Coming Out Soon

Six months ago I ventured on a trip to Mozambique. This wasn't one of those fancy holidays at some beach resort, it was unglamourous. The reality check it injected was life changing. You can read about this in, "Life, I finally get it! - Memoirs of Mozambique-"

My transformation began. It started with small things, like knowing when to use the 'Easy Button.'

And asking yourself, if you have to look back at your life, would you live it with regret or what would you do differently? And maybe, you shouldn't have slept with every interesting person you met. Perhaps you just needed to know that your beauty and strength shines through in the purity of your spirit. Being different is more special than you realised.

The renewal of mindset has lead to meeting two incredibly talented young designers- Nick Young Thompson and Mike van Heerden, who approached me to redesign Eish Magazine. The flow of the new look meant sourcing the kind of articles which reflected meaningful content...in search of truth to build the character of our readers. We uncovered social outcasts, those people who form part of our society but looked down upon as society's dysfunctional types. I was fascinated by how many abused women walk the streets as prostitutes. The truth is they are only as dysfunctional as the society that surrounds them. ( In Durban's Dark and Dirty Secrets, we walk the streets with pretty women. ) We live in a community where our values and conduct are interlinked. How can we not be socially responsible to each other?

Speaking of women, we feature amazing women who head stressful jobs but do it elegantly with grace, If only women Rule the World...When complacency settles in like a deadly disease, I ask myself, "Have you lived enough?" Lungi Plummer, a black female body builder trained tirelessly to win the Miss Universe Bodybuilding in 2009. Inspite of cultural stereotypes, she was relentless in pursuing her dream. It was amazing chatting to her. Her winning streak is evident.

"You can't win the Tour de France lying on your couch.- Lance Armstrong. "

So are you're fuelled up, ready to take big leaps of faith to make your dreams come true? Jerusha- the doctor turned singer- relocated to New York and released her new album. You can be a champion too, but you have to run your own race.

Running his own race, well on the catwalk that is, is our cover boy, Matt Miller.I used to think that models are airheads, until I met Matt. He just happens to be an architect, with a great personality, infectious laugh, witty sense of humour and grounded like all good boys should be...and yes, ladies he has gorgeous pecks!!! But we were more interested in his smartness so we asked him some really hard questions on the modelling industry.

If you want to feel all touristy, we urge you to go visit Moses Mabhida stadium, it will make a small person feel part of something huge. Literally!

Commit to reaping the seeds of your success and read, "New Age Networking tips to start 2010 on the right foot.

I don't believe in New Year's resolutions, because then you're missing the signs we get from people and events that occur in our life, those -need for change- signs.

My New Year started off like none other. I attended the funeral of a friend, I only knew for six months. I first met Oliver Bray on the trip to Mozambique. Oliver was only 21 years old. His life was riddled with abuse and drug addiction, ironically this was not how he died.

He died after a freak skate boarding accident, the day after Christmas. People say, that Oliver -The Before wasn't someone you would have wanted to be friends with, while struggling with his drug habit he was kicked out of his home. He lived in his car for a while, in the church parking lot until he made the decision to get cleaned up. He went to a rehabilitation centre, where the success rate of only 2% come out completely clean. Oliver was one of them!

I never met Oliver-The Before, I only met Oliver-The After.

He was the kind of person who encouraged people and reached out to strangers, he held nothing back, even if he was afraid of rejection. He never showed it.

He became the kind of person you wished you could be. So I've challenged myself this year, to be Sarona-The After..and I dare you too to challenge yourself. Role models aren't celebrities, they're everyday people who deserve to be celebrated, that includes you!