Phenomenal Woman - Maya Angelou

Phenomenal Woman

Pretty women wonder where my secret lies.
I'm not cute or built to suit a fashion model's size 
But when I start to tell them,
They think I'm telling lies.
I say,
It's in the reach of my arms,
The span of my hips, 
The stride of my step, 
The curl of my lips. 
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman, 
That's me.

I walk into a room
Just as cool as you please, 
And to a man,
The fellows stand or
Fall down on their knees. 
Then they swarm around me,
A hive of honey bees. 
I say,
It's the fire in my eyes, 
And the flash of my teeth, 
The swing in my waist, 
And the joy in my feet. 
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Men themselves have wondered 
What they see in me.
They try so much
But they can't touch
My inner mystery.
When I try to show them, 
They say they still can't see. 
I say,
It's in the arch of my back, 
The sun of my smile,
The ride of my breasts,
The grace of my style.
I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.

Now you understand
Just why my head's not bowed. 
I don't shout or jump about
Or have to talk real loud. 
When you see me passing,
It ought to make you proud.
I say,
It's in the click of my heels, 
The bend of my hair, 
The palm of my hand, 
The need for my care. 
'Cause I'm a woman
Phenomenally.
Phenomenal woman,
That's me.
—Maya Angelou

How to Know When You've Found Your Purpose in Life

I love listening to Oprah while working and today was no different. I was listening to a conference she had and she was there to inspire young people who are still searching for meaning in their lives. As someone who knows what she wants I sometimes fear the things I think about...I wonder how I am going to handle all of them but people like Oprah Winfrey just give one hope. Its like they are standing right next to you, saying..."You can do it." So, as I was watching this inspirational video she shares a story of a woman she had an interview with and the lady said, "When you betray yourself, you are no different to the person that hurt you." I was like wow! We need these words in our lives. Sometimes we blame people for our own betrayals.

I am Paballo Seipei, today I was just mind opened by Oprah's talk.

Gratitude is the way of life

Kgololoseo Phiri & Paballo Seipei

I just experienced a life enhancing experience. I had a conversation with my boyfriend about the future. And two days before this conversation I downloaded Oprah Winfrey’s lecture at Standford University which talks about spirituality, love and fulfilment. In this lecture she makes the students meditate and I also meditated. The thing that was meditated upon was life and the power within us. It was a meditation about the gratitude of life. Being grateful for every breath we take, being grateful for every experience and being grateful for an opportunity to change for the better.  As I was typing this, she was playing in the background and she was saying, “I have chosen love.” I typed it because what she was saying was what my boyfriend and I were talking about. We both chose love. Then I heard, “The kind of love that counts.” This love we have counts. This love says “I am here for you no matter what.” I suddenly realised that God was speaking to me through that lecture. I had an “Aha moment” thereafter. Downloading this lecture was like a preparation for the future, the future that my boyfriend and I talk about lately. God spoke to me and I listened. God is love and we chose love. That was the reason why that video found me.

The message I was left with was: “To master the power of your field you must consistently chose love, live in the space of gratitude and know that the power you feel from time to time comes from a source that is greater than yourself.”

I am Paballo Seipei and I believe in the supernatural power within me. Thank you God. 

Insecurity is not attractive

I'd like to think that I am one of the strongest people I know. However, I'd also like to think that i'm one of the craziest people I know. I've discovered lately that I've got two personalities that are very opposite to one another. The one that people know me with is very optimistic, sweet, loud, happy and charismatic while the other one is evil, investigative, insecure, and crazy...literally crazy. I don't portray that side me of me unless if someone has done something bad to me and I want to be spiteful and avenge. Andsometimes it appears from nowhere. I'm still trying to figure it out although its something I never want to face. I'm also possessive, territorial and I want everything for myself. I've seen people like those and never thought I had that in me. Idon't like them but I somehow fallinto that category. Anyways, I realised that my insecurities cloud my judgement, I react too quickly at times and I end up doing the wrong things. I end up being wrong. I don't want to be that person, Somehow i feel like it's the devil trying to build a home in me. I'm achild of God and I know these things happen when the devil wants to try people who fall on God's side and not his. I don't know how to explain this but someone who's seen that part of me said that I was insecure and that insecurity is not attractive. I'm just writing this as some kind of therapy. I don't have a storyline or motive this time.This is just me concerned about myself.

I am Paballo Seipei and today I just want to share even through it doesn't make sense.

Bokamoso and Mama's priceless bond.

My mom and son are not best of friends. In fact they don't get along when my dad is around but I've got to say they are the best of friends when they watch tv together without my dad's presence. I was sitting in my bedroom and when it was time for me to wash the dishes I had the privilege to listen to their conversation. My mom is the most sweetest and patient person I know and I happen to enjoy that side of her when she's chilling with my son. They were watching a movie and she was explaining everything that was happening to him. I don't think I have that patience and I respect her for that.

I'm just writing this blog to express the joy I have to have been blessed with parents who've parented my son since day one. I can't stop laughing listening to them. I laugh because I know she enjoys her time with him now that my dad is sleeping otherwise he (my son) would been bonding with his BFF Pawe (my dad). It's a little family feud that gets me mad at times but I love it because I'm glad my parents have their share of spending time with him and both enjoy it. I also love how they fight over him and how my son always take Pawe's side. He's loyal to him and so is Pawe to him. I'm just happy that my mom gets her shining moments at times like these. That melts my heart. 

I am Paballo Seipei and today I enjoyed the conversation I heard between my mom and son. 

Marriage rules to live by:

The faces we'll give when one does something wrong

Dear Kgololosego (my future husband) here are the rules we need to live by when we get married.

1.       Put God first before everything.

Whoever loses faith in God must tithe for both partners at church until she/he awakens from the “prison of lost hope”

2.       Arguments are not doors for escaping.

No argument can make us feel like we don’t belong together. Couples fight all the time but the one that lasts is that which has both parties working hard for.

3.       There’s no “I’m tired” in love making

If one partner doesn’t want to make love due to being “tired” she/he should pay a R2000 fine to the other partner.

4.       We must celebrate our anniversary every year at a new place.

We should book double trips outside South Africa in a year if we don’t celebrate our anniversary.

5.       We don’t stop making love

Sex doesn’t have to stop as we grow older. If yours doesn’t wake up we buy Viagra and if mine doesn’t get wet we buy Lub.

6.       No one is a slave

We share chores until the kids are old enough to take over. Should any partner enslave the other, then 50 % of their assets should be shared with the other.

7.       No cheating!

Not open for discussion.

8.       No use of family money unnecessarily

Failure to comply simply means the partner who used the money shall not get pocket money until the money used is paid out. 

AKA is as much to blame as Bonang is

This whole Bonang, AKA affair has left me disturbed and I believe everyone else is shocked about it but let's be honest here, Bonang didn't do this on her own. AKA is as equally wrong as she is. I don't see anyone saying anything about him. We know he can diss but hey he deserved the diss as much as Bonang does. It takes two to tango and according to my understanding he was honest about the affair to Dj Zinhle, so why not say he's a Mitch? He did this willingly, didn't he? It would be a different story if she drugged him or stole him forcefully but she didn't. This has been going on for months, which means he was ready to take anything coming his way. Maybe it's time to deal with both parties instead of putting the blame to only women. We are too scared to confront the men but too quick to do it to women. If Bonang is a "sefebe" as Tweeps describe her, then so is AKA. 

I understand that Bonang is a woman and she's lashed out because she betrayed the female specie. Women are supposed to support each other and stop these things from happening right? But we don't, we fight among each other and leave the men victorious. They can do it repeatedly because we allow them to. This is so bad for her because she is in the public eye but these things happen to many of us and we are too quick to blame the women and make the men heroes.  Why is Bonang carrying all this when AKA also contributed to it? It doesn't make sense and It's not fair to call her names and pretend AKA didn't do anything. I'm so disappointed at her but more so on AKA because he was willing and broke the heart of his baby mama. 

I just pray that we don't always focus on one person when something was done by two people, willingly. Let's learn to not always go to the women but start with the men and maybe, just maybe that will make a difference. 

I am Paballo Seipei and today I refuse to be bias. 

Fak'ugesi African Digital Innovation

You choose the years you want to travel.

What if someone told you, you could travel in time? Would you believe them?
I kinda did last night at the Fak'ugesi African Digital Innovation "exhibition" held at Wits Museum.
We have seen movies about time travel, Next and Deja Vu being the first to pop on my mind but there are plenty of those kinds of movies. I'm sure you are thinking of your all time favourite time travel movie right now...

Kefilwe Moadi and Paballo Seipei

Anyways, my friend Kefilwe Moadi invited me to this future innovative technology showcase.  And the one thing that captured my attention was Jepchumba's "Future Selfie" technology system. This is a device that takes you to your future. You basically record a message to yourself in the future and you will get the message obviously in the future. You have an option of sending a message to yourself about Love or Place.

So, I managed to travel through time. I traveled  15 years from now while Kefilwe traveled  20 years. It only took a few seconds, which was sad because I have so much to tell my present self. I chose Love. Its my favourite thing to talk about. I love love and I just wanted to share that with my present self. Filwe managed to speak about both although she was hesitant to speak about love which was cute.

I have a lot to talk about but i don't wana bore you. The important thing is that i traveled through time and this experiment made me think of what I really want in the future. I realised that i needed a lot of things and I have plans i just need to see myself in  15 years time and see if everything was implemented.

Me recording a message to myself in the future.

Hi! I'm Paballo Seipei, I am a time traveler and I sent out my present self a message in my future Surname.  

Kefilwe  recording her message to herself in the future. 

This is one of the showcased technologies that i'll write about soon. 

Philosopher Paballo Seipei on Plants

I'm guilty of judgement

I spent the past weekend with my fellow sisters in Christ at a conference in Amathole. I was happy and learned a lot! I enjoyed every moment of that trip, minor challenges and lots of highlights. I just wanted to share a story that was a bit of a lesson and wake up call to me. The theme is: "Do not laugh at someone when you don't know their background."

Fellow sister in Christ_Uniting Presbyterian Church in Southern Africa

I took a selfie with this lovely woman after I judged and laughed at her. I felt bad about it, so I couldn't go to her and say, "Hey I laughed at you, I'm sorry bluh bluh bluh." But I prayed to God for forgiveness and took a picture as way of erasing the guilt in me. 

The story began when I  didn't understand why she was in a young women's fellowship when there's one that caters for people her age...She is old and maintains that she's a young woman. I laughed when a Reverend referred to her as "mama" and she corrected him and said, "sisi". I laughed because I thought, "Why doesn't she realise that she's old and just move on with life?" She sat like an old woman,  danced like an old woman and had manners of an old woman but she felt that she was young. 

Uniting Presbyterian  Junior Branch of Women at Work

One of the ladies I sat with spoke to the other about her. This lady knew her story. She shared that "Sisi" was mentally disturbed. She used to be a teacher but lost it. After hearing that story, I beat myself up. I began to see her in another way. I realised that I didn't have to laugh at her but I did and I usually laugh at people a lot. I know its not good because we don't know what might happen to us later in life. I was wrong for judging her and when I asked her why she didn't join the old women's fellowship she said she had a mother and that meant she was a junior. "case closed." I thought. Who am I to judge?

Sisters in Christ

I just hope God forgives me and many of us who laugh at people when we don't know their  backgrounds. Its good to laugh but can be bad when it affects the one laughed at. 

I'm Paballo Seipei. I learned to laugh in moderation. I hope I maintain and not forget. 

We are one with God and one with one another! 

In need of a publisher for my book - Cryptic Love Affair

I wrote my first book last year called Cryptic Love Affair. Yay!! The first title was "How I became a bitch" lol I know, the title sounds cheesy right? Well, I came out with a better one. I trust this one. I was meant to publish it this month but it doesn't look like its gona happen unless if a miracle happens. I pray for that miracle!

The idea came one evening when I was watching this movie, I can't remember what it was and I thought, "I could've ended it like this..." So,  I just started writing and couldn't stop. I finished the book but I've been quite lazy to raise the funds to publish it. Maybe i'm not serious or maybe I need a potential sponsor to push me in the right direction, I don't know. I haven't blogged in a while and I thought, "Let me introduce my baby to the world!"

I am Paballo Seipei, I wrote a book and I'm in need of a sponsor. #CrypticLoveAffair

Ten things you need to know about Bricks Mabrigado

Bricks on the hot seat! Sorry for the poor quality of the picture. 

Zaziwa has taught us to learn people through their musical journey. Yesterday Pearl Modiadie interviewed "Bricks", who comes from Zola and loves the place very much. Through their conversation, I jotted the ten things to know about Him: 

1. His real name is Sipho Ndlovu.

2.  Brick says his mother didn't give him all the luxuries in life but the only thing he holds dearly from her teachings is respect. His mother taught him respect and he says "people love people who respect." He's glad his mother taught him the one thing that can't be taken from him. 

3. Bricks never met his father but he met his father's family only last her when they approached him during his court case. He says they taught him about his culture and where he comes from.

4. He wants to be remembered as someone who makes other people happy.

5. The one thing he's proud of is being a good father to his two kids. 

6. He doesn't want to talk about his relationship with Elle because they've both moved on."hai phuma kim." He said to Pearl when brushing the topic off. 

7. He makes good friends with women. "The media said I had a lot of girlfriends but I have a lot of lady friends." 

8. He dedicated his love life to a song by jagged Edge, "Let's get married." the song makes him think of the type of person he is when it comes to love. "I wish I could say these words to someone one day." He said. 

9. A song that he wants to be remembered with is Kholwa by Slikour ft Relo and Thokoza Youth Choir. He also wants to do something like this one day. 

10. He loves Zola and is very proud of it and its people. 

The one phrase we'll remember Bricks with is "he bafethu ng'cela a ma flat lapho nithi tjovitjo!" 

Pearl Modiadie and Bricks

Black-on-black Murder? What happened to Ubuntu?

Xenophobia...Where does one start when it comes to this topic? 

Perhaps I should start by it's definition, "Dislike of or prejudice against people from other countries."

So, when people get the news they won't say "certain South Africans killed foreigners", but they will say "South Africans killed foreigners." What does that say about us?

We  are facing a sad time, because some people feel they have ownership of this country and that others don't deserve residence in it. What are we forgetting? Where does this hatred come from? How do we burn other people and smile about it? What happened to power to the people? What happened to Africanism? What happened to helping one another?

It looks like this blog will be filled with questions because this situation is confusing, its disturbing and it's crazy! We are a crazy society and if we are not careful this will turn into South Africans killing one another because of their different cultures.  If we can do it to our African brothers and sisters, then we can do it among ourselves right?

We are forgetting that we were once in exile and our dear African brothers and sisters took us in their countries with open arms and fought with us against apartheid but today we don't want to do the same for them.

We forget that we are not educated or clever enough to manage our businesses and feel jealous when our African brothers and sisters do what we could have been doing but failed to. We are so stupid to forget that we engage in foreign businesses and that we are killing the friendship we have with them.

We forget that life is unpredictable and that this wheel might turn against us one day. The illiterate and uneducated people who support xenophobia (in its every form) don't see what they are doing for the future generation of this country. One day our children will go to foreign countries and they'll be brutally killed because of our ignorant behaviour.

I hate what we've become as a nation. We forget that we are all Africans and that we think we are better than the others which is not the case. The devil is playing with us and he loves it! People need to be educated, especially those in the townships who support this and see it as an activity to push their miserable lives. We are starting a war that we'll struggle to stop.


I am Paballo Seipei and I say NO to Xenophobia.

What is Paballo's calling?

Now and then I battle with what i'm called to do in life. I get lazy when I have to do my work and I know it pays my bills but I feel demotivated half the time. I feel like there's something deeper that I need to discover but not sure what. I feel lost sometimes because I know I'm bigger than what I am now and will achieve greater...Questions are when? What to do? Where to start?

I know that finding a calling comes in different ways to different people. The one thing I know for sure is that everything we do leads us to our calling I'm just waiting to discover mine. I guess I'll keep motivating myself now and then when things seem senseless. I'm not the only one but I'm half way through to discovery.

I am Paballo Seipei, I'm still waiting to find out what I'm called to do. What is your calling?

Proud BOSASA Parents!

Today is a great day at BOSASA!

I went to the IT Department to get a Laptop charger, on my way back to the office I see a female Springbok walking like something was about to pop out of the...you know. So,I pay attention and realise that it's about to give birth. I get excited, rush to the office to get my Ipad and tell my colleagues "we are about to get a baby" and rush back to the "hospital". We waited and waited for the baby to come out but it didn't. Every time she was about to pop someone would pass innocently and disturb it, so Jerome (the father) and I gave up and went back to the office.

This is what i saw when I realised that I was about to become a mom lol

While we contemplated on getting back to work, our house keeper Jane comes running to the office, "The baby is coming" she said. I call Jerome "Jerome we are about to have a baby." Jerome comes running,  we take our gadgets and rush back to the "hospital" As soon as we get there, we see that the baby is half way through, we get excited and take some videos. We waited for a few minutes and a guy innocently passes through the "labour ward", the mother Springbok stands up and voilà the baby falls on the ground!! 

"Congratulations Jerome! What are we calling it?" I asked. Mpho, our colleague suggested, "Jerome Junior West." and everyone started laughing.

Newly born baby! Welcome Junior!

We then waited for the baby to take it's first step and it eventually did! #Proud_Moment

 

Jerome Junior West taking his first step

Daddy Bok got excited and started initiating another baby but Mommy Bok said, "No it's too soon dear." But he didn't listen, he kept going for it, shame..Haha 
 

"I know it's too soon but i want more kids."-Daddy Bok

We witnessed the beauty of nature today and I was proud to be part of this great event. I've never seen anything like this before and I loved the experience. 

I am Paballo Seipei, today I'm a proud mother of Jerome Junior West. 

Jerome and I are the proud parents of Jerome Junior West

Inspiration from a Facebook Post

I lost something that wasn't mine and I felt so heart broken when I realised that I counted my chickens before they were hatched. I guess I thought over about how life would be if I got it, got over excited and fantasised a lot. 

Lovely Miss Paballo Seipei learned something new today.

"Life would be great" I thought. I had big plans but they went down the drain because I wasn't prepared. I told myself that it was another lesson learned. "I need to prepare and sharpen my skills for such things,"I concluded .

I then went through Facebook to browse around and came across this quote from Nonkululeko Nomga saying, "Whatever you go through in life, grows you. The lessons that life gives you are blessings in disguise because they grow you and make you wiser, smarter and tougher." I felt relieved, I needed that confirmation.  I needed to hear/see those words because what happened today was not a failure but a lesson. Thank you Nono.

I am Paballo Seipei, today I learnt to grow wiser. 

Mr and Mrs Lawana - Traditional Wedding

So, the week after my sister's wedding, her friend Hloyi got married! Isn't this great!! December should just be changed to Wedecember. The weddings during that time are a lot, my gosh!

Mr & Mrs Lawana!

Like most girls, I too love weddings and I had to go to this one. My sister went on a trip to Bela-Bela and I went on her behalf with her Husband. I was a standby wife for the day hahaha. The wedding was super intimate and fun.

My sister's husband with his standby wife.

Look who joined us! My brother Gift!

Lebo Sibande, my sister's best friend rocked up with her husband in their His & Her's Traditional outfits. We went with them to the wedding. It was a double date with an extra date, lol. They looked so beautiful!

Mr & Mrs Sibande looking oh so beautiful!

The team was ready to invade Hloyi's wedding!

The decor welcomed us!

Isn't this cute?!

The one thing that touched me about this wedding was the vows. It's a good feeling listening to people exchanging such beautiful words and yet emotional. I teared up with Hloyi as she expressed the love she has for her husband. She was soo cute.

The lovely couple!

The bridesmaids!

I wish Hloyi & Phuthuma many more years of love. May they enjoy each other to the fullest, make their marriage what they want it to be and always allow God to be their mediator.

After a long queue of "Picture with the bride" session, we finally conquered!

I am Paballo Seipei and I enjoyed the Lawana Wedding!

Mr & Mrs Nxumalo - Traditional Wedding

Happy New Year!!! I haven't blogged in a while and yet there's so much that has happened since the last time I did.

I guess I have to welcome the year with LOVE ...Look who got married in December!

Ntombi "Puna" Zikalala, Lebohang Nxumalo & Dineo Moerane.

 My sister Lebo got married!! Excitement, excitement & excitement! I was one of the bridesmaids and I loved it.

Excitement got me kissing my sister...It's better than catching a bouquet, I know I'm on the list of soon-be-married people...lol.

My son was one of the page boys, he was not as excited as mommy but was so cute!

There he is in front of me, where he was the whole day...Ain't he cute :)! And my funkhufunkhu Hlogi next to him!!

It was a traditional wedding that looked like a white wedding. It was so beautiful, everyone sang. We had two dances for when we got to my street where the tent was laid.  I just want to share with you the beauty that was portrayed on that day...Awesomeness!  I loved it so much, I might have the same thing...one day...just thinking....these things happen.

The lovely couple, Mr Lindani & Mrs Lebohang Nxumalo!

I just wish them great things in life. I remember our Minister saying, "When the wedding stops, marriage begins." I wish their marriage be as beautiful as their wedding.

And there's the dream team, the beautiful bridesmaids, groomsmen, page boys and a flower girl...oh and ofcourse the newlyweds!

We got home and did the street dance! We danced to Black Motion - Rainbow

The decor was everything!

Traditional wedding has never been this awesome!

His & her's traditional wedding chairs.

Then there was a  guest lounge!

The beauty of the guest lounge!

This green and white outfit was her present from the Husband's side. Beautiful!

Beautiful couple! The lady at the back with a white blanket (MaSme) is the one who made it.

The last dance of the night before we changed to our jeans and focus on the partying!

Look who decided to dance! Bokamoso Seipei!! He suddenly got excited.

And out of all the outfits, this remains my favourite!! Setswana Traditional attire Now this I goda wear!

It's a wrap! Alilililili!! Re ja ngwana!

I could post all the pictures but this is what I could share with you. I am Paballo Seipei, I was a bridesmaid and I drank to it! Cheers

Cheers!