All that has been on my mind, and surely yours, for the past week, is our beloved Tata Madiba. The tears have been hanging off my lashes and my heart has been so heavy. Watching the television and seeing that smile, the familiar dance, arms by his side, the radiance that beams from his very being, and wondering, what now?
Who will guide our nation now? Who will be our leader, our inspiration to be better, do better and live better? The answer, fellow South Africans, indeed fellow humans, is for US to be the light. We need to be called to pick up Tata's baton and run with his spirit and his love and forgiveness. We must make him proud, and know that the things he stood for in life are surely the things he stands for on the other side of consciousness.
This weekend we will lay the father of our nation to rest. Two weeks after that, we will lay 2013 to rest. For many of us it has been a year of hardships, with this being the very cherry on the cake. Losing somebody who was our compass and our light. So now, with 2014 beckoning, its up to us. WE must be the compass, WE must be the light. WE need to bring happiness to the hearts of everybody we encounter, love unconditionally, and turn not just our nation but the nations of the world back around.
South Africa I love you. Thank you for our Madiba. Thank you for our mountains, our seas, our animals. Thank you for the people we are so privileged to live and work with, side by side. Thank you for the ceaseless opportunities which WE must embrace and run with. Thank you for me. Without you, I would be a shell. Hayley Hynd would be made of different fillings to the delicious smorgasbord that sizzles inside. She would not have her passion, her persistence, or her iron will to succeed and to make a difference to all she encounters.
In the words of my beautiful mentor, or boyfriend. Viva Africa. Viva South Africa. And to end with, VIVA TATA! We love you, we miss and mourn you. Hamba Kahle Madiba.
