THE JEWELS IN COMMUNITY

In this 21th century we are faced with many challenges and one such issue is the manner in which we are destroying nature through pollution. I would like to recognise an organisation that provides solutions, through visible change.

Metrorail has been struggling to keep the stations and surrounds clean. Some commuters feel that they can place their waste, not in a waste-bin, but wherever. We were approached by the World Mission Society Church of God to be a helping hand. They dedicated an entire Sunday to not just collect dirt, but cleaned toilets, removed weeds, washed walls and even entertained commutors as the train entered stations.Their singing brought much smiles to many.

The volunteers were young and old, of different cultures. What a picture of the new South Africa and the church this portrayed. I admired their dedication on a day where the sun was beating down on Cape Town with temperatures reaching a high of 36 degrees.  

These people were making a big city smaller with bigger hearts. They found a way to bring change about and made me realise that we have shining stars while it is dark. They are agents of reducing carbon footprints. To know more of what they do contact them on (021) 447-1265 / 072 642 6010 or go to their website  http://english.watv.org
Picture Resource: Keith Edwards

IF I WERE THE BOSS

This is definitely not the picture I want my staff to have of me.

As the leader of an organisation I want to ensure that I provide just that, leadership with the ability to turn things around, a doer and thinker.

I want to lend support to all divisions / departments, looking for early indication of opportunities of growth and development and looking at the challenges of the business. Keeping abreast of trends and developing growth strategies. This means surrounding myself with a team that has the same views and vision, like-mindedness.  

I want to look smart, be assertive and have a presence when I enter a room. Staff needs to feel free to speak to me, but know that my dealings will be fair.

 

At the end of the day they need to know that my brand ,vision ,mission,and what drives me.

In closing, it would be important in this era of labour and strikes for staff to know this one thing of me

 

Picture/s resource: goofyville.com

HOW HARD IS IT TO FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS?

#SMED12

Children are wonderful beings borrowed to us to train and develop, but they grow up into beings with their own personality and individuality. Parents try the best possible way to do this job assigned to them.

Those of us who have teenagers can testify about giving instructions to them to perform. Yes I hear those amen’s echoing.

The scenario is that you are on your way out and as part of responsibility you tell your teenage daughter that she needs to tidy the kitchen. Now it seems that our understanding of following the instructions is simple, but no . For me it was washing the dishes , the old fashion style. Cleaning the sink and then packing it away. Then taking the broom and sweeping then mopping the floor.

So here I come home with company only to find that the instruction was misunderstood. To add fuel to the fire, if you want to use our toilet you have to enter it via our kitchen. I can now feel the empathy from parents. So, what have I leant from this experience? Explain the process step by step.   

Picture resource: dirtykitchens.com  

TWO PEOPLE CAME OUT OF A BUILDING AND INTO A STORY

The date was 25 November 1995.The time was 13h00. The venue, Bethany Community Fellowship. She walked down the aisle, looking very radiant on the arm of her father.

We said our vows, the pastor spoke the words that made it final, “I now pronounce you man and wife”. Then we walked holding hands out of the building, confetti everywhere and we started our new lives together. That was the start of our lives together 16 years ago. It definitely did not echo the words of the “happily ever after”.

Many divorcees will tell you as they left that building to start writing their stories, for some it was a horror story, for others a mystery, yet for others a love story. And then for some it was the wish of a fiction story.

My story is that of a …Well I am not sure what it is. All that I can say of the content is that my wife Samantha has taught me love. Such dedication and faithfulness, not even I deserve. I am forever grateful for what she has shared with me. It has changed my world. We have had our share of pain, but love conquers all.


Picture resource: Keith Edwards

DOES IT MATTER?

The braai went well until we started talking about sex. This surely got the attention of the females especially since we were talking about the muscle between the legs of a man.

Divorce statistics around the world is high, but especially in South Africa. There are many reasons attributed to this, but this conversation was exploring whether the size of a man’s penis mattered in the lovemaking process. A huge emphasis we felt was being placed on size and this placed pressure on many men. No man wants to be made to feel that his is less than what is “big”. Their ego would be tainted if truth be told when it came to comparisons.

It was said that females have ways of establishing this fact. Some say that they look at the size of a man’s shoes, or glance at the way it is fashioned within his pants. Interesting was watching the way the females responded in conversation. So the question was then, if this is so important then why the high rate of divorce? According to statistics, one of the reasons was due to lovemaking process.

The writing was on the wall, size does not matter if you don’t know how to use what you have. It was the effectiveness of the equipment.

Why then do media place so much emphasis on it? I think that couples  and our young men should be taught that size is overrated. If it were not so, then many South African men who are  divorced, would be guilty of the size factor and I doubt that is the case.

Picture resouce: lollercoasterlab.com

IN THE SHADOWS

#SMED 12

I recently bumped into a friend of mine, not sure if I could call him that as we have not seen each other for years, since high school in fact.

It was great seeing him after so many years. We had great times together, visited each other’s homes, played together and had lots of fun.  When we completed grade 12, we just drifted apart and started taking different pathways.

At college I met new people; we became friends and started new lives. For the next three years bonds were formed. So much so, that when my mother passed on, they stood strong with me and walked a difficult road with me. Much time was spent together, studying, doing research and even holidays. We enjoyed cafeteria time, the laughter, prepping for exams, how I miss that time. Then when we reached the end of our diploma year, it felt that the same cycle repeated itself. The gap grew wider and we saw less of each other.

A new chapter started for each of us, some married, made first steps in our careers and even got married. The question I now ask myself is do we allow good friendships to drift apart and why? Maybe it relates to a saying that,“People come into one’s life for a reason, a season or a lifetime”. Could it be that those that were there for a season are now living in the shadows ?   

 Mario studied with me and now living in the shadow as a 'season'

Picture resource: Keith Edwards