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Today, I have been working on a really exciting project. I’m hosting a Women’s Day event here in our little town of Newcastle, South Africa. I’ve been immersed in activities connected with planning it – it feels good to be productive, but it feels amazing to be productive doing something I am so passionate about.

And the cherry on top is that I feel that I will be giving something back to the community of Newcastle.

This is a town I love and appreciate. It has been my home since I was born. Through the years, I have been known to complain about how it is difficult to find items when shopping in Newcastle; that I’d rather live in a big city like Cape Town; and that we in Newcastle don’t get the exciting events like performances by renowned artists. Our town won’t get the influx of foreigners during the Soccer World Cup. We don’t have the excitement of having a World Cup Stadium in our town.

But be that as it may, I value living here. I love that it takes about twenty minutes to get from one side of town to the other. I’m able to rush to the bank and know that I can get there within ten minutes, and if I can’t find parking, I can park anywhere in the CBD and walk to all the other areas. Unlike most places in South Africa, in Newcastle you can forget the key in your front gate and chances are that your house will be safe – yes, there are exceptions to this, but we have very little crime comparatively.

What I love most is the community atmosphere. This is a town with heart and with people who care. I have experienced this caring through the years, but when my dad passed away in 2008, I felt the love and support of people throughout Newcastle. Some people had been my dad’s regular patients. Others are friends, acquaintances and even strangers who had known my dad or seen him when he worked in the Provincial Hospital. And all these wonderful “Newcastlites” have been there to help our family in whatever way they could. We gratefully received their encouragement, support and friendship and continue to do so.

Even though my dream is to settle in Seattle in the U.S. from where I can be most effective in pursuing my life’s purpose, I will always hold Newcastle in my heart. Yes, our town has a fair amount of challenges – but there are challenges wherever one lives. Every time I walk past the landmarks and businesses – fixtures that have been here almost forever – I feel a sense of belonging. I know that this is my town!