Yoh, it’s been a long year and as we’re about to enter the festive season, let’s focus on what we have – kindness, generosity and cheer – and not on what we don’t have.
There is little to go around but maybe this is the disguised blessing to make this the most memorable holiday yet, writes Gasant Abarder in a new #SliceofGasant column.
There was an aunty in traffic yesterday who gave me a gap. I was grateful but I stalled my car because of the stop/start tech on my manual vehicle, which is the bane of my existence. I couldn’t take the gap and the aunty was less than impressed.
She made sure I could lip-read all the f-words she could throw at me through her closed window. She wasn’t saying it’s ‘F*kk*l, it’s Festive’.
I couldn’t help giggling, maybe because I’ve encountered some wonderful strangers over the last few days. In supermarket queues, on Facebook Marketplace and even on cold calls.
Our neighbourhood has a Halloween trick-or-treat map and those who participated gave generously to the kiddos walking the area for treats. Neighbours we’d never met before stopped for a chat and it’s always comforting to share in the problems we all have; most of them are the same for everyone.
I giggled even harder when I walked into the office yesterday because one of my cute colleagues had drawn a neat countdown on the whiteboard to the end of the year. They’ve done a terrific job this year, worked their butts off and I’m proud of them.
My giggle turned into guffaws for another f-bomb when a friend sent me a screengrab of an X exchange. A woman named Joelene posted a pic of Woolies halaal rump steak and asked: ‘What do we as South Africans know about the slaughtering methods of halaal? Is it ethical, Woolworths?’
A chap called Ta West responded with a quote tweet: ‘F-off Joelene!!! No wonder Dolly Parton hated you.’
But yoh, we’re moeg, tired and sometimes sick too. It’s getting harder to get out of bed because everyone knows the festive season starts on 1 November in Cape Town.
Yesterday, even the sun didn’t bother to come out. The November sun was like, ‘Nah, wind, rain and cold, you brasse rather go out. I’m rather gonna lam in bed and sleep in a bit!’
The cost of living is so high that not many will enjoy the festive season they want. Families will go hungry on Christmas day. And I’m not even talking about the thousands of people who are homeless this holiday season.
Some breadwinners have lost jobs, salaries have been slashed and there are many cases of zero salary increases and no bonuses because the bosses are chasing the bottom line. People have worked hard with little to show.
In households across the Cape Flats, it’s a daily scramble and often a choice between milk and bread – not both. There are hundreds of non-profit organisations like Empowering Eats doing the work of the government and feeding hundreds of people a hot meal daily.
If you’re among the lucky ones who got an increase this year and looking forward to a bonus, maybe give Riaaz Davids – a guy with a full-time job who does the work after hours – a tiny donation. Find out more at www.empoweringeats.org.za
Then there is Magadien Wentzel, a guy who beat the system and has stayed crime-free for more than 20 years now after turning his back on the prison gang system. He collects donations from individuals to ensure as many kids as possible in Manenberg get some treats on Christmas day.
Here’s the thing: while there may be less to go around, there is something we can give in abundance. That is kindness. It doesn’t have to be money, a gift or even a meal. A smile for someone who is often unseen can be as powerful.
Just be lekker. We’ve had a helluva year with ups and downs and the real people of this country are carrying the load to make it all work. We mustn’t let those who try to sow discontent spoil our festive season.
Allow the lack of material things to focus your attention on quality time spent with the family. This is the opportunity to show kindness and generosity of spirit in the absence of worldly things.
Oh, and the sun will come out tomorrow. It’s festive, mos!
Also read:
How the media let itself down with the coverage of Kolisi divorce
Picture: Elle Hughes / Pexels
