Five years ago, the world changed. We lost so much – our sense of normal, our security, our certainty. But somehow, despite the heartbreak, the anger, and the fear, we’re still here. And that means something.
Johannesburg, South Africa (16 March 2025) – Five years. How has it been five years already?
Do you remember how weird things got? And then they just got weirder. And then we had the sads. And then we got angry. We stayed angry for the longest time. Sure, there were moments of sadness in between, but mostly, we were just angry. Some of us still are. We all lost something. Our sense of normal. Our incomes. Our loved ones. Faith. Hope.
The world shifted beneath our feet, and for a while, we couldn’t quite find our balance again.
I’m not writing this to start a debate. Whether you call it a “plandemic” or believe in conspiracies or are still feeling the ripple effects today, I’m not here to fight.
I’m writing this because I’m sorry.
Because no matter where you stand (and I hate that we were made to believe we had to pick sides in something so human), the truth is we all went through something deeply traumatic.
The whole thing was awful.
I posted this photo five years ago today.
And now, here we are. Five years later. That chapter is closed, but it still feels like a lot, doesn’t it? But I guess life always does… there’s always something. And somehow, we keep going.
Remember March 2017? When we had to keep buckets in our showers and only flush if it wasn’t “mellow” because of one of the worst droughts we’d ever seen? Or (for me) 14 years ago, when my world ended, when my dad passed away? Or 2008, when we were told that power had to be “shed,” and suddenly, everything became more expensive? Man, we were scared.
And that’s just the big stuff.
We haven’t even touched on break-ups, job losses, counting our last pennies and those dark moments when we weren’t sure we’d make it through the day.
But here’s the thing.
You did.
You survived.
Maybe with a few more scars. Maybe with a little more weight in your heart. Maybe still trying to make sense of it all.
But you are here.
And that means something.
Fast-forward to today: I woke up counting my blessings.
I woke up before the sunrise (it’s still dark outside) but I’m ready. I get to deliver a Keynote on Happiness today. And I’m actually happy. I have the most incredible family and friends. I have some really cool projects on the go with amazing clients. Big things! The second GTG book is a bestseller!!! (I still can’t believe it!) And I’m already working on a new one – it’s a different one and I might be biased but I know you’re going to love it. I’m planning trips to Pennington, Plett, Botswana, France, the UK and Australia! “Dear Evan Hansen” opens in Joburg TODAY… and I cannot wait to see it. A PlayStation game I’ve been waiting years for drops on Friday. The new HAIM song is EPIC. Our pups are happy and healthy and they bring us so much joy.
Perspective is everything. The world looks different depending on how we choose to see it.
So, my advice today? Look at your world differently.
Find the things you are grateful for. Hold onto them. Let your heart light up. And then.. share that light with someone else.
The world can be a tough place but we get through it together. Always.
So today my friends, don’t be the reason someone feels small. Be the reason they feel seen, heard and supported by the whole universe.
Because you pour out what you’re full of.
Be kinder than necessary. Everyone is fighting battles you know nothing about.
That’s it.
That is my Sunday sermon.
Okay. Love you. Bye.
Oh, and in case you were wondering: this wasn’t supposed to be an article. It started as a Facebook post, but then my editor stepped in and said, “This belongs in a column.” And well, here we are. This is what happens when you have a boss… even when you think you don’t.
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