School of Wisdom

School of Wisdom

Hi Everybody

I weighed on Tuesday morning, the day I sent out the e-mails. I promised to do a weigh in every Saturday morning. I had my first weigh in on Saturday morning and I lost 1kg. It feels so good.

Over the years I have experimented with various diets, from high protein diets to the soup diet. The past few days I have asked myself what makes it different this time and have reached the following conclusion.

I have come to understand that life is a school of wisdom with grades you need to pass  and you can only continue if you have mastered the lessons for that specific grade. It has taken me years to pass these grades and I still have so much to learn.

This is what I have learnt.....

I have learnt that I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me and with Love, Faith and Hope all things are possible.

I have learnt the value of loving myself unconditionally. My dreams and aspirations needs to be valued. If I don't acknowledge and act upon it, nobody else will. I know what it is to give and give until there is nothing left of me. You can only radiate your love to others once you have learnt to love yourself. 

I have learnt that I possess the power of living a life of abundance. I don’t need to lose this weight first or wait for my husband to buy me a bunch of flowers or win the lotto.  What is much more rewarding is living a life of consciousness. It is about living in the present and making each minute count. My past does not define me – shit happens. I have  learnt to relax, let go and live in the moment.

I have learnt that if I live with integrity and my life reflects my values and morals it is easy to love who I am. This affirms my being and makes it easier to make choices in life.

I have learnt to create boundaries in my life and choose who should enter my space. I refuse to waste my time on people and things that do not contribute to my happiness. Creating boundaries is my tool that allows me to take care of myself. 

I have learnt the importance of choosing to forgive. Letting go and living with contentment is one of life’s most powerful gifts I gave myself. It is an act of self- love.

I have learnt the value of losing weight for the right reason - health and not vanity. It is only when I really realised that my body is the place where my soul resides, that I realised how valuable my health is.

I have learnt that there are no clear answers in life. Embracing everybody’s opinion, religion and culture is one of the best gifts you can give yourself. I recently read a book relating to most of the  religions in the world. The lesson that really struck me was that love and compassion is the common thread amongst all of them.  It has taught me the importance of allowing people to live the life that makes them happy and not to judge.

I have learnt the importance of understanding life’s lessons. It is only then that we can finally do the soul-searching and master the lesson that we were supposed to learn. These lessons we can either view as a gift and an opportunity for growth or an obstacle or punishment in our lives. 

I have learnt that fairy tales and miracles still exist.

Have a week filled with love, joy and gratitude.

Melanie

An overwhelming response

Hi all, Zina here. My mommy showed me all of your heart warming responses and I decided to put it on her blog so that she does not forget about the love an support she is continuously receiving.

These are the responses:

"Hi Melanie, such a great thought. I will return the commitment slip. If you are going to reach out to Sarepta old age home, then you can also speak to the Police forum in Kuils River the contact person name I can forward to you when it comes closer to March 2014. The police Forum is busy with a project at the old age home to paint, and upgrade the standard of living with bedding, apparently they do not have good bedding and it does not look to good. The Police forum will do a weekly or monthly visit to see if the standard has been maintained. All the best and success to your goal. You are such a beautiful lady inside and outside. I have never seen the weight problem. God bless thanks for counting me in. Lotsa love."

 "Hello Aunty Melanie

I would like to participate in this. This is such a nice idea

Thanks and have a lovely day

xxxxxx"

"Ahhhh this is so special and what an excellent idea!

The fact that you put it out in public tells me that you mean business!

You have my support and vote of encouragement.

GO for it and GO BIG in the sense of losing BIG amounts of kgs!!!!!!"

"Dis nie baie as dit vir ’n goeie doel soos hierdie is nie.

 Jy beter sorg dat jy verloor!"

"By all means. I am glad for you. I am sponsoring R50 per kg. Know you will get lots of support. Love love and blessings"

"WONDERLIKE idee!!! ek's in!!!"

"Good luck Aunty Melanie!!

Inspired already.

xoxo"

"WOW !!!!!   I admire you…………"

"Very proud of you

I wish you strength and all my support on your journey"

"Hi Melanie, what an awesome venture! My commitment to you will however not be monetary, but encouragement in prayer. I have been speaking prophetically since April of this year,and have written a book of 15 poems and devotions inspired by the Holy Spirit. To date I have spoken at churches and have another appointment at a church in Paarl next month. I would love to share God's heart for your venture and pray for you weekly,as you undertake your journey...an amazing cause! This is what the Spirit shows: Melanie: Walk to save the day gone by,tread upon the tar so dry, but steady the pace in fixed abode,that stays the gait and sheds the load...Of wanting,waiting years gone by,and grasp the tear that fills the eye..For healing from your journey springs,when praises loud to all it brings!!!!!!!!!"

"Jy sal dit maak man, jy is mos ‘n bittereinder… ek het vir ‘n paar mense gestuur."

"Dear Melanie,

Once again you have shown me and so many others what a truly AMAZING,LOVING and COMPASSIONATE WOMAN you are.A woman of SUBSTANCE,here to make a difference!!

Zina has become a young woman after her own mother's HEART!!!

I will SUPPORT YOU every step of the way my dear friend!  Count me in!!!

Wishing you BLESSINGS upon BLESSINGS as you embark on your journey!!

 Love Always, 

Gratitude;The hardest arithmetic to master is that which enables us to count our Blessings.(Eric Hoffer)"

"Will full support you on this journey with all my love"

"Daars hy meisie!!"

"Ek is trots op jou."

"Hi Melanie

I will be supporting you on your journey.  I will bring my pledge money on Saturday to you then we can chat!!! Lekker.  If you wonder where I got this form Felicity send it to me.  This is indeed a great way of achieving both!!!!!  You go"

"Hi Melanie

Great initiative!  Best wishes with your journey.

Love"

The following was posted on the website :  www.aceso-wellness.com

"I trust you are happy and living an inspiring life!

I stand for BEING IN SERVICE of others, of being in service of the greater WHOLE.  I believe that the more we make it about others, the more abundance we attract and the more joy we experience in life.  I certainly hope that you don't feel 'spammed' but two opportunities presented itself to me over the course of the last week and I feel compelled to share and hopefully support these two courageous ladies.

The first is a quest of an amazing lady who I am totally inspired by. This is an issue that many women can relate to and eventually it affects our Being by; lack of self-esteem, low self confidence and generally low self love! Well, Melanie is in such a beautiful space right now, that she feels confident not only about taking on this amazing feat, but that she's also making it about the greater Whole.... Following is the e-mail I received from Melanie Johnson:

Most of you know that I value the concept of compassion and love reaching out to others and that I have been battling with my weight for years. I am in a space now where I am contented and live in absolute gratitude. Zina (daughter) has inspired me to embark on a journey to raise funds for an old age home and combine it with my weight loss journey.  It will entail a process where I would feel I am doing it for myself but also for the benefit of others and feel accountable to others.

I am sending you this e-mail to ask if you will support me in my fundraising effort. It will be a 24 week programme starting on the 17th of September 2013. The 24 weeks has a special meaning for me as it will end on the 4th of March, our 25th wedding anniversary. I would like to know if you would be able to support me financially for every kilogram I lose. My target is to lose 20 kilograms by the 4th of March 2014. You can decide what amount you want to sponsor for every kilogram I lose. If you decide on R4 per kilogram and I lose 20 kilograms it will be R80.  The money raised will be contributed to the Sarepta A.G.S Te Huis vir Bejaardes in Kuilsriver.

The fact that my dad died in February,  as well as the fact that I am,  as I am sure most of you are, at  a stage where I constantly reminisce about the value of my parents, largely contributed to my choice of beneficiary.

I am not very fond of facebook, twitter or blogging etc. but because I am accountable to lots of people I will be blogging once a week so that you can have an idea of where I am in terms of my weight loss journey. The link to my blog is http://melaniejourneyofgratitude.blogspot.com/

 Please note this is entirely voluntary and if you decide to commit I would appreciate it if you could return you commitment slip by the 20th of September 2013 (attached). If you would like to send this e-mail to friends in order to get more sponsors, you are welcome to do it. You are also welcome to join me in this journey. By taking on this journey I will be able to contribute to the well-being of old people, feel healthier and inspire other people.

E-mail: mjj@sun.ac.za

And the second lady reached out to me (this is the first ever) to ask if I could help her in finding employment, following is Sinethemba's e-mail:

Sinethemba Matshaya 

E-mail : sinethemba.matshaya82@gmail.com

I quit my permanent job at Distell to work with my partner on his business and to get to spend more time with my two girls aged 5 and 7. Unfortunately things haven't gone as planned and  now I am looking for a job, it needn't be permanent. I have an HR qualification and have been specializing in learning and development ( i have facilitation experience)for the past 6 years.

ZANZIBAR BAREFOOT YOGA & CONSCIOUSNESS RETREAT: 30 SEPT - 07 OCT 2013

Cost Per Person Single: $ 1139

Cost Per Person Sharing: $ 948

Package includes the following:

7 nights accommodation in a beautiful Lodge located on the East Coast of the exotic Island of Zanzibar

Daily breakfast included

2 Dinners included

4 ‘Journey to Self’ Inquiry Workshops with Marcel D’Allende

7 Kundalini Yoga & Meditation Sadhana (daily spiritual practice) – Pranayama, Meditation, Chanting & Expressive Dancing

7 Vinyasa Flow & Dynamic Hatha Yoga classes with Marisa van Vuuren

Yoga Booklet

Consciousness Workbook

1 Coaching session OR 1 Reiki session per person

Spice Tour & Stone Town Tour"

 

And this is where it starts

 

with this e-mail ...

Hi Everybody

Most of you know that I value the concept of compassion and love reaching out to others. All of you also know that I have been battling with my weight for years.

                     

I am in a space now where I am contented and live in absolute gratitude. Zina has inspired me to embark on a journey to raise funds for an old age home and combine it with my weight loss journey.  It will entail a process where I would feel I am doing it for myself but also for the benefit of others and feel accountable to others.

So…

I am sending you this e-mail to ask if you will support me in my fundraising effort. It will be a 24 week programme (not 12 weeks – too short) starting on the 17^th of September 2013. The 24 weeks has a special meaning for me as it will end on the 4^th of March, our 25^th wedding anniversary. I would like to know if you would be able to support me financially for every kg I lose. My target is to lose 20 kilograms by the 4^th of March 2014. You can decide what amount you want to sponsor for every kilogram I lose. If you decide on R4 per kilogram and I lose 20 kilograms it will be R80.  The money raised will be contributed to the Sarepta A.G.S Te Huis vir Bejaardes. 

The fact that my dad died in February 2013,  as well as the fact that I am,  as I am sure most of you are, at a stage where I constantly reminisce about the value of my parents, largely contributed to my choice of beneficiary.

I am not very fond of facebook, twitter or blogging etc. but because I am now accountable to lots of people I will be blogging once a week so that you can have an idea of where I am in terms of my weight loss journey.

I have chosen to send you this e-mail because I regard you as someone who adds value to my life. We might differ about certain things but essentially you contribute to moulding me. Thanks for playing that special part in my life.

Please note this is entirely voluntary and if you decide to commit I would appreciate it if you could return you commitment slip by the 20^th of September 2013. If you would like to send this e-mail to friends in order to get more sponsors, you are welcome to do it. You are also welcome to join me in this journey.

By taking on this journey I will be able to contribute to the well-being of old people, feel healthier and inspire other people.

Have a week filled with love, joy and gratitude.

Melanie