I am blessed to have been raised in a home where communication was not just a skill but an art form and a way of life. Both my mother and father, in their unique ways, shaped how I came to value the spoken and written word - lessons that continue to ground me today.
My Mother’s Legacy: Vibrancy and Care Through Teaching
My mother, a trained and qualified educator, earned her undergraduate and honours degrees from the University of Limpopo (formerly Turfloop) and later pursued her postgraduate studies at Wits University.
She has strategically used her communication skills across different worlds - in formal teaching, corporate environments, her own business, at home and in her coaching career. What makes her gift so powerful is her vibrant yet caring nature, which adds warmth and relatability to the lessons, insights and timely wisdom she shares with those fortunate enough to learn from her.
My Father’s Legacy: Precision and Leadership Through Words
My father, a Communications graduate from the University of North West (formerly Bophuthatswana), was a seasoned student leader and political activist during his campus years. It was there that he honed his ability to communicate with impact - an ability that propelled him into a progressive corporate career and ultimately a thriving business that he continues to lead to greater heights.
Where my mother is an avid reader and book lover, my father is a meticulous writer. While they share the trait of speaking, their combined traits rubbed off on me by default and shaped my appreciation for the power of words.
Growing Up in a Communicating Home
Being surrounded by skilled communicators in my formative years exposed me to the value of reading, writing and speaking early on. It was not something abstract — it was lived out daily, whether through heartfelt conversations, written reflections or watching how words could move, teach and inspire.
This early exposure has followed me into all of my work. I journal faithfully and write down every idea. I have endless notebooks, each one serving a specific purpose in my life. There is something healing and enlightening about putting words onto paper and reflecting on them. This practice has carried me through every season - enriching my perspective and affording me depth and substance that no AI tool could ever compete with. It is a gift I wish for our society to embrace fully.
Why It Matters Today
In an era where the art of reading, comprehending, writing and speaking is becoming lost, I worry about what this means for the future of human connection. AI can now publish books with just a few ideas, but what will become of the process of developing a body of work from scratch?
Will we still appreciate the skill of writing as a creative outlet or will it be discarded in the rush for speed and convenience? What happens to the value of original thought or the diverse ways individuals interpret and express ideas as part of our rich human tapestry?
Honouring Our Human Capacity
The tools available to us today can ease many processes, but they must not replace our humanness. Rather, may they liberate us into tapping deeper into our unique human abilities.
We each carry God-given gifts - abilities that, when nurtured, could surface solutions to some of the world’s greatest challenges. To neglect them is to diminish what makes us beautifully and powerfully human.
An Invitation to You
I encourage you to continue maximising your human capacity: read, write, speak and express yourself. Honour your voice, your thoughts and your creativity. Because in a world filled with ease, it is our humanness that remains our greatest treasure.