Truly, every dark cloud has a silver lining

I started blogging and freelance writing in 2012. It was my way of escaping a toxic marriage. I’d put all my mind into writing and gardening. If it wasn’t for the abusive hubby, I would probably not have discovered that I loved writing. It was this discomfort that led me to discover something about myself. I believe that’s why it’s said, ‘every dark cloud has a silver lining’. Even a bad situation can bring about great results! My then husband did all he could to stop me from writing. He loathed seeing me on the PC.

One of my workmates, Rika Fagan was retiring and she gave me my first computer just before she relocated to the sea. I’ll never forget that! She gave me my big break into writing. I wrote articles for The Southern Times (Namibia) and bought my first printer with the money. It’s actually my only printer! Sometimes I wrote articles with tears streaming down my face. I was insulted, at one time he tripped the electricity for the entire house just to stop me from writing. My friends at work Annemarie De Wet, Wena Venter, Lizette van Der Merwe and Ronel Pretorius would encourage me to keep on writing. I’d tell them that I couldn’t continue but they would tell me to keep writing.

It wasn’t easy, I wanted to take the easy way out and allow my ex to win but, my friends would not let me. I kept on writing and before I knew it, doors were opening. In 2016, I performed one of my poems in Johannesburg. It was my first time doing spoken word. I had noone to celebrate this milestone with me, except the knowledge that my friends where behind me.

Challenges are just there to groom us.

I’m so glad I never gave up. Today I can proudly say, I’m a writer, simply because I did not allow adversity to stop me.

It’s not easy to keep going in the face of adversity, but it’s worth it in the end. I’m not bitter, I got better and better with my writing. I’m quite grateful for the lessons and the doors that opened for me because of adversity. Adversity is really vital for advancement! Nothing at all ever grows in the comfort zone.