Category Archives: My journey towards independence

My journey from utter helplessness to independence

Day 2847: Surge of Envy

Nobody’s perfect and that’s okay– that’s what I’m realizing.

It’s 10 : 23 AM on day 2847 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work

This morning as I sat waiting for someone to help me out of the bathroom I thought to myself some people are on the other end of the world and I struggle to get from my bedroom to the bathroom and back I try my hardest every day not to be envious and to instead me grateful but sometimes even despite the fact that I love my life and love helping people I can feel the envy coursing through me and I can hear myself think when is it going to be my turn to go places and do things? I wish I could rid myself of envy completely but I’ve accepted I’m an imperfect human who will periodically feel envious and that’s okay as long as it doesn’t consume me and make me blind to my blessings (of which I have many).

Day 2846: From My Superheroes With Love

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Maybe all the love I have is all the love I need– that’s what I’m realizing.

It’s 11 : 53 AM on day 2846 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work.

Two days ago my Superhero Catherine Constantinides called my dad and asked him if he could pick up a package she would send for me with her sister, Ella, who would be coming to town the following day I was absolutely blown away Catherine had just arrived in South Africa from Geneva that morning and she arranged for gifts to be hand-delivered to me the following day I was MIND-BLOWN that even when she is a far away land during very important things she and our friend from the Western Sahara (currently living in Geneva) Omaima, thought of me I’m in love with Catherine’s kindness even at her most tired she is so so so kind it’s extraordinary and something that I aspire to daily. Maybe just maybe I don’t need matrimony and parenthood to be okay maybe I can thrive on Catherine’s love, on Ella’s love, on Omaima’s love, on the love of my family and friends and that will be enough I’m so blessed to have Superheroes who love me so deeply when Catherine and Ella say they love me I believe them I hear it in their voices and see it in their eyes it comes from somewhere deep within each of them. Thank you Superhero Catherine, Ella and Omaima for bringing light and love into my every day

Day 2844: The Mind-BLOWING Christine Ha

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The human ability to adapt is remarkable – that’s what I’ve realized

It’s 1 : 50 PM on day 2844 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work.

Recently I heard about Christine Ha – a chef who won Masterchef blindness and all – I was blown away by how Christine uses her other senses to compensate for her blindness in her career as a chef it’s really cool. Watch Christine Ha’s story below:

Day 2843: Expect the Unexpected

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In life expect the unexpected– that’s my message to the world.

It’s 12 : 09 PM on day 2843 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, spend time outside, read a Bible verse and do some work

Yesterday my today was free until mom invited some lovely lunch guests it’s fine I’m going to go with the flow they’re nice people.

Day 2842: June 25-July 2nd Goals

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“By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.” – Benjamin Franklin

It’s 1 : 27 PM on day 2842 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse, spend time outside – it was fun just to be alone with birds they have no demands or expectations – and do some work

Last Monday I set some goals and today I will again be evaluating myself to measure my progress and I’ll be setting some goals for the coming week as well. Take a look:

18^th – 25 June Goals Self-Evolution

Continue to be kind, honest and generous [I tried]

Be the best Supersidekick to my Superhero Catherine Constantinides [I tried]
Spend time outside as often as I can [I did]
Read 200+ pages of When Dimple Met Rishi [currently on page 143]
Learn 7+ new things [such a fail on this one this week]
Write done 7 beautiful moments – 1 for every day of the week [did it more often than not ]
Eat or drink something new [not done]
Call 1 friend [not done – the world is suspicious of a girl who wants to call just to say hi or thank you so those I want to call I don’t have the phone numbers of and those whose phone numbers I do have I have called so many times they’re probably sick of me so although one of my goals this year was to call 2 family members and 2 friends every 3 months just to say hi or thank you I don’t think it’s going to work out]

Highlights of the week

My sister’s procedure going well
My sister reaching Australia safely (she’s in Australia for her 4-week med school elective I’m happy for her she’s always been a good kid always working hard and doing the right thing (in her 23 years of life she has never caused my parents heartache it’s extraordinary) my parents were happy to fund her trip because she truly truly earned it I’m happy for I hope she learns lots and has fun she deserves it
Getting a voice note from Superhero Catherine Constantinides says she was thinking of my family and I as we commemorated 41 days since my grandmother’s passing – I was so shocked that she remembered it was a wonder considering she’s at the UN HUMAN RIGHTS COUNCIL in GENEVA representing the people of the Western Sahara ( my Superhero makes my life she’s my lesson in kindness and humility I honestly am left speechless by her thoughtfulness she often says to me that no matter where she is she carries me in her heart and I believe her with my whole heart)
Being with my extended family

June 25-July 2^nd Goals

Continue to be kind, honest and generous
Be the best Supersidekick to my Superhero Catherine Constantinides
Spend time outside as often as I can
Finish reading When Dimple Met Rishi
Learn 7+ new things
Write done 7 beautiful moments – 1 for every day of the week
Eat or drink something new
Use social media to showcase the ability of differently-abled people and teach that Different IS COOL

Day 2841: 41 Days

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Sometimes the passing of time just reminds you of what you’ve lost – that’s what I’ve realized

It’s 2 : 13 PM on day 2841 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work

Today marks 41 days since my maternal grandmother’s passing – 41 days is the end of the mourning period in the Orthodox Church calendar – and my life is so different I had no idea how much our Saturday phone calls were a part of my life. Miss you Ammachi. See you again someday.

Day 2840: Winter Break in South Africa and Bending Some Rules (maybe)

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Embrace what is – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 11 : 04 AM on day 2840 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work

Today is the first day of winter break across South Africa which means both my parents and my brother will be home all day till July 17^th queue my brother’s complaints about me slowing down the WIFI and my mother’s complaints that my music is too loud (usually it’s not music but rather me watching discussions at the UN or Ted Talks but it’s too much effort to explain so I just let her think it’s music) but I’m going to make the best of our time together maybe I’ll ask if we can buy some trees and plant them at a local park (I can hear my dad right now plant trees at a local park? don’t you have anything better to do we’ll probably get arrested? my dad is a very cautious man doesn’t want to make any waves I, on the other hand, came out of the womb making waves I believe laws must be respected but rules can be bent if not broken) I look forward to the next 3 weeks hopefully my parents will go with my flow I really want to make a difference locally but won’t be able to if they refuse to help me.

Day 2839: Living For Timeless Ideals and Values

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The point is not to live forever it’s to stand for ideals and values that do – that’s my message to the world.

It’s 1 : 20 PM on day 2839 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray, read a Bible verse and do some work

The older I get the more I realize the importance of working on causes the results of which I may never see. The point of life is not immortality it’s to stand for the timeless ideals of freedom, justice and equality and to create something that will outlive us all.

Day 2838: Favourite South African Slang Word?|Michael Cost [@mickycost] | ZA Kids EP 3 S1 #ZAKids

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“

When you learn, teach, when you get, give.”― Maya Angelou

It’s 1 : 02 PM on day 2837 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray while sitting outside and do some work

Today I watched “Favourite South African Slang Word?” – episode 3 of Michael Cost’s YouTube series ZA Kids – and since I love sharing all AWESOME things South African I thought I share this too. Watch “Favourite South African Slang Word?” below:

Day 2837: World Refugee Day 2018 and the Western Sahara #StandInTheSand

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[photo credit: Catherine Constantinides ]

Refugees are humans – that’s what I would like the world to remember.

It’s 2 : 09 PM on day 2837 of my journey towards independence and I managed to pray while sitting outside and do some work.

Today is World Refugee Day – a day when the world pauses to remember that 23,300 people a day are forced to flee their homes because of conflict and persecution. . Today and every day I stand by my statement that Morocco’s 42-year illegal occupation of the Western Sahara is WRONG and CRIMINAL! #FreeWesternSahara . #StandInTheSand with Catherine Constantinides and I as we stand in solidarity with the people of Western Sahara now & always. May we never forget that NOBODY IS A REFUGEE BY CHOICE. Show some compassion. Show your heart.

[All pictures above from Catherine Constantinides]