"Do you know what's sexy?" #100convos #10

Nina and I always joke that we met when I picked her up at a braai. We literally did meet at a braai and kept in contact. Our mutual friend was only in CT for the weekend, we connected over boy woes, and the rest is history. I chose to interview Nina today, at a lunch to celebrate the dedication of said mutual friend’s daughter. It seemed so appropriate.

Nina is always around to listen to news, good or bad. She dispenses nuggets of wisdom and quotes into my life a few times a week. I’d like to think that I’ve returned the favour a few times over the last few years. Nina has a way of connecting with people, across barriers – with a background in psychology and a passion for philosophy, this self-professed “lover of peppermint crisp caramel pudding” is more than qualified to lay some wisdom on the world.

Honestly when we get together we don’t really have a conversation, it’s more like we weave a spell of stories, wisdom, quotes and love. We covered a number of topics while soaking up some winter sun. Nina shared a few favourite quotes with me; I’ve chosen to share some of them through this post.

We chatted about the decline in spiritually in the world, how so many people seem to be afraid to explore, let alone tap into a higher power. “We need to nurture ourselves,” Nina responded as I spoke about playing in the park the previous day. It makes so much sense, like children, we should tap into the magic, beauty and fun of life.

“The soul always knows what to do to heal itself, the challenge is to silence the mind.” – Caroline Myss

Holding onto pain and bitterness will just hold us back. Sometimes we need to take chances and just say yes. “Sometimes you just need to go with the flow,” explained Nina as she talked about seizing opportunities and seeing where things are falling into place in your path. Nina shared a favourite quote, “When life rejects you, it’s redirecting you.”

“You must not give Bitterness power in your life. Release it and let the Happiness flow within you. Forgive those who have wronged you. Learn from those experiences and grow within. Happiness comes from within.” – Doreen Virtue

Nina has this great philosophy of gratitude leading us to be kinder and more generous to others. It makes sense as a concept of pay-it-forward, where we respond the good in the world by sharing it, even if we need to make ourselves vulnerable in the process.

“Do you know what’s sexy? A real conversation.” - Anon

Anonymous Artist #100convos #8

A different type of conversation, basically with a stranger, about a month ago, late at night, over Whatsapp. He asked to remain anonymous, so I won't explain. The conversation haunted me in its strange beauty and was actually part of my inspiration to start this project. I tracked him down over the last two days, and he said that I could go ahead with this post.

Me: Tell me something deep

Anon Artist: About myself?

Me: Anything

Anon Artist: Hmmm..I suffered from terrible night terrors as a child and got out of them by turning to art...and became a professional artist. :)

Me: Wow! Love it

Anon Artist: Turning a negative into a positive!

Me: Its inspiring

Today I asked Anon for an additional statement on the subject and he obliged.

"Being an artist is an incredibly rewarding experience. Despite all I've seen and heard in my life I wouldn't change any of it if it changed my art."

Art & Apartheid #100convos #7

I first met Sid at a mixer for creatives, and bumped into him a few times over the next few years. Sid is creative for a living as a graphic designer. He is also a total sweetie and I must admit that I didn’t give him much of an option about this interview. I pounced over a home cooked meal.

We chatted about my project in general, and I told him about interviewing the kids. He grabbed at my “kid friendly question of the world cup, and claimed that he had a great story about the final.

“I was in bed that evening with flu and I tried to watch the game on streaming, but it was very slow and I ended up listening to it on the radio instead – and sat on social media.”

It’s that the story?

I put him on the spot and demanded something juicy. Sid totally delivered with something beautiful.

“Growing up in Durban, because my mom was a domestic worker, I grew up with the family that she worked for; Until I was 5 and had to move to a different neighbourhood, away from my mom but with my other siblings. It was still apartheid and I couldn’t go to a “local” school. After ’92, my sister really pushed for it, the people my mom worked for said I could come to this new mixed race school, Northcrest Primary”

He clarified that while the kids were mostly black, the teacher were of mixed race.

“It was basically a stepping stone to a new life and new experiences. I had a teacher, Mr Mkhize, he was basically the first teacher to say that he was open to anything.”

Sid went on to explain how this extraordinary teacher really focussed on the kids as individuals, encouraging special skills and interests. This is how Sid discovered Art and it changed his life. “It was exciting” he said, and I could almost imagine him exploring colours and form with powder paints.

I was so moved by his story. Here was a story from the past, a past that I feel like I was almost oblivious of - I could go to any school that I wanted to, my parents grew up in an area that was very integrated, or maybe Cape Town just wasn’t as segregated. Or maybe I was just oblivious?

Globe Trotter #100convos #6

I first met Joanne at midnight on Long Street, through a mutual friend, almost five years ago. About a week later, I and said mutual friend rescued Jo from a horrid blind date. We made a plan to gym together and haven't looked back since. We have flirted, we have dined, we have cried, we have danced and we have laughed A LOT. Jo left South Africa 21 months ago and I miss her terribly.

 

Thank goodness for technology, we can chat whenever we want to, I'd be miserable without the contact! We had our conversation over Whatsapp.

Jo has lived in Cape Town, Lyon and Dubai in under 2 years. I asked her to tell me something that she's learnt through living in 3 cities in under 2 years.

“Don’t stick with what you know. Try something new and meet different people. It will surprise you how nice different can be. They have a South Africans in Dubai group here in Dubai. And they all stick together and socialize with each other mostly.”

And you don't?

“I just feel it’s close minded because they are missing out on a world of experiences and different point of views. My friends are French, Brazilian and Polish. I don’t even know any South African people here – except my mom!”

Culture differences between the 3 countries?

“SA and France had a big culture difference. But I found it refreshing. Dubai is such a melting pot of cultures because there are so many different ex pats. In some cases it is very similar to SA as we know it, other times it’s a world apart - I guess it depends where you hang out. I guess one thing about the culture here, is a lot of people are very concerned about image and money. I miss South Africa’s more laid back fashion and club/restaurant scene.”

South Africa misses you Jo!!