Ukukhula akubiki shame. 

Growth rarely announces itself. It doesn’t arrive with fireworks or a grand speech. More often than not, it’s a thutshu type of situation. One day we look around and realise that the things we once held onto so tightly no longer fit, and money is definitely paper that doesn’t grow on trees.  

We outgrow friendships that only survived because we were afraid to be alone. We outgrow habits that once felt comfortable but quietly stole our peace. 

Sometimes we even outgrow dreams and it’s not because we have failed, but because we have become someone different from the person who first dreamed them.

There was a time when we wanted to be liked by everyone. Now, we value being understood by a few. 

There was a time when saying “yes” felt like kindness. Now we know that sometimes the kindest thing we can do is say “no” and protect our own peace. And futhi lina liyasebenzisana! 

Growth is such  a weird phenomenon. It’s scary but it’s also freeing. Letting go of old versions of ourselves is uncomfortable because they are familiar. Even when they no longer serve us, they remind us of where we have been, of what once was. 

Whilst growth can refer to being someone “new,” perhaps it’s also the courage to release what no longer belongs in our lives, wena mfana, wena msebenzi, wena mngane…whatever it is. 

So if you’ve changed, don’t apologise for it. If your priorities have shifted, embrace them. If your circle is smaller, your ambitions look different or your heart longs for things it never did before, honour that.

Not everything is meant to stay with us forever. Some things are only meant to walk with us until we’ve learned what they came to teach.

And maybe that’s the most beautiful part of growth: we don’t lose ourselves along the way.

We simply become more of who we were always meant to be.

Love & light 🧡