Healing in Muddy Pawprints: How Rescue Dogs Are Making Me a Better Professional
I’ve started spending part of every week at First Ladies Farm & Sanctuary, trading my laptop and meeting links for leashes, treats, and time in the kennels with some very special dogs. What began as a way to survive the loss of my beloved Penelope has become the anchor that keeps my professional life honest. […]
Two Homes, One Heartbeat: Relearning Myself Between Cape Town and Tampa
Stepping off the plane in Cape Town after more than two years away felt like exhaling a breath that had been held far too long. In less than a week, this city has gently—but firmly—reminded me who I am, where I come from, and why holding two countries in my heart is both confusing and […]
Rooted in Mzansi, Rising in America: A South African Homecoming After Loss, Love, and Starting Over
Mzansi is a colloquial, affectionate name for South Africa, drawn from local languages and often used by South Africans when they speak about their country with pride and familiarity. The title “Rooted in Mzansi, Rising in America” captures that duality: it speaks to a life and identity firmly grounded in South African soil, culture, and […]
Finding Home in the Heart: A Journey of Loss, Hope, and Ubuntu from South Africa to Tampa
It’s November in Tampa, and finally, the air has begun to cool. There’s a gentleness in the breeze that signals not just the change of seasons, but the end of another hurricane season—one that always arrives with anxiety and, this year, seems to be drifting away at last. A Transition in Tampa This city in […]
Thirteen Years with Penelope: Lessons in Love, Loyalty, and Living Each Moment
On October 1st 2025, my greatest companion, Penelope the pug, will turn 13. Her story is as much a part of me as my South African roots—a tale of rescue, adventure, and unwavering devotion that has shaped my life and, in many ways, made me a better human. A True Rescue and a New Beginning […]
Rome on a Rand: Backpacking, Growth, and a Trevi Fountain Wish in 2011
Transformed by Travel: Globally Grown – Part 6. The year is 2011. My backpack, affectionately nicknamed “Mzansi” after my home country South Africa, felt heavier than its contents suggested. Not with clothes or fancy gadgets – those were scarce. Its weight came from the sheer audacity of my plan: backpacking through Europe, passing through Rome, […]
Bali, 2013: A Journey to Appreciate the Simple Beauty
Transformed by Travel: Globally Grown – Part 5. Rewind to 2013. My passport got a new stamp, and my soul a new perspective, as I landed in Bali, Indonesia. My home base was the bustling Kuta Beach, a vibrant hub that offered endless entertainment and a front-row seat to some of the most spectacular sunsets […]
Lost in Translation, Found in Friendship: My European Backpacking Adventure through Switzerland
Transformed by Travel: Globally Grown – Part 4. Back in 2011, when I was a much younger, more naive version of myself, I embarked on an adventure that would forever shape who I am today: a solo backpacking trip across Europe, sleeping only in tents. The world was a different place then. Smartphones weren’t ubiquitous, […]
From Buckingham Palace to the Roman Baths: My Solo Easter Pilgrimage of Self-Discovery across Great Britain
Transformed by Travel: Globally Grown – Part 3 Easter 2024. A time of renewal, and for me, a time of profound personal growth. As a South African-born and raised woman, now a proud American citizen, my recent acquisition of a US passport unlocked a world of possibilities, and my first major solo trip was to […]
Aegean Echoes: How Turkey and a Greek Detour Reshaped Me
Transformed by Travel: Globally Grown – Part 2 The salty air of the Aegean still feels fresh in my memory. In July 2023, I embarked on a journey that started out to be a journey to escape my grief from losing my wife. I unexpectedly became a profound lesson in culture, connection, and ultimately, better […]