Category personal

My Purpose in Life

Vonita 15 Comments

When I was a child, I used to dream of being a mother and having babies. In high school I dreamt of getting high grades, and put as much effort as I could to do as well as I could. But my career ambitions seemed to stop at that point. I wanted a job in which I could earn enough to support myself, and give me something to do. And not be bored out of my mind. (I was granted that wish!). But that was about the extent of my career ambitions. My head was too much in *romance*. I went to a convent and had zero interaction with males. No joke. I never knew any my age. At fifteen I kissed a boy at a school disco. I had only just met him that night. My mother found out (because *somebody* told her), and it was awful being lectured by her. No kissing boys you don’t know. No kissing boys! (Can I go now?). Alas, I never heard from the lucky guy again. Though I dreamt and prayed that he would call. He had memorised my number after all. Oh, the perils of convent life.

When I was all of 24 and single I was asked the question what do I dream about for my career. I could only reply by saying I dream about getting married to a good man, and having children. I do not dream about careers. (Hmm, CLM (career limiting move) much?) It took a couple more years.

And now, I love being around my children. One aspect of my mothering skills is that I do not and have never patronized them. I do not fuss. I always treated my children with respect. The sooner they could do things for themselves and take responsibility, the better. They are both great kids. Loving, respectful, responsible, easy to be around.

Nowadays when I dream about my future, I dream about writing to my heart’s content, doing Pilates at my local gym on weekday mornings, grandkids in some distant future, spending time with my BFF, and just being me. Not the me that struggles with everything everyday. Always feeling manic and out of control.

I would love to travel to a few places. The U.S., see my family in South Africa again, Canadian rocky mountains, Europe etc!

And I still dream about romance.

Inspired by the following post:
The What For

Introducing myself to the world

Vonita 5 Comments

A voice against drugs, from someone who is paying the price. If any readers recall my 72 Hour post and Execution Night, please do support this soul in his writing.

Tan-Nguyen's avatartannguyen

I felt that there was something I had forgotten to do. I was reading the blogs of others and I realised that they all had introduced themselves. Well here is mine. Sorry for the lateness.

My name is Tan Duc Thanh Nguyen. Hmm. It’s a complicated introduction to make. Mainly because I am not meant to let it be known I have accessed online. And secondly, how to say I am in jail, serving out a life sentence in a foreign country. Well that wasn’t so awkward. It was really really weird. In April 29th of this year, two Australians were executed by firing squad. It has been haunting me ever since.

Our crime was attempting to smuggler drugs from some country back home. We got arrested. Ten years later, the executions took place. It was something I thought wouldn’t happen, but it did. I know that I had committed…

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My Dad

Vonita 12 Comments

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My father loves to give gifts. It is one of his love languages. We always knew that we would be spoilt at Christmas time if my father had anything to do with it. My grandmother used to tell us a story that when he was a small boy he only had a few coins, but went off on his own to the local store. On Christmas Day he presented both his parents with a gift. His father was presented with a handy light bulb and she received a tin of peas. The last gift I received from my father was a perfume for my birthday last year. I don’t see him very often now as he lives in Johannesburg.
My parents were on holiday in the UK when my mother passed away. They were to celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary that year. He had to endure a long haul flight back home without his wife.
On Sunday mornings my dad used to play his music and cook breakfast.
I miss those mornings and the sometimes happy family times we shared.

Winter Magic

Vonita 3 Comments

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Where I will be tomorrow morning!

Following Blogs

Vonita 18 Comments

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I love reading poetry, and other blogs!

Sometimes when I’m scrolling down my reader I notice blogs I usually follow and read. But! The follow button is highlighted, meaning that I am not following that blog. Perhaps I unfollowed accidentally when scrolling, or maybe it’s just some quirky WordPress thing. So I refollow the blog. If any bloggers have noticed my re-follows it is not because I have unfollowed your blog deliberately, but merely rectifying a less than satisfying state I find my reader to be in!

❤

If You Are a Quote Lover – Day Three

Vonita 7 Comments

I’ve been nominated by my dear friend Mark to participate in the Quote Lovers challenge so have decided to give it a go. Mark has an amazing, upbeat spirit and can be found here:

If You Are a Quote Lover, Day Two

Here are the rules:

Post your three favorite quotes, one each for three consecutive days.

With each post nominate three bloggers for the challenge.

Recognize the blogger who nominated you.

I’m going musical on this one – here’s a preview!

And my favourite quote is!

Hello Again, Neil Diamond

Hello, my friend, hello
It’s good to need you so
It’s good to love you like I do
And to feel this way
When I hear you say, hello

Please forgive me for passing on the nominations today. If anyone would like to take part, welcome to do so and ping back here.

❤

If You Are A Quote Lover – Day 2

Vonita 15 Comments

I’ve been nominated by my dear friend Mark to participate in the Quote Lovers challenge so have decided to give it a go. Mark has an amazing, upbeat spirit and can be found here:

If You Are a Quote Lover, Day Two

Here are the rules:

Post your three favorite quotes, one each for three consecutive days.

With each post nominate three bloggers for the challenge.

Recognize the blogger who nominated you.

I’m taking this one home (to Australia!)

Here goes!

Adelaide Street Art

Australian National Anthem Verse 1

Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil;
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page, let every stage
Advance Australia Fair.
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair.

Here are my three (no obligation) nominations:

http://www.miamusings.com

http://www.frommidnighttodawnlight.com

https://korsakkorner.wordpress.com

Thank you, Mark!

If You Are A Quote Lover – Day 1

Vonita 7 Comments

I’ve been nominated by my dear friend Mark to participate in the Quote Lovers challenge so have decided to give it a go. Mark has an amazing upbeat spirit and can be found here:

If You Are a Quote Lover, Day Two

Here are the rules:


Post your three favorite quotes, one each for three consecutive days.

With each post nominate three bloggers for the challenge.

Recognize the blogger who nominated you.

I’m taking this one home (to South Africa!)

Here goes!

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There is no passion to be found playing small – in settling for a life that is less than the one you are capable of living.

Nelson Mandela

Here are my three nominations:

https://sherriedevaleriahendrie.wordpress.com

https://reachingmeadowlane.wordpress.com

https://erikakind.wordpress.com

Thank you, Mark!

Insecurity

Vonita 38 Comments

When I turned eight my mother held a birthday party for me. The children arrived and played with my sister. I felt left out of my own birthday party. I promised quietly I would never agree to having another party for myself. I felt insecure. Two weeks later we moved to the city. I started a new school in the middle of the school term. I was the new girl. At my previous school I had my best friend Angie. We had grown up together. I really missed Angie. Her real name was Angelique and I loved the sound of her name. I struggled to make new friends. I was too shy to join in with the other girls, and none of them invited me to. I became a loner. And escaped in books.

Sometimes blogging brings up feelings of insecurity. How will I feel if others read my writing and then they don’t? What happens if they stop reading? Etc. I don’t want to be left out. There is honesty in blogging. We can present a window of ourselves and not the total view, but it is still a reflection of who we are.

The truth behind my lion selfie

Vonita 2 Comments

Excellent article on canned hunting. A tourist was mauled today at a lion park near my previous home in Johannesburg.

Jess's avatarFrom The Roots

As I apprehensively shuffled into the caged box, my gut clenched and my heart stopped…I immediately knew that I was in a bad place, and I desperately wanted to run straight back out and find comfort in my friends hiding out in the car.

But something stronger told me to carry on, something told me that by enduring the next hour in this awful place I could find hope to make a positive change to the hell that I currently found myself encased in.

After an hour of enduring the heartbreaking pain of filming undercover, I spent the next hour crying and shaking at what I had seen. I was both so angry and upset that I couldn’t decide between having an emotional breakdown and marching straight back into the building to punch the guy in the face. And that’s when I decided that I could try my absolute hardest…

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