Highlights of 2012
Posted on | January 4, 2013 | No Comments
Refection is always a cathartic process for me. Yes, there may be tears, but mostly, strong realisation of the good and challenging events that took place in 2012.
Another year has passed, another set of experiences gained and another year older, I hope that in 2013, I have learned the many lessons of yester-year.
Reflection on one years worth of events can be challenging, however looking at social media tools such as Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn, I can find traces as well as in my journal.
What were my highlights of 2012?
- Change
- I decided to venture back into my business and leave full-time corporate beast. In its place, I ventured part-time into Business Development for a Business Intelligence company and part-time into my business. This did not work as both requires more time that I could dedicate.
- I go back into Infointeg full-time from February 2013. It feels right.
- Challenge
- Navigating my way around the madness that is Jozi-streets.
- Getting lost a few times, terribly.
- Finding my way ….. without a GPS. Voila! Jozi driver …… in progress ;).
- Travel
- Visited the home of Dark Angel and Starbucks, Seattle, followed by Salt Lake City for my first Skiing experience and ended with a few crazy days in Las Vegas (Viva Las Vegas).
- Most eye-opening revelation, Las Vegas is a bit trashy, actually, very trashy, and not as glamourous as it appears to be in the movies. The food is shockingly overpriced and below par in standard.
- Thailand, oh how I love thee. Although I almost ended up in a Thai hospital due to food poisoning and developed such a bad case of lactose intolerance, but still enjoyed it. Thailand is amazing, the culture, the people and the experience.
- Few trips to Cape Town, not as many as I would have liked, Cape Town is getting OTT expensive.
- I ended the year off in the French Alps for Skiing holiday number 2. I have been super lucky this year in terms of travel and know that I’ll be South Africa-bound for a while, but 2012 was an amazing year for experiencing new countries and cities.
- Business
- Formalisation of my third business, Onyx Interweb, The Management Consultancy and deciding to go full throttle on Infointeg.
- Product Development keeps my days busy as well as fund-raising. Watch this space.
- Self-reflection
- Did very little socialising. Running a business and working part-time is draining.
- Taking time for self-reflecting, helped make a few new life decisions. I started yoga classes which I love. Intention for more walking in 2013 is high.
- Stuff
- Bought myself an iPad after years of deliberation.
- Upgraded my cellphone contract to a snazzy Samsung Galaxy SIII, which I love.
- Reduced the need for too much stuff, would like to have more experiences instead of more stuff. Feels good reflecting on the year that was and seeing that there was in fact a de-cluttering process and fewer stuff purchased.
- Other
- 30 days of gratitude chalenge – DONE
- Annual Toy Drive number 5 – DONE
- Dyed hair pink – Crazy, but DONE
I look forward to 2013 and having a strong focus on a few BHAGs (Big Hairy Audacious Goals). This is the year my business will catch like a hair on fire. Time to get moving
Tags: 2012 highlights > 2013 > business > stuff > travel
First visit to the Johannesburg Zoo
Posted on | December 17, 2012 | No Comments
I’ve never been to the Johannesburg Zoo, and after delivering the baby goods and toys from the Annual Toy Drive this morning, we decided to head out to the zoo for a little breakfast and animal spotting. Tip: parents, the zoo is exceptionally child-friendly. The coffee shop we dined at was not too bad either.
My quick visual below describes some of the highlights. The two animals I felt for the most were the bear and gorilla, one of each in isolation. Hope they bring a lady bear and gorilla in, everyone needs some love, even big hairy beasts, I am talking about the bears and monkeys ;).
2013 Goal setting begins
Posted on | November 29, 2012 | No Comments
A blank slate, a clean canvas, oh yes, it’s going to be a fabulous experience.
Love, family, careeer, health, friendships and experiences, find your way to my vision board.
If I’ve learned anything about 2012, it’s that in-spite of life and myself, things will happen and how we deal with it is of the utmost importance. Love, career, health, supreme change and fear of the unknown is always going to be nesting in my mind. There is a difference however, and that is “change is constant”, life is crazy and the only phrase worth living by “in-my-opinion” is …
“roll-with-the-punches”.
Go get ‘em tigers and remember, this year was hard, and we were challenged, but we are stronger and better for it. Wiser, maybe not so much ;), but stronger, I definitely believe that.
Year-end meetup
Posted on | November 28, 2012 | No Comments
It’s the end of 2012 and we should celebrate making it to the end.
Join me for a post work drink to celebrate hard work, a new year approaching and meet some new people.
Venue: Doppio Zero, Rosebank
Time: 6pm
Date: 12 December 2012
I look forward to some fun, downtime with you. Do pop by!
Tags: 2012 > celebration > Christmas > craziness > experience > food > friends > happiness > Johannesburg > meetup > networking > outdoors > passion > social > whoohoo!
Gratitude continues …. days 52-55 …
Posted on | October 26, 2012 | No Comments
So I’ve not written here daily, but I have in my old-school journal. Today, I am grateful to:
- be working from home
- briefing the new product for my business to a software development company
- meeting up with an old business partner for a catchup
- having Friday night dinner with my man and his family
- waking up happy
60 days of gratitude – day 55
Thursday are always interesting days. I try and complete as much as possible for my weekly review on Fridays.
Today, my gratitude goes out to:
- the new team I work with and the fact that they feel comfortable enough to share things with me
- my lovely man for bringing tea in bed
- discovering Anthony Robbins again and getting inspired into action
Day 54, big day!
60 days of gratitude – day 54
- Chicken wings, I make ‘em good!
- Getting some work done and enjoying it!
- Having two great chats with my besties :).
60 days of gratitude – day 53
- T&T saucy, my fav, but it gets better, T&T saucy steak with my man :), a glass of vino and an early night. Bliss.
60 days of gratitude – day 52
Mondays, I love Mondays, why? Because it is a new week, a new, renewed energy state and a fresh mind for gettings things done. Great planning session for the week ahead was done today. Nice!
Days 52-55: Monday 22 October – 26 October. Positive week, mostly and I am feeling good about the progress made.Saturday in Joburg
Posted on | October 6, 2012 | No Comments
60 days of gratitude – day 35:
- Work-itude: Finishing my coursework for #Gamification12
- Fun-i-tude: Experiencing a colourful side of Joburg. Bought some trees from www.growatree.co.za, such a nice thing to do with someone you care for.
- Self-i-tude: Sleeping in (*bliss*). Having an open mind about one’s ability to make lifestyle choices such as being gay or lesbian and supporting those who do.
- General: Lovely dinner made by my lovely man.
Tags: celebration > craziness > food > friends > gratitude > happy > inspiring > Joburg > love > outdoors > people > Saturday > social > writing
Planting some trees
Posted on | October 6, 2012 | No Comments
I proposed to my partner at the Gay Pride festival today. The proposal went like this
“K, will you ……….. plan a tree with me”?
His answer was ……….”I will”.
We bought three trees from one of the exhibitors (at the Joburg Gay Pride Parade at Zoo Lake) called ‘Grow A Tree‘. Planting a tree baby, planting a tree (three actually)….
#greenFingers
About TGIF’s
Posted on | October 5, 2012 | No Comments
Friday’s are all about accomplishments, what have I completed this week and what do I need to accomplish next week?
It’s also about excitement for Saturday morning lie-in’s and spending time solo or with family and friends.
Today I had an impromptu lunch with an ex colleague and the weather was perfect for a lunch break out.
60 days of gratitude – day 34:
- Work-itude: working on my presentation and sending it off to my mentor for critique
- Fun-i-tude / Self-i-tude: impromptu lunch with an ex-colleague
Tags: 2012 > celebration > connections > food > friends > Johannesburg > lunch > outdoors > work > writing
Thursday October 4, 2012
Posted on | October 4, 2012 | No Comments
60 days of gratitude – day 33:
- Work-itude: working on my presentation and sending it off to my mentor for critique.
- Fun-i-tude: taking time out for lunch with an ex-colleague/friend.
- Self-i-tude: having an early night in, mend my cold, which is 13 days old :/
October, a month of “new”
Posted on | October 3, 2012 | No Comments
I started a new part-time job this week in the Tech space and loving it. It’s great to be surrounded by a team who absolutely love what they do, which is a refreshing change. In addition to this, I will be in Cape Town next month and looking forward to it particularly because I get to spend some time with my mentor and friend.
In other news, my gratitude challenge is still going strong. They say it takes 21 days to form a habit. I think I am hitting that point ;).
60 days of gratitude – day 32:
- Starting a new job, which allows flexibility to do the job at hand in my way.
- Discovering “dairy-free-iced-coffee” at Fego’s (”you complete me”).
- Feeling like I will make a difference to this new organisation.
In addition to my general gratitude, I am going to try for at least 1 work, 1 play and 1 self thing to be grateful for. I need to “fin-the-fun” in work and life and I believe that this may be one of the ways to accomplish this.
- Work-itude: getting into understanding the new environment
- Fun-i-tude: laughing at myself for dancing in front of my dog this morning and loving it when he wags his tail super fast!
- Self-i-tude: taking time out to actually have a decent lunch
I know it’s hard to smile when things are tough, to not complain when it is completely validated and to suppress emotions directed at a deserving party. Suppression is not the key, why not use the chain of screaming instead? When someone screams at you, simply scream at someone else.
Just kidding :).
Go for a walk, breathe or hit a punching bag, but let the frustration out.
Tags: 2012 > breathe > business > calm > career > challenge > connections > entrepreneur > exercise > experience > happiness > Johannesburg > networking > new > October 2012 > people
