Top of the Peak

I climbed my first mountain in Cape Town today. 

And let me tell you, it was like doing the stairmaster for two and a half hours (I typically last fifteen minutes). 

Hiking was one of the main activities I looked forward to while in Cape Town, yet it usually comes with some nerves. 10% due to my fear of heights, 10% wondering if I will actually make it up, and 80% because of its unknown nature. So, as always, I did my classic AllTrails research to know what to expect.

To my disappointment, I gained very little information besides what the flag pole at the top looked like. No nerves were calmed. 

However, with all five roommates being on board, I knew I had to take the chance and step into the unknown. 

Woah, that sounds familiar. 

And so, I thought about it that morning as I got ready, “what made this hike any different than moving to South Africa alone?” or any situation that has once caused me fear or anxiety. There is no difference. All required moving forward one step at a time, staying focused on the present, and trusting myself.

The first thing I noticed when I entered the Not I But We office was the trust between the staff and the survivors. At the first production meeting, every woman was welcomed and acknowledged. Madison, the founder of Not I But We, took the time to celebrate their hard work and provide a space for the women to lift one another up. Throughout the week, I noticed how the women feel comfortable to speak their minds, joke around, and express themselves in the office. It really is a family. 

My focus this first week was to settle in and learn about how the organization functions, from the expectations of the staff members and their different roles, to the production process as a whole. I focused on logistics for Flourish Fridays, as well as utilized my creative side to shoot some new product photos. 

On my first Flourish Friday, I got to observe the career coaching and mental health group sessions. I got a window into the roles of two different types of psychologists. The career coaching was led by an organizational psychologist and the mental health session by two registered therapists. The therapists were from a local non-profit, Kuthetha Nathi, whose aims is to provide access to mental health services through affordable therapy sessions and courses exploring tangible tools to understand oneself better.

Entering into this new environment surrounded by experienced professionals and kind individuals I care to build relationships with, comes the creation of expectations for myself. I desire to have the type of relationship with the women that I see they have with the social worker. I see the role the social worker takes on and desire to take upon those tasks. I have this feeling of wanting to skip the unknown journey and teleport to the flag pole at the top. However, just like the hike, I will not form expectations of the outcome and will not fear the journey. If I have my sights focused on the future, it will take me away from the present and I will miss out on the building blocks forming my own unique “top of the peak”. 

With that being said, I know I am in the right place because I am getting to work with people I look up to, observe various jobs I desire to do, and all for an organization I see making an extraordinary impact. 

And so, I will take one step at a time and enjoy every moment of it.