to go through all the different channels that you don’t deserve the best and that you cannot think BIG. I came to realize that small minded people think that way. They limit themselves and think they can do that to others as well. Don’t pay mind to that.

I believe every single one has their own reason for this and here is mine.

Too many people think Education can buy anything and everything. I say Education can open specific doors and it’s good to be educated, but God can open up doors that no man can open. His doors don’t have a SPECIFIC sticker on the front, it just has faith.

Lisa- Marie Kleyn

 

 

Be Selfish

As a young woman in my early twenties I have experienced many different things, even though I am still so young. I have studied at two different universities and discovered that most of the time it’s best not to transfer in your second year. Admin nightmare is an understatement. It also meant graduating a year later, which means starting my career a year later. It also meant giving my self another year to study a postgraduate I actually didn’t want to do and then didn’t enjoy and then failed miserably.However, through these experiences I have learned to make more informed decisions. I have also learned that I need to follow my heart sometimes, and not do things that others want me to do. I have learned that I need to make myself happy first. I have learned that sometimes it’s okay to be selfish.In 2015 I completed my PGCE, and I was finally doing what I have always wanted to do. In September 2015 I completed my practical in Paarl. It was the first time I’ve ever been so far away from home, so that too was a new experience for me. At first it was tough, but soon enough it felt like home. And by the end of it all I will learned so much more. Everything from my driving to my confidence improved tremendously. The experience was necessary. Because my twenties is the best time to experience and grow.

Grecian

The Fattening Truth

Trying to lose weight is one of the hardest things to do. I was very thin when I was younger. Too thin now that I don’t look fondly upon old pictures of myself. Besides clothes sitting a bit too tight around the middle and the zip not zipping all the way up. The comments made from family and friends can really be discouraging.  There are contradicting messages in media that supposedly encourages woman to love their bodies. Campaigns which promote healthy instead of skinny. But every time a not so skinny person ‘takes a stand” or gets an opportunity that usually a skinny person would be afforded. It’s celebrated rather than questioned why it’s not the norm.

Reading Corner #3

 

This holiday I thought I would be lying in bed surrounded by books but alas I’ve been writing a book! For children! 
My university does not quite understand the term, “holiday”.
But I have managed to finish a few books that I have been reading simultaneously,
Here are my book and blog picks of the week:

Make-Up Review: Clinique Pop and Beyond Perfecting Foundation and Concealer

I think that this is my first ever make-up review but these two products are deserving of a designated post. Clinique has launched their pop lipstick range and its ah-mazing! Wide range of colors to suit different skin tones and solid beautiful colors that stay put throughout the day. True Love Magazine sent the Wow pop and I was super keen to try out this new product. You can check out the feature here 

Wringer

Furthering your education always seems like a good idea at the time of application and at the end when you are holding that piece of paper. The in-between periods are the times when doubts start creeping in, exhaustion settles in and you wonder if this will all really be worth it.