Tag Archives: @gratitude

A lesson from a naartjie

A naartjie (also called mandarin or tangerine) is a small round citrus fruit we usually enjoy in winter. This fruit makes me think of each day we get to live. It has the same amber glow of the rising African sun and each morning, I have no idea if the naartjie in my hand isContinue reading “A lesson from a naartjie”

Your kindness may heal someone else’s pain

In a time where we do life differently than the other parts of the year, one story reminds me to be kind, as we don’t know other people’s pain. Another reminder is that bad behaviour may be a cry for love, acceptance and help. The story: A group of men were locked up – murderers,Continue reading “Your kindness may heal someone else’s pain”

A life lesson from Nicholaas

A boy waits in the queue on his first school day, quiet and full of nerves to go to class. His new teacher walks by and her pencil falls (in modern days, her smartphone or laptop cable). This boy jumps out of the neat row of schoolchildren to pick it up for her.Being a smallContinue reading “A life lesson from Nicholaas”

Everyone matters – even the silent ones

The girl-who-cannot-talk died today – quietly drifting away to death with a serene smile. No one knew her name or her story. No one knew why she could not talk, because there could be various reasons. She could be old, disabled or too sick to tell you what she is feeling. Or she had noContinue reading “Everyone matters – even the silent ones”