Category: My Life

Staying positive can be difficult, especially when the world around us seems to be filled with so much negativity. But it is important to remember that our thoughts and attitudes have a big impact on our happiness and well-being. When we choose to focus on the positive, we are more likely to experience positive emotions and attract positive experiences into our lives.

Here are some tips on how to stay positive in a negative world:

1. Start your day with a positive mindset. When you wake up in the morning, take a few minutes to focus on the positive things in your life. Think about the people you love, the things you are grateful for, and the things you are looking forward to.
2. Surround yourself with positive people. The people you spend time with have a big impact on your mood and outlook on life. Make sure to spend time with people who uplift you and make you feel good about yourself.
3. Focus on the things you can control. There are many things in life that we cannot control, but we can control our own thoughts, actions, and reactions. Focus on the things that you can control and let go of the things that you cannot.
4. Practice gratitude. Taking the time to appreciate the good things in your life can help to boost your mood and outlook. Make a habit of writing down a few things you are grateful for each day.
5. Do things that make you happy. Make sure to schedule time for activities that you enjoy doing. This could include spending time with loved ones, pursuing your hobbies, or simply relaxing and taking some time for yourself.
6. Challenge negative thoughts. When you have a negative thought, challenge it. Ask yourself if there is any evidence to support the thought. If there is not, then replace it with a more positive thought.
7. Forgive yourself and others. Everyone makes mistakes. Holding on to anger and resentment will only bring you down. Learn to forgive yourself and others so that you can move on and live a happier life.
8. Help others. Helping others is a great way to feel good about yourself and make a difference in the world. Find a cause that you are passionate about and volunteer your time and energy.
9. Take care of yourself. Eating healthy, getting enough sleep, and exercising regularly are all important for your physical and mental health. When you take care of yourself, you are better equipped to handle life’s challenges and stay positive.
10. Seek professional help if needed. If you are struggling to stay positive, don’t be afraid to seek professional help. A therapist can teach you coping skills and help you to develop a more positive outlook on life.

Here are some additional tips that may help you to stay positive in a negative world:

• Find your purpose. Having a sense of purpose in life can give you a sense of direction and motivation. It can also help you to stay positive during difficult times.
• Practice mindfulness. Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment without judgment. It can help you to become more aware of your thoughts and feelings, and to let go of negative thoughts.
• Meditate. Meditation is a great way to relax and de-stress. It can also help you to develop a more positive mindset.
• Spend time in nature. Spending time in nature has been shown to have a number of health benefits, including reducing stress and improving mood.
• Listen to music. Listening to music that you enjoy can help to improve your mood and boost your energy levels.
• Laugh. Laughter is a great way to reduce stress and improve your mood. Make sure to laugh every day, even if it’s just a little bit.

Staying positive in a negative world can be challenging, but it is possible. By following these tips, you can develop a more positive mindset and attract positive experiences into your life.

The corona virus hit our shores here in South Africa in March 2020. At the time of writing this article it has been with us for 16 months. The stress levels during covid 19 are starting to show in many peoples lives.

What does Covid 19 stand for

‘CO’ stands for CORONA, ‘VI’ for Virus and ‘D’ for disease. CoronaVirus Disease of 2019 hence the name COVID 19. The virus originated in Wuhan City, China.

The Third Wave

We here in South Africa are experiencing our third wave which seems to have reached its peak. For me it has been the most devastating wave so far. We have lost friends and Acquaintances and know of many people amongst our family and friends that have thankfully recovered.

Stress during covid 19 pandemic

Much of the nation may not have caught the actual virus but the Covid 19 virus has affected many peoples lives. So we can say that many, although not ill, suffer from the virus. This in my mind presents itself as stress.

I think we all feel the added stress caused by this pandemic. We are bombarded daily via social media and the news on deaths and other disturbing facts caused by the covid 19 virus.

What is stress

Stress is your body’s way of responding to any kind of demand or threat. When you sense danger, whether it’s real or imagined, the body’s defenses kick into high gear in a rapid, automatic process known as the “fight or flight” reaction or the “stress response.”

During a normal Stressful situation the bodies nervous system releases stress hormones including adrenalin and cortisol. These hormones help the body react to any threat by increasing strength, sharpening your senses, raising your blood pressure and tightening your muscles.

This is all great when it does not last long and the body can return to its normal state.

Long term or chronic stress

When these stressors that cause the stress hormones to be released are always present it can have adverse effects on the body. Long term exposure to cortisol and adrenalin puts you at risk to health and mental problems like:

• Depression
• headaches
• heart disease and high blood pressure
• Sleeping problems
• memory and concentration problems
• muscle tension
• aggressiveness

There are more I’m sure but these are the symptoms I see in people around me. I too suffer from this long term Stress during Covid 19 pandemic.

Personally I battle with falling asleep with my thoughts constantly running around in circles with everything that is going on around me. I worry about the health and wellbeing of my family and friends.

After the untimely passing of one of my wife’s and my dearest friends things became very real. She tested positive for covid 19 and a few days later she was gone.

Further causes of stress

There has been many people in South Africa that have lost their jobs. This being due to the Covid 19 lockdowns which has caused many companies to close or to retrench staff.

Families have no income and they have to rely on the generosity of others to see them through these hardships. Can you imagine the stress these people are going through.

Then we had the looting that happened in Natal and certain parts of Gauteng. Businesses were looted, destroyed and some even burnt down. The job losses are huge! This was totally a shocker to a country already battling a failing economy.

How to survive the Stress during Covid 19

I have read various articles on how to combat the stress. They all talk about eating right, exercise, meditation and so on. These are important but, personally, I think we should look at the way we interact with others.

Be there for each other and show compassion and kindness. There is way too much bitchiness and aggression towards each other. We after all in this together, fighting to stay sane and alive.

By being kind to each other and pulling together you will lower your stress level and the people around you stress level. Spread some love and make each other happy. You will be amazed at how this makes you and those around you feel better.

Just remember the social distancing and sanitizing.

I was a member of the Afrikaans Dutch Reformed Church (NG Kerk) virtually my whole life which started in 1963. Even though I didn’t attend many of the services over the last few years, the church had been an anchor in my life.

My family had so much history that revolved around the Church. My Mom and Dad were married in the Church on 6 May 1961.

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I came along in June of 1963 and was Christened in the Church, attended Sunday School, which was quite a battle as I grew up English and went to English schools. This resulted in me being rather a quite chap during Sunday School Classes.

I was confirmed into the church around 1980, I need to check the exact date and will update. After being confirmed my Dad and I decided to become more involved with the Church. My Dad became a Ouderling (Elder) and I a Diaken (Deacon). We did this for a number of years.

It was in 1982 that I first saw the girl walking into Church one Sunday morning and I just knew that I had to get to know her. My Folks had seen me eyeing this girl and when we got home I realized that they knew who she was.

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After much begging and pleading I eventually convinced my Mom to tell me who she is. It turned out that my Parents and her Parents were actually friends. After a look into the phone book at the time and a couple of phone calls, I eventually got to talk to Tersia Maritz! Exciting times.

So yep, the Church played an important part in what my life is today. We didn’t get married in the Farrarmere NG Kerk but in a Church in Pretoria as I was in the Air Force at the time and a member of the Pretoria “Gemeente”.

Both our Sons were baptized in the Farrarmere NG Kerk. So you can gather that the Farrarmere NG Kerk was a huge part of my life and every time I passed the Church, while riding down Wordsworth Street I got fond memories of what was.

It was with great dismay that I learnt that the Church Building was to be torn down and a bigger and I suppose “modern” one was to be built in its place.

The day I took these photos of the broken rock that used to be so important in my life, tears ran down my cheeks. Makes one realize that nothing should be taken for granted and nothing lasts forever. We must cherish what we have now, in a second it could be gone.

In short – the NG Kerk Farrarmere was the building block of where I am today with a Wife of 36 years, two awesome sons, an amazing Daughter In Law and two of the best Grand Children ever! Not forgetting a Loving Mother too! If it was not for her, I wouldn’t be here. Miss my Old Man more that I can express – Archibald Joseph Norval 15 April 1936 to 4 May 2015 R.I.P

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