Tag: writing

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doing a ted lasso!

I’m learning to greet life with open curiosity, releasing the impulse to judge or jump to conclusions, and giving every moment the space to reveal itself – Jan.

I heard people talking about Ted Lasso, and it wasn’t a series that I was instantly drawn to. A couple of work colleagues had mentioned it, and I thought I would give it a go! To my surprise, during the summer, my husband and I took a trip to Richmond, London, to do the Ted Lasso experience. Richmond is a place I love; its regal heritage draws me. We took photos outside the famous pub and ambled along the side alley outside his flat. We walked along the riverbank in glorious sunshine, sat at the pub with drinks in hand, and people-watched. We chatted to people from South Africa and the US who were doing the same as us, experiencing life!

In case you don’t know, Ted Lasso is a heartfelt, hilarious, sports comedy series about an American college football coach, Ted Lasso, who is unexpectedly hired to coach AFC Richmond, a struggling English Premier League soccer team—despite knowing nothing about English soccer.

At first, the team, fans, and British media mock him mercilessly. But Ted has some true personal gifts. Optimism, anchored emotional intelligence, and a belief in people that gradually transform the club. Ted expresses oodles of kindness, his own vulnerability, the power of teamwork, his mental health struggles, and his personal growth.

What I love most about Ted is his folksy charm and his relentlessly positive attitude about his decision to move to England. Remember, Rebecca Welton, the team owner, initially hires him, scheming and plotting to sabotage the team as revenge on her ex-husband. Over time, she comes to respect him, grows fond of him, and they become friends. Under his watch, key players like Roy ‘f-ing’ Kent, Jamie Tartt, and Sam Obisanya go through significant personal and professional transformations.

The show is centred on building relationships, healing, and strong self-belief. It’s about how kindness and empathy can change people—and even a whole soccer club—for the better. I highly recommend the show, and I do find myself referencing Ted from time to time. Like me, he is optimistic, and he believes. I’m committed to meeting every moment with curiosity, not judgment, and letting understanding replace my urge for quick conclusions.

How do you see your life unfolding? How deeply have you come to know your own strength? And what or who lights the path you follow?
If you’re searching for meaning or hoping to grow into the best version of yourself, I’d be honoured to help you explore those questions. Let me know, and have a super day.

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It’s been a while

It’s been almost twelve months since I put pen to paper (or fingers to keyboard, depending on how you roll). And I can’t help but notice how slippery time has become. A week now passes like a day, and a month vanishes like a week. Blink, and another season has already tiptoed past, and I’m still trying to figure out what happened to last Tuesday!

In this whirl of days turning into months, one lesson has returned to me with quiet insistence: change is the one permanent resident in our lives. Like an uninvited houseguest, it shows up, makes itself at home, and whether we like it or not, we’ve got to adapt. And really, unless we evolve in both mind and heart, we risk being left behind—like the person still clinging to their Nokia 3310 while the rest of the world is on foldable smartphones. The Nokia 3310 was the best. I still have one, just saying!! Unless I’m willing to keep my mind and my heart open and stay curious, I risk being left behind, clinging to old certainties while the world pirouettes forward.

And then there’s the other certainty: death. We arrive in this world with nothing but a cry, clinging to our mother’s smell and voice. We leave with empty hands. No riches, no possessions, no accolades come with us. Yet this truth is oddly liberating. Because it reminds me that wealth wears many disguises. Peace of mind is worth more than any balance sheet. Happiness is not outsourced to others, but cultivated within. And completeness? Well, I am already whole—beautifully imperfect, glorious with my cracks and quirks, my “beautiful brokenness” is part of the design. I am reminded, fearfully and wonderfully made.

Around me, the world hums with noise: politics near and far, AI shaping new realities, natural disasters reminding us of our fragility, wars, rising prices, dazzling innovations, and the heartbreak of homelessness. Chaos is everywhere, spinning in circles. And yet, within that spin, a quiet truth remains: some things are still mine to choose.

I get to choose my mindset. I get to decide how I respond. And I get to choose whether I meet the absurdities of life with despair or with a smile. More often than not, humour lightens the weight, optimism steadies the heart, my faith is my anchor, and reflection reminds me that even in turbulent times, there is always beauty to be found. There’s not a lot we get for free these days; however, as a reminder, here are some.