THOUGHTS......

It's amazing how half the time we are influenced in the way we think, and we don't even realise it. You believe in what you believe in today, because someone,somewhere said something to you, and you started thinking about it and a character was formed from that. I remember when I was in Grade 11 and our English teacher asked us, what we were going to do after matric. I realised that day, that I had not thought that far yet. Yes the seed of doing something and not just sitting around doing nothing had already been planted in my mind. I knew that studying further was going to be the best option, because that seed as well had already been planted and had germinated, in my mind a long time ago. My mother's motto is "imfundo ayigugelwa, and ibalulekile" ( your not to old to be educated, and education is important).

Well when my teacher wanted my response , I was honest with her and told her that I wanted to study further but was not sure what I was going to study. She then asked me if I ever thought of studying journalism and before that day I had never thought of studying journalism. I asked why she thought I would make a good journalist one day, she stated a lot of reasons, that made me want to find out more about journalism.
I'm telling you when that seed was planted in my mind I started giving it a lot of thought, and here I am today studying journalism. What is funny is that half the time when I'm asked why I chose journalism, I tell them all the things that I realised after my English teacher planted the seed in my mind, I forget that I chose this course because someone gave me something to think about and was influenced by the fact that she thought I could be good journalist one day. Everything begins with a thought. "Life consists of what a man is thinking about all day." Says Ralph Waldo Emerson.

I believe that what Emerson is says is so true, if thoughts weren't involved we would not be who we are today. I recently came across a quote, that made a tremendous impression on me, it said: "I am your constant companion. i am your greatest helper or heaviest burden. I will push you onward or drag you dowm to failure. I am completely at your command. Half of the things you do you might just as well turn over to me and I will be able to do them quickly and correctly. I am easily managed- you must merely be firm with me. Show me exactly how you want something done and after a few lessons I will do it automatically. I am the servant of all great men; alas, of all failures as well. Those who are great, I have made great. Tjose who are failures , I have made failures. I am not a machine, though I work with all the precision of a machine plus the intelligence of a man. You may run me for a profit or run me for ruin- it makes no difference to me, and I will place the world at your feet. Be easy with me and I will destroy you. Who am I? I AM HABIT!!!"

 This quote striked me because I believe that our habits are influenced by what we think and what we think is influenced by others. Be careful of these influences, because what we think determines who we are and who we are determines what we do!!!

I believe in change!!!

I was very challenged this Sunday at church when the Pastor spoke about change!!! Change is something that presses us out of our comfort zone, and I for one do not like being out of my comfort zone. I like being comfortable in an enviroment that I'm used to, that is why I have never been an extrovert. I believe that change is uncomfotable,changing from one state to the next upsets our control over results. But also I do believe that as people we need to change, when you see that your way of thinking is not doing anything for you anymore,instead of being stubborn we just need to consider changing our views a bit. A perfect example is Intersexion (series on SABC 1), Intersexion makes us think about the way we live our lives and to those willing to change, it allowes that platform, I strongly believe that Intersexion has only being a waste of time to those who did not learn from it.Yes change is awkward at first, but as you get used to it you do adapt very well. I remember when I got to P.E last year, as excited as I was I knew a lot was going to change. I did not know exactly how but I knew that somewhere, somehow something was bound to change. I'm greatful that all changed for the best, because as uncomfortable as it was I believe that through that change I have become a better person. The Pastor on Sunday said this very profound words, that change is lkie driving in a fog, you can't see very far, but you can make the whole trip that way. CHANGE IS VITAL IN OUR LIVES!!!!

We are not to be blamed!!!

Nurses are most of the time the people who get blamed for everything that goes wrong in hospitals, especially in the Nelson Mandela Bay, mainly because they are in the forefront. According to a student   nurse, who would like to remain unnamed, at Livingstone Hospital in the Bay; the Department of Health is to blame for the health system state in the Bay. 

Upon visitation to Livingstone Hospital on 21 March there were only two nurses on duty and two student nurses, per ward and there are 8 wards at the hospital, with 30-35 patients. Sister Ngotsha who was the sister in charge that day, said they are under staffed and there are a lot of sick people at the hospital, but the Department of Health is not employing more staff because they say they do not have the funds to do so. “Yes we want to help these people, but we only have two pairs of hands and cannot attend to everyone at the same time,” she said. The casualty of the hospital has turned into a ward, as there is an overflow at casualty. Comparing Greenacres Hospital casualty and Livingstone Hospital casualty would be like comparing two different things that do not go together. There are people at casualty who say they have been there for 3-5 days, and they have not been attended to. A casualty is a place where you wait to be attended to, not a ward. “I have been placed here by The Department of Social Development, they are looking for a home for me, and I’ve been here for a month now, staying here at the casualty.” Said Dumisani Njoli one of the many people at Livingstone casualty. Zandi Mphothulo a student nurse at Livingstone said although there is negligence by the nurses, but they are not to blame. “Dora Nginza Hospital does not have equipment, so their patients are sent to Livingstone which then causes the overflow in casualty, and nurses cannot be blamed for that, because it is the Departments duty to give equipment to public hospitals, and that is one thing that the Department should be taking care of 100%.” She said. Nurses are not acknowledged for the good they do, but are always criticized for not doing a good job an emotional Sister Ngotsha said. Livingstone Hospital is like most public hospitals in Nelson Mandela Bay, they need more staff, more equipment and more attention from the Department of Health.