The First Step

Hey friends, I was going through some pictures recently on Instagram by a photographer, Adrian Steirn. He got up close and personal with some guys that were shooting up heroin. It was a scary, thought provoking picture and it made me think long and hard about one of the silent killers of our generation - addiction.  I've been thinking about how desensitised we've become to the issue and the fact that many people don't understand what it takes for people living with an addiction problem to try and give it up or to live as a recovering substance abuser. The relapses, the shame they face from society, the frustration, the mental health issues and everything in-between. It's become so easy for us to play God and judge harshly on what we think is not okay or is a moral dilemma in our books. This is a very sensitive topic to many people out there, so I urge you to have an open heart when reading. There are many types of substance abuse, as we are all very well aware of but al...

Hey friends, I'm so, so sorry that I've been MIA for a while but I am back now. I've missed you! I hope you guys are keeping well and hanging in there. I can't believe we're already in September. This year has been moving way too fast. We've been downgraded to level 2 lockdown here in South Africa and while we're all transitioning back into our office life the cases of violence against women and children are still at a record high. The Daily Maverick reported that there was a massive increase in reported cases of gender-based violence during the hard lockdown, 87 000 to be precise. This created an opportunity for me to ask our women, via social media, about some of the self-defense items they carry with them when travelling or just going about their days. The results concluded that pepper spray is a very popular item. If you don't already have one or have no idea where to get one from have a look at Defcon Tactical  or Takealot . You can order online wi...

Hey friends, You guys doing okay? I've been finding myself in and out of a state of anxiousness the past couple of days. I think it's quite normal to be feeling that way during a time like this. I have always had anxiety and as a child it was MUCH worse. It would stop me from going on school excursions. It was that bad. Somehow, I have learnt to deal with it and take a hold of it in a more understanding way. It's never been easy but I got there. What's helped me a lot was my spiritual journey. Learning to trust God with everything in your life is a very difficult thing to do when you've always tried to control everything around you. I'm going to be bold and talk a little about my life growing up. I never grew up in a happy home. For me it was always trying to prepare myself for the next thing going wrong. That was a major part of my anxiety as a child . I was always walking on eggshells and never had anyone to speak to. It wasn't something I co...

Hey friends, I've been a bit quiet lately. It's been quite an emotionally draining 3 weeks for the women in SA and throughout the world. How did we get back here? I am just so exhausted. I am so greatly affected by  Gender Based Violence in my country and around the world. Joanne Chukwueke called it the "shadow pandemic" in her article. I can't tell you the kind of anxiety this pandemic gives me. I'm thankful that I am able to work from home. Covid-19 has helped with my safety in terms of not traveling so often but for the many other women that still need to get out there and put food on the table for their families this world is not a safe space to walk through. Even living at home in times like this can be a very dangerous thing when you have an abusive partner. How do you stop a rape culture that has gone on for centuries? How do we create an environment where men and women can come out and seek help? An environment where they do the work ...

Hey friends, Fun fact! I wear glasses. It's a pretty recent development in the life of Pran and I am still getting used to having it on my face. I've had times where I've left the house without them. I laughed it off because I don't enjoy wearing them but the truth is they help me see clearly. I miss having 2020 vision without my specs. For most of us the thought of having 2020 vision would mean when someone is able to have the visual acuity (Yes, I've learnt a new word), of something 20 feet away. This is just something we've come to understand. However, this isn't the only visual skill that is necessary for us as humans. For example, in order to acquire your driving license one would also be required to have a peripheral awareness (side vision), hand-eye coordination, as well as depth and perception. The other very important thing you would need is colour vision . Isn't this an amazing gift given by God? For us to have all these abilities...