Dear H, (a letter to myself)

Image by Unsplash

Image by Unsplash

Dear H,


I am proud of you and excited for your future.


The path that you have chosen to taken is one that will pay off over time. Some people might not understand why you have chosen to behave the way that you have but you know. You are aware, conscious and seem to be grateful for the life that you have created.


I know that you have had some people disappoint you and betray you but I am proud of how you have grown. You are learning to take responsibility for situations and have completed the cycles of disrespect and unconsciousness.


I know that previously you had thought that if you spoke up that people would consider you high maintenance. So, I am proud of you for learning to differentiate the difference between asking for necessities to live a happy and healthy life and just making random respects.


I’m sorry that all of your romantic relationships have not worked out but I see how you have learnt and I am excited for the relationship that is on the way. I have faith that you will know that is worth the long haul because you will receive the respect, kindness and pure love that you truly deserve.


Circumstances and hurt people might tempt you to return to thinking like a victim but I ask you to take the high road. Not meaning that people will get away with mistreating you but that you remember what you have learnt, that being pulled into patterns of negativity is only draining.


H, your life deserves to be lived as fully and with as much love as possible. If anything comes in-between that, I hope that you reflect and ask if it’s worth having distance between these two things.


I’m glad that you have had examples of how you have hurt others and how others have hurt you, so that you can make a choice to release hurt and avoiding causing others hurt.


If you could see your future like I do, you would make an effort to smile at least once-a-day. So, please try! There is so much to be grateful for and I hope that you focus on that, particularly when you want to be focus on what is going ‘wrong’.


I love you.



4 choses que j'ai apprises en serveuse à New pendant presque 10 ans.

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Image de Unsplash

Quand j'ai déménagé à New York, j'avais 19 ans. Bien que les dix années de ma vie aient passé si rapidement, j’ai tiré de nombreuses leçons précieuses. J'ai appris la plupart d'entre eux alors que j'étais serveuse à la table au milieu de mes études supérieures.

L’un de mes premiers souvenirs a été de travailler dans un café réputé du Lower East Side et j’ai demandé à une célèbre actrice comment sa fille s'appelait, pour rencontrer un regard désagréable et présumer que j’aurais dû connaître son nom. J'en ai ri, mais cela m'a appris que les gens d'une certaine stature s'attendent généralement à être traités d'une certaine manière.

Voici quatre autres choses que j'ai apprises alors que j'étais serveuse à The Big Apple:

1. Parfois, les personnes avec lesquelles vous êtes le plus en contact ne vous attendez pas à.

Je me suis fait la plupart de mes amis adultes des différents restaurants où j'ai travaillé, ainsi que des partenaires romantiques. À ce jour, un de mes amis les plus chers a dans les soixante-dix ans et a été rencontré dans un restaurant où j'ai travaillé à S.O.H.O. Je suis très reconnaissant pour l'expérience de travail dans les restaurants car cela m'a appris que nous sommes plus semblables que jamais. Et, lorsque nous nous cantonnons dans des catégories telles que la race, les tranches de revenu et les opinions religieuses, nous ne faisons que nous empêcher d'accepter la plus haute forme d'amour: l'amour de quiconque.

2. Le respect ne concerne pas un compte bancaire.

J'avais l'habitude de travailler dans un restaurant célèbre à TriBeCa, nous aurions une personne bien connue dans presque tous les jours. Pour être honnête, j'ai parfois eu peur d'aller au travail parce que certaines de nos autorités et de notre clientèle nous traitaient comme des ordures au sol. Parfois, cela me bouleversait et me blessait, mais je suis reconnaissant parce que j'ai appris l'une des meilleures leçons de tous les temps, le respect des autres n'est pas déterminé par le montant que l'autre personne a dans son compte bancaire. Jusqu'à ce que quelqu'un prouve le contraire, ils méritent mon respect. Il m'a fallu passer par cette expérience pour m'en souvenir et le comprendre vraiment.

3. Le bonheur ne dépend pas de "qui vous êtes" ou de combien d’argent vous avez.

J'ai vu de visu certaines des personnes les plus riches d'Amérique avec les visages les plus tristes que j'ai jamais vus. Nous avons été vendus cette idée que l'argent peut tout acheter. Oui, l'argent est un outil qui peut vous connecter à un objectif plus élevé et à l'accessibilité, mais si votre objectif est de vous apporter quelque chose que vous pouvez obtenir sans argent, vous avez perdu l'intrigue. L’argent est comme l’énergie, il peut être négatif ou positif dans votre vie, mais cela dépend de votre état d’esprit et de votre intention de le faire.

4. Tout le monde ne doit pas m'aimer.

Quand j'étais plus jeune, j'avais cette idée que tout le monde devait m'aimer, sinon, je leur avais probablement fait quelque chose ou je ne l'avais pas fait assez. Cette théorie m'épuisait et je permettais aux gens de me traiter avec irrespect. juste pour qu'ils restent dans ma vie me faisant me sentir mieux. Quand un responsable ou un client me traitait avec méchanceté, je le prenais personnellement et le conservais pendant des jours et des mois. Je pensais que si je pouvais contrôler la façon dont ils me voyaient, cela me donnerait plus de pouvoir; seulement pour apprendre que cela fait le contraire. En fin de compte, les gens me traitent comme ils le souhaitent. Tout ce que je peux faire, c'est être la meilleure personne que je puisse, me montrer, être gentil et tout donner. Comment les gens choisissent de me traiter, c'est leur choix. Mon pouvoir réside dans la compréhension du fait que je ne peux que me contrôler et que je me libère de ce que les autres attendent de moi.

4 Things that I learnt while waitressing in New York for almost a decade.

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Image by Unsplash

When I moved to New York City, I was nineteen. Although the almost ten years that I lived there passed by so quickly, I learnt many valuable lessons. Most of them I learnt while I was waitressing tables on-and-off in the midst of receiving my tertiary education.

One of my first memories was working at a well-known café in the Lower East Side and I asked a famous actress what her daughter’s name is, only to be met with a nasty look and assumption that I should’ve known her name. I laughed it off but this taught me a lesson that people of a certain stature usually expect to be treated a certain way.


Here are four other things that I learnt while I was a waitress living in The Big Apple:


1. Sometimes the people that you connect with the most, you wouldn’t expect to.

I have made most of my adulthood friends from different restaurants that I have worked at, as well as romantic partners. To this day, one of my dearest friends is in his seventies and someone that I met at a restaurant that I worked at in S.O.H.O. I am so grateful for the experience of working at restaurants because it taught me that we are more alike than not. And, when we box ourselves into categories like race, income brackets and religious views, we only stop ourselves from accepting the highest form of love: love from anyone.


2. Respect is not about a bank account.


I used to work at a famous restaurant in TriBeCa, we would have a well-known person in almost everyday. To be honest, sometimes I dreaded going in to work because we were treated by some of our authority and clientele like garbage on the floor. Sometimes it would upset me and hurt my feelings but I am grateful because I learnt one of the best lessons ever, respecting others is not determined by how much money the other person has in their bank account. Until someone proves otherwise, they deserve my respect. It took me going through that experience to remember and truly understand that.


3. Happiness is not dependent on ‘who you are’ or how much money you have.


I saw firsthand some of the wealthiest people in America with the saddest faces that I have ever seen. We have been sold this idea that money can buy everything. Yes, money is a tool that can connect you to a higher purpose and accessibility but if the reason why you have it is to bring you something that you can get without money, you have lost the plot. Money is like energy, it can be negative or positive in your life but it depends on your mindset and your intention behind having it.


4. Not everyone has to like me.

When I was younger, I had this idea that everyone had to like me because if they didn’t, I had probably done something to them or wasn’t enough.This theory used to exhaust me and I allowed people to treat me with disrespect just so that they would stay in my life- making me feel better about myself. When a Manger or Customer treated me unkindly, I would take it personally and hold on to it for days and months. I thought that if I could control how they saw me, it would empower me; only to learn that it does the opposite. Ultimately, people treat me the way that they want to. All that I can do is be the best person that I am able to, show up, be kind and give my all. How people choose to treat me is their choice. My power lies in understanding that I can only control myself and freeing myself from other people’s expectations of me.

12 raisons pour lesquelles je suis reconnaissant aujourd'hui.

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Image de Unsplash

Il est important de recentrer notre esprit et de nous concentrer parfois sur la positivité. Particulièrement quand on se sent déprimé. J'ai commencé à faire des affirmations quotidiennes il y a six ans et j'avais l'impression d'être idiot ou un simulacre quand je prononçais ces mots de la vie en moi.

Je me suis rendu compte que ce sentiment était juste mon Ego. Et en disant Affirmations dans ma vie de tous les jours, cela élève ma conscience et crée un système de croyance de positivité qui est stocké dans la mémoire musculaire de mon cerveau.

Voici 12 raisons pour lesquelles je suis heureux d'être en vie aujourd'hui (mon affirmation quotidienne):

1. Je suis capable.

2. Je suis en vie.

3. Je suis fort.

4. J'ai été doué d'un autre jour pour profiter.

5. Le soleil brille.

6. Mon corps fonctionne.

7. Je peux ouvrir les yeux.

8. Il y a beaucoup plus de raisons d'être heureux que de ne pas être heureux.

9. J'ai tout ce dont je pourrais avoir besoin.

10. Je suis en paix.

11. Je suis entouré d'amour.

12. je suis amour

4 Izizathu zokuthi kungani nginqume ukuhlala ngokweqiniso kimi.

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Isitombe se-Unsplash

Eminyakeni emibili eyedlule ngidweba umdwebo wamagama athi, 'Yiba yiqiniso', ekubhaleni kukadadewethu engalweni yami ukungikhumbuza ukuthi ngihlale ngithembekile emaphusheni ami, ezinkolelweni naseqinisweni. Ukuze uma ngiphambuka kule mibono, ngenza isinqumo sokubuyela kulezizisekelo. Kungisizile kakhulu futhi lapho ngilahleka kokunye ukunganaki okukhuthaza okwangaphandle, ngizama konke okusemandleni ami ukubuyela ngaphakathi- ezweni lami elingaphakathi. Umhlaba wokwamukela, uthando nokuzazisa.

Angikaze ngizizwe ngale ndlela futhi angihlali ngizizwa ngale ndlela. Ngoba isifundo esikhulu kunazo zonke engisifunde ngale ndlela yempilo ukuthi zidinga ukubekezela, ukuqonda nokuphikelela.

 Ngithole induduzo nokwethembeka nobuqotho, Nazi ezinye izizathu ezine zokuthi kungani nginqume ukwenza le ndlela yokuphila:

1. Impilo yami ingeyami.

Ngaya esikoleni saseBrithani iningi lempilo yami futhi yize umndeni wami ungowaseBrithani ngokwengxenye, sithola ukuthi ungumAfrika. Ngakho-ke, ngaya esikoleni namantombazane amaningi aseCaucasian futhi ngesinye isikhathi ngangiwukuphela kwentombazane enobuhle base-Afrika ekilasini lami. Ngingakukhohlwa lokhu kodwa-ke uthisha abeke enze isitatimende esingesihle ngesiko lase-Afrika ngenkathi ebuka mina noma kanye, umlingani wami wangitshela ukuthi ngiqale ukugqoka oku-deodorant ukuze ngize ngibe nephunga 'lomuntu omnyama wangempela'. Ubuhlungu bala magama buyiqiniso impela futhi kwesinye isikhathi ngisawakhumbula ebhala ukuzithemba kwami ​​njengommese osika isiqeshana sezithelo. Kepha, bese ngikhumbula ukuthi luhlobo luni lwabantu olusho izinto eziwubala nezilimazayo njengale: abangenalwazi. Futhi, ukungazi into elula kunazo zonke yokuthethelela. Inhloso yami yokubathethelela hhayi ukungaxhamazeli ngokwenzeka kimi; kungukukhulula lezi zenzo ezinamandla nomoya onamandla wokulawula impilo yami.

2. Uma ngingangamukeli, ubani ozokwamukela?

Uhlobo lwe-yoga engiyifundisayo nengiyenzayo luyashisa futhi luphambi kwezibuko. Zenzelwe ukuveza ukuthi zibuyele kimi lapho ngizilolongela. Ngenkathi ngiqala lolu hlobo lwe-yoga, kwakunzima kakhulu ukuzibheka. Ngingakugwema ngandlela zonke. Kuze kube ngolunye usuku, uthisha wathi, 'Uma ungakwazi ukukubheka, balindela kanjani abanye?' Yebo, lesisho sasinhle kakhulu futhi engangikudinga ukuzwa kodwa lapho ngiguqula amanye amagama ukudala umbuzo omusha , 'Uma ungakwazi ukwamukela, ngubani ozokwamukela?', Kungisizile ukubhekana nami. Ngaleso sikhathi, ngangisebudlelwaneni obunobuthi nomuntu osemdala owayengenangusa okuhle kimi. Ukuzwa la magama kwangibona kimi ukuthi ngangimvumele ukuthi angiphathe ngale ndlela ngoba bengingaziqapheli. Bengingakaze ngiqaphele ngokweqiniso amandla alele ngaphakathi kimi futhi enza sengathi anginawo. Maye, ngemuva kokuthi ngizibuze lo mbuzo, inqubo yokuzamukela yaqala.

3. Akuyona imisebenzi yabanye abantu ukukuthanda.

Bengihlala ngisebenza kwesinye sezindawo zokudlela ezidumile eNew York City. Ngobusuku njalo, kwakufika umuntu osaziwayo, osopolitiki noma othile “owaziwayo” futhi abantu babezokhuluma kakhulu ngokuthi ngubani ozayo. I-pessimist yangaphakathi engaphakathi kimi yayikhipha amehlo ngenkathi ngifaka ukumamatheka okungelona iqiniso. Kule ndawo yokudlela, bekukhona umphathi ongangithandi ngoba angizukuthenga konke lokhu 'abanye abantu bangaphezulu kwengqondo yabanye.' Ubengangixhaphaza futhi angiphathe ngendlela embi. Uma ngicabanga ngakho, ngiyahleka ngoba manje sengikubona ngokucacile engikufundile kulokho okuhlangenwe nakho: kwakungewona umsebenzi wakhe ukungithanda noma kunjalo .Ngokubonga okuhle ukuthi ngesikhathi ngihlangana naye, ngibe nokuzethemba nenhlonipho eyanele ukungamvumeli ukuthi angihlukumeze futhi ngenze engangikudinga ukukwenza. Impela, ukuxhashazwa emsebenzini yimenenja yami bekungalungile futhi ukube bekuyingozi futhi kukhulu, ngabe ngihamba. Kodwa-ke, ungisizile ngakwazi ukwenza isethi yamakhono okuthi akekho noyedwa (futhi ngiqonde ukuthi akekho) ongabhala udaba lwami futhi akholelwe ngempela emandleni ami ngaphandle kwami.

4. Angisiye isikhwama sokubhoboza.

Ngisemncane, ngathola umbono wokuthi uma umuntu engiphatha kabi kufanele ngibe nobuntu nomusa kubo. Kunomehluko omkhulu phakathi kokuthethelela nokuvumela umuntu ukuthi aqhubeke nokukulimaza, kaninginingi. Ukuthethelela nemingcele kungahamba ngokubambisana. Ukuthethelela umuntu akusho ukuthi kufanele ube abangani bakho abahle kakhulu ngemuva kokuthi benze okuthile kuwe, kungasho ukwamukela ukuthi umuntu ngeke ashintshe futhi anqume ukuqhubekela phambili nempilo yakho. Njengoba sengikhulile, ngiyaqonda ukuthi angidingi ukumomotheka kubantu enginokuxhumana okungekuhle futhi angidingi ukubekezelela isimilo esingadingeki esivela kubantu abafuna ukungisebenzisa ukuze ngizizwe kangcono mayelana ngokwabo noma ukuba khona kwabo empilweni. Ngiphila impilo yokufeza izinto ezinhle kakhulu futhi lokho kusho ukuthi ngeke ngivume ukuthi ngidluliswe yinoma yini noma omunye umuntu.

12 cosas por las que estoy sorprendentemente agradecido.

Imagen de Unsplash

Imagen de Unsplash

Cuando era más joven, solía pensar que solo podía estar agradecido por las cosas que estaban alineadas con lo que me gustaba y lo que era saludable o "bueno" para mí.

A medida que crecí, llegué a comprender que la gratitud puede ser para las personas y las cosas que son "malas" o que no están alineadas con lo que me gusta porque pueden ser los mejores maestros que uno pueda tener.

Al contrario de lo que queremos pensar, a menudo son las personas negativas las que más nos enseñan sobre nosotros mismos y nuestros caminos.

Aquí hay 12 cosas por las que estoy sorprendentemente agradecido:

1. Mis defectos porque me permiten aceptar los defectos de los demás también.

2. Cuando las personas son negativas o desagradables hacia mí porque me recuerda practicar la amabilidad.

3. Cuando la gente trata de usarme porque me recuerda establecer límites claros para que pueda hacer lo que pueda para evitar ser usado en el futuro.

4. Cuando alguien me ignora porque me recuerda quién debe ser en mi vida y quién no.

5. Cuando alguien es falso o condescendiente conmigo porque recuerda ser sincero.

6. Cuando alguien habla falsedades sobre mí porque me recuerda que soy el único que puede decir mi propia verdad.

7. Cuando alguien proyecta sus inseguridades sobre mí porque me recuerda que tengo que lidiar con las mías.

8. Cuando alguien espera que sea perfecto porque me recuerda que lo que siente es una extensión de sí mismo y que necesito extender la compasión y la aceptación para que otros crezcan.

9. Cuando alguien traiciona mi confianza porque solo prueba que no estaban destinados a estar en la vida de todos modos.

10. Cuando alguien juega conmigo porque me ayuda a preguntarme si ya no tengo juegos o si estoy dispuesto a jugar con ellos.

11. Cuando alguien intenta controlarme porque me recuerda que solo puedo ser controlado si le doy control sobre mí.

12. Cuando alguien insulta mi apariencia física porque me recuerda centrarme en mi belleza interior para poder exudar una belleza que es de mi núcleo, hacia afuera.

12 Things that I am surprisingly grateful for.

Image from Unsplash

Image from Unsplash

When I was younger, I used to think that I could only be grateful for things that were in alignment with what I liked and what were healthy or ‘good’ for me. 


As I have grown, I have come to understand that gratitude can be for people and things that are ‘bad’ or not in alignment with what I like because they can be the greatest teachers that one will ever have. 


Contrary to what we may want to think, it is often the negative people that teach us most about ourselves and our paths. 


Here are 12 things that I surprisingly grateful for: 


1. My flaws because they allow me to accept others’ flaws too. 


2. When people are negative or nasty towards me because it reminds to practice kindness. 


3. When people try to use me because it reminds me to set clear boundaries so that I can do what I can to avoid being used moving forward. 


4. When someone ignore me because it reminds me who is meant to be in my life and who isn’t. 


5. When someone is fake or condescending towards me because it reminds to be sincere. 


6. When someone speaks mistruths about me because it reminds me that I am the only one who can speak my own truth. 


7. When someone projects their insecurities onto me because it reminds me that I need to deal with my own.


8. When someone expects me to be perfect because it reminds me that how they feel is an extension of themselves and that I need to extend compassion and acceptance for others to grow. 


9. When someone betrays my trust because it just proves that they weren’t meant to be in life anyways. 


10. When someone plays games with me because it helps me ask myself if I have outgrown or games or willing to play with them. 


11. When someone tries to control me because it reminds me that I can only be controlled if I give them control over me. 


12. When someone insults my physical appearance because it reminds me to focus on my inner beauty so that I can exude a beauty that is from my core, outwards.

4 Reasons why I have decided to stay true to myself.

Image from Unsplash

Image from Unsplash

Two years ago I tattooed the words, ‘Be true’, in my sister’s handwriting on my forearm to remind me to stay true to my dreams, beliefs and authenticity. So that when I stray from these ideas, I make a choice to come back to these fundamentals. It has helped me immensely and when I get lost in some of the negativities that are promoted by the outside, I try my best to come back in- to my inner world. A world of acceptance, love and self-appreciation. 


I haven’t always felt like this and I don’t always feel this way. Because the biggest lesson that I have learnt about this way of life is that it requires patience, understanding and persistence.


 I have found comfort and honesty and integrity, here are 4 other reasons why I have decided to practice this way of life: 


1. My life belongs to me


I went to a British School for the majority of my life and although my family is partially British, we identify with being African. So, I went to school with mostly Caucasian girls and sometimes I would be the only girl of African decent in my class. I would forget this but then a teacher would make a nasty remark about African culture while looking at me or once, a peer of mine told me to start wearing deodorant so that I don’t smell like a ‘real black person’. The pain of these words is very real and sometimes I still remember them slicing my self-esteem like a knife cutting through a piece of fruit. But, then I remember what kind of people say silly and hurtful things like that: ignorant ones. And, ignorance is the easiest thing to forgive. My intention behind forgiving them is not to be passive about what happened to me; it is to release these mean-spirited actions and words from having control over my life. 



2. If I don’t accept me, who will?


The kind of yoga that I teach and practice is in the heat and in front of mirrors. They are meant to reflect myself back to me when I am practicing. When I first started this type of yoga, it was so difficult to look at myself. I would avoid it at all costs. Until one day, a teacher said, ‘If you can’t look at you, how do expect others to?’ Yes, that quote was great and what I needed to hear but when I interchanged some of the words to create the new question, ‘If you can’t accept you, who will?’ , it helped me face myself. At the time, I was in a toxic relationship with an older guy who was not very kind towards me. Hearing these words dawned on me that I had allowed him to treat me that way because I hadn’t noticed myself. I had never truly been aware of the power that lied within me and acted like I had none. Alas, after I asked myself this question, the process of self-acceptance began.


3. It is not other people’s jobs to like you


I used to work at one of the most famous restaurants in New York City. Literally every night, a celebrity, politician or someone “well-known” would come by and people would make a big deal about who was coming. The inner pessimist inside of me would roll her eyes while I put on a fake smile. At this restaurant, there was a manager who disliked me because I wouldn’t buy into this whole ‘some people are above others’ mentality. She would bully me and treat me in an awful manner. When I think back on it, I laugh because now I see so clearly what I learnt through that experience: it was never her job to like me anyways.Thank goodness that by the time I met her, I had enough self-confidence and respect to not let her bother me and do what I needed to do. Sure, being bullied at work by my manager was not ideal and if it were hazardous and extreme, I would’ve left. However, she helped me practice the skill set that no one (and I mean no one) can write my story and truly believe in my capabilities but me.


4.  I am not a punching bag. 


When I was younger, I bought into the idea that if someone does me wrong that I still have to be cordial and kind towards them. There is a big difference between forgiveness and allowing someone to keep hurting you, over and over again. Forgiveness and boundaries can go hand-in-hand. Forgiving someone does not mean that you should be best buddies with them after they have done something to you, it can mean accepting that a person won’t change and deciding to move forward with your life. As I have gotten older, I understand that I don’t need to smile at people who I have negative interactions with and I don’t have to put up with un-necessary behaviour from people who just want to use me to feel better about themselves or their existence in life. I am living life to accomplish great things and that means I will not allow myself to be walked over by anything or anyone. 







12 Reasons why I am grateful to be alive today.

Image from Unsplash

Image from Unsplash

It is important to re-centre our minds and focus on positivity sometimes. Particularly, when we feel down. I first started daily affirmations six years ago and, it felt like I was being corny or a phony when I would speak these words of life into me. 


I came to realize that feeling this was way was just my Ego. And by speaking Affirmations into my life everyday, it elevates my consciousness and creates a belief system of positivity that is being stored in the muscle memory of my brain. 


Here are 12 reasons why I am happy to be alive today (my daily affirmation):


1. I am able. 


2. I am alive. 


3. I am strong. 


4. I have been gifted with another day to enjoy. 


5. The sun is shining. 


6. My body is functioning. 


7. I can open my eyes. 


8. There are many more reasons to be happy than not. 


9. I have everything that I could possibly need. 


10. I am at peace. 


11. I am surrounded by love. 


12. I am love.



12 cosas que debemos enseñar a los niños en la escuela.

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Imagen de Unsplash

No es ningún secreto que no era fanático de la escuela. Aunque tuve algunos maestros excelentes, fue uno de los momentos más restrictivos y succionadores de mi vida. Todos tienen una experiencia diferente: la mía fue un poco corta de tortura.

Estoy agradecido de que mis padres puedan permitirse llevarme a una de las mejores escuelas de África. De lo contrario, estoy seguro de que mi experiencia hubiera sido incluso peor de lo que fue.

La dinámica de la escuela es interesante porque cuando nacen los niños, son amables y sinceros. Entonces, ¿qué pasa en el camino a la edad adulta? Pasamos algún tiempo haciendo esta pregunta cuando muy pocos de nosotros nos sentimos aceptados y apreciados en nuestra vida escolar, ¡lo cual debería responder la pregunta!

En general, pasamos tanto tiempo centrados en los materiales y en cómo sobrevivir en este mundo corporativo que olvidamos enseñar los fundamentos en nuestros hijos que son esenciales para el mejoramiento y la salud de nuestra sociedad.

Si queremos criar niños que sean completos, amables, amorosos y compasivos, debemos enseñar las siguientes cosas en la escuela, que son tan importantes como Matemáticas, Geografía, Historia, Inglés y otras materias que enseñamos a nuestros hijos a mantener. una vida de materialismo:

1. Ser amable.

2. Para escucharse unos a otros.

3. Dar más que tomar.

4. Para apoyar a otros niños.

5. Para competir con quienes eran ayer.

6. Para encontrar la paz interior.

7. Continuar teniendo una mente y un corazón abiertos.

8. Que el dinero y los materiales no son importantes a menos que podamos apreciarlos y regalar algunos de ellos a otros.

9. Para tratar de alegrarle el día a alguien.

10. Ser genuino.

11. Pensar en los demás también.

12. Buscar amor, felicidad, aprecio, validación y aprecio primero.

12 Things that we need to teach children in School.

Image from Unsplash

Image from Unsplash

It’s no secret that I wasn’t a fan of School. Although I had some great teachers, it was one of the most restraining and soul-sucking times of my life. Everyone has a different experience: mine was a little bit short of torture. 


I am grateful that my parents could afford to take me to one of the best schools in Africa. Otherwise, I’m sure my experience would’ve been even worse than it was. 


The dynamics of school are interesting because when children are born, they are kind and sincere. So what happens along the way to Adulthood? We spend some time asking this question when very few of us felt accepted and appreciated in our schooling lives- which, should answer the question! 


In general, we spend so much time focused on materials and how to survive in this corporate world that we forget to teach the fundamentals in our kids that are essential for the betterment and health of our society. 


If we want to raise children who are well-rounded, kind, loving and compassionate, we need to teach the following things in school- which are just important as Mathematics, Geography, History, English and other subjects that we teach our kids to sustain a life of materialism: 


1. To be kind. 


2. To listen to one another. 


3. To give more than take. 


4. To support other children. 


5. To compete with who they were yesterday. 


6. To find inner peace. 


7. To continue to have an open mind&heart. 


8. That money and materials are not important unless we can appreciate them and give some of them away to others. 


9. To try and make someone else’s day. 


10. To be genuine. 


11. To think of others, too. 


12. To look within for love, happiness, appreciate, validation and appreciation first. 

4 Ezinye izinto engizifundile ngabazondayo.

Isitombe se-Unsplash

Isitombe se-Unsplash

Le Ehlobo eledlule kwakuyisikhathi lapho ngakhula njengomuntu futhi nganquma ukuvumela abanye abantu ukuba basuke empilweni yami.Lapho kukhona / kwakungekho lutho olungalungile ngabo; kepha-ke ngakhethe ukuzimela, iqiniso nokuvuthwa. Futhi, labo abangazange basekele lokhu kukhula noma besatshiswa ngakho, nginqume ukubathanda futhi ngabadedela.

Anginayo imizwa enzima ngakho; kodwa-ke, njalo nangezikhathi ezithile, ngithola umuntu engingasafuni ukuba yingxenye yombuthano wabaphatheli. Abanye banokuthula ngesinqumo sami futhi abanye bakuthole kunzima ukwamukela. Kungase kuzwakale kukhulu ukungathukutheli kwabanye abantu ukuthi senginqume ukubakhulula empilweni yami. Kepha, into engiyenza nsuku zonke ukuxolelwa nokuthatha umthwalo wemfanelo yamandla obuhlobo ngangokunokwenzeka ngoba nami ngibe nengxenye.

Kunomuntu oyedwa, ikakhulukazi, ozama ukuletha ubumsulwa kimi. Lokho akwaziyo ukuthi ngeke kwenzeke. Ngijwayeza ukukhuluma ngivela endaweni yothando nesihawu- kungenzeka ngingahlali ngilungile ngaso sonke isikhathi. Kepha, lokho kuyinjongo ephelele.

Lona wesifazane, umngani wami wangaphambili, ungifundisa kakhulu. Nazi izinto ezi-4 engizifunda ngokuziphatha kwakhe okubi kimi:

1. Abazonda nabo bangabafundisi, nabo.

Ukube besiphila impilo lapho wonke umuntu esithanda, lokho bekungeke kuphila. Sidinga abantu abasiphikisayo nabangasithandi ngoba kusenza sibe namandla. Vele, kunezimo ezeqisayo futhi angikhulumi ngobudlova noma ubuxhwanguxhwangu obukhulu. Kodwa-ke, abanye abantu abangalungile bangena ezimpilweni zethu ukuze nje basenze siqine futhi basisize sikhulele uqobo lwethu. Singafunda izinto ezinengi kubazonda, enye yazo ingaba yindlela yokuba namandla lapho abantu bengasithandi.

2. Abantu banjengeama-projektha, abacabangani ngakho yilokho abakwenzela abanye.

Lapho sengibangani naye, wayekhuluma kabi ngabanye. Ngazithola ngidiniwe ngokuhlala ngikhanyisa imizwa noma ngimsize abone umbono ohlukile womunye umuntu ngokwakhe. Ekugcineni, ngadela! Ungifundise isifundo engiqhubeka ngifunda ngokuqhubekayo: abantu abangenayo imizwa futhi abazikhathaza bona kanye nezimpilo zabo abazenzela abanye. Kukhona okuningi kakhulu umuntu angenza umuntu obona izinto ngendlela engemihle, kuyindlela eyiyo futhi ungazithonya kepha uma efuna ukuguquka, kufanele kuqhamuke kuzo.

3. Ziyavela uma ungonakho kakhulu noma okuhle kakhulu.

Ngisanda kuqaphela ukuthambekela kwalo mngane wangaphambili nabanye engiyekile ukuyeka impilo yami. Lapho sengiphatheke kabi, babevele futhi babevele lapho senginakho konke okusemandleni. Ungase ubuze, ukuthi akubona abangane bakho? Ngingaphendula, 'Yebo'; kodwa-ke, amandla abalethelayo baphula inhloso yabo. Lo mngani othile uzovela ngemuva kokuqeda ikhefu angitshele ukuthi kufanele ngaziwe kangcono kunokuthi ngithandane nomuntu engithandane naye. Wayebuye abonakale lapho ngenza kahle, njengokubhuka i-yoga-kufundisa i-yoga, ukuze akwazi ukuthola okuthile kuyo: amakilasi wamahhala nokuthengisa.

Kuyathakazelisa ukuthi lapho ngangilungile futhi ngisebenza ngami nebhizinisi lami, wayezonyamalala. Ngakuqonda kahle ukuthi izinhloso zakhe bekungekhona ukuthi abe ngumngane kodwa ukungisebenzisa ukuze ngizizwe kangcono ngaye ngokuthatha lokho angakwenza noma ukusebenzisa amazwi akhe ukungilimaza.

4. Basiza wena ukuthi ufunde ukuzimela.

Ngaso sonke isikhathi lapho ngibona lo mngane wami wangaphambili, ubeka amazwibela ngaye noma ngomuntu engimaziyo (phambi kwami). Kusobala ukuthola impendulo kimi; noma kunjalo, ngisekupheleni kwempilo yami lapho ngenziwa khona nge-drama futhi ngehlise ukuzithemba kwami ​​kufinyelela kwelinye. Ukusebenzelana naye kungifundisa ukuthi ngingayikhetha indlela yedrama nobubi. Noma, ngingakhetha ukuphakamisa isenzo sami bese ngikhetha indlela yokuzihlola nokuzenza ngcono. Ukulwa nabantu nokungena ezingxabanweni kuwukukhetha; eyodwa engiyenzayo ngiyenza nabantu- ikakhulukazi abantu engikhethe ukuthi bangabe besaba nakho empilweni yami.

4 other things that I have learnt about ‘haters’.

Image from Unsplash

Image from Unsplash

This past Summer was a time when I grew as a person and decided to let some people go from my life.There is/was nothing wrong with them; however, I chose to stand in self-love, truth and maturity. And, those who didn’t support this growth or were threatened by it, I decided to love and let go. 

I have no hard feelings about it; however, every now and then, I come across someone who I no longer want to be a part of circle of trustees. Some are at peace with my decision and others have found it difficult to accept. It may sound outrageous to not be angry at some people that I have decided to release from my life. But, something that I am practicing everyday is forgiveness and taking responsibility for the dynamics of relationships as much as I can because I played a part, too. 


There is one person, in particular, who is trying to bring out the nastiness in me. What she doesn’t know is that it won’t happen. I am practicing speaking from a place of love and compassion- I might not always get it right. But, that is the overall goal. 


This woman, my former friend, is teaching me so much. Here are 4 things that I am learning from her negative behaviour towards me: 


1. Haters are teachers, too

If we lived a life where everyone loved us, that wouldn’t be living. We need people who oppose and dislike us because it makes us stronger. Of course, there are extreme circumstances and I am not speaking of any violence or extreme bullying. However, some negative people come into our lives merely to make us stronger and help us grow into our authentic selves. We can learn many things from haters, one of them can be how to become stronger when people do not like us. 


2. People are like projectors, what they think about is what they project onto others

When I was friends with her, she would speak negatively of others. I found myself tired by continually having to lighten up the mood or help her see a different perspective of someone else or herself. Ultimately, I gave up! She taught me a lesson that I keep learning over-and-over: people who are negative and upset with themselves and their lives project that onto others. There is only so much that one can do with a person who perceives things in a negative light, they are the way they are and you can influence them but if they want to change, it has to come from them. 


3. They show up when you are either at your worst or your best

I have recently noticed a trend of this former friend and others who I have let go of in my life. When I was at my worst, they would show up and they would also show up when I was at my best. You might ask, is that not friends are for? I would answer, ‘Yes’; however, the energy that they bring negates their intention. This particular friend would show up after I had gone through a break-up and tell me that I should’ve known better than to date who I had dated. She would also show up when I was doing well, like booking a new yoga-teaching gig, so that she could get something out of it: free classes and merchandise. 


Interestingly, when I was just okay and working on myself and my business, she would disappear. I understood clearly that her intentions were not to be a friend but to use me to feel better about herself by taking what she could or using her words to harm me. 


4. They help you to learn how to stand up for yourself

Every time that I see this same former friend, she makes a snide comment about me or someone that I know (in front of me). It is clearly to get a reaction out of me; however, I am at the point in my life where I am done with drama and lowering my self-worth to the level of another. Dealing with her is teaching me that I can choose the path of drama and negativity. Or, I can choose to elevate my actions and choose the path of self-reflection and betterment. Fighting people and getting into arguments is a choice; one that I am done making with people- particularly people who I have chosen not to have in my life anymore.

3 Izinto engizifundile mayelana nokubonakaliswa nangobuningi.

Isitombe se-Unsplash

Isitombe se-Unsplash

Kuleminyaka eyishumi edlule, ngihambile ngaya phambili futhi ngisiya phambili ngomgwaqo wokubonakaliswa nobuningi. Lolu hambo luvule iso futhi kufanelekile ukuluthatha njengoba ngifunde kakhulu.

Ngiqale loluhambo lapho ngineminyaka engu-18 futhi ngifunda Imfihlo: incwadi ekhuluma ngezinto ezibonakalayo nezinto ozifunayo empilweni yakho. Ngesikhathi ngiyifunda, bengifuna ukubonisa amamaki amahle ngonyaka wami wokugcina esikoleni esiphakeme. Futhi, empeleni kwasebenza!

Unyaka wami wokugcina esikoleni esiphakeme, ngathola iziqu nge-B lapho ngangiwumfundi weC / D kuyo yonke impilo yami yokufunda esikoleni. Kuyavunywa, kwenzeka ezinye izinto. Kodwa-ke, ukubonakaliswa nokufinyeleleka kweningi kudlale indima enkulu.

Kusukela ngaleso sikhathi, ngifunde amandla enala nokubonakaliswa. Ngokufunda la mandla, ngithole ulwazi mayelana nezinye izinto, futhi.

Nakhu engikufundile:

1. Kufanele ukholelwe ukuthi uyakufanelekela.

Abaningi bethu banokuqonda esikufunayo; kodwa-ke, okumi phakathi kwethu ne-'Into 'ukwesaba. Ukwesaba kungamandla, angabonakala ebhlokini. Ukwesaba ukuthi awukufanele kuvumelekile kepha kwenziwa ngokuphelele.I-block kungenzeka ingabi ngokomzimba kepha inamandla. Kungakuvimba ekufezeni lokho okufunayo ngoba omunye wemithetho yokuqala yobuningi nokubonakaliswa ukholelwa ukuthi uyakufanelekela lokho osokuthola. Uma ukholwa ukuthi ungumuntu ofanele ukuthi leli thuba, into noma umuntu ulibhekise kulokho (ngamandla) kuzolunga nawe ngaphezulu uma ungazi.

2. Trust The Universe ukukuqondisa kuyo noma kuwe.

Ingxenye enkulu yobuningi ukuthembela. Iningi lethu likhuliswe ukubeka umzamo omkhulu kunalokho esikudingayo ezimweni, abantu nezinto ngoba sinovalo lokuthi uma singenzi konke okusemandleni ngeke kusithole noma ngeke sikuthole . Lokhu kucabanga kuvumelekile; nokho, ukwesaba nokusinda-okusekwe. Njengoba siqala ukuqonda kabanzi ngobuchopho bomuntu, sesithole ukuthi iningi labantu lisebenza ngokusuka emphefumlweni wemvelo- ubuchopho bethu bokhokho. Kuyindlela yokusinda futhi akudingeki ngaso sonke isikhathi ngoba iningi lethu akudingeki lizingele noma libulale ukuze siphile.

Ngokwesayensi, njengoba ubuntu sebuthuthukile, ubuchopho bethu bukhula ngosayizi kodwa hhayi ngobukhulu. Imikhuba egcwele kanye neyokomoya isisiza ekufinyeleleni amandla wobuchopho futhi isikhulule emvelweni yethu yokusinda. Lapho sikhulula lesi sici sokucabanga, sakha isithombe esikhulu futhi sifunde ukuthi uma sinikela ngokusemandleni ethu, gcina ingqondo evulekile, inhliziyo futhi, futhi sazi lokho esikufunayo, sikuvumela ukuba kungene ezimpilweni zethu. Esikhundleni sokuphoqa izinto nabantu ezimpilweni zethu, ikakhulukazi lezo ezingafuni ukuba lapho.

3. Imvamisa yithina kuphela ngendlela yethu.

Ngigcina ngifunda lokhu njalo. Muva nje, bengine-epiphany enkulu kakhulu ngalokho engangikwenzile ukuvimba izibusiso empilweni yami. Lapho ngiseyingane, abazali bami badlula ngesehlukaniso. Ngiyabathanda bobabili abazali bami futhi ngiyazi ukuthi benze konke okusemandleni; kodwa-ke, isehlukaniso sabo saba nesifiso sokuphila kimi sokuthi ubudlelwane obuthile abufanele busebenze, ikakhulukazi nabantu besilisa. Futhi, ukuthi ngihlala ngidingida ukuhambisa izinto ngoba impilo yami ingahle ijulwe ngomzuzwana osheshayo, imali kungenzeka ukuthi ihambile ngaphambi kokuba ngiyazi. Okunye okuvezwa yilokhu isidingo sokusebenzisa lokho okuku-akhawunti yami yasebhange ukuqinisekisa ukuthi nginakho konke engikudingayo uma kwenzeka kwenzeka okuthile.

Okunye futhi okwabanjwa yingane yami yangaphakathi ukuthi imali kubi. Ngiseyingane, ngaba nentukuthelo nenzondo kubaba owayezogodla yonke imali emndenini wakhe lapho esithukuthelela. Ngakho-ke, ngabona imali njengenkinga hhayi ukuthi yayisingathwa kanjani. Muva nje, ngithole ukuqaphela ukuthi imali iyindlela yamandla. Uma usebenzisa imali ukukhohlisa abantu nezinto, lawo ke mandla owakhipha. Kodwa-ke, uma wamukela futhi usebenzise imali ngokuhle, kungasiza ukufaka isithombe esikhulu sobuningi: ukukhwela nokugeleza kwalokho esibekelwe yi-Universal. Ukuhlomela ngokwezezimali kungaba yithuluzi elihle lokwenza okuhle, kwesinye isikhathi sikukhohlwa lokho.

3 Things that I have learnt about manifestation and abundance.

Image by Unsplash

Image by Unsplash

Over the past decade, I have walked farther and farther down the road of manifestation and abundance. This journey has been eye-opening and worthy of taking as I have learnt so much. 


I started this journey when I was 18 and read The Secret: a book about manifesting materials and things that you want into your life. At the time that I read it, I wanted to manifest good grades in my last year of High School. And, it actually worked! 


My last year of High School, I graduated with a B average when I had been a C/D student throughout the rest of my schooling-life. Granted, other things came into play. However, manifestation and accessing abundance played a big part. 


Ever since then, I have learnt the power of abundance and manifestation. In learning this power, I have accumulated knowledge about other things, too. 

Here is what I have learnt


1. You have to believe that you are worthy

Many of us have a grasp of what we want; however, what stands in-between us and ‘That thing’ is fear. Fear is energy, which can manifest into a block. Being afraid that you are not worthy is valid but completely made up.The block may not be physical but energetic. It can stop you from achieving what you want because one of the first rules of abundance and manifestation is believing that you are worthy of what you are about to receive. If you believe that you are the right person that this opportunity, thing or person is headed towards then (energetically) it will align with you more than if you don’t. 


2. Trust The Universe to guide you to it or it to you.

A big part of abundance is trust. Most of us have been raised to put in more effort than we need in to circumstances, people and things because we fear that if we don’t do absolutely everything that we can then it won’t find us or we won’t find it. This thinking is valid; however, it is fear and survival-based. As we start to understand more about the human brain, we have discovered that the majority of people operate from their survival instinct- our ancestral brain. It is a survival mechanism and is not always necessary because most of us don’t need to hunt or kill to survive. 


Scientifically, as humanity has progressed, our brains are growing in size but not in capacity. Holistic and spiritual practices assist us in accessing the capabilities of the brain and release us from our survival instinct. As we release this aspect of thinking, we develop a bigger picture and learn that if we give our best, keep an open mind, heart and, know what we want, we are allowing for it to come into our lives. Rather than forcing things and people into our lives, particularly those that don’t want to be there anyway. 


3. Usually we are the only ones in our own way

I keep learning this over and over. Recently, I had the biggest epiphany about what I had done to block the blessings from my life. When I was a child, my parents went through a divorce. I love both of my parents and I know that they did everything that they could; however, their divorce developed a survival instinct in me that certain relationships are not worth working on, particularly with men. And, that I constantly need to hoard things because my life might be turned upside down in a quick second, money might be gone before I know it. Another byproduct of that is the need to spend what is in my bank account to ensure that I have everything that I need in case something happens.

Something else that my inner child was holding onto was that money is evil. As a child, I developed anger and hate towards my father who would withhold money from the rest of his family when he was angry with us. So, I saw money as the problem and not how it was handled. Recently, I came to the realization that money is a form of energy. If you use money to manipulate people and things, then that is the energy that you are putting out. However, if you receive and use money for good, it can help contribute to the bigger picture of abundance: the ebb&flow of what The Universe has in store for us. Being financially equipped can be a great tool to do good, sometimes we forget that. 



12 maneras en que quiero crecer cuando trato con otras personas.

Image de Unsplash

Image de Unsplash

Recientemente pasé por una transformación interna donde aprendí claramente a establecer límites. No solo con los demás sino también conmigo mismo.



A decir verdad, me había centrado tanto en el trabajo que había dejado que algunos aspectos de mi vida, particularmente las relaciones personales, se vieran en el lado de la basura. Entonces, durante The Summer, decidí liberar la toxicidad de mi vida, las formas internas y externas que me habían estado deprimiendo.



Creo firmemente en todo lo que le pido a los demás, necesito encarnarme. De lo contrario, soy simplemente un hipócrita.



En el espíritu de verdad, crecimiento y madurez, aquí hay 12 cosas que me estoy pidiendo que crezca como ser humano:



1. Para escuchar más.



2. Ser más indulgente.



3. Ser más tolerante.



4. Hablar menos y escuchar más.



5. Abrazar el dolor.



6. Bajar la guardia.



7. Creer más en mí mismo.



8. Para confiar más.



9. Para juzgar menos.



10. Para crear más paz.



11. Vivir con un corazón compasivo.



12. Aceptar mis defectos.

Dear Hali, an apology letter to my younger self.

Image by Unsplash

Image by Unsplash

Dear Hali, 

I’m sorry that I didn’t believe in your capability and I believed people who knew nothing of what you are or what you are made of. 


I’m sorry for ever telling you that you are ugly, fat, worthless or not enough. Those words are untrue and only stopped you from reaching your potential. 


I apologize for letting people into your life that came in-and-out with disrespect, unkind words and toxicity. 


I’m sorry for being ignorant about your heritage and not allowing you to be proud of who you are and where you come from. 


I’m sorry that I let what happened to you build walls up against other people, for fear that it wouldn’t happen again. That fear only brought the same kind of people around over-and-over. I have now learnt that peace is power. 


I’m sorry for ever doubting you, fearing your strength and allowing anything to hide your light. 

You deserve to shine bright and I promise to make choices that align with your purpose in life, true love and peace of mind. 


I love you,

12 Ways that I want to grow as a person, in dealing with other people.

Image by Unsplash

Image by Unsplash

I recently went through an inner transformation where I learnt clearly to set boundaries. Not only with others but also with myself. 


Truthfully, I had focused so much on work that I had let some aspects of my life, particularly personal relationships fall to the waste side. So, during The Summer, I decided to release toxicity from my life, inner and outer ways that had been bringing me down. 


I am a firm-believer in anything that I ask of others, I need to embody myself. Otherwise, I am merely a hypocrite. 


In the spirit of truth, growth and maturity, here are 12 things that I am asking of myself to grow as a human being: 


1. To listen more. 


2. To be more forgiving. 


3. To be more accepting. 


4. To speak less and listen more. 


5. To embrace pain. 


6. To let my guard down. 


7. To believe in myself more. 


8. To trust more. 


9. To judge less. 


10. To create more peace. 


11. To live with a compassionate heart. 


12. To accept my flaws. 

3 raisons pour lesquelles je ne ferai plus jamais de régime.

Image de Unsplash

Image de Unsplash

J'ai passé beaucoup de ma jeunesse à être en guerre avec mon corps. Je passais des heures et des heures à regarder FashionTV, à découper des articles de modèles maigres et, par conséquent, à développer plusieurs troubles de l'alimentation.

Mon obsession pour «maigre» a commencé lorsque les gens me disaient que je paraissais bien après avoir perdu du poids. Donc, je voulais recevoir ce genre de compliments tout le temps. Je suis devenu obsédé par l’entendre dire aux gens: «Hali, tu es tellement maigre!

Hélas, j'ai commencé mon parcours en faisant tout ce que je devais pour maintenir un physique mince. Même si cela m'a coûté la paix. Je passais des heures à calculer les calories, à calculer le poids que je pouvais perdre chaque semaine et, si je décidais de manger à l'excès, je vomissais ma nourriture pour ne pas perturber la quantité de kilogrammes que je devais perdre à ce moment-là.

Au plus fort de mes troubles de l'alimentation, je pesais entre 50 et 52 kilogrammes (110 livres), me pesais tous les jours et j'étais si faible que je me suis évanouie avant un défilé de mode auquel je participais.

C'était tortueux.

Quand je repense à ces jours, je suis triste de vivre dans une culture qui favorise tant de misère et de malheur. Je suis particulièrement reconnaissant d'avoir trouvé un réconfort dans le yoga, le bien-être et la positivité.

Voici 3 raisons pour lesquelles je ne ferai plus jamais de régime:

1. Mon corps est un cadeau.

Quand je pense à la façon dont je traitais mon corps, je pleure. Parfois, je me demande ce que je pensais être si impliqué dans un cycle toxique et sans fin. Honnêtement, les choses ont changé quand j'ai commencé à pratiquer le yoga presque tous les jours à l'âge de 19 ans. J'ai établi un lien profond avec mon esprit et mon corps. Grâce à cette connexion, j'ai libéré le besoin pour mon corps de regarder d'une certaine manière parce que j'ai compris (pour la première fois) à quel point mon corps est puissant et les choses étonnantes qu'il fait. L'aspect de mon corps est un sous-produit de la façon dont je m'en occupe. Mon corps est le meilleur cadeau que je puisse recevoir et j'ai promis de le traiter avec soin.

2. Je choisis la paix.

Quand j'ai décidé de choisir d'aimer mon corps, je me suis demandé comment j'étais entré dans la position dans laquelle j'étais. Quelque soit mon poids, ma taille ou ma nourriture, j'étais si malheureuse avec mon corps. À ce jour, je ne suis toujours pas sûr de la réponse; Cependant, je sais que vivre dans le passé ne m'aidera pas. Alors, j’ai pris la décision de choisir la paix et, ce faisant, j’arrêterai de chercher des raisons pour imputer mon manque d’estime de soi à quelqu'un ou à d’autres choses. Chaque jour, je choisis d'être en paix avec mon corps, ma vie et les choix que j'ai faits auparavant.

3. La santé est la chose la plus importante pour moi.

Quand j'avais 15 ans, je me suis contentée d'un défilé de mode et j'ai perdu parce que j'étais trop maigre. L’organisateur m’a dit qu’il ne souhaitait pas représenter une image malsaine de ce qu’était un modèle. J'étais abasourdi de penser qu'ils penseraient cela parce que (dans ma tête) j'étais en surpoids et plus lourd que les autres modèles. Quand je regarde les photos de cette journée, j’avais au moins 10-15 livres de moins que mes concurrents et je ne pouvais même pas m'en rendre compte. Quel était le but de tout ce régime, fixation et obsession, si j'étais si malsain et n'avais aucune idée de ma minceur?

À ce moment-là, j'avais si peu d'énergie que même marcher me donnait des palpitations cardiaques. Parfois, j'avais besoin d'aide pour monter les escaliers de notre maison. J'étais clairement malsain. Je pensais à combien de temps je pouvais continuer à me sentir en mauvaise santé et comme si je n'avais presque pas d'énergie et que je devenais fatigué de l'être.

J'ai choisi d'être en bonne santé et je le fais tous les jours. À travers le yoga, la méditation et le choix d'habitudes progressives, je n'ai pas regardé mon corps sous un jour négatif depuis près de dix ans. Tant de personnes souhaitent avoir un corps sain et fonctionnel; au lieu de me concentrer sur les aspects négatifs de mon corps (qui est généralement une construction de l'esprit), j'ai choisi de me concentrer sur la force, la positivité et l'amour.

3 Reasons why I will never diet again.

Image from Unsplash

Image from Unsplash

I spent a lot of my youth being at war with my body. I would spend hours and hours watching FashionTV, cutting out articles of skinny models and, as a result, I developed several eating disorders. 


My obsession with ‘skinny’ started when people would tell me that I looked good after losing weight. So, I wanted to receive those kind of compliments all the time. I became obsessed with hearing people say, ‘Hali, you are so skinny!’


Alas, began my journey with doing whatever I had to to maintain a thin physique. Even if it cost me my peace. I would spend hours calculating calories, calculating how much weight I could lose ever week and, if I decided to binge eat, I would throw up my food- to avoid disrupting the amount of kilograms that I had to shed at that time. 


At the height of my eating disorder, I weighed 50-52 kilograms(110 pounds), would weigh myself daily and was so faint that I passed out before a fashion show that I was modelling in. 

It was torturous.


When I think back on these days, I get sad that we live in a culture that promotes such misery and unhappiness. I am extra grateful that I found solace in yoga, wellness and positivity. 


Here are 3 reasons why I will never diet again:


1. My body is a gift

When I think of how I used to treat my body, I cry. Sometimes I wonder what I was thinking to be so caught up in a cycle that is toxic and is never-ending. Honestly, things shifted when I started an almost-daily yoga practice when I was 19 years-old. I made a deep connection with my mind and body. Through this connection, I released the need for my body to look a certain way because I understood (for the first time) how powerful my body is and the amazing things that it is doing. How my body looks is a byproduct of how I care for it. My body is the best gift that I will ever receive and I made a promise to treat it with care. 


2.  I choose peace. 

When I decided to choose to love my body, I asked myself how I had gotten into the position that I had been in? One that seemed like no matter what I wore, how little I weighed or how little I ate, I was still so unhappy with my body. To this day, I am still not sure of the answer; however, I do know that living in the past will not help me. So, I made a decision to choose peace and, in doing so, I will stop looking for reasons to blame my former lack of self-esteem on anyone or anything else. Everyday, I choose to be at peace with my body, my life and the choices that I have made beforehand. 


3. Health is the most important thing to me

When I was 15, I contented in a fashion show and I lost because I was too underweight. The organizer told me that they didn’t want to represent an unhealthy image of what a model was. I was stunned that they would think that because (in my head) I was overweight and heavier than the other models. When I look back at the pictures of this day, I was at least 10-15 pounds skinnier than my competitors and I couldn’t even realize it. What was the point of all the dieting, fixating and obsession, if I was so unhealthy and had no idea how thin I actually was? 


At that time, I had so little energy that even walking would give me heart palpitations. Sometimes, I would need help up the stairs of our house. I was clearly unhealthy. I thought about how long I could continue to feel unhealthy and as though I had almost no energy and I became tired of always being tired. 


I chose to be healthy and, do so everyday. Through yoga, meditation and choosing habits that are progressive, I have not looked at my body in a negative light in almost ten years. So many people are wishing to have a healthy and functioning body; instead of focusing on my body’s negative aspects (which is usually a construct of the mind), I choose to focus on strength, positivity and love.