Here my answers to this week’s SYW from Di

Would you consider yourself creative (writing, projects, hobbies etc)]
I’d say I’m creative in my own way. Those right/left brain tests show my hemispheres are fairly balanced, though they do tip slightly toward the creative side. I’m not what you’d call artistic—I can’t paint or sketch to save my life—but I do enjoy knitting and sewing. Admittedly, those weren’t skills I picked up effortlessly; I got there thanks to my knack for following instructions to the letter.

My creativity tends to shine more in writing, where I can play with ideas and language freely. I also don’t shy away from speaking off the cuff in public—thinking on my feet feels natural, and it’s where my creative mind gets to stretch a little.

What is the ‘bravest’ thing you think you have ever done (faced a fear, stood up for someone/something, etc)
Looking back, some of the things I’ve done that might seem brave could just as easily have ended in disaster. At the time, though, I wasn’t thinking in terms of courage—I was simply acting on instinct. Like when I left my first husband with a two-year-old in tow, a temporary job I hoped would become permanent, and no real plan. I stayed with my parents for two weeks, then moved into a flat, still unsure how long my job would last. Thankfully, it all worked out. Even when I was unemployed for three months between jobs, I managed to keep things afloat.

I’ve pulled off other brave—or perhaps foolish—moves that somehow ended well. I seem to have a personality that skips the whole “weighing consequences” step. I leap first, think later. Case in point: when my granddaughter slipped on a wet slipway, I dashed after her without a second thought—only to slip and fall myself. She bounced back like rubber; I, on the other hand, spent weeks nursing a bruised hand and back.

If you were to come into a substantial amount of money, what would you do with it?
In my imagination, I’m a millionaire on a mission. I’d buy a home for my domestic worker, set up an education fund for her children, and keep adding to a growing list of ways to uplift those who’ve had fewer opportunities than I have. Naturally, I’d be discerning about who I choose to support. Instead of donating to a charity, I’d prefer to help individuals directly—those I know personally or whose stories I’m familiar with, people whose need is genuine and whose lives could be truly changed by a helping hand.

Of course, I wouldn’t mind indulging myself too – A first-class World Cruise would be just the thing, I think!

If you could change something that has been annoying you, what would that be?
The South African Government. The current leadership in South Africa is deeply frustrating. It’s hard to accept that those entrusted with power continue to govern despite widespread corruption and the steady collapse of our infrastructure. A well-run country would benefit everyone—including those in office—but the solutions that could turn things around are consistently ignored. It’s not that answers don’t exist; it’s that those in power refuse to act on them.

Gratitude:

I’m grateful for the life I lead, even as the political circus plays out around me. I’m grateful that I can still offer help to those who need it, even if my reach doesn’t stretch as far as my heart would like. And I’m especially grateful that my mind continues to surprise me—perhaps more creative now that logic has packed its bags and fled the scene. It comes down to finding the light in what you have and making the most of it. No matter how tough things feel, there’s always someone facing even greater challenges.