The tribe has spoken…

For a moment, on Thursday evening, I thought Santoni, the fiery redhead of “Survivor SA, was actually going to beat Tyson in the fire building contest, but alas, the elements conspired against her just as it looked as if she would burn through the string first.

The Wild Coast wind sent her flame – and her game – sideways, giving Tyson time to build a taller fire.  And off she went, out of the game.  The tribe has spoken…

I don’t know whether you watch “Survivor.”  Maybe not.  Maybe you feel that South Africa has so much reality going on there`s no need to see what a few castaways on a deserted island are up to.

I`m not a huge fan of reality shows – but for some reason I find it quite intriguing to watch the castaways outwitting, outlasting, and outplaying each other in the tropical paradise of the Wild Coast.

Last week I stumbled upon a very entertaining column by one of South Africa`s most influential media voices, Gasant Abarber.  Abarber, who also recently launched his book. “Hack with a Grenade”, argues that we, South Africans, indeed don`t need a Survivor reality show.  Why?  “Because we already have a rampant crime rate, endemic corruption, attempted coups and unacceptable high road deaths – even during a pandemic.”

And I just love his slogan: “Survivor SA:  StiekUit – Out-live, Out-konkel, Out-vraat!”

Maybe he is right, you know.  Maybe each one of us should get immunity idols for just making it through each day alive.  I mean, jam 20 “castaways” in a minibus taxi meant for 9.  The player with the lowest heart rate and the most stable blood pressure after the ride wins the challenge.

How about managing to make your family a slap-up dinner after getting just a 30- minutes` notice there will be hours of rolling blackouts courtesy of Eskom?  Or, when you live in Ermelo, no notice at all?!

Yeah, I know, it`s not funny, but for some reason Abarber`s article managed to put a smile on my face, and a much needed smile, for that matter. For nowadays the press don`t give us too much to smile about.  I just realized once again how true Scott Weems` theory is.  The cognitive neuroscientist and author of “Ha! The Science of When We Laugh and Why” explains that those bursts of dopamine improve blood flow, immune response, pain tolerance and might even shorten hospital stays…

… With the casualties of the pandemic rising, small businesses suffering and an over-extended health service, I suppose we all feel like life has become one huge “Survivor” reality show.  As if hearing and experiencing the destruction of the virus all around us is not enough, we get to watch the 2011 Steven Soderbergh film, “Contagion”, as relaxing home movie material?  I mean, come on, really?

That would be like if the Jews watched ‘Schindler’s List’ during the Holocaust…

Then, of course, there`s the matter of surviving the vaccine debate – who is taking it and who not…sigh.

The French novelist, Louis-Ferdinand Celine asked this question many years ago, no, not the vaccine question…He popped this question: “The worst part is wondering how you will find the strength tomorrow to go on doing what you did today and have been doing for so long, where you`ll find the strength for all that stupid running around, those attempts to escape from crushing necessity.  Not much music left inside us for life to dance to?”

Nope, the tribe, my beautiful tribe, has spoken!  I have put it out there and 68 members have already paid their Early bird fee. Yes, we are indeed hosting our 19^th fitness challenge starting on the 20^th of September and we are going all out. 

 I think many of our readers might think we`re crazy to tackle another fitness challenge during these times of uncertainty and havoc.  Well, remember when the Titanic was sinking, and the band continued to play?  Well, we`re the band…😊

No, I think all of us are just celebrating LIFE in the lyrics of the famous Elton John song: “I`m still standing, I`m still standing, better than I ever did, looking like a true survivor, feeling like a little kid…”

You might not be familiar with Cicely Tyson, the famous American actress who passed away on January 28, 2021?  The last time I saw her perform was in an episode of “How to get away with murder.”  But this acclaimed actress worked until her death at the age of 96…

I remember seeing her in May 2015 when she was getting an award for her lifetime of achievement from the alliance for Women in Media.  When being asked, “Now that you have made it, what else are you going to do?”, she replied: “My dear, the day I feel that I have made it, I am finished.”

“But Mirna, you have not recently suffered personal loss”, I can almost hear you say.  Know what?  Your loved one would never want you to quit living!  Do you remember the September 11 World Trade Centre tragedy of 2001?  Some of the people on the airplanes that ultimately crashed, leaving no survivors, were able to call their loved ones before the crash. What did they say to them? Unanimously, they wanted their loved ones to be happy and to move ahead with their lives, come what may. Your loved ones felt the same; they want you to move forward and to be happy.  Can you deny them that effort now that they are gone?

Over the past few months, you and I have learned the skill of running on empty, all of us in different ways, like true survivors.  Now is the time to learn the art of breathing deep all over again.  We are not the same as last year, or the year before.  We have grown and we are growing.  We re breathing, we are living, and we are wrapped in boundless, endless Grace. 

We can not choose our surroundings, but we can choose to find life in them.  And choosing to have joy is not naively thinking everything will be easy. It is courageously believing that there is still hope, even when things get hard.

There IS still so much music inside you left to dance to.  Just allow yourself to listen.  And then.  Move to the rhythm of life`s beautiful beat.  In the words of the American Christian songwriter, Morgan Harper Nichols: 

“And now
after everything:
I know this:
There is a reason
I am here.
And that reason
is bigger than me.
So I will carry on
with great faith
beyond what I can see.
in pursuit of bold courage,
on the adventure
of the journey.”

Yours in fitness

Mirna

 082 779 0507

(PS If you would like to know more about our Summer Challenge, contact me!  And enjoy Spring Day on Wednesday!)