My 🌏 life pre and post covid are worlds apart. 2020 marked a big turning point in my life, and this was not because of the onset of the Corona pandemic. For me 2020 held many new beginnings. I have tried to showcase this through the pictures below.
Me at my pre-Covid work. This picture was taken during lockdown. My work consisted of analysing data and writing reports. I spent most of my time at the computer. At work I always seemed to be having backlogs and I experienced stress due to the obligation to log-on to justify my accountability. In 2020 I was on the verge of ‘sinking’ and falling down the black hole of work stress.
Thanks to lockdown I spent hours in nature, going on long walks in the woods. My decision to actively shut off the pc in the afternoons (husband had ‘morning shift’) and enjoy one on one time with my 5 year old, saved my sanity. I had full focus and could give him all my attention. While enjoying the joys, curiosity and discoveries of childhood I rekindled my own child within. This might have been the trigger for quitting my corporate job and the inspiration for my current post-Corona occupation.
Having quit my job, I suddenly had time and (mental) space to write. This resulted in the publication of my debut book: Colours of a Cultural Chameleon
Due to lockdown I had an online book event. It was perfect. People from all round the globe 🌎could join and interact. Such a fitting way to celebrate this book, which is about meeting people, connecting & humanity.
Some call me naïve, I call it enthusiasm and thinking out of the box. Yes, I sent a copy to Vice president Kamala Harris. Like my protagonist Kamala, Kamala Harris is a TCK too. Unfortunately the package never ended up in her hands, but got dropped off at a depot instead. I have a faint hope that someone picked it up and read it.
My profession post lockdown. No longer active in the corporate world, I started STEAMstart, my own enterprise to encourage children’s curiosity in the world around (sciences) through hands on activities. So during and post Covid I made decisions that have totally changed my life, the way I Iive & the way I work. I quit my job as an environmental engineer and took the plunge into the unknown. I started my own enterprise in Science education (STEAMstart: Be inquisitive, Do & Discover). I’ve followed my passions & I’ve found my profession.
But most importantly: now I fully embrace who I am. I am all my colours. I am all my cultures. I am creative, and inquisitive and interested in the natural world. I no longer try my utmost to fit in and please others. I published my first novel❤️Colours of a Cultural Chameleon.
I am a writer and a teacher in one, and much more than that. It truly was the best decision ever!
Shakti Hannie 