After thinking long and hard, it seemed to me that as a society, we may be part of the problem. It would appear that the value of physical appearance has been exalted to the extent that it seems to rank higher than the content of one’s character.     Are we so shallow as to subscribe to the school of what you see is what you get? When there is so much more to most of us than meets the eye; when the depth of beauty in our souls sometimes takes a lifetime to unearth – why are we so fixated on simply being pretty? Why is having other strengths and being endowed with fine character not as esteemed these days?

We have already determined that it is hard to forgive from the heart, but today we unpack: First, forgiving yourself for indiscretions done unwittingly and the forgiveness required when you have done something knowingly with, sometimes, reckless abandon. Secondly and oddly, we sometimes are so mad at God, we find ourselves at odds with Him and strangely feeling like we need to forgive God. Lastly, there is forgiving others who have trampled our trust or broken our hearts. And then we need forgiveness from others – all very challenging, isn’t it?

In the context of being a Christian, I share lessons learnt about the nuances of forgiveness and specifically the misconceptions that bedevil the process of forgiveness and could hinder it taking place altogether.  Perhaps, in some small way, it can be of use to you.

As you are well aware, King Charles III was officially and regally crowned king in all his glory and power this past Saturday. In the light of all things balance, I will tread a fine line between the loyal royalists on the one hand versus the detractors and anti-monarchists on the other to give you my middling take on this. Who cares and why you may ask? Well, I found myself pondering on the life and reign of another great king …

Yes, we can regulate behaviour for a while on the outside, but what about the heart of man – what goes on inside his mind and soul. Powerful deterrents help society to function effectively I agree, but what does one do with the proclivity to sin – the innate desire to find refuge in the dark instead of the light? All of us have tendencies that are not good – everyone single one of us has been born in sin and none of us perfect in the least. There are choices to be made and we explore the theme of living in the light or the dark in the spiritual realm. It is a standalone episode even though the theme is the same as the week before.

There are times when you need to make a choice and stick to it – no grabbing elements in equal proportions. No, it is a black-or-white choice; it is one or the other, not a little of both. It is not cutting back a little here or doing more there. It is not tweaking a mind-set, rather it is a wholesale rejection of an idea, ideology, or whatever you have in mind. You are either in or out, not in and out.

Have you ever had the misfortune of running into someone who was not at all what they seemed to be at first? Initially, they came across as virtuous but it soon dawned on you that the individual displayed serpentine traits, often while others were unable to see through the façade. What does one do if such a situation arises? What has it to do with balance, boundaries and discernment and why is deceitfulness so dangerous? Well, Danielle’s predicament can provide some insight.

Crossroads, forks in the road, stop signs, glaring lights; whatever it may be, it sure has a way of telling us to alter our course. Something that seemed so simple has been thrown off-centre and one finds oneself still trying to pick up the pieces. In just such a way, calamity knocked on Chloe’s door one day... And she needs a miracle, redemption and resurrection of sorts. What does the Bible say about resurrection and redemption? How does a miracle involving Jesus, Lazarus, Mary and Martha shed light on this?

In her effort to gain instant gratification, Maxine ended up paying a hefty price for it and we benefit from her pain by paying attention to her story. It mirrors the story of someone else, which was graphically depicted in only three chapters of the Bible, yet her story has reverberated through the ages and affected each of our lives, whether we like it or not. Who is she?

Everyone gets betrayed sometimes. Often by someone you trust or who is close to you for some reason or other. It was the same for Amore! Jesus, too could relate to humans on this score - betrayed with a kiss. Listen to how their stories intersect and let me know your thoughts.

The questions dominating headlines soon became how she had been able to operate behind that facade so convincingly at such a high level for so long. Her true character now well and truly exposed, painted a vastly different picture and what soon became glaringly obvious was that she had spectacularly fallen from grace. Her star had truly fizzled.

Are you are facing a firestorm of a crisis - how will you handle it? In a calm, surrendered and truthful way or are you going to take the lash-out route or will you simply walk away? Are you going to stick to your guns, compromise or do nothing?

When it comes to things of the heart and mind, where boundaries, limits and balance are by nature not easily discernible, a minefield in this area is to be expected. Sometimes, people step into your space, be it in your private or professional life because of jealousy and a feeling of displacement.

Do such people exist? Hard for me to fathom, but I have realised that many people have a nemesis with some of the characteristics I have just described. Someone who is out to undermine, belittle and seemingly make one look bad in front of others and often, for reasons unbeknownst to the person in the firing line.

I allowed people who had no idea of my heart and motives to give me their unsolicited opinions about my character without having proper discernment; then take it to heart as truth and, thereafter, proceed to beat myself up. I allowed people to coerce me into doing things that were on their agenda and clearly were not right for me.

Women report losing their confidence and not being able to trust themselves or their memories. Once rock-solid women start to doubt themselves in minor day-to-day activities and then anxieties about their jobs reach stratospheric proportions. Is it in any way a surprise that women are experiencing anxiety about their health? It shouldn’t be.

Having covered that, I want to tell you about an aha moment involving a cosmetologist that changed the trajectory of my own journey with my head of hair. But first, I must confess that taming my hair has been a lifelong struggle. I may have very fine hair but apparently according to the hairdressers who have helped over the years; I have a lot of it. The texture is relatively coarse and my hairdresser refers to it as having tight curls. It has always seemed to have the upper hand, and instead of being my crowning glory, has often been that part of me that I was not particularly proud of.

Well, that is the scene I would like to set in your mind when you think about having healthy feet able to carry out all that life demands from it. I hope it elicits a smile as you think what it takes for your feet to do the heavy lifting required to keep you mobile every day. Are your feet happy?

Giorgio Armani famously said, “Elegance is not being noticed; it’s about being remembered.” Such is the dramatic impact art, fashion and dressing can have on an individual. Indelible impressions imprinted on the mind - not to be forgotten. Definitely, a powerful sway of the senses and mind.

Time is, after all, as a friend reflected, our currency when we get to this age. It is so precious and we are acutely aware that some moments will never come to pass again. But what are your limits … what are mine? What would we need to do in order achieve a once-in-a lifetime-type dream, tick off an item on a bucket list or the like? Whatever it is that makes us feel that life is worth living? Well, let me start by telling you about the mountaintop experience I referred to earlier.