SWEAT

IT

OUT

 Back in 2014 after I had my baby girl I thought my body looked really really good. I mean, at my 6 weeks check up, my tummy was flat again, my cheeks were far from plump, my silhouette looked pretty good, well at least that's what I thought.

Many asked, how did you do it? I said oh well, it's pretty simple, I only breastfed. But, was my body really great and back to normal? Oh no it wasn't, in fact it was far from it.

I had stretchmarks, permanent scaring from stitches, excess tissue around my waist etc. While my case mightn't had been as bad as others out there, it did not in any way mean my body was perfect and back to normal


In my efforts to recharge and better appreciate myself in 2016, I decided to sign up at gym. Oh boy... now did gym not just expose all those imperfections??! Who was I fooling, perfect body where? Haha well instead of discourage me that encouraged me to keep at it and work really hard for what I really wanted!

Going to gym every morning seeing some of those gorgeous bodies and some Work In Progress bodies I told myself, this is about me and what I want!

With that mindset I pushed, I really did but instead of losing weight, I started retaining water haha, a girl of 54kg was now 59kg in just a matter of 3 weeks... how demotivating is that??!!

But did I give up? Oh hell NO! I got this!          I kept at it, I kept going, I told myself it's not about the little hiccups, it's about the ultimate goal. I have learned that consistency really is the recipe to success.

That weight of 59kg which was influenced by water retention is now what gym bunnies call muscle mass. Yes, I have taken my lemons and bloody well made lemonade with it.

Do you want it? Do you really want it? Then I say, go out and get it! No one can stop you, No one can stand in your way!!

I like to consider myself/my body a Work In Progress, I am not done yet, I am not through, Stay Tuned!! :):)

MY BODY, A MUSEUM...

Often you might have heard Christian's proclaim, "My body is a Temple of the Lord". While my body might be His Temple, I also like to view my body as a museum... Interesting isn't it? Why would one see their body as a museum?

In the Oxford dictionary, a museum is known to be, "A building or place where works of ART, scientific SPECIMENS, or other objects of PERMANENT VALUE are kept and displayed". Now I ask, are you not a work of art? Are you not a specimen? Are you not a temple of permanent value?

With this knowledge of a museum and it's worth and purpose, I choose to view my body as a museum, whatever I do to it and how well I maintain it will be kept and continue to reflect throughout the years.I choose to make wise choices because like all other museums, I want my museum to have worthwhile purpose which can be appreciated by many others.

Think of this as well, when you go to a museum, how many stickers do you see which say "Don't Touch"? Yes a museum has a thousand visitors, and like us we come across thousands of people but stop allowing these people to take advantage of you, to touch what they shouldn't be or what they are not worthy of touching, stop allowing the negativity to stick, clean it off, day in and day out, it's a continuous process, same way museums are cleaned and polished out every night.

Museums have guards, guard your body, guard your soul, it's precious, it's of permanent value...

Be a museum but one which is worthy of worthy visitors, it's historical... it records and keeps all things, ensure your content is worthy of appreciation by others.

Remember this, art is many pieces put into one, sometimes broken too, so if you feel you are like broken china, this too can be appreciated if picked up and stuck together with pieces of gold to make a broken but perfect ornament again...

My body is my Museum...

LOVE, A BEAUTIFUL THING...

While love might be a beautiful thing, where does it stem from? What is it that enables me to love another being? 

Love starts with oneself, the love you have for yourself will enable and determine how you love the next person. Love also comes in different shapes, forms and sizes and that makes it so much more beautiful and intriguing. 

Sometimes we find love in the most unusual of places and in the strangest ways. Why should love be according to a specific prescription? It shouldn't, it should be something spontaneous, unplanned, unprescribed, unusual but still fulfilling and exciting. 

To truly fall in love and enjoy love, one should be in sync with their heart, one should be true to what they really feel and one shouldn't be afraid to express those feelings. Love should be liberating and enabling, you shouldn't have to endure love.

Love never fails, if it fails it wasn't love... While this might be a beautiful thing, many are still in love with the idea of being in love, they haven'y fully been exposed to what true love is. True love is never ending, it does not seek to cause harm or belittle, it grooms and grows, it replenishes and does not diminish, it constantly seeks to serve the other without murmur.

Choose your love, love your choice and don't allow this love to come with prescriptions... Remember that the good and the bad come together to make a beautiful picture!

SHATTERED VESSEL

Many of us are like shattered vessels held together with tape. We come across experiences which sometimes break and damage us for good but to move on, we simply hold our peace, tape ourselves up and go on our way.

How dangerous is this though? A vessel once perfect is now no longer perfect and in it's original form, this meaning it can longer be used to it's best ability. Liquid will flow through it, ground substances will be sifted through etc. but is this is the end? No it's not!

You should learn to recycle yourself. If you are a shattered vessel, trade those pieces and mold something more beautiful and new. I always say, "A problem is a mere stumbling block which creates room for improvement." It is better to fail trying than to fail to try.

Go on... there is always a second chance!

JUST LET IT GO

It could be a job, it could be a relationship, friendship, a grudge or some form of bitterness... if it doesn't make you happy, help you grow or improve, JUST LET IT GO!!

There comes a time in life where enough is just enough. Why do you need to wait for eternal damage or for another to tell you that you're current situation no longer makes you happy, that it no longer serves you or challenges you to become a better person? Why do you allow yourself to wallow in misery or despair? I will tell you that self pity is far from attractive!

It is time you stood up and resolved that, I will LET IT GO, I will LET IT BE. Yes it will not be easy, yes it will hurt for a while, yes it will take time to adapt, but it is possible and you can make that decision and shape a better future for yourself. Many can advise and give of their opinion but they cannot make the decision for you.

So what if you get judged? So what if you get stares and snares? So what if you're spat upon? It is your life, take charge! Your happiness and destiny is shaped by only you and the decisions you make. Alone you came into the world, and alone shall you depart.

Be wise, Don't Compromise... LET GO and MOVE ON!

TAKE PRIDE

Often we are exposed to situations which influence us to conform... but have you asked yourself, is this to my benefit? Will I blend in? Will I stand out? Why am I even conforming?

While change is good, one should take caution not to lose themselves in the process...

Growing up I always wanted to look like all the other pretty girls, I wanted to follow the latest trends so I could be seen and noticed in the crowd but why blend in when I could actually be myself and stand out??!

Yes, while resolutions might be a bit cliched, in 2016 I resolved to be myself, I resolved to accept and better appreciate what I couldn't change. I am an African woman, an African woman blessed with brown, golden skin and dark, rich, black, coarse and coiled hair. It it God and nature's gift to me and what I do with these gifts will be my gift to them. I choose to wear my 'blackness' with pride, I choose to wear my print with dignity, my hair, oh my black coarse hair, I choose to wear it in it's most perfect form, it's no shame, it is only who I am.

My resolution has come with such happiness, no longer do I succumb to blending in and following trends but I now more fully thrive in being myself because there is no other, this is my blueprint, one which can only be appreciated by others but not taken from me. Be BEaUtiful...(BE U)

I am Pam Nomakhosazana Lerato Nhlapo Torr...

BE LIKE A LITTLE CHILD

 

 

Be like a little child they say, how often have you heard or had this said to you? Plenty I'm sure, but why? I say because little children are little 'gods' on earth.

A child will always forgive no matter the offense, now as an adult you know that carrying anger and grudges only burdens you and not the one you hold the grudge against.

A child is full of so much love, be it towards a stranger or acquaintance. When you exude feelings of love/appreciation towards your fellow men you are bound to have a positive and happy reaction from the next person, love comes naturally but hate is taught.

A child is humble and meek, there is a saying that says "Coins are loud but notes are silent", be humble, let your successes and accomplishments make all the noise for you and a wise man knows that there is always something to be learned from the next person.

Again I say, Be Like A Little Child...