Category Archives: Life

About anything and everything that’s close to my heart

4 Things I’m Proud of in 2025

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“By three methods we may learn wisdom: First, by reflection, which is noblest; second, by imitation, which is easiest; and third, by experience, which is the bitterest.”
— Confucius

As I reflect on 2025, I’ve been thinking about the parts of the year that shaped me most. Here are the four things I’m proudest of:

1. I showed up at Breath of Life — and raised over R50 000.
I visited often, I stayed present, and I did the work from the heart. This remains one of the most meaningful parts of my year.

2. I significantly reduced my sugar intake.
Last year I had a KitKat almost every day; this year I was eating veggies for breakfast. A small change that made a big difference in how I feel.

3. I created more balance in my life.
In 2024 I was consumed by “impact at all costs.” This year, I learned you can still serve with intensity and go to the beach more. That balance is growth.

4. I finally made it to Italy and Spain.
I saw the Colosseum, the Vatican, and so many beautiful places — a dream made possible by my family who funded the trip. I’m still grateful

Life’s Purposes and 2025 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 2025 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

2025 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. Maintain and strengthen my deep friendship with Michelle Rielly  
  4.  Raise at least R34 000 for Breath of Life 
  5. Become financially independent – earn more than enough to pay for my own medical aid and groceries
  6. Have more fun – maybe take up art of some kind or simply going to the beach more often
  7. Focus on wellness – pray every day, have good diet, exercise, good sleep, gratitude and get more sun
  8. See Michelle Rielly in real-life again – I miss her lots
  9. Choose people who choose me – no more chasing people
  10. Visit Paternoster
  11. Visit Europe – go to Paris and Rome – and go paragliding in Switzerland
  12. Go whale-watching with Southern Cross Cruises in October (saw whales with Southern Cross Cruises on October 11th – it was awesome)
  13. Stay at Crawfords Beach Lodge
  1. Read 24-48 books
  2. Do 34  or more good deeds – one of the deeds must be having one or more trees planted (Visions of Change helped me plant 5 trees)

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

(Note 2: Post last updated 11 October 2025)

My 2024 Life Purposes and Goals in Review

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“Make measurable progress in reasonable time.” – Jim Rohn

As we near the end of 2024 it is again time to review the goals I set at the beginning of the year

My 2024 Life Purposes and Goals in Review

My Life’s Purposes

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

2024 Goals in Review

  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. Maintain and strengthen my deep friendship with Michelle Rielly  
  4.  Raise at least R33 000 for Breath of Life and request that the government create a third category for baby havens so we can increase our numbers without anxiety  (Breath of Life is a place of safety for vulnerable babies here in my city I JUST LOVE THEIR WORK) [ Update: raised the amount and more – changing the law was unnecessary]
  5. Take a classroom of kids to the movies for the first time [Update: Didn’t get to it]
  6. Build a strong relationship with Abigail Boshoff [no comment]
  7. Have more fun – maybe take up painting, or pottery or simply going to the beach more often
  8. Focus on wellness – pray every day, have good diet, exercise, good sleep, gratitude and get more sun [Update: Need to work on the sleep and exercise]
  9. Go on a boat cruise here in East London with Southern Cross Cruises -hopefully see whales or dolphins
  10. Paraglide in Interlaken, Switzerland [Update: Didn’t get to it]
  11. Practice Patience [Update: Started working on it in the last 12 days of the year]
  12. Become financially free [Update: Failed]
  13. Teach kids and adults worldwide that Different Is COOL
  14. 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
  15. Choose people who choose me [Update: I’m trying]
  16. Read 24-48 books [Update: Read 14 books so far]
  17. Plant 1-5 trees [Update: Had 2 trees planted at my sister’s new house]
  18. Do 33+ good deeds

#Nisha67 Campaign Over. Thank you all for the support.

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“Never underestimate the power of a small group of committed people to change the world. In fact, it is the only thing that ever has.” ~ Margaret Mead

Last night my Nisha 67 Campaign benefitting Breath of Life ended with a net amount of R47 943 (I think I will only know the final amount by Monday but I’m approximately correct)(the gross amount is R51 559). A HUGE HUGE THANK YOU to my family, friends and even strangers who came together to make this happen.

A special mention must also go to Tom & Tori Horse and Heart Stables who did a 22 km horse ride on my behalf in aid of Breath of Life on September 16th- thank you soooooooooooo much.

BackABuddy will transfer the money to Breath of Life on October 14th and Breath of Life will use the money for baby care essentials as well as to cover the operating expenses of the house – electricity, water, salaries, etc.

Mia le Roux makes history as first hearing-impaired Miss South Africa

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Mia Le Roux (L) is crowned by 2023 Miss South Africa Natasha Joubert (R) on stage at the 2024 Miss South Africa final at SunBet Arena in Pretoria. (MARCO LONGARI / AFP)

Mia le Roux makes history as first hearing-impaired Miss South Africa

The 28-year-old model and marketing manager who was representing the Western Cape is the first Miss South Africa who is hard of hearing. According to her profile on the Miss South Africa website, Le Roux, who was born in Sasolburg in the Free State, was diagnosed with profound hearing loss at the age of one.

The part-time B Com Marketing student describes herself as resilient, dedicated, graceful and kind. 

An Open Letter to Mia le Roux

Dear Mia,

Congratulations on becoming Miss South Africa 2024. Thank you for having the courage to put yourself out there and because you did you now have the chance to make the world inclusive for all of us who are different. Congratulations, I’m so proud of you…for the first time in my life I feel represented in the mainstream media

Yours with Gratitude,

Nisha Varghese

11 Lessons from The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life by Robin Sharma

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“Gratitude is the antidote to fear. And a gateway practice into prosperity.” –  Robin Sharma, The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life

Yesterday I finished reading The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life by Robin Sharma and by the last page I wanted to cry because I felt like I was saying goodbye to a friend who reminded that I was already wealthy in many ways (I was already doing most of the things mentioned in the book i just doing most of the things mentioned in the book I just didn’t know they were habits of wealth the world told me the were habits of the naive but apparently not). Below I’ve listed some of my favorite lessons from The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life by Robin Sharma: 

11 Lessons from The Wealth Money Can’t Buy: The 8 Hidden Habits to Live Your Richest Life by Robin Sharma 

1. When you’re with people treat it like the last time you might see them (because it just might be life is fragile)

2.Your life reflects you – in other words, your other life is a reflection of the inner work you’ve done on your mind, heart, health and spirit 

3.BE GRATEFUL – send thank you notes and gifts in abundance 

4. Be kind and generous 

5. Be humble – even the old tree bows as it ages. Are you prouder than a 150 year old tree?

6. Put your last days first – fast forward to your deathbed think about what contribution you would like to make then rewind to present day and do – I wrote my future obituary years ago and it helps me to remember how to live 

7. Be a perfect moment creator – make breakfast with family, watch the sunset, eat great food.. anything just create moments intentionally

8. A great work ethic without a great rest ethic is not sustainable – doing something is not better than doing something they are just two different things

9. Bless your money as you send it out and ask it to come to you a hundred fold

10. Self-worth increases net worth


11. The one who reads most wins

Lent 2024

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22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control. Against such things there is no law. (Galatians 5:22-23)

Today Christians enter the 40-day Lenten period and while it’s traditional to give up foods and vices during Lent today I woke up and prayed that God make me pure of heart and I committed to intentionally practicing The Fruits of the Spirit – love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control . I know I won’t be perfect in the next 40 days but I will be trying.

Pray for me always ☦️☦️☦️

Life’s Purposes and 2024 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 2024 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

2024 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. Maintain and strengthen my deep friendship with Michelle Rielly  
  4.  Raise at least R33 000 for Breath of Life and request that the government create a third category for baby havens so we can increase our numbers without anxiety  (Breath of Life is a place of safety for vulnerable babies here in my city I JUST LOVE THEIR WORK)
  5. Take a classroom of kids to the movies for the first time
  6. Build a strong relationship with Abigail Boshoff
  7. Have more fun – maybe take up painting, or pottery or simply going to the beach more often
  8. Focus on wellness – pray every day, have good diet, exercise, good sleep, gratitude and get more sun
  9. Go on a boat cruise here in East London with Southern Cross Cruises -hopefully see whales or dolphins
  10. Paraglide in Interlaken, Switzerland
  11. Practice Patience
  12. Become financially free
  13. Teach kids and adults worldwide that Different Is COOL
  14. 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
  15. Choose people who choose me
  16. Read 24-48 books
  17. Plant 1-5 trees
  18. Do 33+ good deeds

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

My 2023 Life Purposes and Goals in Review

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“Make measurable progress in reasonable time.” – Jim Rohn

As we near the end of 2023 it is again time to review the goals I set at the beginning of the year

My 2023 Life Purposes and Goals in Review

My Life’s Purposes

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

2023 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. Maintain and strengthen my deep friendship with Michelle Rielly  
  4. Sign up 5-10 cot guardians for Breath of Life  and additionally  raise at least R32 000 (Breath of Life is a place of safety for vulnerable babies here in my city I JUST LOVE THEIR WORK) [raised more than R32 000 but the cot guardians plans changed]
  5. Be a great support to Abigail Boshoff [I have tried and will continue to]
  6. Focus on wellness – have good diet, exercise, good sleep, gratitude and get more sun [need to work on sleep, exercise and diet]
  7. Go on a boat cruise here in East London with Southern Cross Cruises -hopefully see whales or dolphins [failed]
  8. Practice Patience [tried sometimes]
  9. Become financially free [failed]
  10. Teach kids and adults worldwide that Different Is COOL [did my best]
  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 [did my best]
  12. Choose people who choose me [I’m trying]
  13. Read 24+ books [read 12 books]
  14. Plant 1-5 trees [somebody else planted the trees oonn my behalf during the Knysna reforestation project]
  15. Do 32+ good deeds [I wasn’t counting but I’m sure i surpassed my goal]