thrivezim

1 January 2020

The quietest morning of the year, humanity lying asleep, recovering from a night of merriment or misery, dreaming of the past and possible futures. Finally submitting to the forces of nature and allowing rest, excited or maybe afraid for the new year to come. Yet the outgoing tide of 2019 and the incoming of 2020Continue reading “1 January 2020”

full circle

Another year has come and gone, the beginning taking us faithfully to the end. Life is cyclical, a repetitive replaying spring, summer, autumn, winter. Yet if I look closely, feel deeply, if I stop to ponder; I realise that there are layers of growth and truth to be celebrated. Life is not simply circumference ofContinue reading “full circle”

afternoon naps

A favourite past-time for rekindling passion and energy in peace and solitude stretched out on a soft bed, fan spinning on hot days, or, curled up cosily like a squirrel beneath a duvet, when the weather is crisp, almost purring, contentedly like a cat in its best loved spot.

On turning 40

I am like warm wax emblazoned with the master’s seal. This coming of four decades has caused a shifting in my soul; a clicking into place, like a piece of a jigsaw puzzle being pushed down; I am like one , previously unable to see over a wall, now given a ladder to peer intoContinue reading “On turning 40”

last lines

So many mornings I’ve sat contemplating the day seeking strength and courage for then new challenges. Dreaming … questioning … enduring, now finishing. Walking in with ambition and expectations, believing I held a bunch of magical keys that could unlock long closed doors. Now, I’m walking out, some doors are opened, some keys passed on,Continue reading “last lines”

first rains

diagonal droplets fall on parched, bare ground baked and burnt by months of relentless african sun. The earth drinks the life-giving water as cooling molecules caress its dehydrated surface, causing joy to bubble from deep within each grateful soul. The relief is tangible, the smell intoxicating … indescribably delicious perfume of God. We are notContinue reading “first rains”

On Joy …

My middle daughter, 11 years old, gave me this note the other day, it’s simplicity stuck with me… “have a good time every day…”Was that how I lived my life … did I have a good time every WORK day? As teachers, it can be so easy to lose our JOY, to forget why weContinue reading “On Joy …”

purple

purple ponies, iced cupcakes, hair ribbons, girlie, dreamy, pretty, but this purple, is purple on another level . It is purple that proclaims hope purple that causes us to pause in wonder; our adult brains questioning the possibility of a whole purple foliage. Purple blossoms arresting my attention transporting me from my rat race inspiringContinue reading “purple”

dragon flies

a reminder of freedoma celebration oftransformation …Once tiny larva beneath the surface of the pond,yet, following intrinsic design,one day, they venture up the pond rush stalksand awaittransformation …they don’t fully understand the processbut obey the inner pull -here- the Great CreatorMetamorphoses theminto F R E E D O M

Sad Sundays …

– Flash back to 28 April 2019 I had just had tea with a friend, we were talking about teaching and for the first time ever, I told someone of my dislike of Sundays … I wrote this “I fear the the return to routine, to demands, to clocks, bells, schedules. These school rituals feelContinue reading “Sad Sundays …”