#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.

https://www.facebook.com/localheroesawards/videos/783695495593970

 

Superhero Catherine Constantinides Joined Forces with SUPERSPAR Xavier and PinkDrive to Feed 500 families in the Booysens Informal Settlement

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500 food hampers donated by SUPERSPAR Xavier to the food distribution organized by Superhero Catherine Constantinides at Booysens Informal Settlement [Photo credit: Tyrone Noble from Noble Media Solutions]

“Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has.” -Margaret Mead

Yesterday My Superhero Catherine Constantinides joined forces with SUPERSPAR Xavier and PinkDrive to feed 500 families in the Booysens Informal Settlement who lost everything in a fire a few weeks ago. A HUGE THANKS to SUPERSPAR Xavier for donating 500 food hampers, thank you to Noelene Kotschan and Janine Hills for helping Catherine to coordinate everything and thank you to Tyrone Noble from Noble Media Solutions for being there with Catherine to help tell the story of the day through photography. Thank you to everyone for helping My Superhero Catherine Constantinides to do the AMAZING WORK she does.

Superhero Catherine Constantinides and the Pink Drive staff working hard at the food distribution at Booysens Informal Settlement [Photo credit: Tyrone Noble from Noble Media Solutions]

Statement from Sundeep Dasai (Owner of SUPERSPAR Xavier ) regarding SUPERSPAR Xavier‘s donation of 500 food hampers to the families at the Booysens Informal Settlement:

Superspar Xavier is honoured to assist the residents of the Booysens informal settlement at a time of need. We care for our community and are pleased to assist in making a difference in lives of others. Our contribution would mean nothing without the collaboration with PinkDrive and Catherine. They are the true heroes.

Catherine Constantinides and 67 Blankets -a Godsend to the People of the Booysens Informal Settlement

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Catherine Constantinides on the Booysens Informal Settlement [Image source: Instagram/@ChangeAgentSA]

“Legacy is determined action you take every single day.” – Catherine Constantinides

Recently 500 families living in the Booysens Informal Settlement in Johannesburg, South Africa  sadly lost everything in a devastating fire but thankfully people like My Superhero  Catherine Constantinides exist and she and other people and organizations have been at the Booysens Informal Settlement since the first day of the fire providing aid and comfort to the residents. A special thanks to Carolyn Steyn and her team at 67 Blankets for partnering with my Superhero Catherine Constantinides to provide beautiful hand-knitted blankets to the fire survivors of the Booysens Informal Settlement

Dear Superhero Catherine Constantinides,

I have made no secret of the fact that I think you are a one-of-a-kind human exemplary in your kindness, generosity and compassion. I truly believe the sun rises and sets wherever you happen to be. Love you to the moon and more than the stars.

Your Always SuperProud SuperSidekick, Nisha

About Yesterday… HUGE THANKS to eNCA

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“It took me quite a long time to develop a voice, and now that I have it, I am not going to be silent.” – Madeleine Albright

Thanks Tanya Nefdt and eNCA for this feature on me and my book Different Is COOL yesterday

To buy my Kindle book please visit  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B08LLFNHL2/ref=sr_1_1?dchild=1&qid=1603353427&refinements=p_27%3ANisha+Varghese&s=digital-text&sr=1-1&text=Nisha+Varghese

“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)

My 2020 Life Purposes and Goals in Review

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

As we near the end of 2020 it is again time to review the goals I set at the beginning of the year

My 2020 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]

2020 Goals

  1. Continue to be kind, honest, generous, grateful, loyal and filled with wonderment [did my best – give myself an A]
  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) [did my best – give myself an A++++]
  3. Do more for Breath of Life perhaps raise R29 000 in honour of my 29th year of life (Breath of Life is a place of safety for vulnerable babies here in my city I JUST LOVE THEIR WORK)
  4. Take one classroom of kids who’ve never been to the movies to the movies [postponed due to COVID ]
  5. Eat healthily [failed]
  6. Practice Patience [failed]
  7. Publish my children’s book Different is Cool
  8. Make a steady income [not yet achieved]
  9. Teach kids and adults worldwide that Different Is COOL [did my best]
  10. 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]
  11. Choose people who choose me [did my best]
  12. Read 12+ books [read 4/12 so that’s an epic fail]
  13. Plant 52 trees in honour of how old Gerda would have turned this year [I delegated it to other other people to help me but sadly it never happened]
  14. Do 29+ good deeds – for my 29th year of life [did my best – i wasn’t counting the amount of good i did but i must have done at least 29 good deeds]
  15. Visit London, Paris and Rome [postponed due to COVID]

[Note: The items that have a strikethrough have been fully achieved]

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: