(An extract from my old journal)

My journey to the mindset I carry today wasn’t a sudden shift; it’s been a winding path of growth and lessons. In my early thirties, as a teacher’s assistant at Montessori Elementary, a colleague’s cryptic remark about my “stars not being aligned” stuck with me, sparking quiet reflection.

Years later, becoming a grandaunt at fifty-five and hearing neighbours call me “Ma” or “Mama” or “Aunty” stirred a mix of warmth and unease, teaching me to embrace new roles.

The loss of my dear friend Helena during the COVID-19 lockdown hit me hard, but revisiting places we shared helped me find peace. 

Each moment, every joy, challenge, and connection has shaped me into someone eager to inspire, uplift, and build community here.

Endure hardship as a good soldier-2 Timothy 2:3-4 (KJV)

Season of Hardship

In the season of hardship, what can you do?
Can you spin your problems into gold anew?
And if you can, will joy be assured?
So, endure trials, your spirit secured.

You’ll be made into gold, pure and fine,
Not from thoughts in your mind but by the Divine.
Through the Saviour’s hands, you’ll be refined,
A testament of strength, beautifully aligned.

jjf’25

Thanks for reading! 😌