Verity's Blog

My beautiful mother passed away, far sooner than we ever expected, last Wednesday 3rd March at 5.38pm. My sister, her husband, my aunt and I were all around her bed holding hands as she passed very peacefully from this world. It was a strangely beautiful and achingly painful experience that has stayed with us through these last few surreal days.

I will be eternally grateful that we held a life honouring ceremony for her just three days before she died and that each of us had the chance to tell her just how much we loved her. We had no idea she would be taken from us so soon, but also feel relieved that she was spared from prolonged physical suffering. She lived her life to the fullest until the day she passed away and I will remember forever that last Tuesday she walked me to my car and our last words to each other were 'I love you'.

I have been humbled by the love and support our family has received through all of this and am overwhelmed with love for my family who have grown even closer through this experience. We held a memorial for mum on Saturday under the trees at the Tokai Arboretum, and it was a true tribute to her to have nearly two hundred family, friends and fellow travellers arrive to celebrate her memory and give her a standing ovation for a life so beautifully and graciously lived.

It will be a challenging road ahead adjusting to life without her but I feel amazingly at peace to know she doesn't have to suffer anymore and that she left this world having said all she needed to say and knowing how much she was adored. I love and will miss her so much!

Celebrating Life...

I was overwhelmed by the support I received after writing about my mum being ill and really grateful that I chose to share what we are going through at the moment. It continues to be a rollercoaster of denial, grief, fear and acceptance for all of us. In the middle of it there is my mum - unbelievably serene and happy despite the terrible pain and discomfort she is in. She keeps turning to us and saying that she feels like she is in heaven on earth and I am being humbled by her grace and wisdom daily.

I am really present to how lucky we are to have this time together and the last week I have been fortunate to have late calls on set so I that could spend each morning with her. My brother and his family arrived today and this weekend we are going to have a family celebration of the colours of her life. We want to acknowledge her for her journey, her wisdom, her patience, her love, her lessons, her support, her courage and her amazing grace. This will be a time for each of us to really honour her and for her to also say what she needs to say to each of us.

I know it is going to be an emotional day for us all - but it will be filled with the emotion that counts - love! What a blessing to be able to honour her for everything she has achieved in her life and to stand as a family and celebrate her! I love you mum!

'Shining' in Las Vegas

I received this email from a Future Owner in The States the other day and was blown away to hear that my songs are getting heard by so many people in such unexpected ways! Never underestimate the continual forward motion of a dream and the fact that the work you put in now will keep popping up much further down the line than you can ever imagine!

"Recently I was asked to speak to about 600 women in Las Vegas. I was thinking of what I could do to get them pumped up - since I was scheduled to speak at 9AM after a long evening of dinner, drinking and dancing - talk about a tough act to follow!

I have your music in heavy rotation on my iPod so when "Shine" came on, I thought it would be PERFECT to play the chorus and a few verses to get everyone up on their feet - it worked! Beautifully!

The audience loved it and the women were buzzing for the rest of the day about the song as they walked around humming, "yes, I intend to SHINE..."

The next day I remembered that I still had 2 CDs that I'd purchased from you sometime ago - for one reason or another I never gave them as Christmas gifts as intended. So I decided to hold a raffle to give them away! It turns out that this was a true gift to these women. The two winners were just the most perfect people to receive a "Lucky Packet."  I'm still getting emails about it!

I'm trusting that you are more than OK with me spreading your "sun-SHINE" here in America to women who really needed the rays of your hope!  I have given the participants information about you, your fantastic CD and your "Journey" (it was a group of budding entrepreneurs who are up against some "impossible" odds) and I also let them know about your website (iamverity.com) where they can purchase a full version of the song and get the lyrics as well.

I know that from my sharing of your most wonderful song with these women, that you have gained even more FANS as you spread your message of hope and possibility!

I'm excited about the new music you're making and I'm look forward to becoming a future owner of your next CD too! Keep me posted.

Sanyika"

Now for a call from Oprah... : )

Calling all friends for some fun in the sun...

We are going to be playing out at The Cape Farmhouse in Scarborough (Junction M65 & M66) this Saturday (20th Feb) as part of the FARMHOUSE ROCKS concert series.

Having heard that there is some glorious weather on the way we would love to have truck loads of friends ditch the rugby, baby showers, afternoon naps, lawn weeding & extreme mountain biking and instead come through and join us for the afternoon that we will jam-pack with music and fun.

The show kicks off around 3.30pm but you can arrive anytime from 1.30pm and tickets cost R50 - or R40 if you can produce a student card that hasn't passed its sellby date :)

It is really lovely there to chill on the lawn and basically have a gorgeous day with family & friends so if you are free then I promise we will make the drive worth your while! We will provide the musical inspiration (old & new tunes) and all you need to bring is fanatical adoration, loud cheering, infectous dancing and support we love ; )

Please spread the word to one and all. Would be amazing to have a bumper show!

 

This is one of those things I don't want to write about. I feel like if I don't put it down on paper then its not really happening. But the sad thing is that it is. A month ago our family got turned upside down with the news that my mum has stage 4 lung cancer. It has been a surreal experience of coming to terms with it all and we are having to just take each day as it comes. I have found my whole life thrown into harsh relief of what really matters and what doesn't. Suddenly work is a hard thing to do when I could rather be with her enjoying each moment. All the chasing of material gains seems incredibly futile when faced with losing my mother - it is a loss I can't fathom right now.

I was unsure whether to share this news, but the truth is my work is a journey and my journey is my life and in my life right now my mum is really sick. The next few months are going to drag us all through the fire of life and there is no way that wont impact on who we are and what we do going forward. I am so grateful for this time to just be with her and celebrate her and for us to be able to say everything we want to say. I know that it is a precious gift to have this time however painful the reality of the outcome may be. So for now I am going to take things one day at a time and love my mother with every drop of emotion in my body and pray that whatever is to come is as gentle as can be hoped for.

Want to get what you want? My FairyGodmother can help : )

As all Cinderella stories need a FairyGodmother so too did I when I embarked on selling an album that 'didn't exist'. About year into the project one of my future owners swooped into my life and into the project and told me that she was going to be my 'Fairy Godmother' and help me realise my dream.

Donna McCallum is a tour de force and her input, guidance, vision and mentorship during the rest of the project was invaluable. Not only did she help me in getting the project flying but she also started helping countless other South Africans get clear on their dreams and desires so that they could get out there and get what they want!

It has been amazing to see her profile as SA's one and only Fairy Godmother go from strength to strength and she now has an amazing book out that will help transform thousands of people's lives if they apply the truths and ideas that she shares. The Fairy Godmothers Guide to Getting What You Want!  Her book is a self-help book with a difference. It does not claim to offer readers a quick fix: Rather, it offers readers who are willing and ready to take responsibility for their lives guidelines to living the life they want. The book is infused with a positive, generous spirit and journal exercises, case studies and personal anecdotes will inspire and motivate readers on their path towards self-discovery and fulfillment.

The trick now is to go out and get one - not only to support an inspirational woman but also to ensure that you make 2010 your best year yet! You can pick up a copy at Exclusive Books around South Africa and some CNA’s, or you can make life easier and buy the book online by CLICKING HERE NOW

As a HUGE bonus Donna has asked me to give you a FREE 21 minute Audio Program of guided visualisation technique to help you get clear on and create your dreams and goals for 2010! She will then share with you some tips and tricks on how to turn those dreams and goals into reality.  Download it Here Now 

Looking back - going forward....

If I had been told it would take 3 years to finish the Lucky Packet Project there is a good chance I would never have started.  I have learned the humbling lesson of patience and now understand that anything worth doing well takes time.  I discovered that patience and persistence always pay off - sometimes in ways you cant expect.

The project has led to me talking on stages around the world and sharing with people what is possible when we say yes to an idea and take the risk of seeing where it leads us and  I would never have known the incredible generosity that I would experience from people and get to see just how much support is out there when we take a chance and ask for it.

I got to award 40 Bursaries to South Africans in need of furthering their education and have had the incredible the opportunity to significantly contribute to people's dreams and our first Live Your Dreams artist Mimi Ntenjwa went on to land a record deal and then win Best Young Jazz Artist at the MetroFM awards last year.

The project was embraced by the media & was featured on Carte Blanche, Journey To The Core and Power Within amongst others and is now being used as a case study on viral marketing for MBA students at WITS University - something I could never have anticipated.

The biggest suprise of  all was that an idea that was born over a cup of coffee using Edward De Bono's '6 Thinking Hats' somehow reached the ears of his South African team and in December I was certified as a Six Thinking Hats Trainer - able to help people find creative solutions to the problems they face!

As a result of this journey I can always look back and rejoice that 2000 extraordinary people helped me create an album out of nothing and we had a hell of a ride!"

GOING FORWARD...

There have been many queries as to when the 'next album' is coming out, so I am excited to share with you that the first 50 future copies were bought by participants at my talks in Belgium and London last year! It appears that this is wonderful way to make music together, so the journey will certainly continue and I hope to have you join me as the new songs unfold.  I hope to have the website up and running for pre-sales very soon and would love to have you join me on the next part of this journey so please watch this space...

Live Forever... in memory of my father

Today it is 10 years since my father passed way. It feels surreal that so much life has been packed into those years for everyone in my family and that he hasn't been here for it. Even though he lives on in our hearts, it is on days like today that I miss him terribly and also celebrate his memory at the same time. The day after he died, I found solace with my piano and journal, and the song 'Forever In Me' was born. It took me many years before I could sing it without getting choked up, but over time it has become more and more of a celebration of his memory and the way he lived his life. I have been asked to sing it at quite a few funerals, and find it a challenge to share this song in the face of such raw grief even though I know it is the right song for those moments.

I was really touched, when a year ago the song was used as the soundtrack for a BabySense ad, as a celebration of new life and the road that stretches ahead for every newborn. It felt fitting that a song born of endings should also herald new beginnings. As indeed "there is no death, only life. While things may change, they do not die. And the biggest compliment I have ever had - is it's your eyes I have".

I love you Dad!

Reason for Everything...

A few days ago I had quite a rant about the host of bookings that had suddenly cancelled on me and left the financial horizon of November looking alarmingly bleak. It was great to vent my frustations and to experience that by just writing down how I was feeling, cleared up a lot of space for me to deal effectively with 'Now What?'

So, when I found myself sitting at the stunning new Cape Town International Airport on Tuesday and getting ready to head to Europe for my first international speaking/performing engagement and I was feeling relieved! This last week has seen me pack up our entire house so that I could get moved out before I left and on top of that I have been co-ordinating presentation videos being edited, albums getting packed, business cards being printed etc etc etc.

Now, imagine if I had in fact not had any of my bookings cancel? The last week would have seen me in Joburg until 20^th November after which I would have jetted home just in time to drive the band to ZIMFEST and then had only 2 days to pack up house and arrange an overseas trip before speaking at an event today and then sliding into the airport on the threads of my worn out socks!

As my ever steady, unfailingly supportive boyfriend drove me to the airport I felt very grateful for the unexpected cancellations. It is another of life's lessons that everything happens for a reason – however unexpected or upsetting at the time – and that hindsight is often the only way to make sense of life's twists and turns and say 'AH, that's why!' So, this is me saying thank you for the cancellations, thank you for the lesson to charge deposits in future and THANK YOU for all the extra time I have had to be ready for this next adventure! Bring on the seasons 'cos I've weathered them all!

Wherever life goes... off to the UK

I thought it fitting that as I am winging my way to the UK tonight to speak at the Entrepreneurs World Cup in London & then Antwerp, that I should share this music video for my song "Wherever Love (or life) Goes".

I shot it 4 years ago with my director friend Dale Rodkin up on the west coast. We just headed off with a steadycam, a boom box to play the track, and the intention to have a blast. It was a stunning afternoon playing in the waves with Dale's sister Cindy running behind us with the song blasting so that I could sing along. Really one of those experiences of making something out of very little and having fun doing it.

So, as I head into the big unknown of speaking on my first international stage, all I can say is "sink or swim, 'cos it's life we are in - and you can fight it or you can go with the flow. And breathe it in, and let it give you wings, and take you wherever it is life goes!"