Notice Your Surroundings

Hi

Time passing by, not a moment to redo or a breath to take for granted. Just last week, late in the noon, my daughter looking out the window shouted, “Look; the trees are going back to normal!” She said this with her face lightened and her big eyes wide open with a glance of gladness. It was a perfect time for us (her father and I) to teach further on the four seasons of the year lessons she had been learning at school. To me, it was a moment of hopefulness that indeed times are changing, for the better. Moreover, given the small green leaves regenerating from what looked as lifeless branches and one of my favorite colour, brown, no longer looking lonely, it is a promising site. Nature at its best, complimented by the sun set in the west part of Pretoria and a child is busy noticing what most of us adults hardly appreciate since we have screens to look at for hours and feel like we are in touch with what is really going on out there.

Lately, I am always asking someone very dear to me how the sun is. In essence, I am trying to ask him how life was out there. If he took time to just feel the sun. If he went out for a walk. The small things that most of us probably may have not find as appealing since Lock-down started in March or even before this very inordinate year called 2020. I am not talking about going for a jog or hiking for exercise. I mean just taking a walk by the house, the corner, the street. My son one day while out for a bicycle ride, took note of the bees by some blooming plant that was just random to me and he started talking about how they sting and everyone must be very careful around them. It is crazy how he started telling us about honey as if he is an expect. If we never went out for that ride, we never would have had the chance to be impressed by him. I guess cartoon watching adds value to kid's learning indeed. There is a lot that surrounds us that has potential to amaze us, clearly.

Last year I started being fascinated with moon watching and star gazing. I remember I would even post on WhatsApp that the moon looks so bright. It came to my attention there is a privilege to work night shifts outside in the open. I say privilege because there is no light that shines brighter than in the dark. Have you seen the moon, what a stunner! If you have not had the pleasure of talking sweet nothings or been told sweet nothings under the stars or even the sun, you might find this a bit unmoving. If you have not shared a kiss under the stars, felt the rain on your skin during summer or even sat by the fire at night in the outdoors, you probably could use the experience. It is such a vibe. I reckon, as the year is leaning towards the end and it is becoming warmer, it would be nice to safely explore the outdoors of your homestead. I mean picnics by your lawn at night and candle light dinners (please do not use your kids as an excuse to avoid trying this).

I do not know about you, but life is happening all around us and we miss so much. It is scary how most of us may have even had to know who our neighbors are due to a circumstance such as a killing virus. It is humbling that the very things we did not appreciate about freedom and its entirety became so clear. Think of the things you've missed the most and if really, you had any idea of how much you value them until you were restricted from them. I for one did not think I would miss going home to Venda in general as much as I did this year. You see, to be honest, after a wedding, home and what it stands for changed drastically. It is not easy driving pass where I grew up and feel like I am “timed” when I actually do go there. I know most married women know what I mean. The home vibes are just different hey. This brings me to this very important part, I am longing for that pass by to greet, the site of my mom baking vetkoeks and the concise greetings to the neighbors who helped raise me while the grandchildren run up and down, trying to be everywhere at once. I even miss meeting my Dad by the road side after he rushed some kilometres away from home, insisting we cannot leave without seeing him, as we head back to Pretoria. The drive back and forth from Gauteng to Venda and at times Mpumalanga. The thing about the drive is that, I have my family all to myself. This is being a bit selfish I know, but allow me.In essence, the little things are not so little after all.

Do you suppose the life around you is getting your attention? There could be a beautiful plant growing in your home you care not about because you are too busy walking by. There could be birds that love one of your windows and you are too busy to be amused by their routine and the comfort they take in your home. The couples you watch on television holding hands walking and embracing one another could be you, instead of just being in your feels wishing. Have you tried walking your partner to the car holding their hand as they go out? All I am trying to say is that, it could be you, so do the right thing and be present.

Life is always presenting little gestures that are so profound. When a little one takes their first step walking, as a parent you pray you never miss that moment. Many things in our lives are longing for this kind of enthusiasm, excitement, attention and presence. It is likewise with your surroundings. If you have a garden or some kind of a yard, this must not be surprising to you. No matter how neglectful you get, something is always happening there. It could be looking lifeless, all I know is that beyond the top soil, there is potential, and it just needs your attention. Do not wait for rain to show you!

It serves us best in living our best lives when we are present. As you reach for the stars, know that gravity has you on the ground for a reason. Your solemnity is in what you have in you as it translate where you are. Do not take for granted what you have, especially those you have. This year time has been showing off its purposes and that the one certain thing about life is that it comes and goes when you least expect it. There is no better time to be grateful than now. The matter is that, we need to respect time. Invest in your surroundings, it matters, You Matter!

Read Ecclesiastes Chapter 3 on matters about time. To be able to build on your positive outlook of life by being grateful , read Philippians 4: 6 -7 and 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18.

Regards

Livhuwani