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Author: emsia.kruger

Change helps develop our resilience

Change helps develop our resilience

Change is something we all will experience during our lives. We experience changes in our work, relationships, health, community, and the world. Sometimes we are planning a change and are aware that a change is going to take place. However, in many cases, the change appears unexpectedly in front of our doors and surprises us.

Our ability to handle change positively is called resilience. On the sports field, your fitness determines how fast you recover after intense exercise. In the same way, your resilience will determine how effectively you will recover mentally and emotionally after life-changing events. Fortunately, we can practice and improve our ability to handle change.

The phases of change

According to experts, change consists of three phases. The first phase is finishing, parting, and closing with accompanying loss and relief. Second is the in-between phase, as the trapeze artist in the circus lets go of the bar on one side but is uncertain if the bar will be on the other end at the right time and place. The third phase is the new beginning. It usually brings an element of excitement but also the uncertainty of whether you can handle the new challenge.

Reflection on my life changes

Leaving the nest

My first significant change was when I left my parent’s house after school. The distance and adjustment to residence and university life challenged me in many ways. At the end of my first year, I was 15 kg heavier and all my new clothes too tight. Every time I must adjust to change as an adult, I appear as a confused student in my dreams and do not know what’s going on or what class I should attend. In my dreams, I have visited many universities worldwide as a confused and insecure student.

Working in London

We went to work in London as young adults. This adjustment was next level, and I was out of my depth. My biggest problem was that I could not speak English properly. In addition, as a child from the Kalahari, city life and the grey weather were significant adjustments. London, however, helped me get to know myself better and improve my perseverance and resilience. I share more about my experience in England in my letter with the title, Grappling with Languages.

Divorce and remarriage

My adjustment as a divorced woman with two little boys was challenging on a practical and social level. We found a new routine over time, and I learned new home and garden maintenance skills. However, once we got comfortable in our new lifestyle, Charl started to form part of our picture. Charl’s adaptation was enormous as he suddenly had to help raise two boys even though he had never lived in a house with children. He did not have the faintest idea of what he was letting himself in.

Relocating to Switzerland

Moving to Switzerland is our most recent significant change. I shared more about it in my letter on Lifestyle changes in Switzerland. I know that every change and adjustment I have had to make so far has helped me prepare for the adjustments in a new country. Who knows what changes await me in the future?

Resilience during change

I learned that the following help with resilience as we go through change:

  • Identify the aspects that you do have control over. It’s easy to get entangled in the many situations you cannot control. It is, therefore, critical to seek opportunities to empower yourself to work towards change.
  • See change as an opportunity. Changes allow you to reconsider your priorities. You can decide how to spend your time and what is important to you.
  • Be your own best friend and take good care of yourself. It is normal to feel emotional during change. It is necessary to be patient with yourself and live with awareness. You should reflect on your thought patterns and ensure rational thinking. Both routine and regular physical exercise have a positive impact.
  • Talk to someone. When you try to explain all your many thoughts to someone, it helps with your perspective, and you feel lighter. If you are not comfortable chatting with friends or family, you are welcome to contact me as an independent coach.

All the best to you if you are dealing with change.

Kind regards

Emsia

Music speaks the language of my soul

Music speaks the language of my soul

Music speaks to my soul in ways that even words cannot reach. I do not have much musical talent. My dad played in a band, and my mom and sister had pure singing voices. I, fortunately, received the talent for appreciating music in generous amounts.

Songs tell stories of people, places, and times

During my childhood, there was always music playing in our house. There was a radio in every room, even in the bathroom. As teenagers, we recorded our favourite songs on the radio on cassette tapes. We gave my mother a list of songs she had to record while we were at school. My sister knew the words of every popular hit, and I just made up my own words.

With my mother’s 70th birthday, I put together a CD set of her 40 favourite songs as a gift. She chose songs representative of all her life stages and told me the story behind each one. During her birthday celebration, she handed out copies of the CDs to her friends and family. A particular song on the CD close to my heart is the Māori Love Song. She told me that song played on the radio in the car on the way home just after my birth.

I also put together a Top 40 iTunes playlist for myself and chose songs that remind me of people close to me. I listen to it every Thursday when I clean the house, and then my soul visits everyone while the song that connects us plays.

Music is the language of the heart

Music has a physical, emotional and spiritual impact on us. It has the power to excite and entertain an entire stadium but can also provide soothing comfort. Moviemakers use it very well to create emotion and feeling while the plot unfolds. People tell stories through musicals, jazz, rap, and opera. Music is a medium for worship and praise in churches. It also forms part of culture and folk music to give people a sense of unity.

Music in Switzerland

Music plays a critical role in Swiss culture. Many opportunities exist to develop and live out musical talent. In summer, there is an organ performance in Zurich’s mother church (Fraumünster) once a week. Different church organists can share their talent on the impressive organ in the historic Gothic building. My soul is in heaven when I listen to pure organ sounds.

During the summer, there are many music festivals and concerts. There are outdoor concerts where people can picnic while listening to symphony music along the lake. We attended the Lucerne Music Festival in the large (KKL) concert hall in Lucerne. Zander and I watched a Star Wars movie on a big screen whilst a live symphony orchestra provided the soundtrack. In December, we plan to experience the 007 Sky Fall movie with live music.

The Alphorn is a traditional Swiss musical instrument. Years ago, the shepherds used it to call cows from the pasture when it was time for milking. Later they used the Alphorn for folk music and tourism, and now it has become a national symbol. We often meet a person or group of people playing this Alphorn at touristy places.

I love Plato’s words:

Music gives a soul to the universe, wings to the mind, flight to the imagination and life to everything.

Kind regards

Emsia

When you receive the dreaded call

When you receive the dreaded call

On September 13, 2020, we got that call that everyone feared. It was the call to inform us that Justin, our nephew’s life here on earth, ended at the age of twenty-five. He would have started a new job on the 14th. Justin and Candice are like our own children. Charl chatted with Justin every week to share his joys and his burdens.

The cards that are handed out to us by life

We do not have a choice about the cards handed out to us by life. All we have control over is how we play our hand of cards. Justin received an impossible hand of cards and faced many challenges in his short life. He and Candice lost their father to Motor Neuron Disease in elementary school. However, he always tackled every life challenge with hope and new courage. His perseverance was inspiring.

Justin was a handsome and tall young man with a beautiful smile that he carried with him, despite life’s challenges. He always tried to make life better for others and was loving and protective of Candice. He spent most of his time in the gym, and his gym friends were like family. The Covid-19 lockdown deprived him of his time in the gym, which was his healthy escape and way of socialising.

We shared memories

We had a Zoom Remembrance session for Justin due to Covid restrictions. Family and friends worldwide had the opportunity to share memories. It was the first time the Goosen family was together in a very long time, and it was so good to see each other. It almost felt like we were all sitting comfortably in one big living room, talking about Justin. The honesty of some of the stories made us laugh through our tears.

Friends’ words

It was a privilege to meet the special friends in Justin’s life. They shared the most beautiful pictures, stories, and words. His girlfriend, Trish, read a moving letter about the impact of his life and love on her.

A childhood friend shared the following:

“I remember how Justin, Candice and I sat on the trampoline and ate sweet chilli chips. This afternoon I went to buy a pack of sweet chilli chips at our South African shop. I ate everything by myself. We spent so much time together as children. I cried like a baby when we moved to Australia! They were like my brother and sister xxx.”

Other childhood friends sent precious birthday party pictures along with the following message:

“Thank you for the lovely session today. It was very emotional but also assured us that Justin is in God’s hands. We ask for yourself and uncle Charl to please stay strong for the sake of Candice and God bless your family. In our language, we say, “ A robale ka Kagiso” which means “May he Rest In Peace” From the Mokgoadi Family.

It was remarkable how his friends since childhood were representative of all the different cultures in our country. It was great to know that everyone’s love for Justin is a common denominator, and it gave me incredible hope for a future in our beautiful country.

The last time we saw each other

Zander and I spent the last night before we flew to Switzerland sleeping in Justin’s apartment and had the privilege of meeting his beautiful girlfriend, Trish. Justin helped Zander and me to get to the airport. He was, therefore, the last person I greeted in South Africa before our flight. Little did I know this was the last time I would see him.

When confronted with death, it forces us to think again about life and how we use our precious time. The experience reminded me of our impact on the world and how others will remember us.

Regards

Emsia

I am a product of my decisions

I am a product of my decisions

We all must make some significant decisions during our lives. These decisions have a substantial impact on us but also affect the people close to us. The implications of these decisions can last for years or even decades.  As a result, it is sometimes stressful to make big decisions and requires a lot of courage.

The years directly after school

Young adults must decide how to spend their precious years directly after school. This time is crucial to prepare themselves for the rest of their lives. This decision impacts the knowledge they acquire, the skills they develop and the people they meet.

Some young adults are clear on what they want to do and work according to a plan. They have clarity on the why, what, and how questions. However, others are unsure how they want to spend these critical years. Their initial plans sometimes do not work out or are very different from their parents` views. It can be a very stressful period for young adults and their parents. In my letter, leaving the nest, I share more about my experience as a parent.

Relationships

Everyone makes decisions about relationships. Other people’s impact on you is significant, and you must therefore decide who you allow into your inner circle and where your boundaries lie. It becomes challenging when you realise it is time to end a close relationship. It usually happens because the relationship is no longer constructive, and long-term goals and values are no longer aligned. These decisions cause great conflict, loss, and sadness.

Career

In a rapidly changing world, a few people’s types or places of work remain the same during their careers. Career decisions affect your financial planning and personal growth. It also affects the level of fulfilment and peace of mind you experience. Sometimes you do not have control over career decisions. Businesses close, retrenchments happen or hiring criteria change to promote diversity in inclusivity. In these situations, you only have control over your reactions and actions.

Relocation

Career decisions, relationships, or life stages usually drive relocation decisions. It requires a lot of change and adjustment. In my letter entitled, big, difficult decisions, I share more about the decision and impact of our move from South Africa to Switzerland.

Lessons learned from my own life decisions

We seldom have certainty about what the right decision is in each situation. We take a step in faith and give it our best. Many of my life decisions did not work out as I had planned. I ended up with a career very different from what I studied, and my first marriage ended in divorce. However, I am infinitely grateful for the life experience and personal growth that resulted from the decisions.  They have contributed to a colourful journey.

I have also learned over the years that the lack of a life decision when it is needed can steal a lot of peace. Courage is also a decision.

Considerations during life-changing decisions

We often make life-changing decisions based on “gut feeling”. However, you must evaluate for yourselves how the decision:

• Influence your vision, life purpose and long-term goals;

• Affect different aspects of your life to avoid being so focused on one aspect and in the process fail to think about the impact on all other aspects; and

• Support your values. Personal values are the things that are important to us and have a significant impact on our happiness in life, sense of pride, and personal fulfilment.

No one can make life-changing decisions on your behalf. However, you are welcome to contact me if you need the help of an independent coach to help you arrive at your answer.

regards

Emsia

Technology changed the way we live

Technology changed the way we live

Technology has an increasingly changing impact on how we live. Digitization is a buzzword. I am embarrassed to admit that I do not welcome digitization with the same excitement as the rest of my family. I sometimes focus on the inconvenience of change rather than the incredible opportunities it creates. However, my family makes sure that I am not left behind.

Home automation

Charl works in technology and gets very excited about new developments. He implemented numerous automation in our house in South Africa and controlled the alarm, security cameras and garage doors from his phone. When he worked away from home, the automation allowed him to check on all the cameras.

Charl was already in Switzerland on the day of Christo’s 18th birthday and party. I turned off the outside camera that night because I was worried that Charl’s heart was not strong enough to watch a house party while adapting to a new job in a new country.

Charl bought a Google Home for our apartment in Switzerland. It plays music and provides the weather forecast on request. However, I get very annoyed when Google Home does not understand my accent and friendly tone of voice. It responds immediately to Zander’s instructions. I informed Charl and Zander that if they ever talk to me in the same instructive manner as with Google Home, I’m packing my suitcase home.

ICS School

The ICS school provides each child with a Chrome book on which they work at school and do homework. The school has licenses for various software that the learners use in different subjects, such as Design and Art. Even the library book lending system is automated. Parents can, therefore, also lend and read books online.

Supermarkets

At supermarkets, the buying and paying process is also automated. Customers must activate a scanner with their card at the store entrance before scanning each item they load into the trolley. After the purchases, they pay at a terminal. It came in quite handy during Covid-19. Staff members occasionally conduct samples on selected customers to keep them honest.

The first time they selected me for a sample was a traumatic experience. With the final scan before payment, large red letters, WARTEN, appeared on the screen. A shop assistant showed up and requested that I unpack my trolley, as she had to scan everything again. I could feel my temperature rise, especially when she pointed out to me that I forgot to scan the barcode of the yoghurt! I left the store without a criminal record but was very embarrassed.

A Blog for My Letters

My friends encouraged me to post my regular letters on ʼn Blog. My fear of technology and social media were the two factors that kept me from doing this for over a year. I had to see it as something new to try and learn.

Certain aspects were intuitive, but others were more challenging to figure out. I regularly wished for someone to sit next to me and help. The online world does not have a phone number or an email address. You rely on online articles written by people who have experienced a similar problem.

The whole experience reminded me of the following:

  • In a changing world, new and unknown things and experiences are a given. We must see them as doors that open new worlds.
  • It is very satisfying to manage to do something successfully after struggling with it.
  • We are part of history and have the privilege of witnessing rapid technological change.
  • Everybody needs the support and encouragement of other people to try something new. We must receive it with love and grace and distribute it in abundance.

Regards

Emsia

Lifestyle changes in Switzerland

Lifestyle changes in Switzerland

Sometimes it is necessary to reflect on the path you have walked, the choices you have made and their impact. To adapt in Switzerland, we have made several lifestyle changes. Some of our changes were by choice, and others were for economic or practical reasons.

Transport

We have made a significant adjustment in terms of transport. Space and parking are limited and we, like the rest of the people in Switzerland, regularly use public transport. We ride a bike or walk as an alternative. Zander has a lot of freedom between public transport and his scooter.

After our first year, we bought a car to expand our options. Charl had to take a practical driving test to obtain a Swiss driving license. I shared more about this in a letter, tests on the road. I have not been behind a steering wheel in the last two years. However, I am much fitter.

Eating habits

Our eating habits changed significantly. We enjoyed eating out or enjoying breakfast on a Wine Farm in South Africa. However, breakfast is not a big deal in Switzerland. The Swiss quickly get a “Gipfile” (croissant) or “Brezel” (giant pretzel) and coffee at the train station or a bakery.

Dining out is expensive, and the variety of options is limited. I can count the times we ate at a restaurant on my one hand. Drinking coffee in Switzerland is the most expensive in the world.

We live almost entirely vegetarian. Meat options are limited and very expensive. I occasionally spoil Zander with a hamburger or pork sausage, but I find the meat and especially the chicken tasteless. I, therefore, adjusted my weekly menu to a vegetarian menu.

Residence

We exchanged a large house with a lovely garden in South Africa for a small apartment on the first floor in a large apartment complex, Ankenbüel, in Zumikon. The cost of home cleaning assistance is 15 times more than the same service in South Africa. I am, therefore, grateful that our place is small because the cleaning task landed on my job description. The benefit of our living space is that we live lighter with less responsibility and obligations associated with home maintenance.

The smaller living area impacted our personal space at home. We initially saw it as a potential problem, but now we enjoy the togetherness. However, the Covid-19 restriction tested this aspect to the limit.

Diversity

Most people living in the apartment complex come from other parts of the world. Of course, the international school also consists of families from all over the world. We are, therefore, exposed to diversity on many levels. We experience a variety of food, cultural practices, language, and things we never knew existed. It helps us to look at diversity with new eyes and respect. It also causes us to have more respect and appreciation for our own country, its people, and its traditions.

Language

Our German vocabulary has expanded quite a bit, and our understanding of the language is already reasonable. However, we are not yet able to have a proper conversation in German. We often do not understand what is going on, and it is sometimes a big challenge. The expectation is that you should be able to speak the language of the country where you live. 

We enjoy the new opportunities and personal growth that it brings. The change certainly has a significant impact on our perspectives in a changing world. Situations often confront us with our outlook. Sometimes we must laugh at ourselves for the mistakes we make. Growth does not happen without the necessary growing pains.

Kind regards

Emsia

Life’s purpose and meaning questions

Life’s purpose and meaning questions

Why are we here? What is it that we offer? How can we present our offering in a way that sets us apart? Simon Sinek explains in a popular TED Talk how the most successful organizations think, act, and communicate if they start with Why. There are similarities between the questions that organizations need to ask themselves and what we as individuals need to ask ourselves.

Personal purpose and meaning

Each of us arrives as a unique individual on earth to contribute to a better society. During our first 18 years, our parents and help us prepare for the cause. We also discover some of our passions and talents. During our late teenage years, we begin to ask ourselves the Why, What and How questions. Having a purpose is an important aspect of a fulfilling and meaningful life.

Some people answer these big questions through meaningful, satisfying work. For others, their purpose lies in their responsibilities to their family or friends. Some people manage to live out their purpose in all aspects of their lives. There are many ways in which we can live out our purpose.

Change is the only constant in life

The one certainty of life is that it is constantly changing. Circumstances around us change, but life experiences and phases cause inner change to take place as well. Change in circumstances can lead to a change in the way we contribute. Sometimes a feeling of boredom, unmotivated, or uselessness causes us to ask the “Why”, “What”, and “How” questions.

The way we live out our purpose and contribute can be very different during different phases of our lives. However, there are always needs around us that we can address through our knowledge, skills, and experience. Usually, it requires us to get out of our comfort zone. It is, however, very fulfilling to live out your purpose.

My own journey with purpose and contribution

People and personal growth are topics close to my heart. I have, therefore, years ago completed a Diploma in Coaching. During the training, we had to articulate our “purpose”. I thought about the role I have played in various circumstances over the years and considered my values. It also helped to obtain the perceptions and opinions of people close to me. I expressed my purpose as follows:

Putting my “purpose” into words helped me identifying ways to put it into practice. I was motivated to take the necessary risks and tackle challenges to move forward.

After all the change and adjustment in Switzerland, I again reached the point where I had to confront myself with the Why, What and How questions? I decided to contribute through coaching. I would like to use the skills and techniques I learned along with my life experiences to help others find answers to their questions.

Please Contact Me if you are at that point where you are thinking about your big life questions and can find value in a coaching process to help you find the answers to these questions in a structured way.

regards

Emsia

Medals for dedication and sacrifice

Medals for dedication and sacrifice

The recent Olympics sucked me in like a strong ocean current. I was on the crest with certain athletes, their coaches, family, and team members.  However, I also shed tears about disappointments and dreams that did not work out.

The Olympic medal symbolizes hard work, dedication, sacrifice and patience. It serves as a motivation for the thousands of people fighting the pandemic worldwide.

Medal of Honour

We are familiar with the US Medal of Honour, the highest form of recognition a military member can earn. For some, the Medal of Honour indicates profound bravery and heroism. For others, it symbolizes enormous sacrifice, dedication, and service.

For people who receive the medal, its meaning is often deeply personal and filled with myriad emotions unique to each individual and their experience. It is a tangible reminder of a difficult time in their lives and often represents enormous personal loss and sacrifice. These ordinary people have done extraordinary things for a better future.

In the last year, I have seen various people who have done extraordinary things for the people they love. These people will never receive a medal for their selfless love and sacrifice.

Burger and Dalene Prinsloo

In a previous letter, I shared more about Burger and Dalene’s internal journey in a foreign country. After his severe stroke on 18 August 2020, Burger spent six months in hospitals in Germany and the last six months in South African rehabilitation centres. Dalene resigned from her job and supported Burger in every way possible. They have a team of therapists, family and friends who also support them. However, I can write an entire book on all their challenges over the past year. They both got Covid, among others.

They are currently in Johannesburg with their daughter to enable therapy for Burger. I share Dalene’s words from recent feedback.

“We are healthy, and Burger is progressing well. He can walk almost 100 steps at a time. However, his muscles are stiff, and he is experiencing pain with the sudden exercise after ten months in the hospital bed. According to the therapists, it sounds like we must stay here for another ten months before we can go home. We embark on the journey day by day in faith, and we know the finish line awaits!”

The pandemic

The pandemic caused a lot of trauma and loss, and many families have lost loved ones. Others lost their jobs or sources of income and security. It takes courage to get out of bed in the morning and fulfil your responsibilities. Superhuman strength is required to sit with your pain, study for exams and help with tasks at home because mom or dad is no longer there.

A letter from a young girl who recently lost her mom and dad touched my heart.

“I want to go buy buns after church on Sunday and steal a hot bun from the bag and eat in the car on the way home. I want to step into the chaos where you smell homemade food. I want to run fast to put on other clothes. I will quickly close my room door to hide the unmade bed and my church clothes still lying on the ground. I know mom does not make a fuss on Sundays. I want to turn back time and be at HOME again.”

To all the ordinary people who do extraordinary things, I want to say,

“Your attitude and perseverance, despite many challenges, give me and others hope and serve as encouragement and inspiration!”

Kind regards

Emsia

Life consists of colourful moments

Life consists of colourful moments

Life consists of moments. Moments are like pictures stored in the memory album and always available to slowly scroll through for remembrance.

Last year was a milestone birthday for Charl. Milestone birthdays force us to look back on the memorable moments of life. Charl’s love of puzzles and mine for photos were the building blocks for his gift idea. 

Ravensburger in Germany allows one the opportunity to design a personalised jigsaw puzzle with your photos. The design of the gift provided me with just as much joy as the building did for Charl.

Our life is like one big puzzle

Our life is a big puzzle consisting of moments that shape and colour the picture. There are times when we can only focus on the pieces unpacked on the table that look like a mess.

In times that feel overwhelming, it helps to embark on a creative and therapeutic project to give our subconscious mind a chance to make sense of what may seem confusing. It allows our subconscious mind to look holistically at our lives and see all the pieces as challenges or opportunities rather than impossibilities. We are beginning to understand how these puzzle pieces fit together to create a bigger picture.

Our pictures consist of coloured but also black and grey pieces. The black and grey pieces help us to have more appreciation for the coloured parts. It is the contrasts that make the artwork unique.

We need to create memorable moments

We must create opportunities for memorable moments. For years I have been using December months to go through my year’s photos and sort them. It forms part of my way of reflecting on the year, but it is also a valuable encouragement to be open to new ideas and create opportunities for special moments.

My life is less hectic in Switzerland, and I deliberately focus on just enjoying the everyday moments. I have to be present to observe. My time together with Zander as our youngest is rapidly diminishing. This realisation encourages me to focus on being present and enjoy it when we drink our morning coffee in bed.

I have started to observe activities in the area and changes in nature more consciously when I walk to the store. I make eye contact and smile when I greet the people I pass by. It turns into an enjoyable shared moment that forms part of each other’s day.

We need to allow each other memorable moments

As my sons grow up and start living their own lives, I am more aware of the importance of allowing each other memorable moments. Within a family, individuals have different passions, favourite places and people.

Kahlil Gibran expresses it so beautifully in the following piece he wrote with a marital relationship in mind, but it is just as valid with other close relationships:

Shared moments despite the distances between us

Covid times force us to be creative in our efforts to at least be together in spirit. As family and friends around the world, we embarked on various creative projects. The projects included paint-by-numbers, diamond-dot-painting, acrylic paint on canvas and Lego and other building projects.

We excitedly shared our progress with pictures and thus experienced togetherness.

Regards

Emsia

Words have become my lifeline

Words have become my lifeline

I have never been one for many words. I enjoy deep and informative conversations but tend to listen better than talk. For the past two years, however, words have been my only contact with other people.

The words that I speak and hear

Phone conversations have made me anxious before. Nowadays, a phone call has become my new gift. I look forward to hearing someone’s voice. My weekly call with my mother is like a constant to which I cling. I am grateful for the privilege of hearing her voice. After we shared information about the well-being of family and friends, we discussed our passions and interests. We also delight in the precious moments and positive memories of the past. It is always special to hear my mother laugh.

My boys do not like phone calls either. However, these days we talk on the phone for hours. We have previously expressed our love for each other by spending time and doing activities together. Often, it happened in silence because each other’s presence was enough. We helped each other with tasks or enjoyed little surprise gifts. Touch, as an expression of caring, happened in passing. Words are now all we have.

The words that we write and read

I experience writing as a valuable way to get rid of the emotions that want to overwhelm me. It helps me make sense of how I feel. The paper does not give advice, listens patiently, and gives me perspective. During my divorce, I pinned down my emotions in poetic form. With us moving to Switzerland, my regular letters help me to make sense of events, keep in touch and keep memories alive on paper.

I like to read and often find answers to my questions in written form. Often, I even find encouragement in written pieces, poems, and wise words of people on social media. I have learned to be selective with the type and the source of the information I read. Words have a significant impact on my mind, my feelings, and my actions.

Words are powerful

Words are a carrier of information and emotions. It has an impact on other people. If words become one’s only form of connection, you must choose them carefully. It is vital for the one who speaks it but also for the one who hears it. Words can build, inspire, motivate, acknowledge, and convey love. However, it can demean, discourage, and sow doubt and uncertainty.

Our words are a confirmation to the world of how we see others, our lives and ourselves. When we say something out loud, these words become the truth for ourselves but also for all who hear them. We must select our words carefully to ensure they are positive and convey the truth. We cannot retract our words.

The pen is mightier than the sword

I appreciate the idiom that says, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” Written words can convince, educate, enlighten others, and bring about more change than violence or abuse of power can ever do. It allows others to reflect on the words, experience emotional responses, and take action of their own free will.

Words have become my lifeline, and I am grateful to everyone who helps me keep my head above water with the exchange of words.

Kind regards

Emsia