Let's Talk: J-hope leaving for the military, South Africa's national shutdown and human rights day🇿🇦

Good morning/afternoon/evening, you beautiful people!

A little while ago, I found out that J-hope would be enlisting in the military. I, as apart of ARMY obviously knew that this was coming but it feels so soon. It already feels like Jin has been gone for long enough, now J-hope has to go too! I knew that they would go, hence I wrote them a letter but expecting something and experiencing it are unfortunately not synonymous. To be honest, I am struggling to accept that my military girlfriend era has begun! All jokes aside, I am so proud of them ❤ 💜, it's a time for us to be there for them more and pray for them as well as give them the space and privacy that they need. I am so proud of the man that Jung Ho-soek is and I pray that God will continue to bless him and keep ARMYS' 🌞 ray of sun safe and well. ARMY HWAITING!! BTS HWAITING!!💜

Yesterday was the 20th of March, which was my mom's birthday but also national shutdown day, here in South Africa! I decided to exercise my right and stay home 🏡 and not participate in the protests. I had a discussion with my mom and I believe that protesting can be a beautiful thing. We have not had loadshedding for almost 3 days and it is the job of the opposing political party to help keep the reigning power in check. No human should ever have ultimate power and it's important for those in power to remember that they are very replaceable. 

 I do not see striking is not a bad thing, in fact protesting is a healthy way to show people in power that we are unhappy especially when talking has not worked and promises have fallen through instead of being honored. As long as it is done willingly and is organized in a safe way so that no one gets hurt. 

Reflecting on human rights in South Africa, striking has helped to bring about positive change in my country and help to mobilize the nation to unite for positive causes. What I dislike about protests are the negative and unnecessary effect it has on business. I hate how people use protesting as an excuse to loot and steal from businesses and complicate people's lives long after the protest has ended. I truly hope and pray that everyone was able to protect their own human rights. Protesting is very legal but needs to be orderly and done in unison. Looting is illegal and is equal to theft and is abusing one's rights. 

I am safe and quiet in my village so it's hard to tell of the impact aside from news reports. Only once I go to college tomorrow will I be able to see how things are but I would love to actually deep dive into this topic on my other blog. I have been very quiet on my Environment and Political Issues Blog because I have been quite busy and I just did not know where to start because I want to give my own point of view, without obstructing the truth, if makes sense.

I hope that everyone thoroughly enjoyed this long weekend without loadshedding and that Eskom will held accountable because this is proof that life with electricity is achievable and maintainable with the right leadership and systems. 

I'll see you next week, loves ❤ 

Happy Human Rights Day, South Africa 🇿🇦!

All my love 

Ruth💚

Let's Talk: Welcoming Autumn + TWICE'S 12th mini album

Good morning/afternoon/evening, you beautiful people!

We are in the middle of March and summer has officially ended for those of us who live in the southern hemisphere. Autumn 🍂 is my favorite season because it has a little bit of warm and cold blended together, as it is the season inbetween summer and winter. 

Autumn reminds me that it's okay for leaves to fall, it doesn't mean that trees are dying and life is ending. I use this analogy and apply it to my own life. I may go through difficulties and it may look bad but in the end, it will all work out. I am of the belief that all things work out in the end and everything happens for a reason, just as there is a reason for every season ✨ 🙏🏼. 

TWICE'S 12th mini album dropped on Friday and I listened to it in the taxi ride home and it was such a happy afternoon for me! 

I have been looking forward to TWICE Sunbaenim's official comeback and world tour for a while now and while they most probably won't come to South Africa on this leg of their tour. It's still nice to dream and enjoy all their content online!

So I am going to unpack the mini album: which consists of my favorite songs and what I like most about the album!

Wallflower 

Oh my goodness! I knew from listening to the album sneak peak that Wallflower was going to be that song for me, possibly my favorite song from the album and indeed it is! This song has been on repeat for me since it dropped and it will be the for the foreseeable future because girl, I love a good jam to get down to! My favorite line from the song is, ' Dance with me, Dance with me'.

Set Me Free ( English Version)

I love KPOP but recording and releasing an English version of their lead song, I feel was a very good decision. The English version is not exactly the same as the Korean version but I still prefer the English version slightly more. I just wish that they would officially release the English version of Cry For Me, because that song hits differently in English and I NEED it on Spotify 🙏🏼😭! I absolutely love this song and I feel that it is such a perfect lead song for the album and the choreography is so  good, I am trying to learn it! Wish me luck ❤! My favorite line of from the song, is Jihyo sunbaenim's opening line, ' I want it all and I ain't ever gonna settle".

Set Me Free

I love the Korean version because when an artist sings in their native language or in a language that they feel more comfortable in, it allows the emotion of the lyrics to really shine. My favorite line is, " I'm gonna tell you straight, no matter what they say". I truly believe that honesty is vital in a relationship". It was so difficult to choose my favorite line from the song because I feel that the rap line absolutely slayed this song!

Moonlight Sunrise 🌅 ✨ 

This song was released in January, as a pre-release for TWICE'S 12th mini album, Ready to Be. It was a song that I was not necessarily expecting from TWICE because it has quite a mature concept but I really like TWICE, so I'm here for it! It has completely grown on me and my favorite line is, " Mooolight Sunrise, baby come be my starlight".

Crazy Stupid Love

This was another song that I knew I would absolutely love just from listening to the album sneak peak and true to my thoughts,  I Iove this song. The chorus of this song are my favorite lines because I am tired of stupid, crazy love 🤣!

All-in-all, I believe that Ready to Be is a great album. Got the Thrills is really growing on me and my least favorite song from the album is Blame it on Me. Overall, I give this album an 8/10, and I am looking forward to listening to it over and over! What I love is witnessing TWICE grow and be unafraid to tap into different songs and concepts, I am so proud to call myself a ONCE💖!

Please be safe, if you are a tertiary student in the Gauteng/ North-West provinces as there are strikes. 

Have a blossoming and blessed week!

All my love

Ruth💙

February reflections

Good morning/afternoon/evening, you beautiful people! 

February, the month of love has been a lesson filled month for me and I would to share my little nuggets of gold from last month with you all. 

1) Nurture my future self

This is something that I am still working on but I am learning that I have to do things for my future self. Practicing this has helped me immensely because sometimes I don't want to do what I know I have to do. Sometimes I feel like listening to my depression and not doing anything but this can negatively impact my future self. By nurturing myself and standing up for future Ruthy, I can help present Ruthy as well. So, I've learned to think for my future self because by not doing certain things now I am making life difficult for my future self. So, when you are at a crossroads, think about how your decision will affect your future self and if it negatively affects your future then, it's probably a bad decisions to make. 

2) Write your ideas down, you will forget!

I am a creative, so I have many ideas. I get such brilliant ideas at the most random times! I always used to tell myself that I will jot it down at a more convenient time but I never did and then I would forget and get so sad.  As a human beings, I believe that we are all creative that's why it's important to write things down and not to overestimate our ability to recall ideas💡! So, write down your ideas while they are still fresh💚, your future self will thank you!

3) It's okay not to know

Telling myself this has been so comforting. I don't know and that's okay because there is beauty in stillness. I used to feel shame in admitting that I don't know because I was taught that I should say either say yes or no. I was taught that I should have a strong stand point and not play riverbank but choose a side. I saw a quote on Pinterest that really comforted me, it said something along the lines of, "20-something year old me does not have to make decisions for the rest of my life." That was so powerful for me, as there are many things that I am not sure if I want or don't and at this point in my life it's completely okay. I am refusing to succumb to pressure to make decisions when I am unsure. When I do not know what to do, I do not have to do anything. 

4) Feelings are valid but I don't have to do anything about them

February was a month full of feelings for me, girl!!! All kinds of feelings were being caught and I had to catch myself because feelings are valid but nothing has to be done about them. This refers to many different types of feelings, not just romantically. I can feel super low but that does not mean that I have to make a decision in that state. My feelings are important but they do not control me and I do not have to act on them. This has been such a mantra for me and will continue for months, if not years to come. 

This was just a summary of what the month of February taught me! Have an amazing week, my loves❤! I pray that March is a good month to us all🤗

All my love, Ruth 💚