There are thousands – if not millions – of mosaics that make up me, but I thought I would share just 12 of my pieces… directly gifted from my Granny Mary.
Johannesburg, South Africa (21 July 2022) – My Granny was like a second mom to me. I love her, still, even though she is gone and keep her ideals, morals, thoughts and ramblings close to my heart. She taught me so many things, and just like a mosaic is created with so many different pieces, I like to think we are as well.
Yes, we are mosaics. Pieces of light, love, history, stars and memories of the people and things we love… glued together with magic and music and moments and words.
There are thousands – if not millions – of pieces of me that make up me, but I thought I would share just 12 pieces of my mosaic, directly gifted from my Granny Mary:
1. How to make a flipping good spaghetti. Unfortunately, I can’t share the recipe because everything is measured by hand and heart, but trust me, her spaghetti fixes everything.
2. To never put shoes on a table. I don’t know where this comes from, but I know something terrible will happen, specifically an argument… perhaps an argument about putting shoes on a table. Don’t risk it friends.
3. To always tell the truth… cause then you won’t have to remember what you said BUT more importantly to never trust a liar. If they can lie, they can cheat, steal and even murder. A lie is a gateway to a horrible human.
4. Our meals should be as colourful as a rainbow… I thought she was humouring me, making my meals more fun. Who knew she was actually giving me valuable tools to live a healthy life, teaching me about nutrition? At least 5 colours. Every meal!
5. To remember that when things start intensely, they will end intensely. This needs no explanation… think of everything that’s ever happened to you. And I am sure you will find this to be true.
6. If someone is talking badly about another person to you, they are doing the same thing about you to others. A simple truth. And a massive red flag.
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7. To put salt down on a surface when passing it to someone. Also don’t know where this comes from, but it is ingrained in me. I would sooner throw a salt shaker at your head before allowing our hands to touch while passing it to you.
8. To remember that when people show you who they really are, believe them. Life is about learning, and this is one of the lessons. We all have different levels of tolerance for unwanted or unwelcome behaviour. But we all draw the line somewhere. By being attentive and observant, we can give more of our time to the right people and less to the wrong ones.
9. To only cry when you have a reason, but to cry with all your heart when you do. Later in life, I would learn that real tears have natural painkillers. Is that not comforting? To know that your tears have strength.
10. To always have a bottle of champagne in the fridge – in case you need to celebrate something on a Tuesday. And we have to celebrate all the wins… the big ones, the small ones, the ones that feed our soul. My gran liked pink champagne… and even me too.
11. To remember that your entire life can change in an instant. So instead of passively taking what you have for granted, be grateful for it and do whatever good you can with it.
12. And maybe the most important is to always do what is good and what is right. She used to tell us stories of our great-great-great-grandfather – Robin of Loxley. A man who stole from the rich to give to the poor, a hero that folk stories would eventually call Robin Hood. My mother would always rubbish the claims as silly stories, but to me, the essence of the Prince of Thieves was actually a model of courage, generosity and justice. Believing that my lineage was from someone who believed in doing what was right, gave me the blessing to ingrain those traits in me too.
Good grief, she was the absolute best!
That’s it. I hope you can take some of my Granny’s mosaic pieces and make them your own today too.
Okay. Love you. Bye.
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