TOTT 25 April 2019

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Talk of the Town 7
THINK
ABOUT IT
... with Roy Hewett
To u c h i n g
lives
Whether by design or
through our normal,
everyday interactions
with others, we all
touch lives in one way
or another.
Very few of us realise
the extent to which we
affect those around us
and we would do well
to reflect on how we are
influenced by our
family, friends,
acquaintances and
experiences at all
levels.
Family and friends
teach us social skills.
Acquaintances give us
opportunities to grow
our authenticity and
integrity. Lessons about
ways of interacting and
showing respect for the
opinions, strengths and
weaknesses of others
grow us.
But surprisingly often
we don’t pay enough
attention to these
effects and influences
... to the detriment of
meaningful awareness
and informed reactions.
Significant points in
this regard are made in:
“Your success is
directly proportional to
the number of lives you
have touched for the
bet ter.” – V i s h wa s
Chavan (Vishwasut ras:
Universal Principles for
Living: Inspired by
Real-Life Experiences);
and
“In life, we leave a
legacy to our children,
we leave our footprints
wherever we travel, and
we leave our
fingerprints on every
heart we touch.” – Pa t
Patrick, (Awakening the
Dream Within).
With some reflection,
each of us should
readily be able to recall
and appreciate many of
those who have
touched our lives in
positive and uplifting
way s .
Parents, siblings and
teachers surely rank up
there among the most
influential in many lives.
While some of the
academic experiences
in classrooms certainly
had a role to play, it is
the life’s lessons along
the way that often
remain indelibly
imprinted in our
psyches.
Even conflicts, fights
and seemingly unfair
treatment on occasion,
have played their part
in moulding us, and
their perpetrators have
also touched our lives
in ways that only
become apparent upon
reaching maturity and
the wisdom of the
“golden years”.
Many sports coaches
and mentors in the
creative and performing
arts have touched lives
in considerable and
enduring ways. Skills
have been nurtured and
honed, healthy attitudes
and sportsmanship
developed, and the
wonderful values of
support and teamwork
encouraged. Those
involved in teaching in
the broad sense, are
surely entitled to derive
a healthy sense of
wor thwhile
achievement.
This undeniable
influence is captured in:
“When you touch
minds, people are
willing to walk a dozen
miles for you; and when
you touch hearts,
people are willing to
walk a thousand miles
for you; but when you
touch souls, people are
willing to walk a million
miles for you.” –
Matshona Dhliwayo
Many lives are
sublimely touched by
pets – devotion and
loyalty that know no
bounds greatly enhance
the quality of life of
many humans.
The unsurpassable
beauty and awesome
range of nature –
oceans, rivers,
mountains, vegetation
and topography in
general – play a
monumental role.
Of course the
touching of lives is not
the sole preserve of
people, nature and
pets.
Institutions, systems,
literature, social media,
political ideologies and
philosophies of life play
a considerable role too.
Unfortunately, some
fall prey to
brainwashing and other
forms of populist
deception during their
life paths – e f fe c t i v e l y
reflecting the dark side
of touching lives.
Fortunately for most
of us, when we reflect
on how our lives have
been touched, the focus
is usually on the
positive and uplifting
experiences that have
helped to define us.
Those that have led us
to value and live life to
the full.
This sense is
depicted in:
“Life is full of beauty.
Notice it. Notice the
bumble bee, the small
child, and the smiling
faces. Smell the rain,
and feel the wind. Live
your life to the fullest
potential, and fight for
your dreams.” – Ashley
Smith
And then the power
of the message in
literature to guide and
touch lives in
considerable and
far-reaching ways is
conveyed in Ralph
Waldo Emerson’s “Be
not the slave of your
own past. Plunge into
the sublime seas, dive
deep and swim far, so
you shall come back
with self-respect, with
new power, with an
advanced experience
that shall explain and
overlook the old.”
Touching lives is real,
wields much power and
influence, and reflects
the very fabric of our
e x i st e n c e .
WAVE WARRIORS: The eThekwini Bodyboarding Association were the ultimate team winners in the SA Bodyboarding Champs held on West Beach
during the Royal St Andrews Hotel Amanzi Challenge. As for EP bodyboarders, Clint Cooper from Port Elizabeth won the grandmasters division, and
Port Alfred’s own Clinton Millard came third in the masters. Fellow EP members Julia Stanford came third and Stephanie Maritz fourth in the ladies
division
Picture: MAUNEEN CHARTER
Question: Tell us about your job.
Answer: Teaching the word and ways of God to
children, is my passion. I do not see it as a job but
a calling and a blessing. Children need guidance
to walk on the good path of life, and being a
teacher I am fortunate to be part of this
experience.
Q: What made you get into that line of work?
A: My enthusiasm for the Lord and the love for
his people.
Q: Describe the most memorable experiences
that you have had.
A: The day when I was 16 years old and accepted
God into my life, and the day that I married my
best friend Arno O’Shea, and the birthdates of all
my grandchildren.
lee’s decor & craft studio
OPENING 3 MAY 2019
ŝŶĐůĚŝŶŐĐĂĞĐŚŝŽŶůŝŐŚŶŐĐůŽŚŝŶŐ
ĂŶĚĂĐĐĞŽŝĞĂŶĚŵĐŚŵŽĞ
Located at The Workshop in Bathurst.
Lee Robertson: 063 032 6491
FA C E 2FA C E
... with Annetjie O’Shea
Q: What do you do to unwind when you are not
working?
A: I enjoy quiet time with my Bible studies,
listening to music and interior decorating.
Q: What is your motto in life?
A: Always strive to be a good person. A better
person than what you were yesterday.
Q: What makes you happy?
A: When children discover the word of God, and
experience how powerful His word is.
Q: What makes you angry?
A: Carelessness.
Q: What do you think about the youth of South
Africa? Do you have any advice for them?
A: Being a diverse country, the youth need to
stand together in good faith. Faith in the Lord, love
for each other and hope for a better future. These
principles will make South Africa a better place.
Q: If you could change one thing about Port
Alfre d…
A: More community projects to support and
uplift the community, projects to teach young
mothers, projects to uplift the fallen and projects
to care for children.
Q: What do you like most about Port Alfred?
A: The wonder of Port Alfred is in its captivating
river banks, beautiful beaches and warm-hearted
people living in it.
Q: What is your favourite music of all time?
A: 60s and 80s music and gospel worship.
Q: Name three people you would like to invite
for dinner (dead or alive).
A: Martin Luther King, my father Mr Lourens who
passed away many years ago, and my sister Rita
who passed away last year.
Q: Three wishes for South Africa.
A: That each heart be filled with love for one
another; from every tongue, the sound of God’s
glory will exclaim; that all hands be stretched out,
to restore those with a broken life.