TOUGH

How fast this year has passed.  And what a hell of a year it was. 

I saw this article the other day where the person referred to this year being the year where all the things they never thought would happen to them, happened.  The feeling was mutual.

But in hindsight it’s also been spectacular in its own way.

This time of the year is always challenging in the sense that we tend to look back at the year and critically evaluate ourselves and our achievements and or disappointments.  We pat ourselves on the back for the things we really did well and critically hit ourselves for the things we did that we could have done better.

This year taught me so much to operate outside of my comfort zone that in itself became a comfort zone to me.  I left the company I worked for, for 10 years and not just did I completely change my occupation but I joined a startup in an industry I know nothing about.  I travelled to Sandton, learnt how to operate a MacBook and managed a team.  I cried a lot, but I learnt even more.

I was forced to leave the company after 6 months and was without a job for an additional three.  I got the opportunity to travel to Mauritius and America, I cried even more.

I was faced with relocating to the US, leaving everything I loved behind, but I also got to travel business class and spend two days in New York.

I doubted myself in so many ways, felt useless and with every unsuccessful job search, worthless.  I started a blog, for myself more than anything else, cause at that stage it was all that kept me alive.  I struggled.

We moved from one rental unit to another, and I was tired, depressed and sadly overwhelmed. 

I was asked to be a business partner in a company, again in a sector that I know nothing about.  I started operating as an Independent consultant – and again I found myself in rooms and places where I am way outside of my comfort zone.  I’ve learned what it means to work hard, and I sometimes wonder if I’ll cope. 

I’ve learnt that being out of your comfort zone can sometimes be your comfort zone.

I’ve learnt that the reason you go into tough arenas in life is to be challenged to perform better, you cannot perform better if you are not challenged.

I’ve learnt that one doesn’t learn how to climb mountains by going around it, you learn how to climb mountains by climbing mountains.

I’ve learnt that 2024 was tough, but I was tougher.