Before you do any of that, I want you to stop. This may be the first time in my life that I’m asking you not to budget for gift shopping. Why not exchange time this year instead of gifts? Start by giving yourself this moment in time. Take one moment today, and one moment every day from here on, and give back to yourself first. We’ve all had to play the part of hero this year. You have been brave, you have supported and loved your friends, family and colleagues, and you’ve made a plan to see this year through. Many of us have lost much: our loved ones, our income, our security and...

But this year has almost been absurd in its irony. I embraced the opportunity when Josh, my middle child decided to study in Cape Town. “Being away from home will do him good,” I thought. And it should do. We should encourage our children to leave the safety of their homes to explore life and find their own feet. But at the first sign of trouble, when Corona19 hit our shores, I brought him back home. I wanted to protect him and keep him safe. Gabi, my youngest, really missed her friends during lockdown. She’s just like me. We crave social interaction and togetherness. “Meet your friends...

Let me tell you, that none of this would be possible without the special women in my home supporting me and cheering me on – thank you Patience, Gabi and Florence. The idea for Finance 4 Females came to me after Olwethu Leshabana interviewed me on her Instagram channel (@olwe2lesh.) It was the first time that I really experienced and saw for myself how powerful Instagram can be. But I also realised that this was not a project I wanted to do by myself. It is no secret that technology and social media channels are not my strong point, and I wanted the channel to be authentic and...

We are approaching day 120 of lockdown! That’s four months since we were asked to stay-home and stay-safe. We have realised that we’re all in this together, and how what we do, and how we go about our daily routines, have an impact on everyone around us. I have been thinking a lot lately about how I can make a difference. This past weekend I spent time going through our family holiday album, and came across a note from a lodge in the bushveld that really resonated with me. It read “Every guest enables us to continue our operations and keep our payroll going.” It made me realise how our...

What if this is a time for change? What if this is exactly the opportunity to renew and refresh? To take a chance on you! It’s no secret that even in midlife, I am still the biggest Abba fan! And just lately, I find myself humming this song more regularly. If you change your mindI’m the first in lineHoney, I’m still freeTake a chance on me … I love that we can change our minds, take a chance on life, even when we’re feeling down. And that we can go dancing, or walking, listen to music, or just sit down talking. And I love that I am having these conversations with my clients....

The FlameThe Flame represents our values.My top two values are Inspiration and Authenticity. At first, I was uncertain how I could apply my values to what we’re going through with Covid-19. I have realised that to support my family, friends and clients, it is now more important than ever to be Inspirational and to remain Inspired. I am inspired to remind my circle that by feeling hope, we feel less fear. My value of Authenticity reminds me not to go into hiding, but to remain visible and to keep on sharing. It would be all worthwhile if I am able to help just one person by sharing my...

The reality of Covid-19 is setting in. It’s not something that will go away any time soon, and the novelty of staying home is starting to wear out. Added to the frustration of not being able to move around freely and doing things the way we’ve always done them before, we are overwhelmed with new and frightening emotions. We are worried, we are fearful and we are grieving. And it’s scary. We are asked to adapt to a new pace, in a world where many feel lost and alone, and we are asked to be brave. While we are trying our best to navigate the new norm, a new way of life, we are constantly...

Our new normal leaves us with a desire to connect more than ever, and without the help of body language, we have to solely rely on words. I like Brené Brown’s definition of connecting. She says that connection is “the energy that exists between people when they feel seen, heard, valued; when they can give and receive without judgment; and when they derive sustenance and strength from the relationship.” Empathy is at the heart of this connection. Showing empathy lets the other person know that you are there to feel with them, and that they are not alone. Too often...

Let me share some take-outs from the teachings of Brené Brown that may just help as we prepare to keep living our best lives in the next few week and months in the midst of all the uncertainty. We are all going to feel extremely vulnerable. Brené defines vulnerability as “the emotion we experience during times of uncertainty, risk and emotional exposure.” You have to consciously accept this emotion, and recognise that vulnerability is not a weakness. Vulnerability is the underlying emotion that we’re all feeling. When you accept that you are feeling vulnerable, you can lean into your...