Tag Archives: gratitude

Share Your World 30 June 2025: A Personal Journey Through Six Months

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Here are my answers to this week’s Share Your World questions from Di.

Half the year is now over.
Have you had any memorable highlights in the past six months?
Time certainly doesn’t dawdle, but I feel incredibly fortunate that each month delivered its own spark of joy. Here’s a peek at the highlights that made the first half of the year feel beautifully full:
January brought a flurry of familiar faces to our doorstep. Hosting dear friends and family at the southern tip of Africa is always a great start to the year.
February welcomed Andrew, whose stay stretched into May—He is an old friend of Hubby and was great company for him.
March swept us off to Cape Town for an “Old Salts” reunion at the Cape Boat and Ski-boat Club—reminiscing with long-lost companions over sea breezes and shared tales. We also stole away to the tranquil Warmwaterberg hot springs with Andrew and his brother, who had brought a group of teenagers from his school in America.
April wrapped us in family bliss with an Easter gathering in Plettenberg Bay—laughter, love, and togetherness. We also waved goodbye to our beloved Gecko caravan, turning a nostalgic page toward new adventures.
May offered another midweek pause at Warmwaterberg—this time with Andrew and his lovely girlfriend—where quiet dips and easy chatter did wonders.
June glowed with the sweet visit of our youngest daughter, filling the house with her sparkle. And to add a touch of flair, we dressed all the bedrooms in beautiful new

Catching up with friends at The Old Salts Reunion

What are you looking forward to in the coming six months?
More of the same! We started July with a visit to our kids in Plett and on Wednesday we celebrated Hubby’s 81st birthday,

Breakfast at Beacon Island with two daughters and a grandson

How do you keep cool on a hot day?
Wear light clothing, stay in the shade, splash in the sea.

Have you ever danced in the rain?
I’m sure I must have but nothing specific comes to mind. I have certainly jumped in puddles and dashed through downpours to get to my car or front door!

Gratitude:
Through all the ups and downs of life I have always been buoyed up by the love and laughter of my family. I am particularly grateful for the shared adventures, quite moments and shared experiences I have had with my amazing husband, who has held my hand through every phase. Life has been good and I don’t regret a single moment of it.

Share Your World 16 December 2024

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Here are my answers to this week’s SYW from pensitivity101

1.  Is it your birthday today (or a friend, family member, anyone you know?)
It is not my birthday but it is the birthday of a very close late friend of mine.
In South Africa, it is a public holiday – The Day of Reconciliation.


2.  What’s the worst part about the festive / holiday season for you?
I don’t mind the festive season. The worst part is not being able to find a parking space in our usually quiet town at the tip of Africa. To escape the trebling of the population at this time of year we ‘escape’ to our kids in Plettenberg Bay. Ha! This is also a big holiday destination, but it doesn’t seem as busy because it’s bigger. Parking spaces are at a premium though!


3.  Do your Decembers have a hot, cold, or moderate climate?
We are in the southern hemisphere so December is warm. We’re in shorts and t-shirts and visiting the beach.


4.  Would you like to hibernate when it’s cold?
I don’t think so. Life is too short to sleep it away. Sitting by the fireside with a good book is most enjoyable. It can get very cold and wet where we live but we also get lovely sunny days during the colder months and then it is great to go out for long walks or to visit a nature reserve. We usually spend a few weeks in a game reserve further north where the days are warm and dry but the early mornings are extremely cold! This year, we went to England in June, and it was freezing! However, after two weeks of chilly London, we went on a cruise to thaw out.

Our Cruise Ship, Splendida, in Trieste

Gratitude
I have been dealing with an attack of Diverticulitis for 20 days! I was recovering nicely and then had a relapse when I got to Plettenberg Bay. Finally, after a second round of antibiotics, I am getting better. I love modern medicine! My kids have been awesome putting up with a usually energetic mom/gran. I am so grateful for my amazing family.

JusJoJan Gratitude Monday 8 January 2024

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Today’s prompt for JusJoJan is Gratitude. Thank you Sadjie for this word.

It is so easy to go through life taking things for granted. It seems that the more fortunate we are the less grateful we are for what we have. I have so often heard people say, “I got to where I am by myself through sheer hard work.” And although this might be true it wouldn’t hurt to show some gratitude for the opportunities that presented themselves or the people who helped make things happen along the way. I don’t believe we can take credit for everything we have achieved or obtained in our lives. Of course, it is important to be self-reliant but I have yet to meet a happy person who has not shown some gratitude to others for helping them along their way.

I also believe it is very important to express gratitude to people who provide services for us. Are we grateful to our employees? Do we thank the petrol jockey for filling up our vehicles and washing our windscreens? Yes, they get paid for it but does it hurt to just say thank you? 

My greatest joy was when my grandson thanked me for the part I played in his life. I did not expect gratitude nor even thought about it but when he expressed it so eloquently in his own words it was better than receiving a diamond ring! 

In my experience showing gratitude to a shop assistant, a cashier, grumpy passport control guy makes all the difference to the service you will receive. While waiting in a queue to check in at a game reserve rest camp, I have seen people with long faces become irritated that they have to wait to be processed. This causes stress to the poor receptionists too. How much better to greet the overworked soul with a “Good Afternoon, Boy am I glad to be here in this beautiful park at last. I’ve looked forward to this all year.” Immediately you will get a smile back and cheerful service as they process you. The trick is to think of the other person first. What kind of day is he/she having. Of course, they should leave their problems at home but we’re all human. Let’s be kind to each other, treat each other with tolerance and thank those who serve us with a smile and friendly word. 

Gratitude is good for your health and your soul.