Turning 38 and thank goodness genetically blessed from both folks physically and with youthful looks (knees now do feel the rain coming though 🙂 ), seems like a good time to repost these words I wrote in the middle of a game farm under a star filled African sky next to a mesmerising fire.
I was full of hope and yet I guess whilst the words were straight from the bottom of this heart, I don’t think I was quite ready to be … discovered let alone discover someone and give them my all.

I am ready now…. BUT not ready to discover just anybody. He must be my soulmate and best friend, my forever one, the man who loves me when I am no longer youthful looking but still blessed with the same kind heart and sense of humour ( perhaps with less wits about me but still witty) …because I know that I am capable of; and want that soul quenching, inner beauty loving…forever happiness.

If you asked me what I wanted my darling a thousand times over it would be the same thing,
I want a life filled with adventure, never letting the mundane and boring become a part of who we are,
My love, I want to explore the earth: in its entirety, every last crevice of you, the earth, the oceans and each little thing that the moon shines upon and my love, I want to explore this with you …

Darling if you had to ask me what would make my heart happy and what would make my soul come alive I would tell you this;

Take my heart and hold it in your hand as though it was the very thing that keeps you alive,
Guard it and guide it,
Treat it with the utmost and gentle care, but never allow it to grow tired and still,
As my heart sweet darling needs to be touched and whispered to: so that your heart too, beats with the fire of a thousand African sunsets.

My love if you want to know the secret to hearing my laughter erupting from the depths of my very soul just know the answer lies in allowing me to be me,
for my love, my beauty lies not in the colour of my eyes nor the shape of my lips but rather in the way I live;
to feel free and alive;
And laughter, my love, is the way my heart sings, it allows you to pen lyrics to the sweetest melody your ears have yet to hear.

My darling if you want to know how to make your arms my safe haven then simply do this –
Treat me my sweet sweet darling as though I were the most special and incredible gift;
hold me in your arms, unwrap each layer that encases my body, heart and soul

BUT
Do this with care my darling as the rarest gifts need to be opened slowly and patiently in order to truly appreciate what lies inside the gilded paper,

My love, the answers to most of the questions your mind yearns to know are simple:
For darling they are the very questions you have had the answer to, since the beginning of your mortal time.
I know I keep reiterating that my blog is real, raw, honest and everything that the digital world doesn’t quite adhere to. Odd. I know as it my job. Perhaps that is why i see it for what it really is… and whilst my writing and grammar is completely imperfect on my blog ( OCD I am with clients),
I write as if pen in hand, straight from the heart, sometimes it is emotional, sometimes funny and others just what I love.
I write these posts in the hopes someone can relate to them, that they can and will encourage. In a world where people look perfect and lead perfect lives …. antonym right there. I see more and more girls and boys alike struggling to keep up with this false idea of perfection. Suicides at 9 years old, how devastating – society and social media; what have you done?
Ok, So enough of me blabbing, I guess I should get to the point of this post.
It’s a little more on that legend, the one who beat terminal cancer against all odds countless times, my hero and muse – the girl I get to call my best friend and sister. Debbie Lee Bayvel.
I look back at all I have written on my incredible sister and it is all about her bravery and courage. Strength and determination over 32 years. Her Faith and her faithfulness and of course her fighting spirit and never give up attitude. She has a story of bravery like no other and yet; what I never delve in to and as a lady who will go out in pajamas to the petrol station or grocery store, I still love being manicured, having my hair perfect and looking good – if I don’t feel good, sometimes I won’t enjoy my time out. Self conscious, its become what society dictates and we accept it. Perfection or nothing.
And then I wake up and SEE Deb’s (well after living with her for so long, I only see her beauty and bravery – I really do) But I am still astonished at THE MOST astounding bravery of the girl I live with, and what she accepts when she looks in a mirror. Imperfection. Scars over most of her body, lack of hair that will never grow back, gouges of muscle and tissue out of her tiny back and legs for skin grafts, a limp from a tumour removal on her pelvis and countless reconstructive operations, for purpose – not pretty.
AND yet my sister is absolutely magnificent and I hold no bias. She really is.
I wrote this post not only to let you know Debs’is so brave in yet another way, but rather as we live in a time where looks are sadly, practically everything. I was there, I went through it. Wanting botox and every lifting, anti-aging, filling cream and potion I could find. It was short lived as I have never been less happy with ME in my life. I now believe in growing old gracefully, embracing the laugh lines, loving me for me inside not out. Deb’s your influence has been the inspiration for that. And, I am happy – how can I not be with I am created by the most perfect Creator ever. How can i betray his love of what He made me, by wanting to be something else?
And so, to the young girls, the middle aged and sadly not limited to girls. I am not saying don’t take care of you – always do. Be the best possible REAL you. JUST ALWAYS, ALWAYS REMEMBER, YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL AS YOU ARE. YOU ARE PERFECT. YOU ARE WONDERFUL YOU ARE A REFLECTION OF THE MOST PERFECT PERSON EVER, YOUR CREATOR UP ABOVE.
PLEASE, stop scrolling through Instagram and Facebook and craving botox, and fillers, vampire facials, face lifts, false lashes and lips. DON’T let anyone bully another for their external appearance – you may save a life.
Start by looking on the inside. helping others, finding YOUR purpose, your confidence, and everything good and beautiful about who you are.
I can promise you this, one day you will wake up and look in the mirror and love that reflection – cellulite and all. One day you will look in the mirror and see a glow from true happiness – that only comes from being YOU. One day you will notice that just as I do not see my sisters ‘flaws’no-one will see yours, as your confidence and inner strength will hide any imperfection you might have.
And every-time that craving to be a fake perfect starts, watch this video AND REMEMBER YOU ARE BEAUTIFUL.
A windy (gale force) day for cycling, brother – Bruce Darne – lost control of his bike & mind … family things but pretty hilarious for all capetonians and cyclists.
To all you amazing people 💕 before I forget to write 😘😛 As we enter 2020, may you have no regrets leaving the old – but rather fondly treasure memories of events and people held so dear, understand that life is full of lessons, not mistakes and hey, you made it this far, something amazing must be waiting for you…..
I hope you get oh so excited facing the new, as 2020 brings with it the chance to start over, as well as the ability to continue to love and cherish those near & dear.
May 2020 be a year of helping and loving friends and strangers alike, a year of love, laughter and enjoying this beautiful life to the fullest.
Wishing you all everything you have hoped for, dreamed of or believed in will come to pass in this, a New Year – and perhaps a little more than that … you all deserve it….. from my heart to all of yours Happy New Year …. make a wish. Let God hear it …
What This Blog & My Musings Are All About (Why Follow)
It’s a new year a new start soon…. and now after a long lazy time 😛 I am finally publishing my blog and using it. I’ll share a little now about it to see if you want to follow :).
Thank you to the 5000 who already follow me, I hope you enjoy. & Thanks to my “Fakebook” real friends & acquaintances who have liked my page – I am honoured.
The title tells the story “An Ordinary Girl on An Extraordinary journey through this life” it’s not a generic blog about testing items etc. I am not a model nor influencer, I am passionate about writing and it fits with my digital consultancy. ITS MAIN PURPOSE – to share my legendary sisters story!!!
It is also a complete antithesis (ironically) to what social media stands for – It’s real and its basically my way of saying to people ‘This digital world is not real. stop letting it affect you. We all have problems. It’s to stop the teenage cyberbullying, the teenage suicides & I guess to show girls (and boys) how an everyday girl thinks & feels, if you relate that’s amazing. I am also here to help….
I do share my fun stuff, amazing things I find etc as I do love fashion, sports, beauty products, art, etc etc…. and I suppose with over 5000 followers (I don’t know how) eventually I will do sponsored posts; but I can promise you that my writing, my posts, my musings will always be REAL. I guess if i want this blog to be ‘real’ in the world of “digital faking” it’s crucial that I am ‘real’ ….
I also have no issues with doing posts for DOGS 🙂 ,friends and families who need help as well as small businesses who need to reach my audience so contact me if you want. NOTE to readers I am a little sarcastic (well a lot so if you hate that unfollow :))
I write quickly & often make typos in my own work (not others) so Grammar police – sorry.
I also am Christian & that theme is pretty prominent but please know I do not judge anyone on their belief system, colour, creed, sexual orientation or anything – I am just comfortable and happy in my beliefs – so don’t try change them :p or argue rather tell me about yours, I find it interesting although it will never convert me.
Welcome to my blog or journey through. As a Digital Marketing Exec for 19yrs, my blog is about life outside the faux world of Social Media – it is about honesty, realness and an appeal to others that NO ONE has a perfect life, YET it can still be a perfectly happy life.
I write as often as possible but sometimes creativity escapes me and pictures or things I find along my journey, will have to do…I write from my heart & don’t often check up on grammar for my own posts so grammar police …. mmm you know.
I am a tiny 5″3 girl next; an ordinary girl living an extraordinary life.
I am also an incredibly happy person (with the happy gene) but hey, we all have our issues; you will read about mine here, and if you need to chat drop me a line anytime jojobayvel@me.com.
A little Bio On Me
I am a 37 -going on 14 or 40- year old girl living in Cape Town and of course….limbo… am I on the shelf or do I want to actually marry? I am incredibly fussy & believe in fairytales and forever after. Been proposed to 3 times said no as I want an always love…
Typical Gemini…Princess & Tomboy! Lady and loud, love marketing, art, fashion, sport, Jesus, travel & most of all helping others – it’s what makes me heart smile.
I love comfort zones and adventure too? Crave travel, new people and places, never want to move?!?!?
Will always love animals, my family and friends – break-ups always result in me losing a dog!!!
Feisty, stubborn yet soft hearted with a pretty hard outer cover!
Crave love but bore easily… Want & adore kids and to be happily married but dread monotony. Need freedom, space, music and time to breathe but thrive on others company….♥”
Thank you so very much, for reading my posts & any part of my journey through life. Love Always & a Day JoJo
An Ordinary Girl On An Extraordinary Journey Through Life 