Living Our Sunshine with Susann Deysel
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depression
2 Mins Read

Waiting to exhale

It’s still dark out and very cold when I start work in the morning. I usually snuggle up to a cat and blanket (my mom crocheted) with the light from my monitor streaming down over my hands and face. Somewhere between 6 and 8 the rest of the house wake up and then I take a short breakfast break.

It’s been a long time since the virus from China spread into the world and took our freedom away. For us it has been 78 days (on 1 June). Some days the walls feel too close, the kids too loud, the days too long and the future too uncertain. I’ve had writer’s block before, but this time it’s different, I just don’t have words.

The reality of the fallout to come is a bitter pill. On a daily basis there are retrenchments, businesses like mine close their doors, the infection numbers rise and the daily death toll consistently stays in the double digits. A move to level 3 may stop our economy from completely collapsing, but those daily numbers will snowball even more.

I’m a walking contradiction.

Jason momoa

I don’t know if sending the kids back to school in June or July is the right thing. I know that having them at home and us not being able to have that separate life/work focus is not ideal. Having the nanny coming in fulltime isn’t a solution either as she probably has the same issues with the added concerns of public transport.

I didn’t paint my room and office as planned. I didn’t reorganize my cupboards either. I didn’t win any mom of home school during lockdown awards. I didn’t save anyone. I didn’t go on a diet and posted about it. I didn’t have my freedom. I existed these million days in captivity with my family, holding my breath, just waiting to exhale.

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Thava Restaurant cooks for hundreds of hungry – and appeals for help

Thava Indian Restaurant is responding to the desperate need for food in disadvantaged communities during the COVID-19 Lockdown with hundreds of hearty, hot and nutritious meals on a daily basis.

Thava (which has branches in Norwood and Montecasino) joined forces with Chef Philippe Frydman and NGO Nosh Food Rescue (which distributes food to the needy) and converted the Norwood restaurant into a community kitchen to prepare the first batch of 300 meals delivered to hungry children on 6 April, and another 400 meals of vegetable biryani and chicken korma which were delivered to Zandspruit on 7 April. Thava is donating time, resources, facilities, and staff to the initiative.

Mathew Abrahams, Thava Restaurant owner, explained, “We felt we must do something to alleviate the hardships experienced by so many during the pandemic. Our staff were quick to volunteer their services and we joined forces with Chef Philippe and Nosh. It almost immediately became clear that we can do so much more – and feed so many more people.”

Now the Thava and Nosh team is appealing to corporates, small business, farmers, and the public, to add their support so that we can grow the reach of the initiative:

  • Farmers, producers, traders, businesses or people with an oversupply of stock are asked to donate. Specific items include meat, grain, lentils, vegetables, oil, fruit, bread, milk, packing material. “All donations will be accepted, and we will do our best to use them in our daily meal preparations.”
  • No cash donations will be accepted. Thava has a list of suppliers and specific needs; donors can select from the list and phone through and order items directly from suppliers for delivery to Thava, according to their budget. Invoices are being created by the suppliers and delivery is confirmed with the donor, once received.
  • To grow and be successful in this feeding initiative, the Thava and Nosh team needs an efficient distribution system which is run by volunteers who use their own vehicles to collect goods, deliver them to Thava, and then deliver prepared meals to the needy. Fuel costs need to be covered to ensure continuation of the project and funds can be paid directly into the local service station account – Engen Garage on the corner of Grant Avenue and Ivy Road in Norwood – and payment confirmation sent to Thava.

Frydman, who has been involved with Thava since 2010, adds his personal appeal: “To all the chefs of South Africa, please open your kitchens to provide meals for those people who need them. You will be doing what you are meant to be doing – and that is, feeding the people.”

Abrahams notes that the number of hungry is growing – the homeless, children who depended on school feeding schemes, daily workers who are now unemployed, and many others – and nourishing meals during lockdown will make a difference to their lives. He adds his thanks to all individuals, businesses, and farmers who are contributing to the massive undertaking.

To join the Thava and Nosh team in their efforts to feed those in real need during the pandemic, please contact the restaurant from Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm on 011 728 2826 or info@thava.co.za or Hanneke at Nosh Food Rescue on 082 338 4538.

For more information, visit Facebook.com/ThavaCuisine

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An urgent plea to help save our homeless over lockdown

Our homeless are in desperate need of urgent help during the national lockdown. Completely unable to eke out a living, they are now more vulnerable than ever. If we, as a nation, don’t act soon, there will be death and disaster that rivals the carnage being caused by the coronavirus.

For seven days now SDI Force has done an incredible job, harnessing the power of its uberised platforms to assist government by delivering food and hygiene products in a Covid-compliant manner. Operating off an existing logistics framework created for Supplier Development Initiatives (SDI), SDI Force functions as a non-profit, emergency relief programme during this national crisis. But the fund set up to finance this is running low, and without additional funding, these efforts can’t continue for much longer. What’s needed now is an urgent injection of cash from across South Africa, and in particular from the corporate environment. Businesses big and small need to come to the party and donate generously on the Unity Values website: https://www.unityvalues.com/sdi.

On a national level, there is a large amount of money being pumped into other Covid-19-related funds, and whilst this shows how big South African hearts are, it is taking far too long for this cash to be released and used in emergency efforts. Donations to the SDI Force fund, however, are released immediately to aid operational costs and, most importantly, buy food packs for these starving citizens. What goes in tonight is used tomorrow morning to help save lives. Every cent has an immediate, life-changing effect.

Johannesburg has 15 000 homeless who are in need of urgent attention. These people are scared, hungry and desperate, and this uncertainty has created a powder keg that could soon be out of control. The situation is critical, but we can still make a difference. Initially SDI Force looked at delivering R1000 food packs to help families over a length of time, but now the focus has shifted to creating smaller three-day relief packs. “If we can raise the funds to deliver these then we can keep the wolf from the door,” explains Andile Ramaphosa, SDI Force Co-Founder. “But time is running out and the situation is starting to look worrying. We can’t appeal loudly enough: we need help.”

“We are fortunate to have a tried-and-tested, world-class operating system in place,” says Brad Fisher, ADreach Managing Director and SDI Co-Founder. “As such, we have quickly turned SDI into an effective tool to help with relief efforts. But there is only so much we can do without further funding. “Both Ramaphosa and Fisher have committed their time for free, and whilst the primary focus is on providing food and sanitation, if more money is raised, then the plan is to re-train SDI micro-suppliers, like waste-pickers and Sweep South cleaners, and give them the skills to be deployed as sanitising personnel. Part of this extra funding will also be channelled into homeless shelters, protective gear and warm wear to keep out the cold.

Because of SDI Force’s national footprint, it is in a unique position to roll these efforts out across the country, and talks are already underway with the authorities to investigate ways for the initiative to provide real support to operations throughout South Africa. Every delivery is done according to very strict safety criteria, fully compliant with all measures and restrictions imposed during the national lockdown.

Time is running out. We all need to act, and we need to act now. The on-the-ground situation is critical, but SDI Force has the expertise and experience to make a difference and save lives. This is what they do best. As South Africans, we cannot stand by and watch as our fellow citizens die of starvation. If there’s one thing that this awful virus has taught us, it’s that we are connected on so many levels, and that an injury to one is an injury to all. So please, donate urgently, and help the homeless.

To contribute to Emergency Relief Items such as food packs, Covid-19 Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), shelter, sleeping bags or apparel, please make a donation through https://www.unityvalues.com/sdi

For corporates to support equipment provision or repurposing of existing equipment to be Covid-compliant for micro-suppliers to do their work, please contact Laura on 083 468 3867.

#pressrelease

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Coronavirus Lockdown South Africa: Day 4

My car hasn’t left its parking bay since Friday (13 March). I miss picking up the kids from school and popping into the local Pick n Pay for yogurt or buying a pizza from Checkers. I miss standing in front of a shop shelf with rows and rows of chips (crisps) to choose from.

Without great solitude, no serious work is possible.

Pablo Picasso

I think of my clients that have client or customer facing businesses and I wish I could reassure them. I worry about the small businesses that cannot survive a month (or more) of not being able to go to markets. I worry about the economy.

I don’t want to go out. I don’t want to accept deliveries. I don’t want to order takeaways or sit down for a meal. I don’t want to go to the spa or have a haircut. I don’t want people to be near or around me. I simply just don’t want to risk catching the coronavirus.

If you’re lonely when you’re alone, you’re in bad company.

Jean-Paul Sartre

Unwilling participant in home-schooling experiment…

Day 1 I was optimistic and ready to home-school the kids – we painted, played with clay and had story time. Day 2 I only read them stories. Day 3 we had story time and played with balls. Day 4 we had a picnic and got exercise.

Alternative activities to school lessons:

Yes, my kids both have Barbie sunglasses and balls… and , and, and… Barbie is our favourite colour.
  • If you have an old digital camera or old phone with a nice-ish camera go on a walk and let your kid/s take photos. Teach them about focus, looking at different angles and light settings.
  • At-home workouts to keep the whole family fit – Your Family
  • Do yoga, stretch exercises, standing on tippy toes and one leg…
  • Go for a walk with a picnic at the end. They’ll love carrying the baskets and look forward to whatever treats you may have for them.
  • Pick flowers together, flat dry them in books and whip them out for a craft activity. Keep one flower out to show how it dries without being between pages of a book.
  • Do a craft a day with your kids. Pinterest is obviously the best resource on the planet, but you can also check out www.yourfamily.co.za/crafttypes/kids-craft.
  • Create a safari experience at home. Use all their animal soft toys and plastic toys and line them up. For an extra element, put boxes down to use as cars. You can even draw on headlights, doors and more…
  • Bake together!
  • Pitch a tent in the Livingroom and pretend you are on a camping trip.
  • Lots and lots of story time. Your read and they make up stories to tell you about what’s happening in the pictures.
  • Whip out a map and teach them about other countries, travel and maybe throw in a dish that goes with a country you are discussing.

Ok, that is it for day 4. I am off to bed soon and will start my day again at 10pm tonight. These Lockdown articles won’t be daily as I’ll bore you to tears.

The best thinking has been done in solitude.

Thomas A. Edison
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Coronavirus Lockdown South Africa: Day 1

My paranoia about the virus started the day I saw how it spread within China and then exploded in Europe/UK. I knew it was just a matter of time before it would reach Africa. Then the first Coronavirus patient was announced; The very next day hand sanitizers were sold out at multiple stores; Then more confirmed cases until today at 62.

The President of South Africa, Cyril Ramaphosa, only put measures in place with his speech last night at confirmed case number 61. We are now barred from a long list of countries. Our economy is going to feel a long-lasting pinch from the #socialdistance and loss of tourists.

gatherings of more than 100 people are now prohibited in SA, and borders are partially closed

I survived Day 1 of #socialdistance

We took the decision Friday already to be prepared for isolation, taking the kids out of school and letting the nanny stay at home with her own family. I don’t think I was prepared…

I planned water painting, clay play and even air dry clay activities, story time and even some outside play time with bubbles.

The kids are hooligans. One on one they behave, but add them around 1 table with paint and all hell breaks loose. Baby terrorised her sister by getting on the table, grabbing projects she was busy with and generally just being a mini a*hole. I don’t think I was made to be a home school mom.

Then they got tired… I finally had my first break at around 11:30 but it didn’t last long. Just after 12 both were asleep. I was exhausted, my clients were contacting me non-stop and I worked as much as I could. Finally I sat at my desk to answer a few emails.  Just before 1 I could barely keep my eyes open as I had worked from 3 in the morning to 6:20 and then husband left for work.

Tonight I’ll be working more. I’ll probably only get to bed at midnight just to be up by 3 again. Then take care of the kids until 1:30.

Wherever you are, with whomever you are, stay safe.

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Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 5 Balance

Finding happiness doesn’t have a shortcut. You should be willing to take a chance on the experiences, things and people that will bring happiness.

  1. Happiness cannot be found anywhere else but in yourself
  2. You have to find your freedom and for that you will need to be brave
  3. Rediscover the world through childlike eyes and find the good and beauty in the small things
  4. There is always something to be grateful for, you just need to find it
  5. Find a hobby that makes you happy
  6. Always be yourself
  7. Never step on others to be closer to the sun
  8. Find the balance in your life/work/love…

You continuously need to focus on maintaining your happiness, ensuring that work doesn’t becoming your most important hours within a day.

How to get control over your work/life balance

  • Prioritise your physical, emotional and mental health before that of the office’s demands
  • Unplug – take your lunch hour outside of your office, mute work workplace chat goups
  • Set boundaries and stick to your work hours at the office
  • Plan your holidays at the beginning of the year and book it – you will have something to look forward to all year
  • Make time for yourself – even if you have kids and a husband or partner that also demands your attention
  • Set personal goals just as you need to set professional goals

For your mind

  • This week you can choose between new affirmations
    • I am an exceptional listener. I’m mindful. I’m present.
    • I can listen patiently while others talk – but I also want to be heard.
    • My voice is my power. I deserve to be heard.
  • Set your personal goals for the next 6  or even 12 months

For your body

I know I’ve been hammering on the breathing exercises, but breathing in and out and focusing on it clears your mind.

  • Continue with last week’s breathing exercise:
    • Stretch your arms above your head and put your palms together – be ready, because you will be exhaling next
    • Lower both arms to shoulder height and stretch to either side while exhaling
    • Breathe in while moving your arms back into the stretched position above your head
    • Repeat 20 times
  • Keep on walking while enjoying the scenery

For your soul

  • Create an entry in your Gratitude Journal about the activities you do that makes you happy
  • Plan a trip to a destination you have always wanted to explore and make a plan to book it in the next year
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Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 4 Listen & Be Heard

Your Week 4 Roadmap to a #HappierMeChallenge reading

Listen

This week is all about listening to yourself and being heard by the people in your life. So often we never express our own wants and needs to ourselves, never-mind expressing it to a husband or partner. Or do you have a friend that never listens and always talks?

Listen to yourself, hear and understand what you need. Write it down. Make it happen.

Be Heard

Does your hubby/partner/friend(s) listen to you – or are they always talking? Can you remember the conversations – because they’ve been repeated so many times already? Can your hubby/partner/friend/friend do the same for you? Do you have the opportunity to speak during conversations?

Speak up and let them know that you also need to talk/share… or go back and read week 2s challenge again.

For your mind

  • This week you can choose between new affirmations
    • I am an exceptional listener. I’m mindful. I’m present.
    • I can listen patiently while others talk – but I also want to be heard.
    • My voice is my power. I deserve to be heard.
  • How is your reading or course going?

For your body

  • Your new breathing exercise:
    • Stretch your arms above your head and put your palms together – be ready, because you will be exhaling next
    • Lower both arms to shoulder height and stretch to either side while exhaling
    • Breathe in while moving your arms back into the stretched position above your head
    • Repeat 20 times
  • Keep on walking while enjoying the scenery

For your soul

  • Create an entry in your Gratitude Journal about the people closest to you – and what they mean to you
  • Work on being vocal on what you need and want from those around you

If you’ve missed the beginning of the Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge you can find all the articles here:

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Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 3 Appreciation & Gratitude

I feel the good vibes after week 2 of my Roadmap to a #HappierMeChallenge. In the past 2 weeks I have done my breathing exercises, paid compliments and enjoyed the smiles of strangers, I even shared a slice of watermelon with 2 strangers on their lunch break outside of Northgate Mall.

The Watermelon incident

I had a great day before stopping at the mall. I had just came from Amazing K autism school where they were blessed to have received a huge donation from Puma Energy. (You can read all about it on their Facebook page.) I felt good. I had a smile on my face – and that is when a complete stranger called me over and offered a slice. The old me would’ve just said no thanks and moved on, but there I was eating a sweet slice of watermelon with 2 strangers on the step of the mall. The universe truly returns good vibes when you put them out there too.

Gratitude is the healthiest of all human emotions. The more you express gratitude for what you have, the more likely you will have even more to express gratitude for.

Zig Ziglar

Start part 3 of your weekly Roadmap to a #HappierMeChallenge

This week is all about acknowledging the good people in your life, the friends that stand by you, the things that you love – but most importantly I want you to appreciate yourself.

Here is your “homework” for this week:

  • Tell the people closest to you just how much they mean to you. Say I love you to your significant other.
  • Show your appreciation to yourself and go for a coffee date or meal with yourself.
  • Be grateful for all that you have – from the shoes in your closet to the photos you have of great times spent together.

For your mind

  • How is your online course going? Have you finished a few modules?
  • Did you opt for a book and read a few pages?
  • Choose an new affirmation and repeat to yourself whenever you remember or have a moment to yourself
    • I choose to be thankful no matter my circumstances.
    • I am grateful for my health, prosperity and love.
    • I am blessed.
    • I am grateful for everything I have, the people that love me and will leave my door open for more good.

For your body

  • Increase your walking to 20 minutes a day
  • Keep up the simple breathing exercise in your daily routine – do 50 a day
    Stretch your arms in front of you and place your palms on top of each other – inhale. Now let go by moving your left arm to the left until it is in line with your body – let your right hand run down your arm. Now breathe in and center your arms again. Repeat to your right

For your soul

  • Create a list of all the things that you are grateful for
  • Start a creative Gratitude Journal and illustrate each of these things/people/thoughts – let your Gratitude Journal grow and evolve as you get more comfortable with penning your thoughts

You may want to go to the beginning of this self-care challenge:

I really feel gratitude every day in my life that I’m able to do what I love, and I think, because I have that passion and spirit, I’ve had success.

Christen Press
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Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 2 Letting Go

I hope that you connected to a stranger by paying a compliment last week – how did it feel when they smiled and thanked you? Do you think you banked enough good karma to get you through 2020 – or do you think you’d like to continue banking good karma?

Happiness is not a station you arrive at, but a manner of traveling.

Margaret Lee Runbeck

Week 2’s challenge is about letting go of toxic relationships or anger and to mend relationships.

  • Your most important soul homework is to forgive yourself for any bad decisions you may have made – write yourself a letter or email and stash it away until this challenge tells you to read it again
  • Create a list of all the people you want to rebuild relationships with and those that you need to let go of – write down a reason for each and how you will be dealing with each person

For your body

  • Your body has probably thanked you by now for getting it to move and deserves a treat. Take an hour this week for self-care and get a manicure/pedicure/haircut/massage
  • Keep up the 10 minute walking
  • Add a simple breathing exercise into your daily routine – do 20 a day
    Stretch your arms in front of you and place your palms on top of each other – inhale. Now let go by moving your left arm to the left until it is in line with your body – let your right hand run down your arm. Now breathe in and center your arms again. Repeat to your right

For your mind

  • Start your course or DIY learning this week. Set yourself an attainable goal of completing x number of chapters/parts.
  • Choose an affirmation and repeat to yourself whenever you remember or have a moment to yourself
    • I choose to be happy, healthy and whole
    • I embrace the parts of me that need love the most
    • I am a priority in my life

That’s it for your Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 2 – did Week 1 make a difference in how you feel?

You may want to go to the beginning of this self-care challenge:

#HappierMeChallenge

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Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 1 Good Karma

I’m excited for me, I have a plan to become that girl again with the butterflies in her hair that knows how to squeeze every last drop from every day with no regrets. The best part, I’m not going to pay some person to tell me how to get there – and you can join in on your own time.

Before we start, have you written down your goals? If you have, congratulations! Now that you have identified your goals, which steps are you going to take to reach your goals?

Let’s kick off Week 1’s challenge and bank some good karma.

“I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.” Maya Angelou

What can you do to bank good karma?

  • Pay many someones a compliment
  • Write your favourite quote on a note and leave it in a book or on a shelf in a shop somewhere
  • Give to someone less fortunate or donate to an animal shelter

These are easy to-do things, but trust me when you see someone smile and you know you did something for someone else… it all adds up to how you see and feel about yourself. That is soul sorted for the week.

For your body

  • Get your body moving this week by putting on your flip-flops or sneakers and going for a 10 minute (or more) walk 3 days this week
  • Rummage through your beauty stash and spoil your face with a mask or serum – or even just with a great soap, tone and moisture session

For your mind

  • Buy a course on Udemy, Daddy’s Deals or Hyperli – or find a DIY book/online resource. Just get something that will let you learn something new.

That’s it for your Roadmap to a Happier Me Challenge: Week 1 – let me know how it goes.

#HappierMeChallenge

PS. Next week I even have an affirmation or 2 just for you!

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