Remain

 

Sometimes one of the hardest things about being South African. Is the leaving, or being left is perhaps a better way to put it. When one realizes that one is reluctant to make friends only because one knows inevitably they will most likely leave the country. Once again leaving one feeling as though one is stranded on a small desert island. Whatching a boat sail of into the distance without you. 2016 was a year of leavings, I'm sure not the last one we will experience, as the economy dips those who can find greener plastures else where will set sail. Leaving those of us who can or won't leave wondering if there is something we are missing. However then I think, we are here because here we can make a difference, here we can bring hope, here we can imagine a future where we can live in a just and equal society. So we stay, and we make new friends, with the hope that perhaps they will see that this country is a good thing. That there is still a future here. When one feel alone one too is reminded. I have roots here, here is where generations of my family have lived, and farmed. When one thinks in all likely good at least some member of ones family most likely tracked across the country in an ox wagon, in search of freedom. One can remain in the knowledge that, yes it may be tough today, however if they survived we then so can we. We can leave something behind which benefits others, we can seek a future filled with hope. We choose to remain.