Category Archives: Life

About anything and everything that’s close to my heart

My Silence Explained

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“Speak only if it improves upon the silence.” ― Mahatma Gandhi

I know and I haven’t been blogging a lot lately and it’s only because I don’t have anything interesting to share right now but a lot has been going on in my personal life which I won’t share out of respect for the privacy of my loved ones (I don’t live in a vacuum and what I share on this blog and other platforms does affect those I love and their futures so now I’m more reserved about what I choose to share and I will not apologize for that because it’s for the sake of my family).

I hope everyone who has been reading my blog will continue to do so even though the content will be less personal than it originally was. Thank you all eternally for your continued love and amazing support.

It’s time to nominate your 2021 Local Hero

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With the 2020 Local Hero Awards now behind us, the search for this year’s
extraordinary do-gooders is on. Entries for the Daily Dispatch and Johnson &
Johnson Local Heroes campaign have officially opened, and the Dispatch is looking
forward to the many inspirational stories that 2021 will bring. Daily Dispatch initiated
a campaign in 2015 where a panel of judges selects 12 Local Hero finalists from a
pool of nominees sent in by readers throughout the year. The finalists are honoured
at a gala dinner.

In 2020 a new category, the Front-line Hero Award, was introduced to honour frontline workers’ incredible efforts during the pandemic. This year and in the future, the
Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson will continue to search for 12 local heroes and one
front-line hero.

The nominees must run their projects in the Eastern Cape, and preferably, their
outreach should be as local as possible.

All necessary details of the nominee, including name, cell number, and e-mail
address, must be provided in the nomination. Readers can renominate unsuccessful
Local Hero nominees from past years for the 2021 awards.

To nominate your local hero, e-mail a 500-word motivation about the nominee to
localheroes@dispatch.co.za. Nominations close on July 31.

Ends


30 Years Ago

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Life is a gift – that’s what I know

On the occasion of my 30th birthday I look back with pride and look forward with anticipation while living in the present in gratitude. Thank you to my family who loves me and thank you to My Superhero Catherine Constantinides who guides me teaching me life and the way to live – thank you my people I love you

#Nisha30 – Fundraising for Breath of Life in Honour of my 30th

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“I am only one, but still I am one. I cannot do everything, but still I can do something; and because I cannot do everything, I will not refuse to do something that I can do.”- Edward Everett Hale

On February 25th 2021 I started actively fundraising again for Breath of Life – a place of safety here in East London, South Africa, that homes abandoned and vulnerable babies – but this time I’m aiming to raise R30 000 in honour of my upcoming 30th birthday and 30th year of life. If you wish to donate you can do so at https://www.backabuddy.co.za/nisha-30 (R2024 raised so far – thank you to all who’ve donated so far – only R27 976 more to raise)

Honoured to be a Daily Dispatch and Johnson&Johnson Local Hero 2020

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Me and mom with Alan Stapleton and Laura Dorothy (both representing SPAR)

Work for a cause not applause – that’s my message to the world

I’m deeply honoured to share that I am one of the Daily Dispatch and Johnson & Johnson Local Heroes 2020. Thank you to all who have been part of my journey so far – thank you  in particular to God, my parents, my siblings, my extended family, my friends and all those who’ve supported my work for the past ten years  without whom none of this would have been possible I thank you all very much. Thank you also to SPAR for this award your support is appreciated. I dedicate this award to My Superhero Catherine Constantinides who teaches me that leadership is learning and leading from where you are every single day in small and big ways – it is a lesson I carry with me always.

 

“Take Pain Meds” – a poem by Nisha Varghese [dedicated to all those who live with #chronicpain]

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Take Pain Meds” – a poem by Nisha Varghese [I wrote this for people to understand what it’s like for people who live with chronic pain]

“Take Pain Meds” – a poem by Nisha Varghese

“Take pain meds,” they say as I lay in bed my body aching and my heart hurting    

“Take laxatives,” they say as I clutch my stomach in discomfort

Keep quiet and take anything so we don’t have to listen to your pain for which we have no permanent cure

“Maybe I should take pain meds but if I start will I ever stop? It’s not like I’m ever not in pain,” she says to herself silently

Do I really want my bloodstream to be a pharmacy?

This body may be my enemy sometimes but it is the only home I will have in this life

Still, they say take pain meds

Is there a pain med for the hurt you feel when you’re treated like a condition instead of a whole human being?

  “Take pain meds,” they will always say because unless they live in a body like mine they will never understand the pain of being dismissed and unheard

Knowledge speaks but wisdom listens

PLEASE LISTEN TO ME EVEN WHEN YOU CANNOT FIX ME!

Life’s Purposes and 2021 Goals

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“The great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark.” –Michelangelo

Today is New Year’s Day and with that comes new hopes, new opportunities and new goals. Check out my life’s purpose and 2021 Goals below:

My Life’s Purposes

  1. Fill the world with kindness and love
  2. Make a difference – level the playing field for people who were born with the cards stacked against them
  3. Change perceptions about differently-abled people

2021 Goals

  1. Continue to be kind, honest, generous, grateful, loyal and filled with wonderment
  2. Every day be the best SuperSidekick to Superhero Catherine Constantinides (she’s the best, most hardworking real-life Superhero I’ve ever met she totally deserves me forever  and no matter what else I’m doing in life I will always be here for her)
  3. Raise R300 000 for the Miss Earth South Africa leadership programme in honour of my 30th year of life – The work they do truly has an impact on people and planet I TRULY LOVE IT
  4. Continue to do more for Breath of Life
  5. Eat healthily
  6. Practice Patience
  7. Sleep better
  8. Spend more time outside on sunny days
  9. Make a steady income
  10. Teach kids and adults worldwide that Different Is COOL
  11. Continue to raise awareness about the Western Sahara conflict – the Western Sahara has been illegally occupied by Morocco since 1975 due to the fact that it’s rich in natural and though the UN promised a referendum in 1991 it has yet to come to pass meanwhile half of the Saharawi People have been living in the refugee camps in Algeria since 1975
  12. Choose people who choose me
  13. Read 12+ books
  14. Plant or have 30 trees planted – 1 for every year of my life
  15. Do 30+ good deeds – for every year of my life

(Note: Goals are subject to change with time and that’s ok because I will change with time)

Quite Christmas

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“May you have the gladness of Christmas which is hope; The spirit of Christmas which is peace; The heart of Christmas which is love.” – Ada V. Hendricks

Christmas is finally here we are having a braai (barbeque) at our house by ourselves (like everyone else, I hope) in adherence to our government’s COVID19 prevention recommendations. Merry Christmas everyone – stay home, stay safe

Chasing Coral

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93% of heat in the Earth’s atmosphere is absorbed by the ocean

Yesterday I watched Chasing Coral-a Netflix documentary that captures the bleaching of the world’s coral reefs and the reasons why – I’m not exaggerating when i say THE DOCUMENTARY HAS CHANGED MY LIFE I shall redouble my efforts  to plant trees thus  keeping oceans and cool saving corals.

Watch Chasing Coral below: