August Day

The 8th month of the year could have easily been named October had not the months of January and February been added to the Gregorian calendar that is used in most countries today. I like the sound of August, not to mention that this year had many great moments.

Paul and I celebrated our birthdays this month: I turned 28 on the 4th and Paul celebrated his on the 13th!!! Hello late 20’s. Honestly, I didn’t think about or make much of it, however my friends and loved ones made it very special none the less. This made me truly grateful and thankful. Asante. Asante. Asante.

There were a number of other birthdays this month: my Dad's on the 8th and Paul’s mom on the 18th. This month also saw my Gran celebrating her 90th birthday on the 12th. Wow! 

The has been a lot of negative and devastating events occurring throughout the country this month which I'm not going to dwell on here, I would rather focus the positive and on giving out positive energy.

It is so easy to take things for granted, so easy to let each day roll into the next and the next and the next without even realising where one begins and where one ends. I'm learning the art of pausing, being open to life, and being grateful. 

Paul and I got the opportunity to visit Dubai during Eid. We stocked up on books from the library but didn't get to read them on the trip, the inflight entertainment was more than enough. I'll renew them. I really want to finish them.

The experience was amazing! Being able to walk around at night without fearing for your life, using reliable public transport and knowing you can shop for a sim card at a mall at midnight is pure bliss. With day temperatures soaring above 40°c, I didn't really feel the heat because almost everything is air-conditioned: metro, hotels, big and small shops, malls, cabs etc  making it bearable for everyone to live, work, play and move around comfortably. I think our leaders can learn a lot from some aspects of how that country is run. 

View from our friend's apartment balcony.

We got to meet and make new friends on the trip whose hospitality made us feel very welcome. I also love how courteous everyone was, a far cry from the mannerisms displayed by a large number of motorists here in Jo'burg. It was so easy to lose one's cool on the drive back home but Paul kept reminding me that it doesn't have to be that way, we can be better. It doesn't cost anything to be polite.

I feel this new energy within me that I haven't felt in almost 2 years. Suddenly I feel alive. Very alive.