Whatshot

2026
All
September
2025
All
November
All
2024
All
June
All
April
All
2023
All
March
All
2022
All
2021
All
2020
All
March
All
February
All
2019
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
2018
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
2017
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2016
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2015
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
DHS
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2014
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
KZN
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2013
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All
June
All
May
All
April
All
March
All
February
All
January
All
2012
All
December
All
November
All
October
All
September
All
August
All
July
All

Through My Eyes

Through My Eyes

Author: Kasia Yoko
Date: 2012-06-28
I have decided, I am going to take a little break, maybe for a few weeks or maybe some months or who knows, I might even take a year. Whatever it takes, as I just cannot cope with these constant deadlines. I need some time out.

It has been seventeen years since I started The Bugle and it has been smooth sailing all the way - with a few bumpy storms to rattle our sails. Tomas and I have built a little publication that we are proud of and cherish. But seventeen years is a hell of a long time and I feel the need to rest my brain. Not so long ago I was with a good friend who is suffering with an incurable disease, caused one hundred percent by his hectic schedule. Over the years I have watched him get sick and wither away.

Today he is kept alive by consuming copious amounts of horrific drugs, but it is not the life that you or I want to lead. He often talks about ending it all, and the last time we met he gave me a stern warning, saying, "Don't wait for a break, make the lifestyle change in time to enjoy life. Don't throw it all away for a job look at what a mess I have made of my life and don't make the same mistake."

His words were simple but profound and when they hit me I knew I had to make that transition, no matter what. Because at the end of the day nothing is worth the suffering of a chronic illness caused by intense stress. Am I wrong?

The stress syndrome runs in my family. My father's first heart attack was at the tender age of 34. I remember how miserable he looked in his hospital bed and I knew how hard he had pushed himself to be a successful young director of a regional construction company.

My father is the first to encourage me to take it easy. Even though success is such a fundamental aspect of our foundation, he taught me a simple mantra, which I chant in times of trouble, "Concentrate your energies on the important issues leave the little bits behind to sort themselves out."

My mother's heart attack came later in life and I nearly lost her. The same as my father, my mother is full of nerves and tension. I guess they say that it is hereditary.

And so here I am making life-changing decisions based on what I need to do in order to stay sane. I will still do everything I have to with The Bugle but I will work less on 'deadlines' and more on 'lifelines'.

What did they say about 2012? "The change is coming" mine has just arrived. I open this space for all my readers and invite you to throw your views around. Share your life changes and stories. I welcome all comments. If at any stage you would like to contact me email me on thebugle@mweb.co.za