God het begin sing. Dis Sy stem wat lewe bring. Dit was Sy passie in ons asem, Die oerknal in ń orgasme. Ons gene dra die bladmusiek, Wat komponeer aan ń simfonie, Wat niemand nog kan uitdink nie, En nêrens nog gehoor is nie. Dromme dreun ń heelal deur, Wat ritme aan Sy bouwerk gee,ContinueContinue reading “God sing”
Author Archives: Reënloper
The necessity of pain
I took a stroll the other day through my neighbourhood and the last yellow sunlight of the day against the green mountainous horizon, with the sound of the Burchell’s coucal (vlei loerie) and the smell of Yasmin filled me with joy and peace. I was thankful, because I was thinking back of the difficult andContinueContinue reading “The necessity of pain”
The Inconsolable Longing
Something is missing. I’m speaking of that feeling that remains long after we have found what we wanted for so long; or after we have achieved that which have we worked so hard for. After a while, we realise that it just wasn’t enough. We want more, or we want something else, we want toContinueContinue reading “The Inconsolable Longing”
Choose your pain
Be honest, are you happy with where you are? And if not, who is holding you back? There are only two ways of dealing with your reality – you can either stay there or grow out of it. And life will always throw something at you that will force you to adapt/change/grow. Right where youContinueContinue reading “Choose your pain”
Braaf
Braaf staan jy voor ñ golf en kyk, Jy’s in die vlak water, want jy’s nog klein, Jy was net-nou nog bang gewees, En nou kom die water al tot by jou knieë. As jy een golf moedig trotseer, Wag jy dieper vir ń groter een, En as hy jou dan amper omslaan, Hardloop jyContinueContinue reading “Braaf”
Depression and Meaning
Why do some people carry on happily with life? Why do others cease to bother? I note that some remain unhappy even though they have stopped doing anything and others remain energetic even though they are busy and tired. I do believe that the development of psychiatric illnesses, such as major depressive disorder, is closelyContinueContinue reading “Depression and Meaning”
Light is shining
Light is shining. You are either running away or running towards it; hiding in the dark or performing on the stage. Who are you? We use spotlights in the dark regularly – to see where we are going, to find something, to avoid walking into something. There is also a spotlight that reveals the spaceContinueContinue reading “Light is shining”
Mental illness affects people who suffer from bleeding disorders
During 2018 and 2019 I conducted research with fellow colleagues at the university of the Free State as part of the academic prerequisites for obtaining a masters degree in psychiatry. We simply evaluated all available patients with haemophilia, or other inherited bleeding disorders, with the help of standardised evaluation forms and conducted physical examinations asContinueContinue reading “Mental illness affects people who suffer from bleeding disorders”
Why are you so right?
I just walked past two children playing cricket on the lush grass-field along the lagoon where I am currently living. I was somewhat surprised when the two sisters spoke to each other in fluent Afrikaans, because they were black – unlike their parents (obviously adopters) who were stereotypical afrikaners, watching and coaching them from theirContinueContinue reading “Why are you so right?”
The space that matters
In a very fulfilling week I had the opportunity to meet with four different people who found themselves in very distressful situations. As they described their series of misfortune I soon realised how isolated and helpless they must have felt. In summary they recently faced diagnoses of severe mental conditions, loss of loved ones, lossContinueContinue reading “The space that matters”