Retha's Diary

  Dear love You are by far, my favourite. You reveal in me, what I did not know I had. You come and bring gifts of peace and hugs. You tear down walls built so high that I even forgot what’s on the other side. You ease my fears and restore my yesterdays. You come with comfort and give my heart a home. You bring a storm only you can calm, at the price of my pride…but then again, you are more than worthy. Each day, without asking, you give me reasons to fall deeper in love with you and myself. You teach me how to carry myself. You teach me how to stand firm in my word. Dear Rethabile Lerato Mabalane What a marvel you are to watch. You are soft and vulnerable. You let your guard down and love loudly. You move boldly towards love as though you have never been hurt in it. You give as though you have never lost. You receive love as it is and give it back in ways you wished you received it. You become so gentle that the Rethabile who was taught to harden her heart, fades in the exis...

  Dear Friendship How crazy of you to love me. How crazy for you to provide a home for me. You give me so much encouragement and motivate me to never give up on myself. You support my dreams without hesitation and wish me well on my journey. Thank you for allowing me to explore the parts of me I haven’t shared with the world yet. Thank you for loving my loud laugh, dirty jokes, smart mouth and what you call personality. Thank you for the lessons and good times.   Thank you for the nights I cants remember and to our future together. Thank you for allowing me to be… Dear friends, my dudes I have witnessed your hunger. You strive so hard to become impeccable young men. Men that protect, men that work hard, men that provide all while finding your identity. The contrast between the expectations of you being the male child to that of a man being represented in each of you has granted me the opportunity to see reason behind how hard you grind and work. The reason behind your hu...

Dear Parents I got to see you in a different light. Motherhood allowed me to get a glimpse of what your life. As I was going through my heartbreak, my only thought was that of protecting Panda. My intentions were to continue giving Panda all the love that had been promised that I deprived myself the love I needed to continue the fight. Thinking that I am alone in motherhood, I forgot I wasn’t alone in life. Just as I sought to love and protect Panda, beyond my own life, you did the same for me. I wouldn’t be the parent I am today, because through the love and lessons you gave me, I get to witness many milestones. Thank you for instilling in me everything I need to conquer my tomorrows. You guys did an amazing job with me! Thank you!   Dear Mama I became a mom and saw you for the first time. You helped me define what motherhood is to me from the moment you found out about me. Hearing stories of the day you found out about me, your appointment visits with Neo and my birth and...

  COMPANIONSHIP   It might not always be what you want it to be, but it is always what you need to get through this life. Dear God Thank you for the smiles and thank you for the laughs. Thank you for the time and thank you for the chance. Thank you for the conversations and thank you for the silence. Thank you for the feeling of home in others and in ourselves. Thank you for tomorrows fuelled with hope from yesterday’s promises. Thank you for the tight hugs we get. As tight as though they will hold us for tomorrow. Dear God, Thank you for companionship.   Dear Companionship I have come to know you in many forms. As a daughter, a mother, a friend and a lover. Each relationship different from the next, two common things about them all is love and growth . You provided peace through conversations filled with laughter and peace in moments silence was a third partner in our encounters. You provided friends to celebrate the joys of life with and shoulders to cry ...

    Dear Motherhood… Dear Rethabile Thank you. I am grateful that you helped me find myself. I am grateful that you have allowed me to hide behind you as I pick up the pieces to the rest of me. Thank you for the laughter, the pain and the lessons. I learnt so much about myself the past four years (pregnancy included) through you, that I am looking forward to the joy you will bring as we celebrate Oabetswe’s third year. Here is to you!! For you came with so much joy in my life and those around us.   March 2 nd , 2023 Three years ago, on this day, I went to the hospital. Signs that I was about to go into labour were showing. My nerves were all over the place as I was about to be a mother to a human being and not just my belly. The past months had just been about ensuring I eat, pray and carry myself with love so I could take care of my baby, Panda. I ended up sleeping at the hospital for two nights because just like her mom, Panda works at her own time. The damn...