A few years ago, before the birth of my first blog, I was stuck in a deep depressive slump. My dear friend Liani dragged me along to a course in makeup artistry, which turned out to be just the creative outlet I needed. Full of hope and belief that makeup would heal my heart, I started blogging about beauty.

That small step was one of the defining plot points in my story. Thanks to that first blog, I now know the truth. I am a writer.

But I learned many other things on this journey—about myself, others, and life. I’ve changed physically and spiritually, but, like a caterpillar, I’ll keep changing. Maybe that is supposed to frighten me, but I find it pretty inspiring. There’s no time to stagnate here.

Today I want to introduce myself.

I’m Yolandie. (you-lun-dee)

* I’m a woman. With this comes the need for constant chatter, lots of beautifying, and cuddling. I just listed the stereotypical points of womanhood (stereotypes are born in truth), but there’s so much more to me than the stereotype.

* I’m a wife. And an incredibly blessed one at that. Being with your soulmate and best friend is more fulfilling than I can express. I love this guy more than words can express. We’ll make quite the pair of seniors one day, and I can’t wait.

* I’m a mother. Wow. Just typing the word gives me chills. What a responsibility; what a joy! Being around my daughter is like touching the sun. She is a force of nature, a bare-footed wild child who brings out the best in us.

* I’m a writer. The sound of my fingers tapping the keyboard is sweet music. This, this, is what I am supposed to be doing. This wordsmithing thing, this creation of worlds and people and feelings. The joy, excitement, self-loathing, uncertainty, and eyes straining after hours of working—this is me. Writing is glorious.

* I’m an artist. Art was one of my first passions, and it remains. The feeling of paint under your fingernails sounds horrible to a non-artist, but it’s a lifeline to any creative. Had a bad day? Paint. Had a good day? Paint. What about a mediocre day? Paint. Angst and stress and the shitty parts of life don’t disappear with the stroke of a brush, that would be too easy, but the bad things become more manageable when covered in paint.

* I’m loud and slightly crazy. I’m the person at the table laughing, gesturing, and talking in the loudest, most passionate way.

* I’m a dreamer and an optimist, constantly caught up in a half-baked, hair-brained scheme. I’ve crafted steampunk jewellery, became a nail technician, made bath products, and sold an array of handmade products. I learned to sew (halfway), to sculpt (a little), to make movies (I might even finish one someday), and then started (and stopped) drawing a webcomic. And the list goes on.

I don’t live in reality. In my world, everything is possible. You just need the right people to help (or enable) you. This belief has often backfired on me but is worth it when it pays off.

* I’m fiercely loyal. If I’ve got your back, I’ve got it forever. Need someone to bring the shovel? I’m your girl.

* I’m a social creature. I’ll talk to anyone who will listen: the person working at the grocery store, my fellow makeup enthusiast at the Inglot counter, and the lady behind me in the queue for the loo.

* I’m dramatic. I simply can’t tell a story without doing wild gestures, different voices and sometimes terrible accents.

* I’m emotional and I get too attached too quickly. I cry a lot. Expect tears when I’m happy, sad, frustrated, tired, inspired, awed—whatever.

* I’m a mother-hen. I don’t know if people use this term in the rest of the world, but here in South Africa, it means that someone has a mothering type of personality. I’m that person. I like to keep people fed and happy. 🙂 I’m that friend who requires a message from you to know if you got home safely (but often forgets to send the same message myself). I’ll ask you a million times if you need a refill on your drink, something more to eat, something warm, or medication for your (insert ailment here). I honestly can’t help it.

* I have no style. Most of my clothes are black or grey. It’s not that I don’t like colour, I just feel more comfortable in muted tones. Also, black and grey pair well with jeans and sneakers—AKA my uniform.

* I’m self-critical. My own worst enemy. I’m working on this, but the going is slow.

* I need to keep everyone happy/help everyone. Which is great, except I don’t know when to stop. I also have a relentless need to be liked. I often forget who I am when facing the standards others have set for me or themselves.

* I’m impulsive. Need someone to buy your incredible new product? I totally will. Which is another reason I’m so happily married. Jan is very level-headed and steady. He thinks first, which keeps me out of trouble more than I’d like to admit.

* I’m so much more than I’ve listed here.

* I’m growing, you know? Today I know stuff that I didn’t yesterday. Tomorrow I’ll have learned more, and that’s fine. No, it’s more than fine—it’s brilliant. Growing as a person is a gift we’ve been given. It means we have new goals to achieve. It means we have a new day to learn. It means we’re alive. And I love it.

Yolandie