What day of the week am I?

The management course that I have been attending is a very reflective one. It is forcing very busy HODs to take a step back and reflect not only what they have done for the department but also in their lives. This one particular charismatic lecturer flashed a slide and asked us what day of the week we belonged to. Meaning that 10 years old meant monday and 70 and above meant sunday.

I am therefore at Wednesday morning because I have just turned 30. The more important question she asked though was "Taking into account the day you are in, what have you done with your life?"

That question is loaded with meaning. And I asked myself many questions and came to the realisation about many things in the process of reflecting deeply about this question.

• I am a mother but am I a good mother? Will I challenge my daughter to greater heights while loving her unconditionally. Will I teach her values of independence, self sufficiency, problem solving and higher order thinking skills so that she will not be a spoiled little brat who can't do anything for herself?

• Will I teach her to love and love well - people who are fortunate, unfortunate, handicapped and different?

• Will I empower her with self esteem so she does not have to make fun of people, make comments about others or put people down so that she can feel better about herself?
  

Other observations

• All change is constant - it may not be good all the time - but it is experience that helps you grow. Staying stuck in the same mundane routine year in and year out is equivalent to a death sentence for me. I think that when you get used to something it becomes a bad habit, you label it a tradition and get bitter at anyone who does not want to partake in these traditions and habits.
  
• Travel, new friends, new hobbies, new books, new ways of looking at things - that is the way I want my life to be. Being obsessed with the same circle of people and never expanding your horizons means that you become clingy and that becomes a self - fulfilling prophecy as no one can stand a clingy person who is bitter and eventually you will be all alone.
  
• making it a point to do something different every week. To spend time with my family because I adore them but to also move out of one's comfort zone so that i can teach my daughter the importance of being happy for yourself and not relying on anyone else to do so.