Posts by Chantal Dawtrey

I have been doing some interesting reading about working to our strengths rather than focusing on our weaknesses. How building and developing our strengths will make us more of who we truly are. I am a real expert in self criticism and it is refreshing to be reminded that there are some amazing strengths that…

Now that we have crawled out of the January blues, hopefully paid our holiday bills and settled back into the daily routines of work and family, there could be time to reflect on the year ahead. Time to make positive changes, set goals for a sustainably successful year and acknowledge those small steps that will…

So what is up with the weather? Whether it’s winter in November in Jo’burg or a late, late, late summer sigh in California; a 1000 km wide hurricane in the US or hailstones the size of cricket balls on the East Rand – what is going on? I think it is something to do with…

It is 5.30am on a cool spring morning. The sky is still huddling under a blanket of cloud but it is light outside. I am still not used to waking to anything but a cloak of darkness and spring light surprises me every day. I woke at 4.20am worrying and wondering about a myriad of…

I cannot believe that an entire month went by and I did not post one entry on this blog. It made me consider how time does fly when you’re having fun. September is for me a month of hope. It heralds the end of winter. Even if the weather does not play with, the mornings…

When did I stop being honest with myself? Was it when the need to do something “important” trumped the desire to do what I loved? Did I let my ego gain control of my life and twist its claws into my soul, squeezing the life out of it and leaving it for dead? That poor…

Here in Jo’burg the air is getting decidedly warmer. I don’t have to wear a jacket every time I go out. I feel lighter. The August wind is still tugging at the last determined leaves, yellow and wilting, that hang onto the branches. It is not a cold wind and will, in a few weeks…

I have very recently been reminded of that very uncomfortable process called “Change”. I thought I was just having a few sleepless nights, premenstrual mood swings and unpleasant aches and pains. What is actually happening is that I am turning into gloop, like the caterpillar before he becomes a butterfly. Gloop.This is not my expression,…

I feel quite sad that the Olympics is over. I have spent a large part of the last two weeks staring at everything from weightlifting to synchronized rhythmic gymnastics. I missed the synchronized swimming and I’m quite upset about that. Not that I think that synchronized swimming is in any way a sport (something like…

I wondered, as I sat staring at the TV watching the Olympics, ignoring political proclamations on what the world, this country, Jacob Zuma, should be doing for women, whether we have public holidays just so that those politicians, who have so little to really add to our lives, can stand up and pontificate? These same…