A poem for the matrics

“If you think you are beaten, you are
If you think you dare not, you don't,
If you like to win, but you think you can't
It is almost certain you won't.

If you think you'll lose, you're lost
For out of the world we find,
Success begins with a fellow's will
It's all in the state of mind.

If you think you are outclassed, you are
You've got to think high to rise,
You've got to be sure of yourself before
You can ever win a prize.

Life's battles don't always go
To the stronger or faster man,
But soon or late the man who wins
Is the man WHO THINKS HE CAN!”

[Walter D. Wintle]

Sy inspireer my!

Sy is nie die mooiste, simste of die rykste persoon in die wêreld nie, maar vir my is sy perfek. Sy het al die regte kwaliteite om 'n rolmodel te wees. Sy is ook 'n groot deel van my lewe, sonder haar kan ek niks doen nie. Sy inspireer my daagliks. 

Ek praat van my ma ... Die groot rolmodel in my lewe. Van kleins af was sy altyd daar vir my. Niemand beteken meer vir my in my lewe as sy nie. Sy is letterlik en figuurlik sterk. Sy weet hoe om 'n persoon gelukkig te maak, as hy die dag af voel. Sy gee om vir ander mense, meer as wat sy vir haarself omgee. Sy het in 2005 sonder werk gesit, maar nog steeds het sy 'n plan gemaak om ander mense te help.

Sy het 'n preprimêre skool begin wat vir kinders sorg wat nie meer ouers het nie. Hulle het hulle ouers hoofsaaklik verloor as gevolg van MIV/VIGS. Sy werk nou by 'n hoërskool in Kutlwanong, maar is nog steeds deel van die preprimêre skool. Sy is ook deel van 'n broodjieprojek by die hoërskool. Sy het hierdie projek begin saam met 'n paar onderwysers wat geld geskenk het vir hierdie projek. 'n Projek wat uit die personeel se eie sakke gefinansier word. 

Sy het drie kinders van haar eie waarvoor sy verantwoordelik is, asook twee van haar suster se kinders. Ek weet nie hoe sy dit alles op 'n onderwyser se salaris doen nie, maar ons het nog nie een aand honger gaan slaap nie. 

Een van haar uitstaande kwaliteite is dat ek haar nog nooit gehoor kla het oor enige iets nie. 

Al hierdie dinge maak haar die mens wat sy is. Die belangrikste is egter dat sy my ma is en dat ek baie lief vir haar is. Niemand in die wêreld kan ooit haar plek in my hart inneem nie.

Sy inspireer my!

[Dankie, Paul van Odendaalsrus, vir hierdie mooi woorde oor jou ma.]

A Story About a Man and the Boat

One day a man was asked to paint a boat by an owner of boat. He brought with him paint and brushes and began to paint the boat a bright red, as the owner asked him*.While painting, he realized there was a hole in the hull and decided to repair it.

When finished painting, he received his money and left.

The next day, the owner of the boat came to the painter and presented him with a nice check, much higher than the payment for painting.

The painter was surprised: "You've already paid me for painting the boat!" he said.

"But this is not for the paint job. It's for having repaired the hole in the boat."

"Ah! But it was such a small service, certainly it's not worth paying me such a high amount for something so insignificant!"

"My dear friend, you do not understand. Let me tell you what happened."

When I asked you to paint the boat, I forgot to mention about the hole.

When the boat dried, my kids took the boat and went on a fishing trip.

They did not know that there was a hole. I was not at home at that time.

When I returned and noticed they had taken the boat, I was desperate because I remembered that the boat had a hole.

Imagine my relief and joy when I saw them returning from fishing.

Then, I examined the boat and found that you had repaired the hole! You see, now, what you did?* You saved the life of my children! I do not have enough money to pay your "small" good deed.

Moral of the story:

So, no matter who, when or how. Just continue to help, sustain, wipe tears, listen attentively and carefully repair all the "leaks" you find, because you never know when one is in need of us or when God holds a pleasant surprise for us to be helpful and important to someone.

I can be a tool of ...

“I have come to the frightening conclusion that I am the decisive element. It is my personal approach that creates the climate. It is my daily mood that makes the weather. I possess tremendous power to make life miserable or joyous. I can be a tool of torture or an instrument of inspiration, I can humiliate or humor, hurt or heal. In all situations, it is my response that decides whether a crisis is escalated or de-escalated, and a person is humanized or de-humanized. If we treat people as they are, we make them worse. If we treat people as they ought to be, we help them become what they are capable of becoming.”

[Haim Ginott]

Here's to the best school year ever!

Now and then we all need a little inspiration and motivation.

Surround yourself with people who motivate you. Stick some motivational posters at your home. You can even keep these motivational posters as desktop wallpaper, smartphones and tablets. 

Everything you need for a fully motivated and fulfilled day.