Where Did My Story Begin?

The barren landscape of Winburg in the Free State province is where my underwhelming life began as a Southern Sotho boy from the M family.

Growing up in a disadvantaged geographical location presented me with a world of wonder, thinking about what could change or what could be better.

My Dad started his career with the military in order to provide for my Mom and me, life began to take shape; I say this because I noticed that the lunch I would carry to school was getting a little boujee (luxurious). If you're from Kasi ( the ghetto), bread and butter is the norm for families who can manage, if swallowing is tough just drink some water. For me! hotdogs, pies, yogurt, juice, and sugary treats were the order. All this I would share with my 1st best friend; My cousin Vuyo aka Tino, who at the time I took as my older brother because he was a year older and always a grade ahead of me.

We all lived in my Grandmother's house, from my Dad's side of the family in an area called Makeleketla. I would frequent my young Mom's family house during the week. When the money was good, my parents bought their first house in the Kasi-Suburb of Bloemfontein in the Bloemside area, seeing how much it has developed over the years since 2002, that purchase turned out to be a brilliant investment.

Fauna Primary is where I began my 1st academic year of school. As I was finding my feet in this new world of strangers, wearing the uniform, polishing my Toughees, juice bottle leaking in my bag and staining my books, having a schedule, taking part in sports, F***'n homework and traveling by bus on a daily.

My dad accepted a transfer to Upington in the Northern Cape to serve his position in the army, which obviously left me depressed because I’d be losing my newfound friends and the world I came to understand [cues Melancholy music]… buuuuh! A brand new opportunity presented itself. I didn't understand that, I was still a naive kid.

Of the 2 years spent living in Upington, I actually put effort into learning Afrikaans. I went to Voorbereidingskool Fane Malan [Yaah Boet!]. The whole of Grade 2, about 4 of us were African and the rest were of European descent. I felt out of place buuuh secure, this was my new life, not gonna lie I was homesick, establishing yourself in a new environment takes a lot of conscious effort.

It came as a much-needed surprise that we’ll be returning to Bloemfontein for a brief year or two [screams with excitement]… Now I’m confused because back to square one, re-establish old relationships and simultaneously abandoning new and meaningful ones [sighs in deeper than rap]. There's not much to say about moving back to Bloemfontein if anything... I perceived that period of my life as a repressive filler in the grand scheme of things. One thing I will note is that I had my first girlfriend in Grade 4, but it didn't last long with Mpho. I was under pressure to get a Valentines' date and I found out that she had a crush on Mario [cues "Let Me Love You"] a day later.... I used my pocket money to buy this heifer a whole gift hamper, I was broke the whole month, women are not good people. Ooh Yeah!... I had a massive crush on this other girl called Chipo damn! She would make me weak, and she Mos'Def gave me a serious case of Gwababa (the fear that stops guys from approaching their crush).

After 2 years of being back in Bloemfontein, my Voortrekker family was now preparing for a move to Phalaborwa in the Limpopo province. Yes! Daddy received another transfer; you can already guess my emotional state, mentally I was not prepared. I completed Grade 7 in Fauna Park Primary and in Grade 8 I went to Frans Du Toit Hoerskool. Listen... Upington is hot buuuh Phalaborwa Bro!!! Legit the hottest place I’ve ever been in my life, I mean winter feels like spring over there.

Around this period I had braces, my crooked teeth kinda made me feel insecure about my smile. I wasn't part of the cool kids and the nerds weren't feeling me either buuuh they had braces too. I was just odd, hung out with whoever I could find and later I formed my own clique. We didn't have a name buuuh you would notice something strange as you look onto the playing field around break time. Somehow we were immune to bullying, I guess they never understood us.

I don't know how I did it buuuh maan... I was dating one of the hottest girls in school. Her name is Tumiso and she taught me so much about girls and what dating is. I wasn't dating in Grade 4, that was not even practice. The highlight of my first year in high school was fingering her during morning assembly. We almost got caught by the prefect.

Long-story-short, she gave me my first official heartbreak. I've never been so mad at a girl before. All this time! guys hyping me up for bag'n this hun, other girls recognizing a playa. WHOLE TIME I was the side n*gga!!! Women don't deserve nice things.

By now you should be expecting us to Voortrekker on out of there, 2 years had lapsed. The Mpumalanga province became our new residence in a small town called Middelburg, really small! We all knew the same people at some point, this place will make you feel like it’s a small world.

It was in a small town called Middelburg where I truly established myself as an individual in the unprecedented 4 years I had left of my schooling. I began Grade 9 in 2009 and completed my matric year in 2012. This period of my life deserves its own story, I won't do justice to it here. Stay reading for the link, coming soon...

My Dad accepted his FINAL transfer in 2010. The move commenced towards the end of that year, leaving me in a small town called Middelburg to complete my matric year. I only joined my family in Centurion, Gauteng, in 2013 when I began my tertiary education. I had developed and nurtured sentimental, awesome and lasting relationships in my locating-re-locating years that contributed to who I’ve become through pain and pleasure.

My transition into “individuality” began when I enrolled at Pearson Institute ( previously MGI) in Midrand. It was tough because I lacked self-discipline, trying to manage money, friends, meals, and academics. I actually wanted to study Fashion and Design, but I thought I’d rather commercialize my creative talents through Marketing & Public Relations. My parents could only do so much to provide financial aid but it wasn’t enough, which led to me getting a student loan.

For 3 years I pushed myself day-in, day-out to get closer to my qualification, life responded with the biggest lemons; my hands weren’t strong enough to turn them into mojito’s or mere lemonade, forget lemon juice.

I found myself at a crossroads, either go in a direction that would lead to more debt in pursuit of a qualification or start something new with the knowledge I’ve accumulated. I chose the latter which created a sit-at-home lifestyle of zero productivity and maximum regret and depression that lasted for almost 2 years. I tried anything and everything to make money including starting a business, working in retail, temporary jobs, etc.

Years ago I realized that as a youth, I’m technologically inclined which is the greatest advantage of our modern world. Prior to this realization, I affiliated myself with a Network Marketing Company. My journey in this business led me to discover natural ways to improve health and view network marketing as a sustainable and profitable career. Naah that didn't work [laughs in pain].

These aspects attracted my creativity to the prospect of becoming a lifestyle brand, because like any normal person;

• I want more money

• I want recognition for my efforts

• I want to develop myself professionally

• I want to build myself positively on a personal level

• I want to be sexy and healthy and continue making more money when I’m dead

… Legacy things ya know!

This is the beginning of awesomeness, living life on my own T’s & C’s, making as many mistakes as I possibly can to learn and expand my knowledge throughout this thing called life. As much as I will be living my life and trying new and interesting things, I want you to live yours knowing that you’re not alone in navigating your purpose on the earth.

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