DONE March issue

Welcome to March It is the third month of the year. Your progress is uninhibited—whether it is intentional or whether it has simply evolved on its own. The idea here is to take all of your thoughts seriously, even the unsavory ones. We are raised not to be self‑centered, but perhaps we have earned the right to consider ourselves as well, without triggering a negative reaction in others because of the "I’m okay, you’re okay, they’re okay" mentality. This way of thinking gives us permission to make decisions for ourselves.

How daunting a task it is to make a decision. It requires carving out time to think, eliminating pressures, and facing the truth.

Good luck.

Sambulo Kunene Editor-in -chief

Regret Here is a moment of shame: living an experience and looking back, wishing it had never been a part of you. First of all, here are the don’ts of regret. Never regret giving birth to a child, much less saying it aloud. The hurt is irrecoverable, not only to the one who hears it but to anyone who shares your thinking. Never regret marrying someone. I am unsure why this is considered a sin.

Having cleared that, regret can be a waste of time if one is unable to overcome the fear left by the experience that caused it. It can also blind you to the time and opportunities you are losing right now. Regret is not an absolution for what went wrong. It is not a passage to experiencing life’s virtues gratis. Regret is impromptu. What occurred that led to regret was unforeseen; the individual was not sufficiently educated to detect the outcome, or the possibility simply was not in the mix.

In a culture of “act now and apologize later,” is regret disingenuous? Perhaps. We are responsible only for our choices, whether deliberate or the result of chance occurrences in life.

Regret can also be an emotion expressing what could not be helped or avoided. “I regret the death of your father”, that could not be helped.

“I regret to inform you that your cheque was returned for insufficient funds”—that form of regret is businesslike, non‑emotional, stigmatizing, though factual.

What could have happened absent character flaws, absentmindedness, illness, poor planning, lack of preparation, lack of knowledge, ill manners, or civic culture? All of these

circumstances, when experienced, generally result in regret.

Dancing If all else fails after silence, laughter, talking, understanding, and fantasies, what’s left is dancing. Freestyle dancing is a form of expression. Dancing allows the body to move in response to the rhythm of music or thought.

Many take lessons to learn the technical aspects of rhythmic body movement. Depending on the type of dance, techniques can vary.

Dancing is a cultural expression of identity. It can silently communicate a message or be loud, almost as though asking for help. It depends on the context and the dancer's personality. Some forms of dance require specific attire that reflects the style being performed. Many trained dancers pursue dance as a profession. Music is necessary in most cases to accompany dancing.

In the disabled community, dance is far more than communicative or expressive; it can also be a healing ritual. This type of isolation is one way of asking to be alone, absent from others—escaping through dance in order to be alone with one’s thoughts. Imagining dance, sound, and emotion attuned to movement can carry its own meaning, reminding the dancer of their current state of mind or allowing them to escape it or reality.

Some dances are expressions of worship, both in religion and in cults. Other dances express a desire for freedom or a tangible sensation of liberation. Notice the juxtaposition. It means emotions alone don’t suffice to complete a person or a soul; many other aspects of being human are needed. Which will you nurture? Dance is one of many expressions of positivity toward ourselves for the experiences that shape our lives. It asks the body to alter reality and bring the dancer closer to the creator, to the self, or possibly to the onlooker. Dancing can leave a bitter taste if done in a derogatory way, especially if it is meant to express such.

Dancing at weddings has become part of the main event. Looking forward to the bride and groom’s first dance as a married couple has become a widely accepted ritual in Western culture and in many other cultures, marking the transition from singlehood to married life.

Children, even newborns, recognize dance as a positive practice to observe and attempt with parental encouragement. How can anyone be unhappy while dancing? The famous rain dance is rooted in traditional belief systems that associate ritual movement with the hope of rainfall for a community suffering from drought. These are inherited cultural identities shared by all of us in various forms, sustaining humanity through shared meaning and continuity.

Talking Spouses talk differently with one another from the time they were dating until they become seasoned in married life. Parents and their children also communicate differently, and what is communicated shifts from age to age and culture to culture. At first, parents lovingly welcome any form of verbal contact and connection,until the terrible twos arrive, when “no” becomes the only word spoken by an unassuming child, causing emotional strain because of the unexpected.

Parents adjust amid the hurt, and then comes the teen years, where there are no holds barred.

Teens not only speak openly about their dissatisfaction with parents, the world, government, and friends, they may also act out by using illicit drugs, use of abusive language, moodiness, brooding, bringing unnecessary danger to their lives.

This nuance of talking back and forth takes energy, daily engagement, and intentional maturity, yet it is a process all families must endure, and one that is necessary.

Nonverbal communication can be tricky if misinterpreted. However, it can be a lifesaver when executed correctly, especially during sensitive discussions.

Whispering is talking, Babbling is talking, Gesturing is a form of talking and, Mumbling all are forms of talking. Silence can indeed be a form of talking if used as a weapon, as an expression of love, as a way of setting limits as a cultural tool.

Governments communicate with the populace through speeches and e‑governance. The goal is to keep the public informed at all times about the agenda of the day.

Communication with law enforcement is unique because it often occurs at difficult moments.

Public efforts have focused on teaching everyone how to conduct themselves when interacting with law enforcement. This form of communication, whether orders are issued or instructions must be obeyed, is often the only source of information when memories are fresh and a suspected crime has just occurred.

A priest and his or her parishioners form a union through rituals that use prayers, music, and scripture to draw closer to the God that they worship. Divinity and purity notwithstanding, the ways people communicate to reach God can become intense, such as fasting used to alter and heighten the experience of religiosity.

Some forms of talking include requests meant to uplift, in the form of slogans or terrorize in the form of threats or drown whoever is sharing an unpopular opinion, namely in protests. Talking in order to educate in school, in the media, or across a neighbor’s fence, are all interactions that feed the soul. These instinctual behaviors seek closeness, masked in different forms, and the reasons we talk fulfill our need to survive, to be productive, and to wake up each day with hope.The tone plays a role how we participate in talking.

Technology and its ability to help us talk to one another, whether in real time or retroactively, is

here to stay and will continue to help humanity thrive.

Melting hearts with a good voice is just as satisfying as talking and communicating. This reminds us that it is not enough to learn to speak properly. To have a respectful tone and forethought, it is also necessary to have a voice that aligns with facial expressions and cultural intentions.

Using drumbeats and smoke signals also falls under the category of communication and talking.

Human beings and some animal species communicate through how they dress, how birds expand their plumes, how they sing, and how some humans use sign language to communicate despite a disability.

Some forms of talking exist purely for comedy. Expressions meant to bring laughter are like the music of a talented musician.

Walking and talking are possible, but talking to oneself, freeing as it may be, is discouraged. If truth be told, talking is a way of keeping all of us busy so that we do not rebel whenever we feel uncomfortable.

Eye contact while talking can be measured in degrees of comparison depending on the context.

We can talk on our cellphones while walking. We can talk in our sleep. Indeed, we can talk our last words on earth while on our deathbeds.

Chat sessions, including those with AI, are also forms of talking, except they fall under business communication. Their goal is to inform, explain, and instruct about service. We talk to God. We talk to the universe.

Resolutions A year has just ended. Celebrations echo across the globe as people welcome a new beginning. The start of a new year brings smiles everywhere, a shared anticipation that the best is still ahead. Many make promises to themselves or set resolutions based on needs, desires, or hopes.

In a changing society, one thing remains true: those who manage to keep their resolutions, or even act on them consistently, demonstrate a certain maturity and intentionality. Those who struggle often face internal barriers, old habits, distractions, or patterns that require attention and patience to overcome.

The same is true with journaling. Writing down thoughts and keeping a record of daily life requires not only courage but technique. Some journals are filled with elegant handwriting.

Others are decorated with locks, charms, or mementos. Some are playful and brightly colored.

Resolutions often feel more real when recorded in such personal spaces, as if the journal itself becomes a witness to the one preparing them.

Looking back at the previous year and taking inventory of which resolutions were kept and which were abandoned can be revealing. Unfinished resolutions still occupy mental space.

Revisiting, refining, or completing them can free up space in your emotional and mental landscape.

Then there are the more complicated resolutions—the ones tied to health or major lifestyle changes. Goals like quitting smoking or losing weight can be meaningful, but they also require care. Just because a method worked for someone else does not mean it is the right approach for you. Modern society has moved beyond old, improvised rituals and assumptions. When it comes to health, guidance from trained professionals is often the wiser path.

Resolutions are not about perfection. They are about intention, reflection, and the willingness to

grow again and again, year after year.