..and making it in Johannesburg
Dahlings
How are you? I'm fine thanks.
Over the weekend I was driving somewhere. I can't remember where to but I was driving on William Nicol and it was evening time. You see, whenever I drive in the evening and there are lots of cars and lights and activity I get excited. When I moved here I was so freaking excited. Every small thing excites me about this place - almost. The crime doesn't excite me. The crazy levels of anxiety from life here doesn't excite me. BUT the possibilities here excite me so friggin much! Sorry, I'm digressing a little.
As I mentioned, when I moved here I was so excited. I just new that this was the place I am meant to be. I always thought that I would live here for a couple of years and then move to New York. It's been about six years but I can't see myself living anywhere else yet (maybe I need to travel to NY before I make such a bold statement). I also used to tell people in East London that I want to move to Cape Town and after a couple of years move to Joburg because Cape Town was an 'entry' to the big city. I couldn't imagine myself moving straight to here. lol. look at me now.
The point I am trying to make here is that when I moved here I prayed and asked that I never lose that excitement that I had when I just moved here. (almost) Any and every small thing makes my heart skip a beat in this city. From working where I work (don't get me wrong it's got its challenges) to the neighbourhood that I live in, to the roads I get to drive on, to where I hang out, to the amazing AMAZING people I have met who are such go-getters and visionaries. The list goes on and on. Part of the reason why I call this blog "Stellah in the city" is because in Sex and The City, Carrie had such a beautiful love affair with New York. I feel the same about this city.
The other point I am trying to make here is that now that I am on school holiday I have been in a position to interact with people more (there's the extroversion coming out) and do things differently. I love that I can reinvent myself constantly. I remember a couple of posts ago I saw it as sacrifice and suffering... well, well, well how the mighty have changed their mind. I was having a conversation with a friend of mine today and I was reminded of a podcast that I listened to with Michelle Obama where she said 'growing up' is not a destination. Throughout the course of your life you will constantly be learning, changing and adapting. There are some people who know exactly what it is that they want to do from a young age and they grow up to be that and they are happy. Me, I had a affinity for the creative. However, I listened to so many voices who told me I will not make it OR that I am too clever for the creative field OR my favourite, there's no money in that. Growing up poor and you hear that you will be poor for the rest of your life if you follow your life's passion changes your mind very quickly.
Living in Johannesburg is an environment that is conducive enough for me to make it big in corporate AND also work in creative space. You see I cannot see myself doing only one of the other because both of them play a deep part of who I am. I'm OK with that. There are so many voices that tell me to choose but I won't. The corporate and creative will morph into something. These two lanes will eventually converge and become one. This I know without a shadow of doubt.
I write this post hoping it will help you realise you can be ALL (every single last thing) that you we created for. Oprah once said that God has a bigger dream for you that is bigger than you can imagine (I know there's bible verse to the same effect but I wanted to name drop), all you have to do is tune in to the voice of God and He will guide you into your destiny. I am doing just that this year. It's both hard and exhilarating but it's worth it. I hope and pray that you do the same.
Til later
Xo
Stellah
Dahlings
How are you? I'm fine thanks.
Over the weekend I was driving somewhere. I can't remember where to but I was driving on William Nicol and it was evening time. You see, whenever I drive in the evening and there are lots of cars and lights and activity I get excited. When I moved here I was so freaking excited. Every small thing excites me about this place - almost. The crime doesn't excite me. The crazy levels of anxiety from life here doesn't excite me. BUT the possibilities here excite me so friggin much! Sorry, I'm digressing a little.
As I mentioned, when I moved here I was so excited. I just new that this was the place I am meant to be. I always thought that I would live here for a couple of years and then move to New York. It's been about six years but I can't see myself living anywhere else yet (maybe I need to travel to NY before I make such a bold statement). I also used to tell people in East London that I want to move to Cape Town and after a couple of years move to Joburg because Cape Town was an 'entry' to the big city. I couldn't imagine myself moving straight to here. lol. look at me now.
The point I am trying to make here is that when I moved here I prayed and asked that I never lose that excitement that I had when I just moved here. (almost) Any and every small thing makes my heart skip a beat in this city. From working where I work (don't get me wrong it's got its challenges) to the neighbourhood that I live in, to the roads I get to drive on, to where I hang out, to the amazing AMAZING people I have met who are such go-getters and visionaries. The list goes on and on. Part of the reason why I call this blog "Stellah in the city" is because in Sex and The City, Carrie had such a beautiful love affair with New York. I feel the same about this city.
The other point I am trying to make here is that now that I am on school holiday I have been in a position to interact with people more (there's the extroversion coming out) and do things differently. I love that I can reinvent myself constantly. I remember a couple of posts ago I saw it as sacrifice and suffering... well, well, well how the mighty have changed their mind. I was having a conversation with a friend of mine today and I was reminded of a podcast that I listened to with Michelle Obama where she said 'growing up' is not a destination. Throughout the course of your life you will constantly be learning, changing and adapting. There are some people who know exactly what it is that they want to do from a young age and they grow up to be that and they are happy. Me, I had a affinity for the creative. However, I listened to so many voices who told me I will not make it OR that I am too clever for the creative field OR my favourite, there's no money in that. Growing up poor and you hear that you will be poor for the rest of your life if you follow your life's passion changes your mind very quickly.
Living in Johannesburg is an environment that is conducive enough for me to make it big in corporate AND also work in creative space. You see I cannot see myself doing only one of the other because both of them play a deep part of who I am. I'm OK with that. There are so many voices that tell me to choose but I won't. The corporate and creative will morph into something. These two lanes will eventually converge and become one. This I know without a shadow of doubt.
I write this post hoping it will help you realise you can be ALL (every single last thing) that you we created for. Oprah once said that God has a bigger dream for you that is bigger than you can imagine (I know there's bible verse to the same effect but I wanted to name drop), all you have to do is tune in to the voice of God and He will guide you into your destiny. I am doing just that this year. It's both hard and exhilarating but it's worth it. I hope and pray that you do the same.
Til later
Xo
Stellah
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